Re: What tests to do for baseline female hormone levels.

[Guest guest]

I htink blood testing for sex hormoens is best as that way oyu have

baseline and nce on a cream thta is the onyl way to test accurately. NOT

blood spot either, must be regular serum testing. I would get

Estradiol, Free

Progesterone

testosterone serum

free testosterone

You shoudl do these around days 19-22 of your cycle this is Luteal phase

dn use the luteal ranges to go by.

http://www.nthadrenalsweb.com

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

http://faqhelp.webs.com/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

http://www.thyroid-rt3.com/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

http://artisticgrooming.net/

> Hi,

>

> My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I need it, based on

how I feel and that i didn't need " baseline testing " . I'm going to go ahead and

get some tests on my own before supplementing.

>

> Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the tests be

blood or saliva?

>

> Thanks so much!

>

>

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

> We are not medical professionals here, just patients sharing our experiences.

Please use this information with the help of a competent doctor. Yahoo! Groups

Links

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Val! Should the progesterone be free progesterone?

> > Hi,

> >

> > My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I need it, based

on how I feel and that i didn't need " baseline testing " . I'm going to go ahead

and get some tests on my own before supplementing.

> >

> > Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the tests be

blood or saliva?

> >

> > Thanks so much!

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------

> >

> > We are not medical professionals here, just patients sharing our

experiences. Please use this information with the help of a competent doctor.

[Guest guest]

AS far as I am aware there isn't a blood test called FREE Progesterone only just

Progesterone.

In addition to what Val said you also need to test early am on the day of

ovulation + 7 days (around day 21 if have a 28 day cycle & ovulate day 14).

I would also add SHBG & DHEAS so the full list would be

Estradiol, Free

Progesterone

Total Testosterone

Free Testosterone

SHBG

DHEAS

Lethal Lee

> > > Hi,

> > >

> > > My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I need it,

based on how I feel and that i didn't need " baseline testing " . I'm going to go

ahead and get some tests on my own before supplementing.

> > >

> > > Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the tests

be blood or saliva?

> > >

> > > Thanks so much!

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > ------------------------------------

> > >

> > > We are not medical professionals here, just patients sharing our

experiences. Please use this information with the help of a competent doctor.

[Guest guest]

If I may jump in here, are you saying that we should test the free estradiol on

day of ovulation and then again around day 21 or so depending on your cycle

length? I always just test both estrogen and progesterone on day 23 as my cycle

is usually 30 days. I am not really sure when I ovulate.

As far as I know, I don't have signs of low estrogen, just low pg for which I

use topical PG. BUT this cycle I had hot flashes the first day of my period

which I read can happen in perimenopause. Would that mean I may need more

estrogen?

Thank you,

Kathleen

> > > > Hi,

> > > >

> > > > My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I need it,

based on how I feel and that i didn't need " baseline testing " . I'm going to go

ahead and get some tests on my own before supplementing.

> > > >

> > > > Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the

tests be blood or saliva?

> > > >

> > > > Thanks so much!

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > ------------------------------------

> > > >

> > > > We are not medical professionals here, just patients sharing our

experiences. Please use this information with the help of a competent doctor.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Did she say how you were supposed to know that you " needed " it? How do you feel

that made her think you needed the estradial cream?

I am trying to decide if I have low estrogen or not, although I do plan to get

labs as well.

Thanks!

Kathleen

>

> Hi,

>

> My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I need it, based on

how I feel and that i didn't need " baseline testing " . I'm going to go ahead and

get some tests on my own before supplementing.

>

> Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the tests be

blood or saliva?

>

> Thanks so much!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I always found when my estrogen was too low I got hot flashes. But then I need more progesterone to balance it. The other interesting thing in the mix is that hot flashes can be a hypo symptom. it sure all goes hand in hand.

Sharon

Remember! Dolls are people, too....have you hugged your dolls today?

Visit my website! http://ohyoubeautifuldoll.webs.com---

Subject: Re: What tests to do for baseline female hormone levels.To: RT3_T3 Date: Friday, August 20, 2010, 12:08 PM

If I may jump in here, are you saying that we should test the free estradiol on day of ovulation and then again around day 21 or so depending on your cycle length? I always just test both estrogen and progesterone on day 23 as my cycle is usually 30 days. I am not really sure when I ovulate. As far as I know, I don't have signs of low estrogen, just low pg for which I use topical PG. BUT this cycle I had hot flashes the first day of my period which I read can happen in perimenopause. Would that mean I may need more estrogen? Thank you,Kathleen> > > > Hi,> > > >> > > > My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I

need it, based on how I feel and that i didn't need "baseline testing". I'm going to go ahead and get some tests on my own before supplementing.> > > >> > > > Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the tests be blood or saliva?> > > >> > > > Thanks so much!> > > >> > > > > > > >> > > >> > > >> > > > ------------------------------------> > > >> > > > We are not medical professionals here, just patients sharing our experiences. Please use this information with the help of a competent doctor.

[Guest guest]

No just on Day 21 (meaning ovulation+7 days) which is as you say around day 23

IF you ovulate that is. As we age we get more months where we don't ovulate at

all.

You still need to test Estradiol & the others all at the same time to get an

idea what is converting to what & to see if your Ratios are good.

Perimenopause supposedly starts ~10 years before Menopause so yes you maybe

depending on your genetic blueprint. ie when you Mother & grandmother when into

Menopause. Progesterone drops much earlier than Estrogens which is why so many

have 'relative' Estrogen Dominance. Of course Estrogen drops pretty sharply at

Menopause for most.

Lethal Lee

> > > > > Hi,

> > > > >

> > > > > My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I need it,

based on how I feel and that i didn't need " baseline testing " . I'm going to go

ahead and get some tests on my own before supplementing.

> > > > >

> > > > > Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the

tests be blood or saliva?

> > > > >

> > > > > Thanks so much!

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > ------------------------------------

> > > > >

> > > > > We are not medical professionals here, just patients sharing our

experiences. Please use this information with the help of a competent doctor.

[Guest guest]

Hmmm, because I haven't had hot flashes in a long time and when I was having

them I was super hypo and also had low aldosterone, so I just felt hot all the

time. But the past few days, I have felt VERY hypo, so maybe that's why I felt

hot and not from low estogen.

Thanks, Sharon!

> > > > > Hi,

> > > > >

> > > > > My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I need it,

based on how I feel and that i didn't need " baseline testing " . I'm going to go

ahead and get some tests on my own before supplementing.

> > > > >

> > > > > Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the

tests be blood or saliva?

> > > > >

> > > > > Thanks so much!

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > ------------------------------------

> > > > >

> > > > > We are not medical professionals here, just patients sharing our

experiences. Please use this information with the help of a competent doctor.

[Guest guest]

I *think* I ovulate as I can generally feel it. But who knows?

At any rate, I've tested estradiol many times on day 23 along with PG and

testosterone, but never FREE estradiol. I don't test DHEAS anymore as it is

always very low and I know we are not supposed to supplment while having to take

HC. So I am just trying to supplement the end hormones. I also have never tested

the other other 2 estrogens. Should I?

I am pretty sure my SHBG is fairly high because of the difference between my

free testosterne and my total, plus taking t3. But my estradiol (remember not

free) tests consistently at 150 with range <247. Yes, stupid range, I know. I

was told by doc giving me the testo that this is fine, but Val thought it was

too low and who knows what the free will come back at? Maybe that is one reason

I do not sleep well.

PG is always at top or even over range as I supplement and have for several

years now. It got rid of all my estrogen dominant sympoms of engorging breasts,

cramping during periods, etc. But my saliva test for estrogen way back then

showed estrogen as not low, but not in optimal range, either.

Total testosterone is high, but free is 4 (high end of range is 6.4). The % free

testo to toal is low, so I know my SHBG has to be high. I tested it before and

it did get higher as I increased by dose of testosterone, but I had to increase

to get it up. Maybe that's why my ft3 looks so much lower than other people who

are on the same dose as I am, because of high SHBG.

Sorry if TMI!

Kathleen

> > > > > > Hi,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I need

it, based on how I feel and that i didn't need " baseline testing " . I'm going to

go ahead and get some tests on my own before supplementing.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the

tests be blood or saliva?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Thanks so much!

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > ------------------------------------

> > > > > >

> > > > > > We are not medical professionals here, just patients sharing our

experiences. Please use this information with the help of a competent doctor.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Lethal Lee! I may have to wait another cycle to test baseline levels. I

tried a little bit of estrogen (1/4 of a .25 vivelle patch left on for three

days)starting the second day of my last period. The doctor had said to try it

and see how I felt and that I didn't need to do baseline testing because sex

hormones were always fluctuating. Anyways I tried it and it helped with the low

feelings I get at that time of my cycle. BUT, and I am not sure if estrogen or

t3 is causing this, now I am two weeks late for my period. :-/ I used to have a

pretty good idea of when i ovulate and my periods are generally every 27-30days

or so. I thought I ovulated at normal time last cycle but is that what estrogen

would do - give a reaaaally long luteal phase? Does it block ovulation

altogether? Does it make your cycles really long?

I bumped up iron intake this past month to 300mg poly iron/day and also

increased magnesium and have been feeling better for it. Over the past couple

of weeks (that my period has been overdue) I have been feeling a little more

shaky off and on and pulse has been running a little higher at times - 80's and

I thought maybe I needed more hc, but when I add hc I don't feel much better,

just like I have too much hc. Then I was thinking maybe I have too much t3 now

that I am using it better(from the increased iron), but I've been having a ton

of hair falling out and a sticking joints feeling I get when I am more hypo.

Any thoughts on what might be going on/what to adjust?

Thanks so much!

> > > > > > Hi,

> > > > > >

> > > > > > My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I need

it, based on how I feel and that i didn't need " baseline testing " . I'm going to

go ahead and get some tests on my own before supplementing.

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the

tests be blood or saliva?

> > > > > >

> > > > > > Thanks so much!

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > >

> > > > > > ------------------------------------

> > > > > >

> > > > > > We are not medical professionals here, just patients sharing our

experiences. Please use this information with the help of a competent doctor.

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathleen,

I mentioned to doc that towards the end of my period I would feel this heavy,

emotional low come over me and last for a day or two and she said " not before

your period? " and i told her no, at the end and she immediately " that's

estrogen, you need estrogen " . Then when I asked how much and how often she said

to use it based on if it made me feel better. So the this last month I tried it

at that point in my cycle and within an hour, the heaviness lifted. I kept the

1/4 patch on for a few days and didn't replace it because the feeling had

lifted.

I still want to get a baseline though and I don't know if using that little bit

of estrogen has now messed up my cycle??

hth,

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I need it, based

on how I feel and that i didn't need " baseline testing " . I'm going to go ahead

and get some tests on my own before supplementing.

> >

> > Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the tests be

blood or saliva?

> >

> > Thanks so much!

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathleen,

I mentioned to doc that towards the end of my period I would feel this heavy,

emotional low come over me and last for a day or two and she said " not before

your period? " and i told her no, at the end and she immediately " that's

estrogen, you need estrogen " . Then when I asked how much and how often she said

to use it based on if it made me feel better. So the this last month I tried it

at that point in my cycle and within an hour, the heaviness lifted. I kept the

1/4 patch on for a few days and didn't replace it because the feeling had

lifted.

I still want to get a baseline though and I don't know if using that little bit

of estrogen has now messed up my cycle??

hth,

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I need it, based

on how I feel and that i didn't need " baseline testing " . I'm going to go ahead

and get some tests on my own before supplementing.

> >

> > Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the tests be

blood or saliva?

> >

> > Thanks so much!

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathleen,

I mentioned to doc that towards the end of my period I would feel this heavy,

emotional low come over me and last for a day or two and she said " not before

your period? " and i told her no, at the end and she immediately " that's

estrogen, you need estrogen " . Then when I asked how much and how often she said

to use it based on if it made me feel better. So the this last month I tried it

at that point in my cycle and within an hour, the heaviness lifted. I kept the

1/4 patch on for a few days and didn't replace it because the feeling had

lifted.

I still want to get a baseline though and I don't know if using that little bit

of estrogen has now messed up my cycle??

hth,

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > My current doctor suggested using estradial cream whenever I need it, based

on how I feel and that i didn't need " baseline testing " . I'm going to go ahead

and get some tests on my own before supplementing.

> >

> > Which tests should I get and at what point in my cycle? Should the tests be

blood or saliva?

> >

> > Thanks so much!

> >

> >

> >

>