Saliva Hormone Tests--Estradiol Out of Sight

[Guest guest]

Rosette,

From my experience, the saliva tests are especially unreliable for DHEA and testosterone. Many have complained these tests seem to report higher levels on all hormones than appear to be reflected in symptoms.

L.

My cortisol is 10--high normal, so I don't have adrenal fatigue. My DHEA is above the optimal range ---842,

[Guest guest]

I just got my saliva test results and don't know what to think. I

should have used Aeron, but used NeuroScience because it was cheaper.

They absolutely refuse to discuss the results with me, telling me to

talk to my " provider " , which is not a doctor but an internet site.

The estradiol level said 26.4 and the optimal and observed midcycle

range is 2.0-7.0. I had just put my Oestrogel on about 30 minutes

before giving the sample, but don't you think they must have

misplaced the decimal and it was really 2.6? I mean, if I really had

that much estradiol, I'd be bloated and have sore breasts instead of

barely making it 12 hours before I start to have deficiency symptoms

again. My estrone was 45.5, and I'm not even using estrone. (Normal

mid-cycle is up to 4.5, so again....decimal misplaced or what?)

So I looked on the Aeron website, and they said that transdermal

estrogen users can have very high saliva estradiol levels, but they

don't give the range on the website. Does anybody have the Aeron

transdermal hormone users' range values for estradiol and estrone?

My progesterone was only .06, not surprising since I haven't used any

for 3 months. My DHT was normal; testosterone 27, a little high but

normal. I obviously haven't stored it up in my tissues like I

thought.

My cortisol is 10--high normal, so I don't have adrenal fatigue. My

DHEA is above the optimal range ---842, although that is in the

observed female range of up to 1100. Optimal female is 300-500. I've

never taken DHEA, so I am not sure what that means. Good or bad?

Where could this be coming from? Maybe this is converting into an

androgen other than testosterone that is causing the hair loss? Or

maybe I should get my thyroid checked yet again? I do tend to run a

low temperature in the 97.6 range. ----Rosette

[Guest guest]

Val and Lynne---Thanks so much! I have been in a panic state about my

sky-high levels. I did read Dr. Vliet saying that saliva tests were

unreliable, and also Dr. Geoffrey Redmond, who writes about androgen

syndrome in women, does not think they are worthwhile. But then I read

other reports (a few scientific studies, not just Dr. Lee types) who

said it was reliable, and so I decided to try it. I do think that I

must have an adrenal androgen problem because I have had symptoms of

acne all my life and now a few chin hairs and scalp hair thinning. But

I just hope that it is not as bad as that test would indicate. I don't

have a beard or hair on my stomach, which is what I would expect with

androgens that high!

I had thought maybe I had stored progesterone in my tissues and that

was causing the symptoms, but obviously that is not my problem. I am

going to have to go to the " big city " to find an endocrinologist, I

guess, though I am sure that he won't be any more practical help than

any of the many gynecologists and dermatologists I have been to in the

past. -------Rosette

[Guest guest]

Madeleen, how much estradiol are you using and in what form? I know

that I have to take whatever amount eliminates my terrible symptoms,

no matter what, but it is worrisome to me to need as much as I do. It

varies over time, but right now I am needing 2.7 mg. a day. I am not

experiencing any sign of overdose at that level---no sore breasts or

bloat. It is my understanding (correct me if I am wrong) that SHBG

does not come into play when you are using the gel. That you only get

that if you are using oral, and that the transdermal forms by-pass

the liver and send the estradiol directly into the bloodstream.

What was your blood level of estradiol? I have been interested in the

iodine thing, but I have heard that it may cause acne, which I have

always had a tendency toward, and may lower thyroid production. So I

have hesitated on that until I learn more. -----Rosette

>

> Rosette,

>

> I am not surprised that your saliva estradiol was high, esp. if

you just put it on. My guess is that there is no decimal error. And

my other guess is that the range of those saliva tests are based on

low dose usage. So if you use anything more than 0.625 mg of

estradiol, the test results are going to be off the charts. So you

have to ask the question, what is the test really telling you.

>

> I get high estradiol readings with blood as well. The last time

I had a reading I got freaked out and lowered my estradiol

significantly, but it did not feel right. I am just a high estrogen

user and since I do not have a uterus anymore, I am not worried about

getting endometrial lining issues. And as I have posted here before,

since I have been using iodine topically on my breast for over a year

now, I have had no issues with lumps in my breast anymore (was a

recurring theme and disconcerting, because I have had breast cancer

before). I know that the iodine people (Abraham) deny that this is

true, but I beg to differ.

>

> It would have been interesting to see what your SHBG would have

been. My guess is that it would have been high as well. Most likely

most of the estrogen is bound anyway and if your estrone is high then

you are storing it in your fat.

>

> BTW did you do several cortisol samples during the day? Because

you can be fine in the AM for instance and low in the PM, which is

true in my case.

>

> Madeleen

>

[Guest guest]

Thyroid hormones = iodine atoms

Actually, enough iodine helps the body use thyroid hormones more

efficiently. Reading the appropriate iodine research helps:

http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/opt_Research_I.shtml

Sam

> I have been interested in the

> iodine thing, but I have heard that it may cause acne, which I have

> always had a tendency toward, and may lower thyroid production. So I

> have hesitated on that until I learn more. -----Rosette

[Guest guest]

Hi Rosette,

what did your saliva and blood tests say about your progesterone/androgens?

Cheereo,

Charlotte

------------------

Re: Saliva Hormone Tests--Estradiol Out of Sight

Val and Lynne---Thanks so much! I have been in a panic state about my sky-high levels. I did read Dr. Vliet saying that saliva tests were unreliable, and also Dr. Geoffrey Redmond, who writes about androgen syndrome in women, does not think they are worthwhile. But then I read other reports (a few scientific studies, not just Dr. Lee types) who said it was reliable, and so I decided to try it. I do think that I must have an adrenal androgen problem because I have had symptoms of acne all my life and now a few chin hairs and scalp hair thinning. But I just hope that it is not as bad as that test would indicate. I don't have a beard or hair on my stomach, which is what I would expect with androgens that high!I had thought maybe I had stored progesterone in my tissues and that was causing the symptoms, but obviously that is not my problem. past. -------

Rosette

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.28/605 - Release Date: 12/27/2006