Read the last blog in this series.
In my latest posts (An Update on having adrenal issues and An Update on My Bad Skin), I’ve touched on my suspicion of having a sex hormone imbalance. Namely, low progesterone – also called oestrogen dominance.
Well, after my GP refused to run the tests, after I had asked him to twice, I went ahead and arranged for them to be done myself, and after suspecting oestrogen dominance for a month or two, I found out that it is indeed that. 
You can go back to my last post to read about my severe cystic acne, which is one of my main symptoms, and how I suspected it was down to the oestrogen dominance. Since this last post, my acne has only got worse and continues to worsen, spreading further. My doctor gave me another cream, which I tried on my back and chest (hesitant to use it on my face after last time), and it has made absolutely no difference.
Annoyingly, after ordering the tests to be done privately, my GP then insisted that had I asked for them, he would have done them and saved my ‘hard earned cash’.. which is utter rubbish. Why would I pay for them to be done privately if I could have had them done for free?! Just doesn’t make sense.
My other symptoms include very irregular periods (weeks late or early), cramping that comes and goes throughout the month (the kind of cramping I get like I’m going to start my period, but then don’t) and bad PMS pretty much all month, but particularly bad in the one to two weeks before my period. I can be moody, snappy, irritable and emotional. Basically, just avoid me!
My testosterone at least, is OK. Which I guess is something..
Anyway, so the plan now is to look in to natural progesterone cream. I’m looking in to Ona’s cream, as I’ve heard so much good stuff about it, but I need to find out how much to start on and then see how I go on it. It can be bought over the counter. My plan of action is to try and fix this issue, and retest my adrenals in a few months to see how they’re doing. I’m not entirely sure if my high cortisol is causing low progesterone or if its the other way round.
I also had blood drawn again last week (on the NHS) for an iron panel, so I’m going in to see the doctor next week about those results. It was low in range although not anaemic last time, so I am hoping it hasn’t dropped any further. I have to take in these sex hormone test results I have had done.
My latest thyroid panel a couple of weeks ago showed that my Free T4 had dropped to just below optimal, which concerned me, so I have increased my NDT dosage by 0.25 of a tablet daily, with support from my GP, and feel fine so far, ten days on. My Free T3 remains optimal. I have also gone gluten-free a couple of weeks ago, now.
Do remember that you can keep up to date with my personal health journey via Instagram. My Instagram is updated with realtime updates and you’ll be able to follow along as and when everything happens over there!
You can click on the hyperlinks in the above post to learn more and see references to information given.
Read the next blog in this series.
1 Comment
rjerome812
November 6, 2016 at 7:17 pmIm glad I found your website. I can really relate to your Letter to the doctor. Im am still fighting with mine on my rising Tsh Levels . I think my doctor may finally listen after my recent test results showing thyroid antibodies. My doctor thought I just needed to exercise more and eat better , But no matter what I did no weight loss and I still felt tired and sore all over, Of course she too made me feel it was all in my head, she even wanted me to get an MRI of my brain. My Tsh level has gone from 2.50 in January to 3.95 as of last week. My mother and grandmother are hypo, and I have gained about 30 lbs in the last 2 years. I know some of that may just be age and lack of exercise, But even on a gluten free diet there was hardly a change in weight and cholesterol was unchanged even with working out on treadmill and diet. I hope to feel better soon and my doctor will figure it out. I recently have felt so bad, that my exercise routine has went from 5 days a week to 2, and even thats pushing it. I just want to feel alive again and go through a day without wanting to nap. Thank you again for sharing all your experiences , I dont feel alone or its just me.