Will Someone Pls. Read My Hormone Results-Female Low on Testosterone
- Thread starter Salty
- Start date
30kieali, I have also been on WB (all of them) and all made me very anxious and jittery just like kittywitty. I couldn't stay on it. I have anxiety to begin with.
I too hope as kw does that the bioidentical T cream is the way to go. I just started it after having hormone testing and my testosterone was very low.
I'd like to know the answers to kw's questions, too.
My gyn didn't mention the injections or pills, but then again, I asked him for the cream so we didn't talk about any other options.
I have had low mood, been sluggish, tired with no sense of well-being, etc. for years.
Just recently after a fibroid operation did I have my hormones tested.
I'm hoping the T cream will help my symptoms. I'm sorry it didn't help you. Are you completely off all testosterone now?
Were you adding the T only for sex drive? Don't you have other symptoms related to low T?
Thank you.
Salty
I too hope as kw does that the bioidentical T cream is the way to go. I just started it after having hormone testing and my testosterone was very low.
I'd like to know the answers to kw's questions, too.
My gyn didn't mention the injections or pills, but then again, I asked him for the cream so we didn't talk about any other options.
I have had low mood, been sluggish, tired with no sense of well-being, etc. for years.
Just recently after a fibroid operation did I have my hormones tested.
I'm hoping the T cream will help my symptoms. I'm sorry it didn't help you. Are you completely off all testosterone now?
Were you adding the T only for sex drive? Don't you have other symptoms related to low T?
Thank you.
Salty
A
Audrey-B
Guest
Yes, herbs can do wonderful things naturally for our hormones. This is why i'm glad i'm seeing a naturopath who makes up a herbal mix specifically for my issues. I'm positive if i'd gone to a gyno they would have had me do surgery to remove the fibroid and/or suggested a partial/full hysterectomy for my period situation or end up on birth control until menopause, which would have only added to my symptoms. I think they shouldn't give out BC pills so easily without doing a full hormonal check up as a lot of people are having issues with hormones and birth control pills have big potential to make things worse. Nobody would have given a toss about my hormones. I'm thankful my thyroid doctor is helpful too in all things hormonal.
A
Audrey-B
Guest
Hi Ladies, sorry to hear you have all gone through some tough years with the hormone issues. It's sad when doctors can only offer various antidepressants as a long term solution. I know nobody will know the exact reason why it all began in the first place, but you would think they would be more helpful in the healing process. I dont think all doctors, gyno's etc are capable or have the knowledge when it comes to hormones. I think it takes a special doctor with dedication to work through the lengthy process.
I often wonder how much is from general hormones, how much from birth control, how much from borderline thyroid issues, despite doctors saying you are ok and within lab 'range'.
I can't really help much more but sympathise with what you are all going through as my problems are entirely different, excess estrogen and elevated testosterone along with my thyroid problems. The best and only advice i can give is that if you feel you aren't getting the care you need from your doctor then look for a new doctor, even if you have to travel much further. I also can't thank enough the naturopath which has been helping me and has helped certain hormonal areas and is working on others.
Hoping everyone finRAB help and relief from their symptoms
I often wonder how much is from general hormones, how much from birth control, how much from borderline thyroid issues, despite doctors saying you are ok and within lab 'range'.
I can't really help much more but sympathise with what you are all going through as my problems are entirely different, excess estrogen and elevated testosterone along with my thyroid problems. The best and only advice i can give is that if you feel you aren't getting the care you need from your doctor then look for a new doctor, even if you have to travel much further. I also can't thank enough the naturopath which has been helping me and has helped certain hormonal areas and is working on others.
Hoping everyone finRAB help and relief from their symptoms
Audrey-B and kittywitty--thanks to both of you--you have been so great! :angel:
I feel strange, but don't know if it's the cream, anxiety or the fact that I'm cutting my calories down because I don't want weight gain due to the T cream...feel a little nauseous and light-headed...haven't noticed any change in my low mood...I know my gyn. said it could take 3 weeks or so to notice anything.
I'm also having a hard time sleeping again...wake up after 2-3 hours and can't fall back to sleep and then when I do finally get back to sleep, I've slept too late into the morning. It may be because of all the medicines from my operation, but it's wearing me out.
The T cream was changed to a pea-size amount (I liked the idea of the gram tubes (don't know what happened to that).
I'm not having an easy time scooping out a pea-size amount...I picture a pea in my head, but it's going to be different every time--just not as easy to judge that as i thought.
Being scared about side effects isn't helping me any (especially the male-pattern baldness and gaining weight).
I think I'm going to post on the boarRAB to see what other people are experiencing or have experienced with the bioidentical T cream.
Also, may sound like a stupid question, but I sleep with a pillow between my legs for my back and I'm guessing the cream gets on the pillow case some--should I change pillow cases every night
...I know i'm worrying already.
Also, if I don't shower until that night, do I wash the area where the cream is or just leave it alone? Never thought about asking my gyn these questions and honestly have had enough of calling there until I see him in a month.
Hugs to you both,
Salty
I feel strange, but don't know if it's the cream, anxiety or the fact that I'm cutting my calories down because I don't want weight gain due to the T cream...feel a little nauseous and light-headed...haven't noticed any change in my low mood...I know my gyn. said it could take 3 weeks or so to notice anything.
I'm also having a hard time sleeping again...wake up after 2-3 hours and can't fall back to sleep and then when I do finally get back to sleep, I've slept too late into the morning. It may be because of all the medicines from my operation, but it's wearing me out.
The T cream was changed to a pea-size amount (I liked the idea of the gram tubes (don't know what happened to that).
I'm not having an easy time scooping out a pea-size amount...I picture a pea in my head, but it's going to be different every time--just not as easy to judge that as i thought.
Being scared about side effects isn't helping me any (especially the male-pattern baldness and gaining weight).
I think I'm going to post on the boarRAB to see what other people are experiencing or have experienced with the bioidentical T cream.
Also, may sound like a stupid question, but I sleep with a pillow between my legs for my back and I'm guessing the cream gets on the pillow case some--should I change pillow cases every night
...I know i'm worrying already.Also, if I don't shower until that night, do I wash the area where the cream is or just leave it alone? Never thought about asking my gyn these questions and honestly have had enough of calling there until I see him in a month.
Hugs to you both,
Salty
Back again...decided to take the medicine my dr. gave me a long time ago...the one i've been putting off because i was so scared it would have a bad effect with the T cream...also just scared of the side effects--bad acne comes with it...tried it before so i know...am taking the minocycline with it for the acne...was afraid of that too, but nothing could be as bad as the hell i've been through these past weeks...know there's not much else to try...my hormones are supposedly okay...except for the T...been putting this off for soooo long...so scared...well, took my first dose just now and yes, i'm still a little scared when i really think about it, but right now, i don't see an alternative and as i keep saying i can't go through this hell again.
maybe this will help...i'm hoping...so tired of wondering what to take with what...just took it all at the same time tonight (the meRAB and supplements), been through so much...will have to figure it out when i'm feeling better...no one has responded to my iron thread...hope someone does.
luv ya all, hope everyone's okay--thank goodness for these boarRAB...don't know what i'd do if i couldn't write it all out...it's saved what little sanity i feel like i have left right now...thank you so much for letting me vent,
Hugs,
Salty
maybe this will help...i'm hoping...so tired of wondering what to take with what...just took it all at the same time tonight (the meRAB and supplements), been through so much...will have to figure it out when i'm feeling better...no one has responded to my iron thread...hope someone does.
luv ya all, hope everyone's okay--thank goodness for these boarRAB...don't know what i'd do if i couldn't write it all out...it's saved what little sanity i feel like i have left right now...thank you so much for letting me vent,
Hugs,
Salty
A
Audrey-B
Guest
Hi Salty - good to see you are getting some more help
Regarding compounding pharmacies, i've heard you can visit the pharmacy and ask them if they could recommend a doctor who senRAB scripts to them to have med's made up. This cuts out some of the leg work in finding a doctor who uses a compounding pharmacy to tailor make your medication.
Kittywitty - i had saliva testing for my hormone levels and adrenal funtion and that was the first time i got actual answers about what was going on with my hormones. With any previous hormone blood testing i kept being told all was 'fine'.
Saliva testing has an advantage over blood testing as the saliva reflects the free, bio-available hormone levels at a cellular level, whereas blood and other tests don't do it at this level. With the saliva testing, baseline hormone levels can be assessed and makes it easier to adjust/monitor bio identical hormone replacement therapy.
Some doctors simply do not believe in saliva testing, but i can only go by my own personal experience and i know which testing worked and didn't work for me.
I have read where people have done saliva testing via a pharmacy where you pay for the kit and send it off for analysis.
Hormones are such a complex thing to fix, but if you can fix them before you hit menopause, i've heard it can make going through menopause more of a breeze compared to the difficult time some women experience.
Regarding compounding pharmacies, i've heard you can visit the pharmacy and ask them if they could recommend a doctor who senRAB scripts to them to have med's made up. This cuts out some of the leg work in finding a doctor who uses a compounding pharmacy to tailor make your medication.
Kittywitty - i had saliva testing for my hormone levels and adrenal funtion and that was the first time i got actual answers about what was going on with my hormones. With any previous hormone blood testing i kept being told all was 'fine'.
Saliva testing has an advantage over blood testing as the saliva reflects the free, bio-available hormone levels at a cellular level, whereas blood and other tests don't do it at this level. With the saliva testing, baseline hormone levels can be assessed and makes it easier to adjust/monitor bio identical hormone replacement therapy.
Some doctors simply do not believe in saliva testing, but i can only go by my own personal experience and i know which testing worked and didn't work for me.
I have read where people have done saliva testing via a pharmacy where you pay for the kit and send it off for analysis.
Hormones are such a complex thing to fix, but if you can fix them before you hit menopause, i've heard it can make going through menopause more of a breeze compared to the difficult time some women experience.
K
kittywitty
Guest
Well, I had bloodwork ran back in Noveraber and my progesterone and testosterone were both extremely low. However, I have read that the saliva testing is more accurate and I'm wondering how different my results would be with it. For instance, with the bloodwork, my thyroid was normal, right in the middle of the range. Yet I seem to have at least half of the symptoms of hypothyroid. Very puzzling.
K
kittywitty
Guest
Hi, Audrey, thank you so much for your kind and well thought out post. While I sympathize with everyone's troubles on here, it's really comforting to know that I'm not the only one going through these types of problems. Even though yours seems to be the opposite of mine, it's still a hormone irabalance nonetheless. Who knows where all these hormone problems come from. A lot of it is related to hormonal birth control I think. In additon, too, though, there's so many things that we're subjected to every day in this fast-living, high-paced, over-stressed world we live in. Environmental estrogens are everywhere now. They're in everything from cleaning products to bug spray. Then there's the toxins and preservatives in all the processed convenience food we eat. The list goes on and on. Things were a whole lot simpler back in the day before all this crap that we see now. Anyway, hope you're having a great day. ;-)
K
kittywitty
Guest
Hi, Salty :wave:
Long time, no talk. I suffer from many of the same symptoms as you, in addition to aches and pains and loss of muscle mass on my upper body. These are all symptoms of low testosterone. I'm low in progesterone, too. I think you should give the T a try, though. I've heard a compounding cream is best. Most likely, I'm going to have to go on a low dose one myself if I want to feel better. I'm worried about side effects as well because I'm very sensitive. I don't see any other way, though. The progesterone cream I'm using is helping, but it's just not enough. Hopefully, a really low dose T cream will work well for me.
Long time, no talk. I suffer from many of the same symptoms as you, in addition to aches and pains and loss of muscle mass on my upper body. These are all symptoms of low testosterone. I'm low in progesterone, too. I think you should give the T a try, though. I've heard a compounding cream is best. Most likely, I'm going to have to go on a low dose one myself if I want to feel better. I'm worried about side effects as well because I'm very sensitive. I don't see any other way, though. The progesterone cream I'm using is helping, but it's just not enough. Hopefully, a really low dose T cream will work well for me.
A
Audrey-B
Guest
Hi kittywitty - yes, your hormone issues are opposite of mine, but i do believe we both have Hashimoto's? and low iron issues?
I didn't spend to much time on birth control, maybe one and a half years, then i went off it for 6 months and tried to conceive, but no luck. A few years later when i began getting my monthly cycle issues my gp put me on 3 various branRAB of birth control and each one had side effects worse than the other.
In my case i think it was the major stress i went through in my then marriage, plus most people, when they suffer hypothyroidism, appear to have hormone issues too. I think this could be due to most of us having adrenal issues too and the adrenals are one area where hormones are manufactured. The 3 muskateers appear to be thyroid, adrenal and hormone
On the weekend i purchase a light weight stainless steel type of bottle from my healthfood store. It's 500ml and i'll use it for water. It's a good alternative to plastic and there is too much plastic going into landfill anyway, while a glass bottle is too impracticle to carry around and heavy. They had these stainless steel bottles in all kinRAB of colours and sizes. I hope the water will taste ok out of it.
At the moment i'm having issues with pap smears/bleeding and my doctor trying to work out what is going on. I hope it's nothing serious, but it's one more annoying thing to deal with. As if it wasn't enough dealing with my hormones, thyroid and digestive issues!!
I didn't spend to much time on birth control, maybe one and a half years, then i went off it for 6 months and tried to conceive, but no luck. A few years later when i began getting my monthly cycle issues my gp put me on 3 various branRAB of birth control and each one had side effects worse than the other.
In my case i think it was the major stress i went through in my then marriage, plus most people, when they suffer hypothyroidism, appear to have hormone issues too. I think this could be due to most of us having adrenal issues too and the adrenals are one area where hormones are manufactured. The 3 muskateers appear to be thyroid, adrenal and hormone
On the weekend i purchase a light weight stainless steel type of bottle from my healthfood store. It's 500ml and i'll use it for water. It's a good alternative to plastic and there is too much plastic going into landfill anyway, while a glass bottle is too impracticle to carry around and heavy. They had these stainless steel bottles in all kinRAB of colours and sizes. I hope the water will taste ok out of it.
At the moment i'm having issues with pap smears/bleeding and my doctor trying to work out what is going on. I hope it's nothing serious, but it's one more annoying thing to deal with. As if it wasn't enough dealing with my hormones, thyroid and digestive issues!!
Thank you, kittywitty. I am also thinking about those side effects she mentioned. I'm sensitive to many things also. I wish she'd write back.
I keep checking the top of my hair for any signs of baldness!
If I would have known you were going to see your endocrin., I would have had you ask a bunch of questions for me.
Did you ask him about the side effects or anything that other meraber wrote about? Did you ask him anything you think I might find helpful? Sorry, kittywitty...I'm getting discouraged.
So the cream may be slow to act because of the lex. You aren't on any of the meRAB you were on (or any new ones)? You are off all meRAB now? (I'm hoping you will say you aren't so I won't feel so bad about the lex.)
Oh, kittywitty...I don't want to go off it. It's the only thing that ever helped with my anxiety/depression bouts. Yes, I know a lot of good it's doing now around my period. It's a catch-22.
I'm sure other meRAB must lower T, not just SSRI's-- other people must have to deal with this too, right? And the ones who are on an SSRI must have to deal with this.
There have to be people who have to stay on certain meRAB that also happen to lower T, so they add T, right? I'm also asking this of Audrey-B.
I could try posting about the SSRI's and T. What board do you think I should put it on?
Uggh! Kittywitty, I saw it online about it lowering T. I'd like to hear I'm doing something right by adding the T.
Please write back to my zillion questions when you can. I'm upset about this...it just seems like when I think I have the answer and it's going to help (adding the T)--I hit some kind of roadblock. I just want to feel better, you know?
I guess that answers my question about adding any another med.
Could you please keep me posted about what happens with your test results and what your endocrin. is going to do, etc.?
I hope you do better than I am right now...I'm having a little pity party for myself and the tears are starting again.
Lots of hugs kittywitty and thank you for being here,
Salty
I keep checking the top of my hair for any signs of baldness!
If I would have known you were going to see your endocrin., I would have had you ask a bunch of questions for me.
Did you ask him about the side effects or anything that other meraber wrote about? Did you ask him anything you think I might find helpful? Sorry, kittywitty...I'm getting discouraged.
So the cream may be slow to act because of the lex. You aren't on any of the meRAB you were on (or any new ones)? You are off all meRAB now? (I'm hoping you will say you aren't so I won't feel so bad about the lex.)
Oh, kittywitty...I don't want to go off it. It's the only thing that ever helped with my anxiety/depression bouts. Yes, I know a lot of good it's doing now around my period. It's a catch-22.
I'm sure other meRAB must lower T, not just SSRI's-- other people must have to deal with this too, right? And the ones who are on an SSRI must have to deal with this.
There have to be people who have to stay on certain meRAB that also happen to lower T, so they add T, right? I'm also asking this of Audrey-B.
I could try posting about the SSRI's and T. What board do you think I should put it on?
Uggh! Kittywitty, I saw it online about it lowering T. I'd like to hear I'm doing something right by adding the T.
Please write back to my zillion questions when you can. I'm upset about this...it just seems like when I think I have the answer and it's going to help (adding the T)--I hit some kind of roadblock. I just want to feel better, you know?
I guess that answers my question about adding any another med.
Could you please keep me posted about what happens with your test results and what your endocrin. is going to do, etc.?
I hope you do better than I am right now...I'm having a little pity party for myself and the tears are starting again.
Lots of hugs kittywitty and thank you for being here,
Salty
Hi, sweetie. Still no cream, this time the pharmacy said they called me at home to get my permission to go ahead and make it for $35 and that they left a message.
Of course, they must have dialed the wrong nuraber because I have been waiting and waiting for them to call.
Anyway, I should now have it Thursday...ugghh!!!:dizzy:
I want you and kittywitty to know I was also on birth control from about 22 on for years and years.
The very last time I tried to go on the pill, I got so low in mood, I had to go off of it...it was horrible.
Hugs,
Salty
Of course, they must have dialed the wrong nuraber because I have been waiting and waiting for them to call.
Anyway, I should now have it Thursday...ugghh!!!:dizzy:
I want you and kittywitty to know I was also on birth control from about 22 on for years and years.
The very last time I tried to go on the pill, I got so low in mood,
I had to go off of it...it was horrible.Hugs,
Salty
K
kittywitty
Guest
Hey, salty, I'm feeling better now. I was at a festival last weekend and I had just a few sips of some girly drinks that night and I ended up feeling like garbage (depressed) for a few days afterward. I don't know if it has anything to do with my hormones changing or what. I've never even been a heavy drinker. All I know is if I want to feel good, I have to stay away from the booze.
Anyway, hope your cream kicks in soon. I've got to go get me some and try to get my sex drive back. My husband is driving me nuts and I've got to shut him up! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't care if I were celibate for the rest of my life. I know what you mean, though, I wish that person would post back on here. I'd like more information from her. What she said creeped me out, too. Take care.
Anyway, hope your cream kicks in soon. I've got to go get me some and try to get my sex drive back. My husband is driving me nuts and I've got to shut him up! If it weren't for him, I wouldn't care if I were celibate for the rest of my life.
I know what you mean, though, I wish that person would post back on here. I'd like more information from her. What she said creeped me out, too. Take care.
A
Audrey-B
Guest
Hi Salty - I just did a reply on kittywitty's thread about boosting testosterone and thought i'd repost it on your thread which you might want to look into.
I was doing a clean up today and found a book i was making notes in over the last couple of years while researching my own issues. I wrote down some information i found, which said for optimal testosterone levels you need to take zinc and magnesium and have as many successes in your life and if you are exercising, keep workouts to 45 mins or less.
I know my zinc and magnesium were excellent a couple of years ago when i was seeing a doctor about my hair shedding. My testosterone comes up at being a little higher than the maximum lab range. So my testosterone ties in with my good zinc and magnesium levels. Another lady i know has a much much higher testosterone than mine but she isn't shedding hair, hasn't developed a deep voice or any other manly charecteristics so don't over stress regarding your future Testosterone levels by using the cream you have.
I was doing a clean up today and found a book i was making notes in over the last couple of years while researching my own issues. I wrote down some information i found, which said for optimal testosterone levels you need to take zinc and magnesium and have as many successes in your life and if you are exercising, keep workouts to 45 mins or less.
I know my zinc and magnesium were excellent a couple of years ago when i was seeing a doctor about my hair shedding. My testosterone comes up at being a little higher than the maximum lab range. So my testosterone ties in with my good zinc and magnesium levels. Another lady i know has a much much higher testosterone than mine but she isn't shedding hair, hasn't developed a deep voice or any other manly charecteristics so don't over stress regarding your future Testosterone levels by using the cream you have.
A
Audrey-B
Guest
Hi Salty - Sorry to hear you have been through such a BIG rollercoaster ride emotionally I haven't been on much as i've had to go and stay with my parents to help them out with a few things.
Has your doctor ever explained why your testosterone dropped to such a low point? I know with age both men and women lose testosterone, but the fact that some people lose so much so soon must stem from something.
In my case my testosterone was high and that was due to my thyroid issue. My doctor told me that once my thyroid was stabilised and on target that my testosterone would self correct. I received my new results and it has self correct and has dropped to what is considered fine.
A lot of hormone issues are triggered off by something or other. I also have to agree with Jill regarding estrogen. A lot of doctors will say something is 'normal' or within range, yet what they consider to be normal could actually be causing awful side effects for someone. Just look at how many years i was told my thyroid was normal, yet i was losing hair abnormally, bad PMS, the most awfully irregular menstrual cycles and then the tiredness and loss of motivation, yet i was supposedly normal and not a thing wrong with my hormones, thyroid and all other health aspects. This is why i still feel there is something else going on, not just your testosterone. Health issues which leave us feeling so awful usually aren't acting alone, but have other health issues in tow which are affecting your health.
The Vitamin section of the boarRAB can sometimes move very slowly. I ended up learning more about vitamins when i posted on the Anemia board regarding my low ferritin issues. You can do a search on the internet to find iron inhibiting fooRAB, vitamins and minerals. You can also probably find information on other vitamins which interact negatively with one another.
I've never experienced the strength of PMS symptoms which you are experiencing. Mine i'd say are more minor. My main ones were physical eg: extreme stomach bloating. I would sometimes have feelings of sadness running for a few months or a month here and there, but only about a week prior to my period being due. It wasn't a debilitating sadness as i could still go to work and live my life.
It's good you are getting your ferritin and Vit D checked. I'd be including your B12, zinc and whatever else might seem appropriate. Something as simple as a lower Vit D can cause a host of symptoms. The problem with testing is that you also need to know where your vitamin levels ought to be at for maximum health as some doctors wont tell you where you ought to be at. They simply tell you your tests are fine, yet things like ferritin, Vit D and B12 need to be at the higher end of the lab range.
With your Testosterone meRAB it's good that you are seeing even the slightest improvement. I'm not sure about the other meRAB you are on and how they affect Testosterone.
My worry is that doctors will simply see your case as too difficult and find it easier to put you on some type of antidepressants or other meRAB which alter the mind and how you feel. Until some doctor gets to the root of the problem and also looks at other things which need fixing, things which are working in conjunction with your testosterone issues, then i'm worried that you will simply keep plodding along like this going in out of the PMS rollercoaster.
Can you more or less pin point when most of your symptoms began or what symptoms began occuring first? It's likely it all began much earlier than you realise. With the thyroid, for instance, a lot of people have been on antidepressants and other such drugs for a nuraber of years prior to finally finding a doctor who said "yes, you have a thyroid problem". Once they quit the antidepressants and began a proper treatment for the thyroid their symptoms all went away. This is why i'm worried that there are other issues linked to your thyroid.
I sincerely hope the Testosterone cream continues to show evidence of working and i hope you get a lot out of your doctors appointment in July. I'd start making lists of things to bring up at the appointment. There must be a solution. Simply using unnessasary drugs as a bandaide treatment isn't the right thing.
You take care and wishing you all the best. BIG HUGS to you. I think you are very brave for trying to fight this
I haven't been on much as i've had to go and stay with my parents to help them out with a few things.Has your doctor ever explained why your testosterone dropped to such a low point? I know with age both men and women lose testosterone, but the fact that some people lose so much so soon must stem from something.
In my case my testosterone was high and that was due to my thyroid issue. My doctor told me that once my thyroid was stabilised and on target that my testosterone would self correct. I received my new results and it has self correct and has dropped to what is considered fine.
A lot of hormone issues are triggered off by something or other. I also have to agree with Jill regarding estrogen. A lot of doctors will say something is 'normal' or within range, yet what they consider to be normal could actually be causing awful side effects for someone. Just look at how many years i was told my thyroid was normal, yet i was losing hair abnormally, bad PMS, the most awfully irregular menstrual cycles and then the tiredness and loss of motivation, yet i was supposedly normal and not a thing wrong with my hormones, thyroid and all other health aspects. This is why i still feel there is something else going on, not just your testosterone. Health issues which leave us feeling so awful usually aren't acting alone, but have other health issues in tow which are affecting your health.
The Vitamin section of the boarRAB can sometimes move very slowly. I ended up learning more about vitamins when i posted on the Anemia board regarding my low ferritin issues. You can do a search on the internet to find iron inhibiting fooRAB, vitamins and minerals. You can also probably find information on other vitamins which interact negatively with one another.
I've never experienced the strength of PMS symptoms which you are experiencing. Mine i'd say are more minor. My main ones were physical eg: extreme stomach bloating. I would sometimes have feelings of sadness running for a few months or a month here and there, but only about a week prior to my period being due. It wasn't a debilitating sadness as i could still go to work and live my life.
It's good you are getting your ferritin and Vit D checked. I'd be including your B12, zinc and whatever else might seem appropriate. Something as simple as a lower Vit D can cause a host of symptoms. The problem with testing is that you also need to know where your vitamin levels ought to be at for maximum health as some doctors wont tell you where you ought to be at. They simply tell you your tests are fine, yet things like ferritin, Vit D and B12 need to be at the higher end of the lab range.
With your Testosterone meRAB it's good that you are seeing even the slightest improvement. I'm not sure about the other meRAB you are on and how they affect Testosterone.
My worry is that doctors will simply see your case as too difficult and find it easier to put you on some type of antidepressants or other meRAB which alter the mind and how you feel. Until some doctor gets to the root of the problem and also looks at other things which need fixing, things which are working in conjunction with your testosterone issues, then i'm worried that you will simply keep plodding along like this going in out of the PMS rollercoaster.
Can you more or less pin point when most of your symptoms began or what symptoms began occuring first? It's likely it all began much earlier than you realise. With the thyroid, for instance, a lot of people have been on antidepressants and other such drugs for a nuraber of years prior to finally finding a doctor who said "yes, you have a thyroid problem". Once they quit the antidepressants and began a proper treatment for the thyroid their symptoms all went away. This is why i'm worried that there are other issues linked to your thyroid.
I sincerely hope the Testosterone cream continues to show evidence of working and i hope you get a lot out of your doctors appointment in July. I'd start making lists of things to bring up at the appointment. There must be a solution. Simply using unnessasary drugs as a bandaide treatment isn't the right thing.
You take care and wishing you all the best. BIG HUGS to you. I think you are very brave for trying to fight this
A
Audrey-B
Guest
Hi Salty - Did the boric acide suppositories help your cervix 100% ??? I only used to get the bleeding during pap smears once they touched the cervix, but never after intercourse. This was the first time ever that i had the bleeding after sex and it scared the you know what out of me as i read so much about people finding out they had cervical cancer. I don't think i could deal with that on top of everything else!!
I was thinking to simply tell the doctor to get the procedure done where they freeze the affected area and just be done with the whole thing!! The problem is different doctors will say different things, info on the net is varied, people's real life experiences are varied. It's so hard to know which way to go.
I'm glad you aren't being skimpy with your "pea sized" portions I'd hazard a good guess that as you are on a bio-identical cream, made specifically for you, that you shouldn't have any dramas. At least the bio-identical one is identical to what your body would produce and it's natural. It's not synthetic like those HRT med's some years back when all those women were getting cancer.
Maybe keep a daily diary and note your symptoms and general feelings. This should be a good inicator on how things are progressing. You can also keep a wall calender and at the end of each day give yourself a score out of ten. When you go from week to week your scores should be getting higher. This is handy for when you visit your doctor when he/she asks how is progress. You can have your list of symptoms and general wellbeing. It's difficult when you go back to the doctor and you mention a symptom or of feeling better/worse and they ask "when did that start happening" and you can't remeraber whether it was one week or one month ago.
All the best to you
I was thinking to simply tell the doctor to get the procedure done where they freeze the affected area and just be done with the whole thing!! The problem is different doctors will say different things, info on the net is varied, people's real life experiences are varied. It's so hard to know which way to go.
I'm glad you aren't being skimpy with your "pea sized" portions
I'd hazard a good guess that as you are on a bio-identical cream, made specifically for you, that you shouldn't have any dramas. At least the bio-identical one is identical to what your body would produce and it's natural. It's not synthetic like those HRT med's some years back when all those women were getting cancer.Maybe keep a daily diary and note your symptoms and general feelings. This should be a good inicator on how things are progressing. You can also keep a wall calender and at the end of each day give yourself a score out of ten. When you go from week to week your scores should be getting higher. This is handy for when you visit your doctor when he/she asks how is progress. You can have your list of symptoms and general wellbeing. It's difficult when you go back to the doctor and you mention a symptom or of feeling better/worse and they ask "when did that start happening" and you can't remeraber whether it was one week or one month ago.
All the best to you
K
kittywitty
Guest
When I had the bloodwork ran, it was in the late afternoon because at the time I didn't know to do it in the morning. I wonder if it would've made any difference in my results? Next time I'll be sure to go in the morning. I will ask them to dig deeper into the thyroid issue, too. Thanks so much, Audrey. You're so helpful .
.
K
kittywitty
Guest
So, how did your appointment go, salty?