19-05-2011, 11:15
A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4 
)
December 4 2007 at 7:37 AM
Hopeful88 (Login Hopeful88)
SENIOR MEMBER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought I would just ask all my NBE questions in one thread because I have so many on my mind right now:
1) Is there any alternatives to Vitex? I couldn't find the tea of at my local health store and I don't really want to take capsules/pills
2) After reading alot of posts, I feel weary of taking saw palmetto and there was no nettle tea at my store either (I definitely need to find a new store to go to!). I heard pumpkin seeds are another alternative so i was just wondering how much pumpkin seeds would I have to eat each day for it to be quivalant to saw palmetto's effects?
3) I also read in older posts that EPO is considered to not be good by some people because it prevents luteal swelling... but isn't luteal swelling just the kind that goes away once you get your period that month anyway? if so, then isn't it still good to take EPO because your just not tricking yourself into thinking you've grown when you haven't permanently?
4) I remember how there was an experiment done wear women took speariment tea for the first 5 days of the cycle and I was wondering why it was only 5 days? is it no longer beneficial to take it longer than those first 5 days?
I've almost completed my first month of NBE, and I've experience no pains, tingles, swelling or growth... isn't that great? haha not... I'm quite disappointed but I know these things take time. I'll admit I am concerned that perhaps what I've been doing isn't quite right for me so that is why I asked all these questions. I've been having fennel tea, fenugreek tea, alfalfa tea, red raspberry tea, and taking EPO as well as doing massages every day while on Diane-35 BCP. Thanks to anyone who replies, it is much appreciated!
good luck girls
Author Reply
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4 ) December 4 2007, 6:52 PM
I can't help you with all of them but will have a go....
Don't worry about the saw palmetto / nettle. The antiandrogen effect of Diane is much much stronger than eating spoons full of either of those - which is why they advertise it on the net for transexuals! If you want to eat pumpkin seeds as a source of good fats and protein then I'm sure that would be fine. I bought some pumpkin seeds but they taste like nuts and I wasn't very good at keeping up eating them (hubby really liked them though! Kept telling him they weren't good for him!) Eating good fats may make your skin better (or for some may make it worse) but probably better.
Taking EPO / borage oil + flaxseed is good. MomXseven, Tigerlily and other people have had results just from taking these, I take about 3000mg each day of either EPO or borage oil (AKA starflower). I prefer the liquid form to capsules and just take half-one teaspoon of oil then drink a mouthful of sweet drink straight after. It's not nice but it's not disgusting, doesn't leave more taste in your mouth than the capsules and then you're not swallowing something huge. You can get ground flax seed which is approx 20% omega oil so you need 5 teaspoons of grain to be equal to 1 teaspoon of oil. It tastes ok, like bran and can be mixed in food or with cereal / porridge. Massaging with any of the oils is fine or baby lotion / baby oil / hand cream or whatever.
Are you taking wonderup? If not you might want to either start taking it or try adding some powdered herbs to your food / take some herb supplements to go with the teas - maybe follow Eve's program.
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Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4 ) December 4 2007, 6:55 PM
p.s. you shouldn't need vitex either - it balances hormones, your BCP should be doing that.
Re: Luteal swelling - do you actually get this? I've never got noticeable swelling and wouldn't think the oils would make much difference.
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bonnette
(Login bonnette) Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4 ) December 4 2007, 7:59 PM
i can answer about pumpkin seed oil. i take 3 spoonfuls per day and it seems to be fine meaning i hardly get any pimples on face anymore (sign of excess androgens).
as for Diane im just so against the chemical hormones and cant make myself swallow them. also remember times when i used it i still got pimples.
hope this helps a bit
Bonnette
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Sara
(no login) Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4 ) December 4 2007, 9:59 PM
I'm very curious about Diane 35. I've been considering it b/c of my high androgens, however I'm concerned about the potential risks.
I'm a smoker and sometimes have high blood pressure which increases my risk of developing blood clots.
Would you ladies mind sharing your experience if you currently take or have taken it in the past.
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hopeful88
(Login Hopeful88)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4 ) December 5 2007, 4:05 PM
Louise: Thanks so much, you answered most of my questions, I feel much more informed now
Bonnette: Thanks too about the pumpkin seed oil, and about the BCP I understand your concerns and not wanting to take it but when you have a severe case of acne like how I had you would be much more willing to try it...
Sara: I took Diane-35 for 6 months (first time taking BCP in my life), then had to stop because I got sick and needed to take other meds... I've now been back on it for about 3 months and my acne is improving again. I knew nothing about BCP and just went to my doctor to talk about my severe acne and she said I have excess androgens so she prescribed Diane-35 to me. In the first month there really isn't a change, but once I got into the second, third months my skin became so perfect. I smoke on occassion (weekends, social settings) but I've never felt any problems from the pills... I know there has been cases of blood clots and such linked to Diane-35 but everyone's different so its hard to say how it'll affect you.
Hope this helps, feel free to ask me anymore questions
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Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4 ) December 5 2007, 4:17 PM
Sara,
All BCPs risk vascular problems and Diane / Dianette apparently has the highest risk of any. I'm 25, BMI 20, BP 110/70, non-smoker, non-drinker, vegetarian, no vascular probs, no family history of vascular probs and I've had Dianette for just over 2 months. Took my skin a little while to get used to it and doesn't control my period pain as well as Microgynon but has fixed my chest hair (I know this is disgusting but it wasn't loads) - I used one wax strip down the midline and only 1 hair's grown back in over 2 months. Because I'm doing well and because of the risks my doctor's given me 6 more months on Dianette before she changes me back to something weaker so she's obviously being careful even though I appear to be in pretty good health. I would say try a weaker BCP first if you're going to go the hormonal route for the skin. Mine was never really sick pizza-like acne but I had maybe 5 spots at a time, all the time around the mouth / chin area and they were starting to leave scars which I never got in my teens and I was pretty desperate to fix my skin so totally understand if you want to risk it, just make sure the doctors keep a close eye on you and they may advise you to take aspirin either all the time or if you go on a long haul flight.
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hopeful88
(Login Hopeful88)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4 ) December 6 2007, 3:04 AM
"sick pizza-like acne" Hey, I was one of those people Louise! I take offense to the pizza face descriptive words
I didn't start getting bad acne until I was 17 almost 18... now I'm 19 and its only stopped because of the BCP.
good luck girls
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Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4 ) December 6 2007, 11:59 PM
Sorry, what I meant was that Diane / Dianette is bad for you but I was willing to risk it as I was desperate to clear my skin even though it wasn't the well acne-like acne that you see on some other people. So my point is that it's bad for you but I totally understand people taking the risk.
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hopeful88
(Login Hopeful88)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4 ) December 7 2007, 12:47 AM
Its okay, don't worry about it good luck Louise!
rie joie villarina
(no login) diane35 May 5 2011, 6:48 AM
hopeful88, you said that you are taking saw palmetto and fenugreek tea while taking diane35. are there any side effects.? i also want to take fenugreek and saw palmetto to enhance my breast size but im scared because i read a lot of comments about those while taking diane. do i have to stop diane for me to take fenugreek and saw palmetto? or i can take both?
)December 4 2007 at 7:37 AM
Hopeful88 (Login Hopeful88)
SENIOR MEMBER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought I would just ask all my NBE questions in one thread because I have so many on my mind right now:
1) Is there any alternatives to Vitex? I couldn't find the tea of at my local health store and I don't really want to take capsules/pills
2) After reading alot of posts, I feel weary of taking saw palmetto and there was no nettle tea at my store either (I definitely need to find a new store to go to!). I heard pumpkin seeds are another alternative so i was just wondering how much pumpkin seeds would I have to eat each day for it to be quivalant to saw palmetto's effects?
3) I also read in older posts that EPO is considered to not be good by some people because it prevents luteal swelling... but isn't luteal swelling just the kind that goes away once you get your period that month anyway? if so, then isn't it still good to take EPO because your just not tricking yourself into thinking you've grown when you haven't permanently?
4) I remember how there was an experiment done wear women took speariment tea for the first 5 days of the cycle and I was wondering why it was only 5 days? is it no longer beneficial to take it longer than those first 5 days?
I've almost completed my first month of NBE, and I've experience no pains, tingles, swelling or growth... isn't that great? haha not... I'm quite disappointed but I know these things take time. I'll admit I am concerned that perhaps what I've been doing isn't quite right for me so that is why I asked all these questions. I've been having fennel tea, fenugreek tea, alfalfa tea, red raspberry tea, and taking EPO as well as doing massages every day while on Diane-35 BCP. Thanks to anyone who replies, it is much appreciated!
good luck girls
Author Reply
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4
) December 4 2007, 6:52 PM I can't help you with all of them but will have a go....
Don't worry about the saw palmetto / nettle. The antiandrogen effect of Diane is much much stronger than eating spoons full of either of those - which is why they advertise it on the net for transexuals! If you want to eat pumpkin seeds as a source of good fats and protein then I'm sure that would be fine. I bought some pumpkin seeds but they taste like nuts and I wasn't very good at keeping up eating them (hubby really liked them though! Kept telling him they weren't good for him!) Eating good fats may make your skin better (or for some may make it worse) but probably better.
Taking EPO / borage oil + flaxseed is good. MomXseven, Tigerlily and other people have had results just from taking these, I take about 3000mg each day of either EPO or borage oil (AKA starflower). I prefer the liquid form to capsules and just take half-one teaspoon of oil then drink a mouthful of sweet drink straight after. It's not nice but it's not disgusting, doesn't leave more taste in your mouth than the capsules and then you're not swallowing something huge. You can get ground flax seed which is approx 20% omega oil so you need 5 teaspoons of grain to be equal to 1 teaspoon of oil. It tastes ok, like bran and can be mixed in food or with cereal / porridge. Massaging with any of the oils is fine or baby lotion / baby oil / hand cream or whatever.
Are you taking wonderup? If not you might want to either start taking it or try adding some powdered herbs to your food / take some herb supplements to go with the teas - maybe follow Eve's program.
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4
) December 4 2007, 6:55 PM p.s. you shouldn't need vitex either - it balances hormones, your BCP should be doing that.
Re: Luteal swelling - do you actually get this? I've never got noticeable swelling and wouldn't think the oils would make much difference.
Edit Message Delete Message
bonnette
(Login bonnette) Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4
) December 4 2007, 7:59 PM i can answer about pumpkin seed oil. i take 3 spoonfuls per day and it seems to be fine meaning i hardly get any pimples on face anymore (sign of excess androgens).
as for Diane im just so against the chemical hormones and cant make myself swallow them. also remember times when i used it i still got pimples.
hope this helps a bit
Bonnette
Edit Message Delete Message
Sara
(no login) Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4
) December 4 2007, 9:59 PM I'm very curious about Diane 35. I've been considering it b/c of my high androgens, however I'm concerned about the potential risks.
I'm a smoker and sometimes have high blood pressure which increases my risk of developing blood clots.
Would you ladies mind sharing your experience if you currently take or have taken it in the past.
Edit Message Delete Message
hopeful88
(Login Hopeful88)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4
) December 5 2007, 4:05 PM Louise: Thanks so much, you answered most of my questions, I feel much more informed now
Bonnette: Thanks too about the pumpkin seed oil, and about the BCP I understand your concerns and not wanting to take it but when you have a severe case of acne like how I had you would be much more willing to try it...
Sara: I took Diane-35 for 6 months (first time taking BCP in my life), then had to stop because I got sick and needed to take other meds... I've now been back on it for about 3 months and my acne is improving again. I knew nothing about BCP and just went to my doctor to talk about my severe acne and she said I have excess androgens so she prescribed Diane-35 to me. In the first month there really isn't a change, but once I got into the second, third months my skin became so perfect. I smoke on occassion (weekends, social settings) but I've never felt any problems from the pills... I know there has been cases of blood clots and such linked to Diane-35 but everyone's different so its hard to say how it'll affect you.
Hope this helps, feel free to ask me anymore questions
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4
) December 5 2007, 4:17 PM Sara,
All BCPs risk vascular problems and Diane / Dianette apparently has the highest risk of any. I'm 25, BMI 20, BP 110/70, non-smoker, non-drinker, vegetarian, no vascular probs, no family history of vascular probs and I've had Dianette for just over 2 months. Took my skin a little while to get used to it and doesn't control my period pain as well as Microgynon but has fixed my chest hair (I know this is disgusting but it wasn't loads) - I used one wax strip down the midline and only 1 hair's grown back in over 2 months. Because I'm doing well and because of the risks my doctor's given me 6 more months on Dianette before she changes me back to something weaker so she's obviously being careful even though I appear to be in pretty good health. I would say try a weaker BCP first if you're going to go the hormonal route for the skin. Mine was never really sick pizza-like acne but I had maybe 5 spots at a time, all the time around the mouth / chin area and they were starting to leave scars which I never got in my teens and I was pretty desperate to fix my skin so totally understand if you want to risk it, just make sure the doctors keep a close eye on you and they may advise you to take aspirin either all the time or if you go on a long haul flight.
Edit Message Delete Message
hopeful88
(Login Hopeful88)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4
) December 6 2007, 3:04 AM "sick pizza-like acne" Hey, I was one of those people Louise! I take offense to the pizza face descriptive words
I didn't start getting bad acne until I was 17 almost 18... now I'm 19 and its only stopped because of the BCP.
good luck girls
Edit Message Delete Message
Louise
(Login Louise1982)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4
) December 6 2007, 11:59 PM Sorry, what I meant was that Diane / Dianette is bad for you but I was willing to risk it as I was desperate to clear my skin even though it wasn't the well acne-like acne that you see on some other people. So my point is that it's bad for you but I totally understand people taking the risk.
Edit Message Delete Message
hopeful88
(Login Hopeful88)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A whole lot of questions! (ok only 4
) December 7 2007, 12:47 AM Its okay, don't worry about it
good luck Louise!rie joie villarina
(no login) diane35 May 5 2011, 6:48 AM
hopeful88, you said that you are taking saw palmetto and fenugreek tea while taking diane35. are there any side effects.? i also want to take fenugreek and saw palmetto to enhance my breast size but im scared because i read a lot of comments about those while taking diane. do i have to stop diane for me to take fenugreek and saw palmetto? or i can take both?