Re: Watch those male/female hormones

[Guest guest]

It's good to hear from you, Sara!

Sorry you have not been doing well.

Testosterone has always been the most important hormone for me to feel like myself.

>> I started a pretty good crash in late August with hypo type fatigue and then serious adrenal fatigue/stress by September. After you've been sick awhile, you know the difference between plain hypo tiredness and adrenal fatigue/stress. I was feeling anxiety that I hadn't felt in years. Into the fall my brain fog got worse and worse. I lost motivation, sat around all day staring at the TV, took care of my cats and fed myself, tried to keep up with the familiar work that I had to do for the business, but that was about it. I remember that my typing skills got bad. Laundry piled up. Pretty soon I realized I could not drive anywhere. I didn't go outside for many days at a time. Felt stressed, fast heart beat on exertion. Was tired wheeling the trash container to the street. Gained 20 pounds over 3 months. Face got puffier, eyes more dull, aches and pains returned. I tried again to increase my thyroid medication, P-thyroid (compounded porcine in olive oil from Women's International), and worked with tiny doses, as I've always had to increase in small bits. Had tried increasing twice before during this year, but no go. This time I was using 1/32 grain pills. Got 1/16 grain in, but the third pill made me a bit hyper, so I left it at 1/16th grain total increase as of later October. After my usual 6-8 weeks of waiting, I started to feel a bit more clear headed. But then it got worse again. Had to wait for my appointment with Dr. Spurlock on 12/2 to dig deeper. We looked at my female hormones again, hadn't checked them in awhile. Whoa. My estradiol had dropped by half from my high of 88 in late 2009. Got a new prescription and within 4 days the fog lifted, and I was back to doing things in a day that it took a week to do, or not at all. Started driving again, no problem. Will still try to work in thyroid medication, tiny doses and slowly. All of my other numbers looked good except the female hormones. And perhaps my testosterone. Might pump that up a little bit after I talk to Dr. S again in January. He had pointed it out as not really optimal.> > Bottom line: fatigue, anxiety, sleep issues, brain fog - all can be symptoms of thyroid hormone, female/male hormone, Iron, cortisol issues. You need a doctor who knows to look at it all. We went too long without looking at the female hormones this time, so I'm going to return to quarterly blood work and consults. I want to stay ahead of this crazy ongoing ball juggling process of dealing with balancing hormones. Imbalances can creep up on you when you least expect it. You must look at it all, all the time.> > * climbs down off soapbox *> > Sara>

[Guest guest]

I’m totally with you Sara.

Mine has been so much more than just the thyroid. At first it was just

adrenals & thyroid. Now both estrogen & progesterone hormones are

having to be adjusted as well. I was doing fantastic for about 6 months

at the beginning for the year except recurring right lower quadrant pain.

It was the best that I had ever

felt in my life. Because of the recurring pain, my right ovary was

removed. Now I’m back to feeling mediocre at best many days feeling

crummy. I’m in the process of implementing the changes that Dr S prescribed

at my last appointment. If I don’t see results again fairly soon, I’ll

make another appointment.

I’m hanging onto the memory of those

6 fantastic months knowing that it’s possible to feel great!

Kim

From: Texas_Thyroid_Groups [mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ] On Behalf Of sg2332819

Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2011

6:41 PM

To: Texas_Thyroid_Groups

Subject:

Watch those male/female hormones

I started a pretty good crash in late August with hypo

type fatigue and then serious adrenal fatigue/stress by September. After you've

been sick awhile, you know the difference between plain hypo tiredness and

adrenal fatigue/stress. I was feeling anxiety that I hadn't felt in years. Into

the fall my brain fog got worse and worse. I lost motivation, sat around all

day staring at the TV, took care of my cats and fed myself, tried to keep up

with the familiar work that I had to do for the business, but that was about

it. I remember that my typing skills got bad. Laundry piled up. Pretty soon I

realized I could not drive anywhere. I didn't go outside for many days at a

time. Felt stressed, fast heart beat on exertion. Was tired wheeling the trash

container to the street. Gained 20 pounds over 3 months. Face got puffier, eyes

more dull, aches and pains returned. I tried again to increase my thyroid

medication, P-thyroid (compounded porcine in olive oil from Women's

International), and worked with tiny doses, as I've always had to increase in

small bits. Had tried increasing twice before during this year, but no go. This

time I was using 1/32 grain pills. Got 1/16 grain in, but the third pill made

me a bit hyper, so I left it at 1/16th grain total increase as of later

October. After my usual 6-8 weeks of waiting, I started to feel a bit more

clear headed. But then it got worse again. Had to wait for my appointment with

Dr. Spurlock on 12/2 to dig deeper. We looked at my female hormones again,

hadn't checked them in awhile. Whoa. My estradiol had dropped by half from my

high of 88 in late 2009. Got a new prescription and within 4 days the fog

lifted, and I was back to doing things in a day that it took a week to do, or

not at all. Started driving again, no problem. Will still try to work in

thyroid medication, tiny doses and slowly. All of my other numbers looked good

except the female hormones. And perhaps my testosterone. Might pump that up a

little bit after I talk to Dr. S again in January. He had pointed it out as not

really optimal.

Bottom line: fatigue, anxiety, sleep issues, brain fog - all can be symptoms of

thyroid hormone, female/male hormone, Iron, cortisol issues. You need a doctor

who knows to look at it all. We went too long without looking at the female

hormones this time, so I'm going to return to quarterly blood work and

consults. I want to stay ahead of this crazy ongoing ball juggling process of

dealing with balancing hormones. Imbalances can creep up on you when you least

expect it. You must look at it all, all the time.

* climbs down off soapbox *

Sara

[Guest guest]

So sorry to hear about this downturn, Kim. But you're right, when you've had a

period of feeling really good, you hold on to that and have to keep believing

you can get there again, if you just get things rebalanced and do the right

things like manage stress and eat right and get sleep. It takes time,

unfortunately. I'm going to explore taking the testosterone that Dr. S

suggested, as it is down enough to catch my attention for sure. I guess after

almost 7 years on the same dose of female hormones, I was due! Duh. And who

knows, this last raise may not be enough yet. But at least I'm more clear headed

now, and that happened pretty fast after taking the higher dose of bi-est. Just

still tired.

We're a tough and determined bunch, aren't we? It takes a lot of long term

intestinal fortitude to keep forging ahead when living with the deeply

frustrating ups and downs.

I have to say that I'll take my crashes nowadays over feeling the way I felt in

2005. I'm better for sure. And I react faster to meds changes and feel better

faster. So that means my system is working better. Thank God and my past and

present docs for that!

Hang in there and you'll make it back.

Sara

>

> I'm totally with you Sara. Mine has been so much more than just the

> thyroid. At first it was just adrenals & thyroid. Now both estrogen &

> progesterone hormones are having to be adjusted as well. I was doing

> fantastic for about 6 months at the beginning for the year except recurring

> right lower quadrant pain. It was the best that I had ever felt in my life.

> Because of the recurring pain, my right ovary was removed. Now I'm back to

> feeling mediocre at best many days feeling crummy. I'm in the process of

> implementing the changes that Dr S prescribed at my last appointment. If I

> don't see results again fairly soon, I'll make another appointment.

>

>

>

> I'm hanging onto the memory of those 6 fantastic months knowing that it's

> possible to feel great!

>

>

>

> Kim

>