Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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Hello! I suspect I have an estrogen dominance problem. I just saw my gyno two weeks ago who brushed off my theory after I told her what has been going on, saying everything I have been feeling is normal for a wife with two small kids and a stressful job. She ordered labs upon my insistance, but I'm not sure what she was looking for because they don't really tell me anything. Maybe you can help me?

Me: Female, 31 YOA, about 40 lbs of extra weight that will NOT go away. I had RNY gastric bypass surgery 10 years ago. I also have 2 daughters, 3 year old and a 15 month old. I was actually a very happy person when I was pregnant. I lost weight and my skin was never better. I feel worse emotionally now then I ever did pregnant.

Symptoms: -ZERO libido. Nada. -Raging emotions. I get angry very quickly and will cry at the dumbest things. I used to be the most even keeled person and now I just rage. I don't like it. -NO patience. -I have only lost 10 lbs in the past 15 months since my daughter was born. Every time I lose a few, I gain them right back, despite changing my diet and exercise regimens several times. -I have the ultimate pear body. I have a tiny, nice looking top until you hit my lower stomach area, then my hips and thighs balloon out.
-Abnormal facial and neck hair growth -My periods come every two weeks DESPITE being on birth control pills. -I had PCOS when I was a teenager but my doctor says I don't have it anymore because I was able to get pregnant?? -Dark skin discolorations on my forehead and cheeks. -Acne and roscea. -horrible bloating most of the time, but worsens with menstrual cycle.

Here are my labs from last week. She said she couldn't check my estrogen since I was on birth control and the numbers would be skewed.

            My Levels                 Reference Interval

Glucose, serum: 111 (I did not fast) 65-99 BUN: 17 6-20 Creatinine, serum: 1.04 (HIGH) .57-1.00 BUN/Creatinine ratio: 16 8-20 Sodium: 134 (LOW) 135-145 (All the rest of the metabolic panel was normal) DHEA-Sulfate: 125.8 98.8-340.0 Testosterone, serum: 15 8-48 TSH: 2.520 .450-4.500 17-OH Progesterone LCMS: 10 Adult Female Follicular 15-70 Luteal 35-290

Can I conclude anything from these tests? Does the low 17-OH Progesterone mean I have low progesterone, therefore making an estrogen dominance problem a reality? She switched me to a lower estrogen pill, but ultimate I would like to get off hormonal birth control. Would it hurt if I started supplementing with progesterone cream while on hormonal birth control?

Thank you for taking the time to read this and any possible direction you can give me!!

flag	asked Dec 18 2011 at 23:02 sparkie248 23●2

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might wanna get of birth control – Mallory Dec 19 2011 at 0:39

How long have you been Paleo? What's your diet? – Dragonfly Dec 19 2011 at 3:28

Thanks guys! I'm working on getting off the bc. I would like to try charting however I'm apprehensive as I work shift work and am never up at same time every day as a result. I've been Paleo since September of this year. The weight I did lose was when I switched from SAD to Paleo. I eat mostly eggs, beef, some chicken and turkey (but not nearly as much as I used to), some salads, white rice and sweet potatoes for carbs (I am training for a half marathon coming up), and about 1/2 tablespoon of coconut oil in my coffee. Oh and I love coconut manna and will use it for a snack instead of nuts. – sparkie248 Dec 19 2011 at 21:15

Every birth control pill I was ever on murdered my desk drive with a rusty chainsaw. That could be part of your libido problem, and that additional symptom might go away if you get off the pill. Low libido could be a red herring in this situation. – NewEra Aug 9 at 16:01

Sex drive. Not desk drive. Thanks, autocorrect.. – NewEra Aug 9 at 16:02

lambchop · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-19 01:08:49Z UTC

Hi Sparkie, your symptoms sound awful. I feel for you.

I think you're on the right track suspecting estrogen dominance, or more specifically, a lack of progesterone. The happiness you felt during pregnancy was likely due to high levels of progesterone. PMS is linked to the plummeting levels of progesterone at the end of the cycle. Your symptoms sound a lot like PMS symptoms but you're getting them all month. At what point in your cycle was the blood test taken?

You may like to try to get hold of a book by Dr John Lee called, "What your doctor may not tell you about Premenopause". I have found the book to be very clear about the relationships between the hormones and their effects. For your long term health, it's wise to get estrogen dominance sorted out as it has implications for other serious health issues.

And I second the advice to get off birth control pills.

Good luck!

Miriam · Answer 2 · 2011-12-19 00:22:04Z UTC

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What does your diet look like? And have you read this by chance? http://robbwolf.com/2011/11/28/testimonial-female-hormones-finding-balance/

answered Dec 19 2011 at 0:22

Miriam
1,569●2●10

That was very helpful, thank you! I may try the supplement she is talking about and see if that helps! – sparkie248 Dec 19 2011 at 21:16

Please Hack my Labs - RE: estrogen dominance

2 Answers