Just wondering if anyone has had their hormones tested privately and if they had any benefit in doing this? I have ibs and hormone issues and have since I was 15. The doctors wont help me and i'm looking into hormone testing. Some of my syptoms over the years have been depression, mood swings, acne, sleep problems, excessive sweating even though I am fit and exercise frequently, fatigue (still feeling exhausted after 15 hours sleep), unexplainable anger, panic attacks, feeling weepy for no reason, I am very active, eat organic foods, have low sugar intake etc etc and have changed my lifestyle to try and help... getting frustrated. can anyone help?
Hello! I'm from Texas in the U.S. Yes, I'v had my hormones tested privately. I went thrue a compounding pharmacy an bought a saliva kit an spit in a test tube an mailed it off. Took two wks. The lab sent results to me via email an to the compounding pharmacist I'm working with. All this came about back in Aug of 2014 didn't have a period. Last period was July 2014. Im 46. Iv NEVER had female problems. Got pregnant first try 3 times. Periods every 28 days without fail. Paps always normal. So August went by no period then Sept, then Oct. I developed bad depression. Ob/Gyn decided to test FSH. Showed 111 which is i had begun menopause. I was stunned an upset. I felt like a shriveled old lady. Cried. Why so upset I dont know except really depressed an had anxiety an palpitations. Moody. So wanted more natural hormones not synthetic (a one pill fits all thing!) An only what I needed. So did saliva test. Showed I was very low in progesterone an low in estrogen. I was estrogen dominate. Testosterone was ok. So started bio-identical hormone therapy on Nov.26th. Vaginal suppository. 40 mg progesterone,0.05 estradiol an 0.2mg of estriol. You cant get that with a one size fits all pills or patches. A compounding pharmacy makes prescriptions taylor made for patients. A regular pharmacy cant do that. I was told could take up to 3-4 mnths for hormones to regulate. You go by symptom relief. I unfortunately started Lexapro around same time an cant tell if hormones or Lexapro. Not crying all time but bouts of anger an irritated still around. I think its fr Lexapro so I've been tapering off slowly. Was on 10mg for 7wks. But no real light bulb turned on feeling. Just blah. I think its the Lexapro. Just not for me. So on day 7 of 5mg instead of 10. Brain zaps an headaches an dizziness couple times a day. After Lexapro gets out of my system,Ill see how I feel for couple wks after. Sometimes hormones need to be adjusted if symptoms still present. Goodluck!
Zio
Wanted to add that dr had to write prescription then gave it to compounding pharmacist who made the suppository.
Hi Mairi. why do'nt you write down all you symptoms, date, sign and give it to your doctors? Ther' may be indeed an hormonal imbalance. For this your best bet is VITEX (800mg/day, it's a long term suplement and takes 5-6 moths to become fully effective) and evening primrose (1000mg/day) + Omega 3(3000mg/day) . Since you endorse a healthy lifestyle why don't you look for a homepath or comprehensive naturopatic medicine doctor? One that is there for you a sees you as a whole? All the best.