Guest guest Posted July 13, 2010 Report Share Posted July 13, 2010 Hi , I didn't see that anyone had answered you (perhaps I just didn't spot the post?) so I thought I would throw in my 2 cents. saliva is usually preferred for most hormone testing. However some docs like to do both. If you are still getting a period then it is usual to do about day 21. If you are not then it doesn't matter so much. Some docs do it both at the day 12 and the day 21. Also throwing in my 2 cents i would not think it wise to take any estrogen without also taking progesterone even if it is not at the same time of the cycle. there are 2 schools of thought on the BHRT. Dr lee's school is to do the same does for both biest and progesterone for 3 weeks and then 1 week off (in a nutshell) and TS Wiley's school is to follow the pattern of a woman's ccyle in he reproductive years, so a rise in estradiol (taken alone) durin the 2nd week, and then a sudden drop on day 13 and then the progesterone also added week 3 peaking about day 21 while estradiol stays constant as a base amount, then a period around day 28. The Dr lee school doesn't think a period is necessary. the TS Wiley theory says it is essentail for optimum health and disease prevention. It is such an individual thing. You should approach it the same way you are your thyroid exploration and do your own reading and research and discuss the various options with your doc. You may start on one protocol and find it isn't for you and switch. A good doc will continue to do saliva tests to see where you are with the objective of having you in balance all around. This is a very difficult thing to achieve and is constantly needing adjustment since stress and other medicines and supplements all have to enter into the mix. But there is fairly overwhelming agreement in any school of thought that taking estrogen alone when not balanced by progesterone is not a good idea. Do some internet searches and read, read, read. BTW, a little known fact is that the symptoms of menopause are incedibly similar to those of hypothroidism including hot flashes, brain fog, irregular periods, heavy periods, depression, irritability, skin dryness and thinning, hair loss and thinning, among others! So testing to see exactly where your hormone levels are is essential to sort out the mix! Best of luck, Sharon Remember! Dolls are people, too....have you hugged your dolls today? Visit my website! http://ohyoubeautifuldoll.webs.com--- Subject: Hormone testingTo: RT3_T3 Date: Monday, July 12, 2010, 7:44 PM Hi,What is the best kind of testing to do do check female hormones and when is the best time of the month to have it done? I am currently on cytomel, cortef and florinef but doctor is talking about adding in estradiol and basing the amount I take on how I feel. I would like to get some sort of baseline. Can someone point me in the right direction of what type of testing to get (saliva? blood?)Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2010 Report Share Posted July 13, 2010 Hi , I didn't see that anyone had answered you (perhaps I just didn't spot the post?) so I thought I would throw in my 2 cents. saliva is usually preferred for most hormone testing. However some docs like to do both. If you are still getting a period then it is usual to do about day 21. If you are not then it doesn't matter so much. Some docs do it both at the day 12 and the day 21. Also throwing in my 2 cents i would not think it wise to take any estrogen without also taking progesterone even if it is not at the same time of the cycle. there are 2 schools of thought on the BHRT. Dr lee's school is to do the same does for both biest and progesterone for 3 weeks and then 1 week off (in a nutshell) and TS Wiley's school is to follow the pattern of a woman's ccyle in he reproductive years, so a rise in estradiol (taken alone) durin the 2nd week, and then a sudden drop on day 13 and then the progesterone also added week 3 peaking about day 21 while estradiol stays constant as a base amount, then a period around day 28. The Dr lee school doesn't think a period is necessary. the TS Wiley theory says it is essentail for optimum health and disease prevention. It is such an individual thing. You should approach it the same way you are your thyroid exploration and do your own reading and research and discuss the various options with your doc. You may start on one protocol and find it isn't for you and switch. A good doc will continue to do saliva tests to see where you are with the objective of having you in balance all around. This is a very difficult thing to achieve and is constantly needing adjustment since stress and other medicines and supplements all have to enter into the mix. But there is fairly overwhelming agreement in any school of thought that taking estrogen alone when not balanced by progesterone is not a good idea. Do some internet searches and read, read, read. BTW, a little known fact is that the symptoms of menopause are incedibly similar to those of hypothroidism including hot flashes, brain fog, irregular periods, heavy periods, depression, irritability, skin dryness and thinning, hair loss and thinning, among others! So testing to see exactly where your hormone levels are is essential to sort out the mix! Best of luck, Sharon Remember! Dolls are people, too....have you hugged your dolls today? Visit my website! http://ohyoubeautifuldoll.webs.com--- Subject: Hormone testingTo: RT3_T3 Date: Monday, July 12, 2010, 7:44 PM Hi,What is the best kind of testing to do do check female hormones and when is the best time of the month to have it done? I am currently on cytomel, cortef and florinef but doctor is talking about adding in estradiol and basing the amount I take on how I feel. I would like to get some sort of baseline. Can someone point me in the right direction of what type of testing to get (saliva? blood?)Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2010 Report Share Posted July 13, 2010 Hi , I didn't see that anyone had answered you (perhaps I just didn't spot the post?) so I thought I would throw in my 2 cents. saliva is usually preferred for most hormone testing. However some docs like to do both. If you are still getting a period then it is usual to do about day 21. If you are not then it doesn't matter so much. Some docs do it both at the day 12 and the day 21. Also throwing in my 2 cents i would not think it wise to take any estrogen without also taking progesterone even if it is not at the same time of the cycle. there are 2 schools of thought on the BHRT. Dr lee's school is to do the same does for both biest and progesterone for 3 weeks and then 1 week off (in a nutshell) and TS Wiley's school is to follow the pattern of a woman's ccyle in he reproductive years, so a rise in estradiol (taken alone) durin the 2nd week, and then a sudden drop on day 13 and then the progesterone also added week 3 peaking about day 21 while estradiol stays constant as a base amount, then a period around day 28. The Dr lee school doesn't think a period is necessary. the TS Wiley theory says it is essentail for optimum health and disease prevention. It is such an individual thing. You should approach it the same way you are your thyroid exploration and do your own reading and research and discuss the various options with your doc. You may start on one protocol and find it isn't for you and switch. A good doc will continue to do saliva tests to see where you are with the objective of having you in balance all around. This is a very difficult thing to achieve and is constantly needing adjustment since stress and other medicines and supplements all have to enter into the mix. But there is fairly overwhelming agreement in any school of thought that taking estrogen alone when not balanced by progesterone is not a good idea. Do some internet searches and read, read, read. BTW, a little known fact is that the symptoms of menopause are incedibly similar to those of hypothroidism including hot flashes, brain fog, irregular periods, heavy periods, depression, irritability, skin dryness and thinning, hair loss and thinning, among others! So testing to see exactly where your hormone levels are is essential to sort out the mix! Best of luck, Sharon Remember! Dolls are people, too....have you hugged your dolls today? Visit my website! http://ohyoubeautifuldoll.webs.com--- Subject: Hormone testingTo: RT3_T3 Date: Monday, July 12, 2010, 7:44 PM Hi,What is the best kind of testing to do do check female hormones and when is the best time of the month to have it done? I am currently on cytomel, cortef and florinef but doctor is talking about adding in estradiol and basing the amount I take on how I feel. I would like to get some sort of baseline. Can someone point me in the right direction of what type of testing to get (saliva? blood?)Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2010 Report Share Posted July 13, 2010 Hi Sharon, Thanks for all of the info! You are right, I need to get on this new bandwagon and read up a bunch on the bioidentical hormone usage. Just sorting through rt3, adrenal weakness, low ferritin, etc. has been such a long process and I had gotten a little burned out on it all. :-p It didn't help that the medical profession doesn't give it's blessing to the most of the stuff we talk about on this forum. So, not only do you have to figure all of this out yourself when you don't feel well, then you have to jump through hoops to try to convince the doctors to get the medications needed. I finally found a doc who would pretty freely give out the cytomel, but not sure about her advice for a lot of things. I still cycle regularly. I mentioned at last appt how the last day of period I get really down - heavy fog of sadness - which then lifts the next day or day after. She said, not before period? I said no, the last day and she said " oh, you need estrogen " and gave me a sample. I asked about when to use it and she said the end of period and every day after that that it helps. I asked her about testing - getting a baseline and she said it is useless because hormones fluctuate constantly so you just go by how you feel. ??? Sounds like I should be getting a baseline or find someone who knows a little more about this. I must say though, I tried the estrogen on the last day of last period and sadness lifted within an hour - so she seems on to something. The rt3, thyroid and adrenal hormone levels were all a mess before I started treating those, but maybe some of the symptoms I attributed to those hormones were perimenopause ones as well. Oy, wish I could just use Maca or some other herb to cover the female hormones. I feel like a walking pharmacy. Thanks again, > > > From: ninaboo50 > Subject: Hormone testing > To: RT3_T3 > Date: Monday, July 12, 2010, 7:44 PM > > > Â > > > > Hi, > > What is the best kind of testing to do do check female hormones and when is the best time of the month to have it done? I am currently on cytomel, cortef and florinef but doctor is talking about adding in estradiol and basing the amount I take on how I feel. I would like to get some sort of baseline. Can someone point me in the right direction of what type of testing to get (saliva? blood?) > > Thanks! > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 , my doctor recommended reading Suzanne Somer's books on bio-identical hormones and I have now read almost all of them. She has done a lot of research, talked to many experts in the field and her books are easy to read. I kind of think of them as my bio-identical hormone bibles and I won't even loan them out. Kris > > Hi Sharon, > > Thanks for all of the info! You are right, I need to get on this new bandwagon and read up a bunch on the bioidentical hormone usage. Just sorting through rt3, adrenal weakness, low ferritin, etc. has been such a long process and I had gotten a little burned out on it all. :-p It didn't help that the medical profession doesn't give it's blessing to the most of the stuff we talk about on this forum. So, not only do you have to figure all of this out yourself when you don't feel well, then you have to jump through hoops to try to convince the doctors to get the medications needed. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 , my doctor recommended reading Suzanne Somer's books on bio-identical hormones and I have now read almost all of them. She has done a lot of research, talked to many experts in the field and her books are easy to read. I kind of think of them as my bio-identical hormone bibles and I won't even loan them out. Kris > > Hi Sharon, > > Thanks for all of the info! You are right, I need to get on this new bandwagon and read up a bunch on the bioidentical hormone usage. Just sorting through rt3, adrenal weakness, low ferritin, etc. has been such a long process and I had gotten a little burned out on it all. :-p It didn't help that the medical profession doesn't give it's blessing to the most of the stuff we talk about on this forum. So, not only do you have to figure all of this out yourself when you don't feel well, then you have to jump through hoops to try to convince the doctors to get the medications needed. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 , my doctor recommended reading Suzanne Somer's books on bio-identical hormones and I have now read almost all of them. She has done a lot of research, talked to many experts in the field and her books are easy to read. I kind of think of them as my bio-identical hormone bibles and I won't even loan them out. Kris > > Hi Sharon, > > Thanks for all of the info! You are right, I need to get on this new bandwagon and read up a bunch on the bioidentical hormone usage. Just sorting through rt3, adrenal weakness, low ferritin, etc. has been such a long process and I had gotten a little burned out on it all. :-p It didn't help that the medical profession doesn't give it's blessing to the most of the stuff we talk about on this forum. So, not only do you have to figure all of this out yourself when you don't feel well, then you have to jump through hoops to try to convince the doctors to get the medications needed. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 14, 2010 Report Share Posted July 14, 2010 It's awesome your doc prescribes cytomel but you said your not sure about her other advice for stuff. I can only speak for myself and I'd be really careful taking estrogen without progesterone, it's suspected to cause cancer if taken alone...at least that's what my bioidentical gyn told me. I'd insist on hormone testing even if your still cycling, may be on the last day of your period to see where estrogen/progesterone levels really are, you already know how you feel and lab tests might help form a better picture. My gyn told me hormones fluctuate as well but never refused to get a baseline and said estrogen can cause issues without progesterone. Do you have another doc you trust, maybe get a second opinion? I think many insurance companies cover second opinions. I used to have a gyn that tried putting me on premarin and progestin, I knew my body didn't make horse pee so I told him I wanted another opinion. That's how I found my current bioidentical gyn and I never went back to the first gyn again. All of our hormones are like a symphony and when one is off it's like hearing a horn player squantch, it draws your attention for sure;-)<<Posted by: "ninaboo50" wwbw@... ninaboo50Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:18 pm (PDT)Hi Sharon,Thanks for all of the info! You are right, I need to get on this new bandwagon and read up a bunch on the bioidentical hormone usage. Just sorting through rt3, adrenal weakness, low ferritin, etc. has been such a long process and I had gotten a little burned out on it all. :-p It didn't help that the medical profession doesn't give it's blessing to the most of the stuff we talk about on this forum. So, not only do you have to figure all of this out yourself when you don't feel well, then you have to jump through hoops to try to convince the doctors to get the medications needed. I finally found a doc who would pretty freely give out the cytomel, but not sure about her advice for a lot of things. I still cycle regularly. I mentioned at last appt how the last day of period I get really down - heavy fog of sadness - which then lifts the next day or day after. She said, not before period? I said no, the last day and she said "oh, you need estrogen" and gave me a sample. I asked about when to use it and she said the end of period and every day after that that it helps. I asked her about testing - getting a baseline and she said it is useless because hormones fluctuate constantly so you just go by how you feel. ??? Sounds like I should be getting a baseline or find someone who knows a little more about this. I must say though, I tried the estrogen on the last day of last period and sadness lifted within an hour - so she seems on to something. The rt3, thyroid and adrenal hormone levels were all a mess before I started treating those, but maybe some of the symptoms I attributed to those hormones were perimenopause ones as well. Oy, wish I could just use Maca or some other herb to cover the female hormones. I feel like a walking pharmacy. Thanks again,>> Kem in Eugene <º)))>< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 15, 2010 Report Share Posted July 15, 2010 Hi Kris, Thanks for the recommendation. I will get the books. I know what you mean about loaning out the books. A friend borrowed a number of my thyroid books and I miss being able to refer to them. > > > > Hi Sharon, > > > > Thanks for all of the info! You are right, I need to get on this new bandwagon and read up a bunch on the bioidentical hormone usage. Just sorting through rt3, adrenal weakness, low ferritin, etc. has been such a long process and I had gotten a little burned out on it all. :-p It didn't help that the medical profession doesn't give it's blessing to the most of the stuff we talk about on this forum. So, not only do you have to figure all of this out yourself when you don't feel well, then you have to jump through hoops to try to convince the doctors to get the medications needed. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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