Bio-identical hormones

[Miss Behaving]

Bio-identical hormones

This is such an interesting thread and completely new ideas for me. DG - is your Dr a traditional medico type or more like a homeopath?? I tend to avoid Drs as much as possible except for the necessary stuff.

I'm really interested because I've suspected for some months now that I'm pre-menopausal and some events of the last couple of weeks have made me even more certain! (the really black mood that I was in, plus the obvious reason ) I've had really bad endometriosis since my mid-20s, and I've read elsewhere that that can play havoc with hormone production. Have had several bouts of surgery, but resisted the complete hysteroctemy that some stupid surgeon wanted me to have about 5-6 years ago - mainly because I had read about the risks in relation to hormone production. So have put up with a fair amount of endometriosis pain since then, but look forward to menopause for an end to it all!!

Anyway, it strikes me that this is a good time to make sure that all of that stuff is in balance ...... and I've never really read anything about thyroid etc, so I might make it my mission to read a bit more over the next wee while

thanks for all this info!!

[beatle]

Bio-identical hormones

Actually, I started a thread on thyroid issues related to alcohol problems, a while ago, I think it was on the General Discussion forum but can't find it now.

I lost it all in the fuss of overcoming alcohol addiction, but I have done a good bit of research. There is a book called "Your Guide to Metabolic Health" by Gina Honeyman-Lowe and John C. Lowe-- but it seems to be unavailable at the moment, perhaps due to their divorce and ensuing legal actions. It is a very detailed and helpful book if you can get a hold of it.

For more info, you can also visit:
drlowe.com---fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, thyroid hormone resistance

I'm still in the early stages of figuring this out...even though I do believe the two-- thyroid and alcohol-- are interrelated.

Thank you all for the input. Please keep posting as you find new things out!

[beatle]

Bio-identical hormones

Oh yeah, DG, thank you for all that info... the problem is finding a doc who will understand this. The StoptheThyroidMadness site is so great. But it shows you how desperate the situation is for those who suffer. Where I live, even so-called experts declare the TSH reading as the only indicator of a metabolic imbalance. As you know, experts in the U.S. don't even bother about the TSH reading. We are sadly left up to our own resources here.

[beatle]

Bio-identical hormones

Oh (again), and FMS, would you mind elucidating on that adrenal cycle. It sounds right on the button for me, but I'm not sure I understand it. How do you know that is what is happening. What do yo do about it?

enough from me tonight!

[Doggygirl]

Bio-identical hormones

Hi again all.

Mame, my doc is sort of interesting. She is an MD (so a traditional medical doctor, at least that's how she started out) and has had a family practice for quite some time. When she herself went through menopause a few years ago she had HORRIBLE problems. Her hot flashes were so bad (upwards of 70 hot flashes per day at the worst stage) that she could barely function, let alone run a medical practice. That's what started her doing research on the whole hormone topic. So...in effect she was her own first patient. She has split her practice off into two part - the "Family Practice" part, and the "Docname Institute" part which is where she does the less traditional hormone work. It's quite interesting - my insurance covers procedures and appointments with her that are "mainstream" such as pap smears and mole removals. It covered the blood tests for the thyroid levels, but not the consultation. It did NOT cover the saliva test for all the other hormones including adrenals, cortisol, estrogen (various types), testosterone.

LOL tomorrow I'm getting my stitches removed (covered) but also expect to be told to up the Armour by a 1/2 grain. Nanny Nanny Boo Boo to the insurance company who will unknowingly reimburse for probably 5 minutes of hormone advice!! (Lila - how long ago did you switch from Synthroid to Armour? I get the feeling more is learned all the time about how to best introduce Armour either initially, or as a transition from other synthetic hormones...)

Long story short Mame - I feel like I'm getting the best of both worlds - MD AND naturopath or something like that. She is also very into nutrition and how that fits in. She has me on a very strong detox level pro-biotic for 60 days (I'm about 1/2 done with that) then will switch to another probiotic. She actually switches probiotics winter and summer too. She is also an advocate of vitamin D3 - lots of new info about significant benefits to that.

Anyway, I will be glad to get the Armour inched up to where it has more of an impact. She will only go up 1/2 grain every two weeks so as not to shock the existing function of my thyroid. I want the benefits, dangit!!

beatle, have you looked on either the anti-aging web site that I linked up thread to see if there is a doc on that directory in your area? Or on the Armour physician locator? Physician Locate

Sadly, I've read about people traveling MANY MANY miles to get to a good hormone doc. I'm lucky I found one close to home.

I'll let you know what happens tomorrow at our appointment.

DG

[Doggygirl]

Bio-identical hormones

Just a brief progress report before I'm off to the shower post Curves!!

I talked to the doc on Thursday which marked 2 weeks on Armour Thyroid and 1 week on the progesterone and estrogen compounds. Based on my feedback she adjusted the Armour up from .5 grain to .75 grain per day (I expected that - it's adviseable to titrate up slow on that). She also kept me on the same total dose of progesterone, but shifted so the evening dose is bigger and the morning dose smaller. And she upped the estrogen both times - still equal doses morning and evening.

WOW!! Now I think I'm beginning to understand what women talk about when they describe the change in energy level when the hormones start coming into balance. I'm sure we still have more balancing to do - that would be quite normal from everything I understand. But holy moly!! I still woke up several times last night, but fell back to sleep right away, and feel very well rested and Disgustingly Perky this morning. And we'll see if my metabolism is correcting itself - need more than 1.5 days to get a good feel there, however something that weighs over 2 pounds fell off of me in 2 days. (and I'll gladly take that!!)

So...I have no doubt that this path will be longer before we have the perfect combination of hormones in hand. But things are moving in the right direction - at least that's how it feels.

For whatever that's worth...

DG

[Dolly Sunshine]

Bio-identical hormones

This is very interesting. Keep it coming.

[Tiny]

Bio-identical hormones

I want to read this whole thread in detail (and will) but it is a busy weekend... I have been on Armour for 10 years now... our thyroid is basically our thermostat.... it is the reason so many of our body chemistries go awry... more later... thanks DG for starting this thread...

All together now --- DG ROCKS!

[Doggygirl]

Bio-identical hormones

Tiny;358196 wrote: I want to read this whole thread in detail (and will) but it is a busy weekend... I have been on Armour for 10 years now... our thyroid is basically our thermostat.... it is the reason so many of our body chemistries go awry... more later... thanks DG for starting this thread...

Tiny, I am VERY interested in hearing about your experience on Armour though 10 years. Things like...how long did it take to initially get your dose right? How often do you have your blood levels tested, and how often do you find you have to adjust doseage? Any negative side effects in 10 years time? etc. etc. etc. I'm also curious whether you test your other hormone systems (esterogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, cortisol..are there others?) or if you are only working with Thyroid. I'm finding this to be facinating.

It makes me angry at the main stream medical community at large that we have to do all this work on our own to find relatively simple and inexpensive treatments for such a common problem. If it's not patentable, the pharmaceutical companies aren't interested - in fact they want to derail natural alternative. And the majority of docs don't fight for this stuff (nor in many cases even understand it!) either. The US health care system truly is f*%&ed up.

DG

[Doggygirl]

Bio-identical hormones

Oh - and FWIW, I have not taken any L-Tryptophan (or GABA or any other mood enhancer kind of stuff) since Friday, and my moods seem to be stabilizing. I still have more energy in the AM than the afternoon / evening, but this last adjustment seemed to make it better and I would imagine it will continue to improve with future adjustments.

DG

[Tiny]

Bio-identical hormones

DG -- it appears as if you have found a very good Dr.

A quick summary of my Thyroid condition:

1996 (I was 28) had severe fatigue, dry skin, constripation -- typical low thyroid symptoms. Funny, at this point my love affair with wine had not begun.

My blood work did NOT indicate a thyroid imbalance -- most Drs. use that as the only test. We tested my body Temp. for two weeks and I was waking up with a 92 degree body Temp. She put me on 90 mg. of Armour and also Prozac -- my PMS was out of control and it really did help. We also tried several attempts at birth control bills but they made me soooooo sick. Finally, only about two years ago we found Yasmin and I am on it continuously (no week of a period)

Here we are 12 years later -- still on 90mg Armour -- but my drinking did not escalate until the Anti-depressants -- I have been on Prozac, Effexor and now Lexapro. My Dr. has since added Seroquel. I take Evening Primose Oil (highly recommend). But I go though phases -I have benver been diagnosed bi-polar but I have been living on a chemical roller coaster for in my opinion too long. I am drinking wine again -- I seem can only last two weeks -- for now... let me know if you have questions...

[Doggygirl]

Bio-identical hormones

Hi Tiny. Thanks so much for posting. I have about 3956749657 questions - I hope you don't mind!! Thank you in advance for whatever you don't mind answering. I realize some of this stuff is personal...so I understand if there is anything you DON'T feel like answering.

Sounds like you have been on quite a rollercoaster for the last 12 years - shit - I'd have stuck my head in a bottle of wine too! This stuff just makes me :egad: the more I learn about it.

1. How often does your doc test your thyroid levels (and what tests - TSH? FT3 and FT4 I hope?) to make sure your dose of Armour is correct over time? (I don't know yet what is "normal" for this assuming one is with a doc who is wise to this stuff) and side note - holy moly no kidding a 92 degree AM temp screams low thyroid!! That's scary low.

2. Has you doc ever suggested testing your other hormones to see if you are out of whack in other areas? (can contribute to depression, mood swings, etc.) I would be hoppin' mad if I found out I had been taking chemicals (Prozak or other AD's) only to find out that hormone imbalances that can be corrected with the exact same hormones your body produces (or should) naturally could have solved the problem partially or in full.

3. Do you feel like the Armour has corrected all of your thyroid related symptoms?

As much as many people think of Suzanne Somers as a ditz either due to the color of her hair in general, or due to the role on Three's Company that made her famous - there is some merit to her book the Sexy Years and other writing she's done on this topic from first hand experience. On my first appt. with this doc, she asked how I had heard about bio-identical hormones, etc. and I mentioned Suzanne Somers as one source thinking she would laugh me right out of her office. She didn't - she just nodded her head and said "yep" - at that point we knew we were at least on the same page for discussion.

Anyway...that's all for starters. (in yet another DG novel...sorry!!)

DG

[Tiny]

Bio-identical hormones

. How often does your doc test your thyroid levels (and what tests - TSH? FT3 and FT4 I hope?) to make sure your dose of Armour is correct over time? (I don't know yet what is "normal" for this assuming one is with a doc who is wise to this stuff) and side note - holy moly no kidding a 92 degree AM temp screams low thyroid!! That's scary low. DG -- I now have them tested every 6 months

2. Has you doc ever suggested testing your other hormones to see if you are out of whack in other areas? (can contribute to depression, mood swings, etc.) I would be hoppin' mad if I found out I had been taking chemicals (Prozak or other AD's) only to find out that hormone imbalances that can be corrected with the exact same hormones your body produces (or should) naturally could have solved the problem partially or in full. Well,now I am going to look into other testing!!!

3. Do you feel like the Armour has corrected all of your thyroid related symptoms? Armour has regulated me... but I went through a divorce and them moved for a new job and I think I blew out my adrenals. I went from 128pounds to 145 (minds you the bottle of wine a day did not help.)

As much as many people think of Suzanne Somers as a ditz either due to the color of her hair in general, or due to the role on Three's Company that made her famous - there is some merit to her book the Sexy Years and other writing she's done on this topic from first hand experience. On my first appt. with this doc, she asked how I had heard about bio-identical hormones, etc. and I mentioned Suzanne Somers as one source thinking she would laugh me right out of her office. She didn't - she just nodded her head and said "yep" - at that point we knew we were at least on the same page for discussion. I'm going to buy her book! Another good book is Potatoes Not Prozac... talks about regulating blood sugar ... by chance are you low-blood sugar?

[Doggygirl]

Bio-identical hormones

Tiny;358894 wrote: Another good book is Potatoes Not Prozac... talks about regulating blood sugar ... by chance are you low-blood sugar?[/COLOR]

I actually have that book (but have yet to read it cover to cover!) and many other low carb, blood sugar, and Diabetes related books. My father has Diabetes (T2) as did his mother so there is family tree reasons to quit the booze and watch what I eat. If anything, I worry about high blood sugar - it's in the genes. I always feel much much better when eating low carb. Now I am going to queue up "Potatoes Not Prozak" for a long overdue read!! I have at least one other book by that author and now I can't remember what it is. (I'm bad with names of authors, actors, etc.) A drinking related book perhaps??

It's great to be able to compare notes on this stuff. Thanks for the answers to those questions!! I sort of figured blood testing every 6 months would be a sensible time frame.

If your (or anyone else's in the US) insurance does not cover your thyroid testing and you want to explore the least expensive options for getting it done, this is an interesting source. Thyroid Screenings - Thyroid Panel II
Of course you still need a doc to prescribe meds, and to interpret the results if you don't know what you are looking for. Actually at this point, I would know what I was looking for in terms of desired test results for ME.

DG

[Dolly Sunshine]

Bio-identical hormones

Very interesting. Thanks Tiny and DG.