[TibetanPrincess]

Thank you very much for your response!

I think you make a really good point. And I've noticed similar tendencies. I know I respond very poorly to additional estrogen. I was taking hops for about 3 weeks (I posted that it had no negative effect on my body), but I reevaluated what I wrote and decided that wasn't true. My period was extra heavy, like 4 times heavier than usual, I developed acne, and my hair started to shed a little. I responded to BCP in a similarly poor fashion, which is why I stopped and now use IUD. My hair regrows as soon as I remove the offending substance (it takes no more than a couple of months). I quit hops the next day after my post and since then I think feel a little bit more energetic.

I like knowing that my overall well-being is confirmed by research you had done. It's strange, I can watch myself flounder with something that's "supposed" to work, but it doesn't and I just don't want to accept that I may be different. Getting that validation sheds a little bit more light on it.

I'm going to retest my hormones in April, which is my annual date with endocrinologist. I also feel very lucky not to have PCOS. I was diagnosed with it originally by a generalist, but my endocrinologist said it was highly unlikely. As you know, there is no definitive test, so it's a matter of opinion.

I was thinking of trying PC after I was done with my Brava program end of May. Do you add anything to it? Which brand do you buy? I guess I might as well stock up on it now. Btw, I think Brava is working slowly but surely for me. On week 10, I'm about a half a cup size bigger in the evening than I was before I started. It's not much, but it seems magical to me. The heaviest I've ever been was roughly 15lb heavier than I am now, and I think my breasts were around this size back than. Except my under bust was larger.

I don't add anything to PC. They also have PC with phyto estrogens but stay away from those unless you are deficient in both. I have only used KOKORO brand (Japanese I think).

Also keep in mind, your IUD has side effects of breast enlargement as you are already getting a dose of synthetic hormones (progestins and estrogens). So it could be that or a combo of both IUD and Brava. I knew a girl who was a B cup and grew to a D cup after months of being on IUD birth control. She wasn't on any supps. and she was way past puberty. So hopefully, this form of BC was prescribed by a knowledgeable Dr. who knows your needs regarding your thyroid health and not just family planning. Often times, they totally miss this and we get worse on BC.

What do you think of fenugreek and fenel? I read that fenugreek is excellent at controlling blood sugar, and I have problem with my sugar intake. So, I thought it may work. I also drink quite a bit of peppermint tea ( at least 3 cups a day). By the way, I find that for me going cold turkey on sugar is the only thing that works. If I have a little bit, I have to have more and more. It's a full on addiction. I was actually diagnosed with hypo, because of my sugar weirdness, the doctor was testing me for diabetes. I had not other hypo symptoms besides my diabetic tendencies and randomly thinning hair, which turned out to be a false alarm.

Fenugreek was one of the many herbs I took when I screwed up my hormones. When I dropped the other herbs and stuck with only Fenugreek, I only noticed the syrupy smell, random nipple hairs growing, and dizziness. When I stopped, It all went away. However, if you take it correctly, it may be beneficial for you.

Fennel seems to be good to me. I haven' taken it long enough to notice any ill effects but I truly believe it is less harsh on the glandular system and I seem to respond to it. I get electric shocks sometimes and I fancy the taste.