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hi, I have been suffering dreadfully for over five years now with unbalanced hormones. I had a total hysterectomy over six years ago and for the first twelve months I was very well, but then gradually my health declined. First emotionally, and then physically with one thing or another. I have tried every type and level of Oestrogen going but nothing suits me and I react extremely. Sometimes right away, other tims it takes weeks to happen. The blood test results below were taken last week whilst on 25mcg Everol HRT patches. I was taken totally off HRT for a three month period and my mood and some other symptoms improved significantly, but then started to reappear after approx three months. It was thought that I may be intollerant, but not sure now. I feel desperately unwell, and so unbalanced I don't know how Ive coped all this time. I suffer emotionally from hate, anger, aggression, tearfulness, withdrawn, despair, dread, fear, you name it, im suffering it! I can't actually believe that I am still this way after five years. One thing's for sure, if it were their wife or daughter suffering as I am, they would be fixed by now!Anyway, to cut a very long and boring storey short, I was so unwell last week I had to visit my GP who sent me directly for a blood test. I am due to see my Consultant tomorrow, but would appreciate enormously if someone could clarify my blood results before I go, so that I'm not just fobbed off yet again. I am asking on Thursday if he will refer me to a BioChemist, because nobody else is trying hard enough to help me. I am 41 years of age. Details below:
Serum LH level 45.2IU/L
Serum follicle stimulating hormone level 78.5 IU/L
Serum Oestradial level 200 pmol/L (gives a range of not more than 50 pmol/L for a postmenopausal woman on test result)
Thank you!
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Add a Comment5 Comments
It is a "curse" to be a unique or intersting case:)
Though our health issues are different, we share one thing--being a unique case. For me, it was a rare form of brain cancer. It took 3 separate teams of physicians to treat me and bring the cancer to remission.
Sometimes it takes finding the right physician, seeking out the specialist and most important, ask for explanations until you are satisfied.
I will be praying for you today. If not the answers today, at least, to be pointed in the right direction.
To answer your question about an elevated serum estradiol (U.S. spelling) levels in postmenopausal women, this is what I found on the website, Medscape. com.:
"Estradiol levels decrease significantly because of loss of follicular production with menopause and postmenopause, but estrone, which is aromatized from androstenedione from nonfollicular sources, is still produced and is the major source of circulating estrogen in the postmenopausal female. "
Obviously, I am not a physician, but I wonder if an evaluation of other hormones, such as thyroid, might not be a wise direction. Sometimes, health care practictioners need to think "outside the box".
Wishing you well,
February 23, 2012 - 8:53amMaryann
This Comment
I am so sorry to hear that you have been dealing with these extreme emotions for so long and with no permanent relief.
I will try my best to help you understand the results of the blood test.
During menopause and following a total hysterectomy, the ovaries cease to function and LH levels will rise. Certain medications, such as oral contraceptives and hormone replacement treatment, cause LH to decrease.
Again, when the ovaries cease to function, either by surgical removal or with menopause, FSH levels will rise. FSH levels can decrease with the use of oral contraceptive and hormone replacement treatment.
Normal estradiol levels in postmenopausal women is between 0 and 30 pg/ml. High levels of estradial may be a sign of an ovarian tumor,however, your ovaries were removed with the total hysterectomy.
I am concerned that your extreme range of emotions might be caused by something other than a lack of estrogen.
Maryann
February 22, 2012 - 6:02pmThis Comment
Thanks ever so for your reply.
I can't help but wonder though if I haven't misinterpreted the blood test result. I've assumed at 200 pmol/L it was high because the range on the lab report states that it shouldn't be higher than 50 pmol/L, but now I can't help but wonder if I've somehow got this wrong.
Just to clarify, is 200 pmol/L a high or low reading for a postmenopausal woman of 41?
I've had a recent MRI scan so hopefully that would have picked up on anything too sinister, but something is making my hormones act so eratically, and I need to get to the bottom of this once and for all. I can't continue to suffer as I am and have done for the last five years.
Many thanks
February 23, 2012 - 12:29amThis Comment
I do wonder if the HRT is reacting with another chemical in my body and causing me problems. Some time ago I was given a testosterone implant, because my reading was very low (two years ago now, at least), but I reacted dreadfully with rage, When my blood was tested, the testosterone level was that high it was off the scale, and I was told that it must have reacted badly with another chemical in my body. I feel dreadfully anxious today, because my appointment is this afternoon with the Consultant, and I know I have to step up my game if they're ever going to do anything for me. They say I'm a unique case, and yet all they do is increase/decrease hormones, but surely that isn't good enough. if Im unique, shouldn't they be treating me as such?! After all, this isn't my fault. Don't misunderstand me, I do have times where emotionally I have been much more stable, but then I go back downhill again. On the whole, over five years though, I have lived through hell, because I've been suffering for majority of that time. thank you.
February 23, 2012 - 12:38amThis Comment
oh, and also (sorry just thought of something else!) at one stage I had an HRT implant, because the tablet form wasn't working for me. After not too long i was really unstable with emotions so they tested my blood. The result showed that the implant was empty, so to his surprise he had to put a further implant in. I was no better, again, just a short time after, but when my blood was tested again, it revealed that both implants were still active! I do think perhaps my body deals with hormones in a bizarre way, and might be whats causing me such problems with my health.
February 23, 2012 - 12:41amThis Comment