Hormones

EileenV · Post by **EileenV** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 4:21 am

Hi,

I wanted to share a bit of info with anyone who may be going through a hormone shift in their life. And I want to thank MichiganMom for posting about this months ago. Her post brought it to my attention and I have found an enormous source of help from this. And now I want to share my experience for anyone that this may relate to.

After finding many resources to help me with my anxiety, including Lucinda's program which has been extremely helpful, I have learned that my hormones have been the biggest source of my anxiety difficulties.

Estrogen is the "energy" hormone. Progesterone is the "calming" hormone. I had 0 progesterone in my body, which was causing an internal tremble and much of my anxiety symptoms. I now take "Bio-identical progesterone" and probably 95%+ of my anxiety is gone. Only a naturopathic physician will work with Bio-Identical hormones, fyi.

I also wanted to share another piece of info with you that may help the younger folks. I thought that my hormone issues were due to my age (46). Then I met a woman (now in her 40's, I think) who was listening to my story. She began to tell me her story. She was 20 years old and was hospitalized (during the 1980's) for her hormone imbalance. Her estrogen was off the charts and she had 0 progesterone. They had to give her Xanux and other anxiety meds to keep her calm while they brought her progesterone levels back to normal. It took quite a while for her hormone levels to balance out. Now she is older and owns her own business and has NO difficulties with hormones, anxiety, etc.

If your anxiety revolves around your menstrual cycle or you notice a pattern during this time, you may consider having your hormone levels checked out.

Hope this has been helpful.

All the best,
Eileen

little italy · Post by **little italy** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 5:43 am

I to have hormone problems. I'm 35 and in november of 2004 had a total hysterectomy. I tryed many HRTs(pills, shots, patches, and natural stuff from gnc). The natural stuff didn't work and I didn't like all the side affects that the RX meds gave me. In Feb. last year I took myself off the patch I was on. Not long after that(about 3 months) is when my anxiety started getting real bad. Now I can't leave the house to see my dr. about it. I'm scared of the HRT but then again I'm sure it's safe to not take anything?! If anyone has any suggestions PLEASE let me know,I would LOVE to here them! The program is starting to help me with my anxiety, but I don't know what to do about the hormone problem. My grandmother had breast cancer years ago and thats one of the main reasons the HRT scares me!

newrunner · Post by **newrunner** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 6:02 am

Hi there-

I also found that my anxiety really revolved around what week of the month it was, etc. And was super bad after I had a miscarriage and then got my period again, and then again after my last son quit nursing.

I also hunted around and found a compounding pharmacist in my area that specializes in women's hormone balancing. I take bio-identical progesterone, and it's a godsend. My husband wanted to send flowers to the pharmacist after I started. It gave me my life back. No longer did I look for death around every corner.

Unlike, Eileen, I go to regular OB/GYN who consults with this pharmacist and they trust each other and work together for patients who don't want birth control pills, etc. for hormone balancing.

I live in the Minneapolis area and would be happy to give you Verne's number and address, if you were interested in contacting him.

little italy · Post by **little italy** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:23 am

I don't have any compounding pharmacies in my local area. Even if I did I probably couldn't
afford it. I heard they were really expensive.

Does anyone have any suggestions for hot flashes and real bad night sweats? Everytime I wake up with them my anxiety goes threw the roof.

spun2tite · Post by **spun2tite** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 1:19 pm

I have to comment on these posts. I do believe the hormone thing is absolutly a big factor on how we feel. I had a total hysterectomy 2 years ago and I felt fantastic the first 2 weeks. Then my Dr had me take climara, which is a hormone patch, I had bad headaches with that so she added progestrone and the headaches wee gone. In Jan of this year I tried to wean off to a lower dose and within 1 month I thought I was gonna die. My anxiety was out of control, talk about depression, I stayed in bed for days. I called my Gyno and told them how I felt and they said they have never heard of lowering your estrogen and having anxiety and depression. Thank God my PCP Dr knows all about this and started me back on a dose fit for me. Altho I still have anxiety but the depression is gone. So yes our hormones do some strange things to us women.

Kim

little italy · Post by **little italy** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:37 pm

Hi spun!!
I too was on that patch before. Then had to switch to the vivel dot.(after trying many pills and shots). I was doing fine on the dot patch, untill I stopped and try to go back on it. Got headaches sooo bad I had to stop taking it(also got bad headaches from the shot too).
Now I'm on nothing and have a hard time with hot flashes, very bad night sweats, and my anxiety is sky high. Not sure where to go from here.
So I totaly agree, hormones are also a big part of anxiety.
Thanks for your reply!!

keepontruckin' · Post by **keepontruckin'** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 11:05 am

I think this subject is really interesting. I don't want to play the blame game - because in the end anxiety is what it is and you got to do what you gotta do to deal with it! I will say, when I look back, I had symptoms on anxiety all through growing up,BUT I NEVER experienced anxiety at the level I did until after I went on Yasmin. I never had a panic attack until after I started the pill. I had never ever had the obsessive scary thoughts and fears that plagued me until after I took that pill. I have to say, it was a pretty chaotic time in my life - lots of life changes, but I truly believe that pill is what sent me over the edge. I feel soooooooooooo much better now, but every now and then have little waves of doubt and insecurity-usually the week before and of my period. I have like, one week a month where I feel amazing and I LOVE that time of the month. hahaha. That time of anxiety and panic really scarred me!

little italy · Post by **little italy** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:02 pm

Hi keepontruckin', thanks for your reply!!!

Seems like since I've had my hysterectomy my anxiety has gotten worse after I took myself off my HRT. I think hormones have alot to do with it (for us women anyway). I know how scarry thoughs feelings are!!!! But I've made some progress already, so that gives me hope!! Only on session 3 again, had to repeat this one for another week cuz it's a big challange for me.

Thanks again for your reply!!!

It's hard work, but I know we can all get through it!!!!

BookOfPsalms · Post by **BookOfPsalms** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:07 pm

Hello,
I am noticing lots of anxiety around my cycle time-actually 2 weeks prior to my cycle. I have noticed this since I had my son in 2005. Shortly after having my baby I was noticing a lot of anxiety around my cycle and a year after having my son, I noticed hot flashes and panic attacks before my cycle. The flashes were so bad that I ended up scheduling an appointment with my OBGYN doc. I was a nervous wreck in there...(pretty sure you know what I am referring to)...crying, anxious, heart racing,feeling sad etc. They did some blood tests to find that my progesterone levels were slightly low, but not in a very low range at all. They suggested progesterone cream but I heard lots of "not so good" stories about the cream so I did not get any. I noticed the next month I was not having hot flashes but since that time I do find that I am constantly dealing with anxiety and some panic attacks around my cycle time. I keep a medical log of my symptoms etc and I have looked at each month and I see a pattern for the last 3 years! I definitely believe that it is hormone-related. My doctor tells me that it is a hormone-imbalance but did not really suggest anything besides over the counter PMS meds. I was wondering...will I always deal with this? Glad to know that there are some remedies for this.
Thanks for posting!

-ME

Franca.Canada · Post by **Franca.Canada** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 5:28 am

Similar to keepontruckin' I too experienced my first panic attack after the first time I took the pill. On the advice of my doctor, I tried a different pill... and then another... and then another... to no avail. My panic attacks and fears went completely away when I was pregnant, but came back full force 2 months after I gave birth -- around the time I got my first period after the pregancy -- coincidence? No way.

Since then, during my PMS time, my anxiety went through the roof. Now that I'm perimenopausal, it's bad again, and I cannot take any hormone replacement therapy, not even the bio-identical kind because ANY hormonal fluctuation sends me over the edge.

So I'm hoping that once my periods completely stop (please God let this be sooner rather than later) the panic attacks and phobias will completely go away, just like it all did when I was pregnant, because there won't be that fluctuation of hormones all the time.

In the meantime, I'm finding that eating a really healthy balanced diet consisting of fresh whole foods, minimal processed foods, additives, etc, and taking a multi-vitamin/mineral is really helping. I have cut sugar down to almost nothing and completely cut out all kinds of caffeine. I also exercise every day and do meditation and relaxation. All this has helped me feel tremendously better.

Having made a drastic change in my diet and lifestyle has almost completely eliminated my hot flashes. I rarely ever get them now and when I do they're very mild and last only a minute or two. I also sleep through the night again!!! It's as if eating a balanced diet and living a balanced lifestyle has balanced my hormones.