Nothing like starting your day with a bee in your bonnet…
The first thing I saw when I opened my computer this morning was a response to an article I had written about hormone balancing.
The responder shared the following heartbreaking story:
Thank you for your post. I hope vibrant days are ahead. I too am a nurse. Despite 15+ years of nursing, I never knew the scope of hormones and their function. After a total hysterectomy in Dec 2005 I felt OK for the first year but things began to change. Symptoms began to appear and I was first told it was due to stress, then depression. Now after a 40 lb weight gain despite the fact I exercise and eat only 1000 calories/day the doctors think I am lying about what I eat. All the hair on my arms and legs as well as the outer third of my eyebrow hair fell off a year ago and have not regrown but they can’t explain why. My thyroid tests were fine. They assure me it is not related to hormones or the hysterectomy. I am fatigued, moody, hot, forgetful, constipated and the list goes on. I have seen several doctors and they feel it is all related to stress. My son had surgery last fall and my husband is serving in Iraq. I have quit my job and do not feel stressed at all but feel worse than ever. The only stress is that I can’t figure out what is wrong with me! I was starting to wonder if I really was losing my mind but now realize it could all be due to a hormone imbalance! I have ordered a saliva test kit and several books on hormones and hope to educate myself and perhaps a few MD’s. Again, thanks for reminding us there is a rainbow after this storm.
My reply:
Here is the thing I am compelled to tell you: YES! There IS a rainbow after this storm!! I am so proud of you for getting the test kit and starting to research. You will be amazed at what you will uncover!! You have got to do the research because chances are, you won’t find the help you need in the traditional medical community. I would suggest that you not only look at your sex hormones – look at your adrenals and thyroid also! I started out only supplementing with progesterone and felt so good because my progesterone was so low – my thyroid tests always came back “within normal limits.” NOT SO! When I did the entire comprehensive panel this year and shared my results with an expert who understands hormone balance and endocrinology, I learned that I am hypothyroid. Ahh, so all those symptoms, a list of 15 or so, were NOT just from the normal aging process (I am 57). I feel GREAT and so can you – it is just a matter of finding the right physician who totally understands bioidentical hormone balancing – and understands the interconnectedness of ALL of the hormones: sex, adrenal, and thyroid!! I don’t know where you are located? I am in southern Indiana where Dr. Whitney Gabhart, ND, conducts fabulous seminars: “Hormones 101, Feeling Fat, Fatigued, and Female?” I am working with her to figure out a way to video her presentations or skype them in order to reach more women. We are also in the process of writing a book on all of this. She is an ND and in Indiana NDs cannot write prescriptions, so she works as an educational assistant to local physicians. You can also get help from Dr. Shames through the Canary Club. Books I would recommend are Drs. Richard and Karilee Shames’Feeling Fat, Fuzzy, and Frazzled? and Dr. John Lee/Virginia Hopkins’ Hormone Balance Made Simple. Both good places to start. My book that is soon to be released is designed to help women realize that there is such a wonderful life ahead – they just have to be aware and know where to get help and what to do. Another comment, you and I were not “fine” or we would not have had hysterectomies. Years of imbalance brought that on. When I read your list of symptoms, I can see all of them printed in the tables in any hormone balancing book you pick up. You are on to something, and I will tell you what it is – it’s wonderful days ahead for you. You are on the right path!
Every day thousands of women suffer needlessly as a result of hormone imbalance, something that can be remedied with the help of a knowledgeable health care practitioner and a plan of action.
As we awaken, one by one, together we will stop this needless suffering. We will change lives, restoring quality of life for all women everywhere.
Exogenous hormones (some made from horse urine) have been proven to cause a lot of other problems, like fibroids and even cancer. There’s a great book about all this stuff called The H Word available on Amazon or through the HERS Foundation.
Denise, THANK YOU! I just ordered it and can’t wait to read! It is funny how this happened…I have had a couple items in my Amazon shopping basket for over a week, just waiting to figure out one more book to buy in order to get the super saver shipping. I am addicted to books and have so many, just couldn’t think of one more…and then comes your message! No coincidences! Thank you! : )
Hello. I just joined the Canary Club and am in tears. I have been ‘suffering’. I was diagnosed in 2005 as having hypothyroidism and was put on a compounded T3/T4 30mg capsule. I have been on that since. Based on blood work, my endocrinologist has kept me on the same capsule. It wasn’t until I went to him with other ‘challenges” (constipation, fatigue, heavy periods, brain fog) that he just prescribed bio-identical progesterone cream. He didn’t even listen to me. I just didn’t feel right about slapping some cream on with no reason so I did the saliva test with Diagnosis Tech and it came back I am estrogen dominant/low progesterone. I wanted some guidance so I went to a naturopathic doctor. She put me on a sublingual progesterone pellet. When my levels get low, I get a migraine. I still have low energy, fatigue, anxiety/panic, and heavy periods… I don’t know what else to do. My husband is trying to be supportive but he wants “ME” back… I just turned 37 and this has been going on since last October, 08 with the symptoms recently getting worse…
I feel like I am loosing my mind. I am tired of being tired and getting migraines and I can’t imagine the next 20 or so years has to be like this….
I am open to suggestions. I have seen many doctors and the naturopath is the only one who is listening to me… My primary doctor put me on Wellbutrin and Klonopin and I didn’t do well at all with either of these… My employer is not very sympathetic… Please, any advice is appreciated.
Hi Lori,
Tonight I wrote my daily blog article addressing your comments. I thought it might be easier to respond there because I could cut and paste some info into it that I think will be of help. I hope the information is helpful to you. Yes, you can feel better!