[Drew]

My experience was much more recent and much less severe than that experienced by TG1951. I simply felt a lingering soreness in one of my calves. I didn't have the typical swelling, redness or sensation of warmth, just an ache that was still around after almost 10 days. I went to my doctor and he suggest an immediate ultrasound, which identified a clot in my lower leg. He put me on blood thinners and I have follow-up bloodwork and another ultrasound coming up. It appears that I don't have the genetic indicator for future clots, so PM and/or progesterone seems to have caused it.

Going forward, if my condition doesn't require thinners on an ongoing basis, I have to decide if I can proceed "safely." This is why I'm looking into the efficacy and risks associated with transdermal PM intake. An option for future monitoring would be to purchase an inexpensive INR tester and check myself periodically for clotting. Also, taking an herbal thinner like Rutin might mitigate the risk. But that's the crossroads I'm at: is it worth it? It's a big "ugh" for me.

Alexis, if you're young and don't have a history of clots in your family, your level is risk is lower, but you could do some monitoring and/or take Rutin. And again, medical literature seems to point to transdermal dosing as the way to go - with any sort of hormone.

Okay you are all scaring me quite a lot so will have to shove it all up my bum! I don't like doing that anymore, feels a bit intrusive, well very much so.