dee
New Member
Posts: 30
|
Post by dee on Apr 21, 2009 15:45:05 GMT -5
Hi, I just got my testosterone serum results today - well, they were in my folder at the doctor's office, and I hadn't been notified they came in (got them done in November 08)... The results are (including other hormones tested at the same time): FSH 31.7 (follicular 2.0 - 8.0) LH 21.10 (follicular 0.0.0 – 11.0) Estradiol 731.5 (luteal 120 - 740) FSH 23.2 (luteal 2.0 - 8.0) LH 56.30 (luteal 0.0 - 11.0) Progesterone 4.70 (luteal 8.0 - 89.0) Prolactin 32.1 (6.0 – 24.0) DHEAS 1.98 (0.95 – 11.67 umol/L) Testosterone - Total 0.60 (0.0 – 3.0) Testosterone – Bioavailable Free 0.03 (0.0 – 0.3) I took that snippet from my log that I just completed today, at the rth forum. forums.realthyroidhelp.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=12139If you can interpret these for me, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks, Dee
|
|
|
Post by fractal1 on Apr 21, 2009 21:37:46 GMT -5
Hi Dee, Could you please tell me your age (if that's ok ;D), list the medications you were on at the time of the blood draw and the day of your cycle. If you're not cycling, could you tell me how long this has been going on for and provide the pre-menopausal and menopausal ranges.
|
|
dee
New Member
Posts: 30
|
Post by dee on Apr 22, 2009 6:08:27 GMT -5
Hi Ruth, I was 45 at the time of the tests - I'm 46 now. The only medications I would have been on is Thyroid (desiccated thyroid hormone) at the time of this panel (which was done Oct 08). It's only now that I found out what the testosterone results were, so I included everything together. The follicular levels were day 3; and the luteal test was done on day 21 (I had two sets of tests in the same month). After the doctor saw the follicular levels, he instructed me to get tested again on day 21. I was/am still cycling. My cycling schedule for the last several years has been closer together/shorter, less painful periods (knock on wood) - I have a period every 24 days (thereabouts). I'm having a period at this moment (tmi - or is that possible at a hormone forum? ;D). I have skipped only a couple of periods over the last several years. It was funny - when the doctor got the results for that month, he said I was definitely in menopause. But, I told him I was still having a period every month (I believe I skipped a month during that time period, though)... so the numbers are a little confusing.
|
|
|
Post by fractal1 on Apr 22, 2009 13:15:30 GMT -5
AH! Now we're making sense! I was wondering why you quoted two different phases. Since you're still menstruating that this strongly suggest that you are at the initial stages of menopause. That is, your ovaries are still producing hormones but are struggling to keep-up. Your pituitary is noting that this is a problem and trying to 'super-stimulate' them by producing high levels of LH and FSH. Eventually your ovaries will shutdown, menstruation will cease and LH and FSH will go through the roof. While your estrogen levels are high enough, your DHEA, progesterone, and testosterone are in the dirt. This can result in a lot of yuckie symptoms, particularly sleep problems and anxiety. I would get all your hormones retested. Then, if they're all roughly the same, I would try supplementing progesterone, then add DHEA. Once these are stabilised, then try adding testosterone. DHEA should bump-up the testosterone levels a little.
|
|
dee
New Member
Posts: 30
|
Post by dee on Apr 22, 2009 16:44:40 GMT -5
AH! Now we're making sense! I was wondering why you quoted two different phases. Since you're still menstruating that this strongly suggest that you are at the initial stages of menopause. That is, your ovaries are still producing hormones but are struggling to keep-up. Your pituitary is noting that this is a problem and trying to 'super-stimulate' them by producing high levels of LH and FSH. Eventually your ovaries will shutdown, menstruation will cease and LH and FSH will go through the roof. While your estrogen levels are high enough, your DHEA, progesterone, and testosterone are in the dirt. This can result in a lot of yuckie symptoms, particularly sleep problems and anxiety. I would get all your hormones retested. Then, if they're all roughly the same, I would try supplementing progesterone, then add DHEA. Once these are stabilised, then try adding testosterone. DHEA should bump-up the testosterone levels a little. Yes, yucky, definitely describes the symptoms I've been having for a long time. I've had anxiety/panic attacks for 25 or so years now. Sleep problems for the last 5 years, probably. I'll definitely get the hormones re-tested (along with the other tests that you suggested earlier for hypopituitary); but I won't be able to get that done until June, when I see the specialist. I'll post back my results then, and see about what hormones I'll have to supplement. I wonder when menopause will hit; but I know it's not predictable. Added on: do you know if the menopausal numbers (low testosterone, prog, DHEAS) are directly related to hypopituitary (I have the below level ACTH, that I know of so far), or is it separate? Thank you, Ruth. Dee
|
|
|
Post by fractal1 on Apr 23, 2009 13:54:16 GMT -5
Low sex hormones are because your ovaries are shutting down. Your pituitary is functioning okay when it comes to stimulating these particular hormones.
|
|
dee
New Member
Posts: 30
|
Post by dee on Apr 23, 2009 16:30:30 GMT -5
Thanks, Ruth. I saw something you said in another thread here (in the hypopit forum, I think), and that is that the majority of people here have mainly low ACTH, and the rest of the pituitary hormones are usually ok? I may have misunderstood that... My prolactin has been 'highish' (over the range); but I think it was Laurie that said that might stabilize once/if I get the hypothyroidism treated... So, do the low sex hormones (because of the ovaries shutting down) ever 'recover' after menopause sets in... iow, do they stabilize so that you feel a little better? Or is it all downhill from here?
|
|
|
Post by fractal1 on Apr 24, 2009 5:09:21 GMT -5
No worries Dee Hashi's with isolated ACTH deficiency is extremely common. Deficiencies in the others are not seen very often. The ovaries won't recover... you just need to replace deficient sex hormones - estrogen, progesterone and testosterone - when they get too low. Progesterone helps most with sleep and anxiety.
|
|