The Answer....low progesterone?

[mellabar414]

If people remember, I posted my lab results before for help of what to do next. I have been battling losing weight and feeling less than par for almost two years. Actually, I have been battling weight since college and have been diagnosed with a couple of WARNING signs along the way like reactive hypoglycemia, uterine fibroids, cystic breasts, high blood pressure, functional constipation and IBS-C and a VERY bad reaction to birth control pills. Of course, the last two years when I have been trying to figure out what is wrong I have been extremely cold, depressed and every other hypothyroid symptom. I always thought it was odd how I could be overweight with high blood pressure and yet my cholesterol numbers were so "good" like around 125.

I am 39, but menses started when I was 10. I first thought that I could be entering menopause early, so I started with my OB/GYN who ran blood hormone levels. They came back fine and that is where this journey of trying to find the answer begins as kind of outlined in my posts. After the endo told me to exercise more even though I was playing tennis 3 days a week and working out with a trainer and eat 1000 calories a day, a girlfriend from work recommended a Nurse Practitioner that she see who believes the only way to get a good hormone level is saliva testing. I was excited to see that even on the practices website they mention adrenal fatigue which a lot of the medical community doesn't even acknowledge. I took all my labs to her and she immediately prescribed a 1/2 grain of Armour to start, vitamin D and vitamin B12. Told me to knock off the artificial sweetener and dairy. Also, the NP told me immediately your cholesterol is too low. I didn't even know it could be too low. She explained the relationship between hormone levels and cholesterol. Just a few short months after my internist proclaimed that he would be happy if he could sell my cholesterol scores. <shaking head>

Just by the few changes the NP added I felt a little better. When the hormone tests came back today she called and said I have the answer and you have a prescription waiting at the compounding pharmacy near your house.

Estradiol 2.0 (1.3-3.3)
Progesterone 62 (75-270 Premenopausal (Luteal))
Ration: Pg/E2 31 (Optimal: 100-500 when E2 1.3-3.3 pg/ml)
Testosterone 30 (16-55)
DHEAS 5.4 (2-23)
Cortisol Morning 7.5 (3.7-9.5)

I started reading about low progesterone and holy cow it is like reading my autobiography. Running to get the prescription now.

Everyone has been so supportive and great on this forum that I couldn't wait to post and exclaim my excitement.

She did say there would be tweaking to do, so don't worry if we need to move things around. We want you to feel good. Too good to be true.

Looking forward to posting again with how the progesterone prescription makes me feel.

Melanie

[Doggygirl]

Congratulations! You must be so excited to finally be seeing a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Enjoy feeling the way you SHOULD feel!!

DG

[watcher513]

Melanie this is so wonderful! Finally finding someone who not only listens in the first place but wants to work With you on tweaking things until things are good.

Super news.

[mellabar414]

It really is a rare find I think. After I visited the NP, I found out that several ladies in my office had seen her. What I really liked about hearing the stories of these ladies was the experience that each received and their treatment plans. Each lady received a completely different treatment plan from the rest. There are about six ladies and each had something different they were experiencing and each received a different plan of action from the NP, so I really believe that the NP listens to each individual and prescribes treatment according to the patient. Which is how it should be.

[Rdm]

Cholesterol is the raw material used to make progesterone. Wonder if you need to focus on the low cholesterol issue? How low was it? Mine is 139.

[mellabar414]

143 this year. What are you doing to raise yours? NP thinks that is a big thing as well, but hasn't addressed it in particular at this point, but said she would like to see it at 170.

[Unicorn212]

Total cholesterol should not be below 160. HDL should not be less than 40 and LDL should not be more than 100. Low cholesterol can cause depression, anxiety, stroke, vitamin D deficiency, and heart disease. Mine got down to 130 when I was on statins and I refused to take the meds anymore. That lasted for three years. Then my thyroid went on vacation and my cholesterol shot back up again. So now I am back on Zocor.

[Rdm]

My docs have said that's it's perfectly fine at 139 and didn't tell me it was low at all. Yours is within normal range and considered good. Under 100 is considered low and 170 is only considered good. I would consult a doc and do some research-it doesn't seem like your cholesterol is too low. You could also be in perimenopause not full blown menopause.

[Minnas]

Originally Posted by Unicorn212

Total cholesterol should not be below 160. HDL should not be less than 40 and LDL should not be more than 100. Low cholesterol can cause depression, anxiety, stroke, vitamin D deficiency, and heart disease. Mine got down to 130 when I was on statins and I refused to take the meds anymore. That lasted for three years. Then my thyroid went on vacation and my cholesterol shot back up again. So now I am back on Zocor.

What? Mine is 96. It's always been in the 90's. No one has ever said anything about it other than askin what I ate to keep it so low??? I have depression (been medicated for 20 years and will be forever) and my Vitamin D just tested at 20 so I did a course of Rx D and now supplement 5k a day. Should I be concerned?

[mellabar414]

Sharis - low cholesterol was news to me and I did research after she told me. NP says that low cholesterol doesn't allow the body to produce enough hormones. Unicorn is right from what I have read. A saliva test is necessary. All my blood tests came back normal. I also researched blood versus saliva testing and found that saliva testing is much more efficient. Blood tests will only find if something is really wrong and saliva tests will show imbalances even if minute.

I also have a continued Vit D deficiency even though I am in the sun playing tennis and right before testing I was in Hawaii.

RDM - blood tests and the saliva tests indicate I am not anywhere near menopause or even perimenopause. In speaking with NP and understanding my symptoms, it appears that I have always had a lower progesterone level and could be one of the reasons I started my period when I was 10 and stopped growing at 10 as well. I never got pregnant even when trying.

[Unicorn212]

Originally Posted by Sharis

What? Mine is 96. It's always been in the 90's. No one has ever said anything about it other than askin what I ate to keep it so low??? I have depression (been medicated for 20 years and will be forever) and my Vitamin D just tested at 20 so I did a course of Rx D and now supplement 5k a day. Should I be concerned?

Your TOTAL is 96? What is your HDL? Google low cholesterol. A few links:
Diagnose-Me: Condition: Low Total Cholesterol
Hypolipoproteinemia: Cholesterol Disorders: Merck Manual Home Edition
Total cholesterol too low? - HealthBoards Message Boards

One doctor told me that cholesterol is needed to convey hormones and antioxidants and stuff (can't remember what else) around the body. I read that it is also needed in the brain.

[Minnas]

Originally Posted by Unicorn212

Your TOTAL is 96? What is your HDL? Google low cholesterol. A few links:
Diagnose-Me: Condition: Low Total Cholesterol
Hypolipoproteinemia: Cholesterol Disorders: Merck Manual Home Edition
Total cholesterol too low? - HealthBoards Message Boards

One doctor told me that cholesterol is needed to convey hormones and antioxidants and stuff (can't remember what else) around the body. I read that it is also needed in the brain.

Ugh. Yes, that's my total. I will have to look up my HDL but my HDL/LDL ratio, as I recall, was o.k. That's all I knew to be concerned with. In fact, I remember asking my doc and she said not to worry about the ratio with a total that low. Good grief.

Thanks for the links and info all. I guess I have some research to do.

[nonstickpam107]

Ok, well then, you need to know that is when most of us 'trigger' hypothyroidism. When we are perimeno, our prog. drops, inviting the thyroid to 'make up for it'. Now is the time when you would also get a TPO AB to rule our Hashimoto's. But yes, most who are perimeno should be tested and then replaced if needed (and the oral prog. is not the best sourse....a compounded transdermal cream is).

Oh, and you can still be hypothyroid with waning progesterone levels. It's not 'one or the other'. My total choldesterol is 116. My triglys are 32. I have Hashimoto's.

Pam

[Minnas]

I feel like I've been hit over the head with a frying pan.

I've had this low cholesterol for 20 years. Same with my depression, infertility (luteal phase defect cause by progesterone issues), estrogen dominance complete with the crazy 2 inch long hairs that sprout from my face seemingly overnight, my temps have always been sub-normal, and on and on. My mother has Hashi's (is there a genetic link for this?)

Unfortunately I just had to give up my health insurance at least for the next 6 months or so. I am thinking I might go ahead and buy some thyroid support supplements and get back on Vitex and progesterone cream until I can get this checked out. I am definitely peri-m so I want to keep this from getting out of control if I can (and it hasn't already)

Well, I guess I should ask, is this thyroid support stuff worth anything at all? For instance, I was looking at NOW Foods Thyroid Energy?

NOW Thyroid Energy is a complete nutritional supplement for the support of normal thyroid function. NOW has combined Iodine (from Kelp) and Tyrosine, the two integral constituents of thyroid hormone, with the minerals Selenium, Zinc and Copper, to assist in its production. In addition, NOW Thyroid Energy contains Guggul Extract, an Ayurvedic herb known for its ability to support a healthy metabolism.


Ingredients:

Vitamin B-6 (from Pyridoxine HCI) 2 mg 100%
Folate (as Folic Acid) 400 mcg 100%
Vitamin B-12 (as Methylcobalamin) 60 mcg 1000%
Iodine (from Kelp and Irish Moss) 225 mcg 150%
Zinc (from L-OptiZinc® - Zinc L-Methionine Complex) 25 mg 170% /tr>
Selenium (from L-Selenomethionine) (Yeast-Free) 50 mcg 70%
Copper (from Copper Amino Acid Chelate) 1 mg 50%
L-Tyrosine (Free-Form) 1.0 g (1,000 mg) †
Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus) (Thallus) 200 mg †
Guggul (Commiphora mukul) (Resinous Sap) Standardized Extract (min. 10% Guggulsterones) 75 mg †
Kelp (Laminaria digitata) (Whole Plant) 60 mg †
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) (Root) Standardized Extract (min 4.5% Withanolides) 50 mg †
Concentrace® Trace Minerals 5 mg †
† Daily Value not established

Waste of money?

[mellabar414]

Pam, I did ask that question of if I get my progesterone up will my thyroid go back to normal since a low acting thyroid is a symptom and the response from the NP. "Oh no, once you are on thyroid medicine you are on it for good. You don't get off of it." I almost said, "Pam is that you" AGAIN.

Yep, I picked up my progesterone cream in syringes last night. Although, the pharmacy did say they had this cool thing in a stick. It reminds me of a deodorant dispenser. I might go with that next time.

Pam, is the low cholesterol related to your Hashi's? Have you fully recovered from your H1N1 bout?

Melanie

[nonstickpam107]

Um, yeah..that's 'me again', ha ha! The low cholesterol is related to my autoimmune diseases. I'm good...and back working my 12 hour shifts after H1N1, thanks for asking. I got it 'fast' so got anti virals, etc. and great care..that's the secret I think.

Sharis, no, most OTC stuff is required by FDA to not have 'any substantial hormone amount' in it. So, no OTC doesn't work, sorry. Most of us have Hashimoto's autoimmune hypothyroidism and really need to replace the hormones that are going away (for good, the antibodies attack and destroy the thyroid itself).

Pam