Still at a Loss

I do not know what precise tests you were given but I wanted to share that my child was repeatedly sent to endocrinologists who repeatedly told us that "everything is normal." Yet they were testing just TSH instead of actually testing ALL her thyroid hormones, as well as a multitude of other hormones and nutrients associated with the thyroid. They thus MISSED for YEARS that she actually had a different type of hypothyroidism.

She also had symptoms of thinning, brittle hair and nails... she had dry skin, fatigue, pains... Once she got diagnosed with "depression", it's like everything else got chalked up to being "mental."

Later, when she should have started menstruating, she didn't.

You might want to check out books by Mary Shomon, and http://thyroid.about.com/

Also, she had other problems that probably contributed to the endocrine problems because she had a bunch of low hormones like a peri-menopausal woman. Poor sleep, excessive stress, intestinal malabsorption, allergies acn all put extreme stress on the endocrine system (the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis). She had it all. For one thing, she had gluten intolerance/Celiac, and sleep disorders.

We wasted so many years of her life and really diminished health and quality of life with doctors just treating mental illness (www.itsnotmental.com).

By the way, she met the criteria for both chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.

(She's doing well now)

Have you started doing anything anyone has suggested other than taking a bunch of test? I feel awful when I don't take vitamins everyday. I know women can have signs of menopause as early as their 20's but that just means we need to stop thinking we have all the time in the world to put our needs 1st I have a book about that is helping me make wise changes to my diet (slowly one things at a time) and I'm feel really good about it. You have to get exercise, take vitamins, eat healthier, and etc. Good luck.

I would also suggest a naturopathic doctor. There are many conditions that fall below the radar of most traditional doctors. These include Hashimoto's as well as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Environmental Illness. My symptoms were different, but I was sick for years (and generally told it was all in my head) until I read a book one day and realized what was wrong with me.

It is not about menopause but hormones. Everything is driven by hormones so you need to find a doctor/nurse practioner that specializes in hormone balancing. I have been going to a NP for some time and I can tell a difference. You need to get a second opinion. Not all dr's are accepting of some of the natural treatments that are available as they are driven by the drug companies. As stated earlier, a naturapathic doc is also a start. They may also have connections with someone who may be able to help with the balance of hormones. You may also want to do some research on supplements and see what may help with your symptoms. There is a book titled, "The Vitamin Bible" and you might want to get that. I take biotin and that helps with hair and nails, but hair growth may require something else. Have you checked into female balding/hairloss? (I can't remember the technical name for it). That can happen as well. My guess is the hormones are an issue. Find someone who specializes in that and it might help you. Just call around (look in the phone book or contact a naturapath for referrals) If they don't "specialize" in hormone balancing, don't go there. The naturapath may help as well. Good luck and keep us posted.

You can be in the normal range, but it not be normal for you. Some doctors look at a small range right around the middle of the normal range. I can be within the normal range at the low end and feel horrible (no energy, constipation, etc). Try another doctor or an endocrinologist. Good luck!

Dear E.-

You've received a lot of great responses. Unfortunately, there are a number of things that could cause the symptoms you are experiencing. I have some family members that they were deficient in vitamin B 12 and other B vitamins. They go once a month and receive a shot to increase the amount of vitamin B in their system and have said that they feel much better.

As far as menopause goes I have heard that it takes about 10 years to completely go through. My late grandmother told me that she actually was finished with menopause by the time she was 32. A cousin of mine also shared with me that her doctor told her at 30 that her hormones were already at levels that they would consider her to be in the early to mid stages of menopause. I know it is frustrating to feel this way and not have any definate answers. Keep searching.

You do not mention if you saw the GP or OB/Gyn. If you fit the symptoms of pre-menopause you should call the OB/Gyn. If your annual visit is soon then talk to her/him then. If not call and talk to the nurse. Good Luck!

Hi E.,
First of all let me tell you that I "feel" your pain. I have had similiar issues in past years, but too many to discuss here - but I wanted to give you a suggestion. I have been drinking the Monavie juice since the end of Jan (to address digestion issues & high white cells, etc with my little on who got the health benefits of it thru my b'milk - which worked wonders for him - another story for another day) BUT - the best un-intended consequence EVER is that I have more energy than I have ever had in my life - and I am totally convinced that it is the juice. I should be really tired b/c I'm up numerous times during the night nursing a baby, my 3 year old is up at 5am, and with my schedule there is no time for me to nap during the day, and I had to give up coffee in Dec b/c of my little ones tummy problems. BUT, like I said before ever since I started drinking the juice I am NEVER tired. Took about 2 weeks for it to "get into my system". SO my suggestion is go buy one or 2 bottles and see if it has the same effect for you. It is pretty pricy, but totally worth it if it can help you be a better Mommy, while your body is deficent in something. Seriously I love this stuff so much that I am now selling it to all my friends b/c they see my energy - and more improtantly what wonders it did for my Son. You can go to https://www.mymonavie.com/monavieformommies to buy some or if you are local (west Nashville) I can sell you some at the wholesale cost - since I order it in mass quantity now.
p.s- it also saved us from having to go to the "expensive pre-digested" formula for my Baby - b/c of what it did to my b'milk for his tummy issues (gotta love having a holistic GI specialist!)
Good luck

I saw that show too (I thought it was Oprah tho..?) and it made me wonder as well! I have felt...just...different...since i had my daughter. My sister will be 30 this year and has gone on quite a journey to find out why she's having symptoms like you describe-not ovulating among them. If you want your hormones checked (which I myself am looking into) you'd better have a good reason bc "typically" women our age don't have any issues with that...and insurance companies are reluctant to approve the tests. I'm going to the dr about this soon, if I get any good information, I'll pass it along.

I think I can help. You can contact me through my website (listed with MamaSource as a mom-owned business) at
www.shaklee.net/bkhealth

I had many of the same symptoms as you. After seeing a few different doctors & a neurologist it was found out that I had a severe deficiency of Vitamin B12. I now get regular shots & have felt much better. See if your doctor checked your B12 when they did the tests, my regular doctor never did, it took me going to the neurologist to figure this out.

My mom has had low thyroid since her twenties, and I've had many of the symptoms since I was a teenager, but no blood test that a doctor ran ever said anything but normal. So why was I too tired to do anything as a young adult? Why did my hair start thinning at age 25, and so many other things? I finally started going to a Naturopathic Physician, and she ran a saliva test, which showed that I have Hashimoto's, which is an auto immune low thyroid (meaning your body is attacking your otherwise normal thyroid). She helped balance all my hormones, so I actually got pregnant within 7 months of seeing her, which was why I was going to her (along with unexplained weight gain). I would recommend that you start taking kelp tablets and iron supplements, or find a really good multi vitamin/mineral supplement that has them in it (kelp has iodine), and see if that makes a difference. Sometimes I literally am freezing cold and can't get off the couch because I'm so fatigued, until I take an iodine or kelp tablet. Then in an hour or so, I warm up, and feel good enough to get up and get going. The iodine helps protect the thyroid, as does selenium.

I had never really heard of NDs (naturopathic doctors), but I'll tell you, she did more good for me in 7 months, than a lifetime of going to MDs. She had me do a lot of things, including eliminating gluten (wheat) from my diet. I started looking for an ND after reading the book (by an MD) Feeling Fat, Fuzzy or Frazzled? It is by Shames, MD, and was a bargain book on amazon when I bought it. He has tons of information in there, including questionnaires to help you figure out what is wrong, and gives recommendations (such as for me, to take selenium, magnesium, chromium, and B vitamins). I don't do organic food like he recommends, nor can I afford the extremely expensive supplements he likes, but the ones I buy from puritans pride or costco or whatever seem to help a lot. Most insurance doesn't cover NDs, so I had to pay out of pocket, but for all that I got out of it, it was worth it, for a lifetime. You can find one at www.naturopathic.org.

First of all, I do think life is just tiring in and of itself but hormones, stress and vitamin deficiencies are also problematic.

I have experienced slight weight gain, hair loss and emotional ups and downs when I have switched birth control types. I went from the pill which contains 2 hormones to the depo shot which only contains 1 hormone and it just about killed me physically and emotionally. My body cramped and bled badly, I lost fistfuls of hair and gained weight I can hardly get off now...that was 2 years ago.

Also, stress from an abusive manager made my hair fall out, stomach hurt and gave me mirgraines about 6 years ago. All my symptoms went away when that manager was finally fired.

More recently, I went to the doctor because I was exhausted all the time and it turned out my iron was low. Not only was my iron low, the iron I did have floating around in me was "not binding" well with what it should be binding to so my body was not utilizing it. So you might want to check on that if you have not already.

Early menopaue is something to look into but sometimes the simplest things get our bodies out of whack.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon! But also know your not alone in your fatigue....:)

check to see if you have any food allergies. Wheat(gluten, tree nuts, fish, dairy, soy are common allergies. Try to eat organic, no meat, vegetables only for a while and see if that works.

Use mrs dash for seasoning. High contents of salt and carbohydrates have caused fatigue for me.

I have been eating processed foods for a good while and began to notice my hair thinning. When I began eating healthy (steamed or raw vegies) foods, (spinach is great) I noticed my hair getting thicker again.

Look up books by Don Colbert. (Dr.)

hi Elize,
I know you got a lot of responses, but I had about the same symptoms and unfortunately found out I suffer from Candida. I agree you should visit a naturopath and some people find help from chiropractors. Have you been checked for sleep apnea? And also check your tongue, you can do it yourself. If you notice a white coat, you'd better visit a herbalist, homeopath, naturopath and ask them about candida. Wish you it's not. One thing is for sure, changing your DIET to whole foods, and mostly veggies will change everything. Takes time but all our problems start from the gut.

Hi,
I"m not sure if you're the one that wrote earlier saying you were on Lisinopril for high blood pressure, but the symptoms you are describing are also the side effects for Lisinopril. You should try 'googling' lisinopril hairloss sideeffects and see what you come up with. It's not the first time I've heard of these symptoms with it. Good Luck, hope you find your answers!

I SAW THAT TOO!!!! I'm so having my hormones checked at my next visit! I think it's worth a shot!

Have you had a CBC done?
How are your iron levels?
Could it be metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes?

It really sounds hormonal. You could get those checked, if you wanted to see a specialist you would want to see an endocrinologist. Regular Drs to tend to miss those types of things.

I also agree with the other person that a naturopath might be a good choice.

Don't listen to anyone telling you it is in your head. That's a crock & a cop-out. Find the practitioner that listens to you & takes you seriously. Be your own best advocate.

Keep asking us - we're here for you. ; )

P