If you read yesterday's post, you probably know that I had some blood work done. Most of the results came back in today. Overall, I'm healthy. But as I did mention before, my hormones are, well, totally lacking, still. The ongoing issue I have been trying to correct is hormone imbalance.
Since high school I have had on again, off again amenorrhea. I have been on birth control for years, taken myself off several times, and am currently very happy not taking it. In the beginning the birth control was to regulate and help my periods return. Well, this did help, for a while. Now, for the last two years, I have suffered from complete amenorrhea. Honestly, not having a monthly visitor does not bother me, except for the fact that it is probably very unhealthy to go this long without one. I have done everything that I can think of to correct this. Nothing, so far, has worked. But I'm staying positive.
Losing 50 pounds rather quickly in high school, I'm sure, did not help with the hormone situation. And then again, neither did suffering from an eating disorder (anorexia). But, since college, I have been upping my healthy fat intake, using maca (helps to regulate hormones), taken various herbs, and listened to my body when it comes to healthy amount of exercise. I am now, by far, healthier than I have ever been. So what is the deal with my missing periods??
I have tested all of my hormones, lipids, thyroid, insulin levels, essential fatty acids, and micronutrients (I work at an anti-aging doc's office). All are great except for the very low levels of estrogens and progesterone. These are the main hormones that regulate menstruation.
What I have done about it: I have tried taking thyroid meds, estrogen patches, increasing meat in my diet, and increasing fats. I used the thyroid for about 6 months then gave up. I have seen a few endocrinologists and a OB/GYN for the lack of menstruation and they just tell me to go back on birth control and that it's normal. No, it's not normal.
Honestly, at this point, my body's reproductive organs seem to be in hybernation mode...
Yes, it's strange and no one can figure out what exactly is going on with my body. So, if any of you out there have any ideas, bring 'em on! But for now, I'm still searching for an answer, a clue.
Well, enough about me...
And onto tonight's dinner...
We had sushi again! Mama Samaan had a craving so, the boyfriend's brother made us another round of sushi with avocado, cucumber, crab, and rice.
Ingredients:
- 1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 TB maple syrup
- a pinch of salt
- a grind of pepper
- 1/2 tsp. low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
- 1 1/2 TB extra virgin olive oil
For our family dinner, I doubled the recipe. It came out great over rainbow chard and romaine leaves, tomatoes, and sesame seeds.
I have some exciting things coming up to announce... but not yet. Just you wait. They'll be good.
Good night!!
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5 running thoughts:
You are 25 yrs old and have not had a period in 2 yrs with no obvious medical issues. This my dear, is not normal. Any dr who tells you it is, needs to have his head examined. Til you find out why and what's going on...don't stop digging!!!!!! Go to a midwife, go to a reproductive specialist, go get accupuncture, get chinese herbs...go to someone who is willing to evaulate the whole picture, not just the period. Obvi something is clearly out of whack, you have to find out why. Go to alternative practitioners and in the bay area there's no shortage, you are super fortunate in that regard. Keep me posted. The diagnosis PCOS jumps, screams, out at me right now.
Girl, you sounds just like us ;) You know that we have been dealing with our hormones for this past year as well and have been dealing with it on our blog and been posting about it recently in more detail. We are still not sure what is going on with us, but hang in there. We are trying to stay positive as well. I think it is just going to take our bodies some time to get re-adjusted to being 'normal' again! We are still have serious skin issues, which is very hard to stay happy! But we are trying.
I totally agree with Averie on the diagnosis. I have PCOS and your symptoms seem to fit. I don't think you've seen a proper endocrinologist b/c a proper one would definitely insist on you having 3-4 periods a year as shedding the uterine lining is necessary for your health. When you have PCOS and suffer from amenorrhea, dr's typically offer several options: BC (which I refused), Metformin, Glitazone, or some other estrogen or progesterone treatments. I suggest you try a different endocrinologist or even an internist (internal medicine doctor). Also, check out this website and do some research on PCOS to see if you fit the symptoms:
http://www.pcosupport.org/
or
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/polycystic-ovary-syndrome/DS00423
Amanda, thank you so much for the info! Yes, i agree with both of you... I do think it is PCOS. But that term is overused and is just a name on other things that could be wrong...
:(
Either way I need to find someone to help. I've seen an endo, no help, ug.
Thank you though! If you have any other information then bring it on!
I don't think it's PCOS. I have the same thing as you - I lost almost 50 pounds (being thin to begin with) and was anorexic; now up 25 pounds from my low and I'm a healthy weight. They call it PCOS and it's just not. I was on BC pills the whole time I was underweight and never lost my period. When I went off of them it was gone.
A diagnosis about PCOS is something that I have strong feelings about and I'd be happy to discuss more... but not out here in a comment :) DOn't want to offend anyone who reads this!
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