Tik tik tik tik tik tik boom

[clevermanka]

Today's Tumblr collection is Tuesday, January 7: Fierce Women.

The title of the article is stupid, but check out ten things you might not have thought to donate to a food bank.

Yesterday Dr. Khosh discussed the results of my female hormone panel with me. Great news! SOMETHING WAS ABNORMAL! My estrogen and DHEA are fine (estrogen could be lower, and we're already doing things to address that), but my testosterone was a tad low (not dangerous, but not awesome), and my progesterone was nearly off the chart on the low scale. At the phase of my cycle when the sample was taken, my progesterone should have been around 2.6-21.5. Mine was .05. Dr. Khosh said such low levels were only normal in post-menopausal women. Hoo-fucking-ray for finally getting an obvious thing to treat.

This website lists thirty possible symptoms of low progesterone. I've experienced nineteen of them: a luteal phase less than 12 days (not sure on this, but it's likely with my short menstrual cycle), sugar cravings, low basal body temperatures, irregular periods, allergy symptoms, spotting in the days before your period begins, blood clots during menstruation, cold hands and feet, brittle nails, decreased sex drive (maybe? I just thought it was age), menstrual cramps, depression or anxiety, fatigue, foggy thinking, headaches and migraines, vaginal dryness (again, maybe? or just age?), slow metabolism, mood swings, weight gain, especially around the middle.

I'm now on supplements to encourage my body to produce more progesterone and testosterone. He said the testosterone treatment was optional, but it wouldn't hurt and would help build muscle faster so yes, sign me the fuck up please.

A million thanks to tessagratton for cluing me in to how good the latest Britney album is. There's only one song I skip on it. Just...surprisingly good, y'all.

I bought it this weekend and was so annoyed to realize that even though I bought the Deluxe Edition, it's still the radio edit. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. So this one'll get traded to Lovegarden and I'll have them order the right one for me.

Comments

[seascribe.livejournal.com]

I am glad they have found something they can do things for! I hope the meds solve at least some of your health issues! *crosses fingers*

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Me, too, and me, too!

[siro-gravity.livejournal.com]

oh I LOOOOOVE your Tumblr collection! So many different KINDS of fierce. I enjoyed each image/set of images, but Tilda. She just takes my breath away!!

CONGRATULATIONS for hormone level discovery! Finally, something you can actually see and treat.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That theme was such fun to collect.

Also, I love your icon. FIERCE.

[saffronhare.livejournal.com]

I should have waited until I was home before I clicked on your Tumblr link. Might start bleeding internally from the struggle not to make NOISES.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

From what I've heard from people who work at food banks, don't give stuff like socks, because they don't deal in clothing. They also said that if you wanted to know what the food bank is seeking, to just ask.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Oh, good to know. I wonder if that applies to the suggestion for tampons, etc., too. That's the one that hit home for me. I never thought about not being able to buy that stuff. What a nightmare.

[kazoogrrl.livejournal.com]

Yay for screwy hormones leading to some hopefully positive treatment!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

Yay.. getting your progesterone up should help with the insomnia, too, because my pharm says that a sign that I'm taking too much is sleeping too much. And yes, I can tell a difference in my sleep with/without it, so I'm hopeful for you on that.

Food banks.. also.. pet food. I hate to hear of folks having to give up the family doggie because they can't afford to feed it, that's heartbreaking.
I know that diapers is a biggie at the Ballard Center, especially for toddlers.

The fierce women post is so fabulous! I wish I could find a better pic of Tanya Moodie as Hunter from Neverwhere (http://media-cache-cd0.pinimg.com/736x/53/84/ee/5384ee6a280a576f75c0d0ccfadf13bc.jpg)to reblog for you.

"nobody cries alone in my presence" OH Dolly!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Oooh! Good to know about the potential assist with insomnia issues. Thanks!

[redheadfae.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! It's good to see *something* to pin it on.
At least that part of it sounds like perimenopause. (http://www.bcendocrineresearch.com/newsletter/v03/n03/Perimenopause__The_Ovary_s_Frustrating_Grand_Finale_s01.php)

[msmitti.livejournal.com]

hooray for actually finding *something!*

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I KNOW, RIGHT?

[http://users.livejournal.com/_luaineach/]

honey,  things that are "just age" ARE because of your aging hormonal system producing less of what it produced when you were younger.   I've been suspecting screwed up hormone balances for awhile now and am glad you've got some tests to prove it!   i think you are going to see world of difference if you get your progesterone back on track.   i see a huge difference since i started the cream.   And it was my testosterone that dropped first, years ago; I've been taking 2% cream of that for years.

So hooray!   I am curious what supplements you are talking to try and boost your body into making it on its own.   amino acids,  I am guessing?  

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

things that are "just age" ARE because of your aging hormonal system producing less of what it produced when you were younger.

True.

The stuff to help boost my progesterone is actually an herbal tincture. I don't know what all's in it. He was out of the progesterone cream, but I prefer to take a tincture twice a day instead of another cream (I already use a thyroid cream once a day), so that worked out.

This is what I'm taking for testosterone (http://www.pureformulas.com/testosterone-formula-90-ultracaps-by-integrative-therapeutics.html#sthash.rszjR61A.dpbs). I also take this brand's adrenal support and estrogen regulator and they've helped SO MUCH, so I have high hopes for it.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_luaineach/]

I have a hard time remembering the creams, it seems. vs. pills or a tincture. It seems a much more complicated procedure, maybe more so because I deal with the babes... my own and the ones I nanny. So then I think, well I can't rub it in my forearms because I'm going to be holding the baby later or i can't use my hands because... so then I either find myself trying to rub it into my thigh with my elbow or something (I gave up on using disposable gloves, talk about turning it in to a whole giant Thing To Do) or more commonly thinking "okay, I'll just do it later this evening..." and then not.

It has taken me awhile to get on a groove with remembering to do it first thing in the morning.

I'm going to go check out their line of supplements (from your link).

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Yeah, some things might better be absorbed by the body with creams, but my god WHO HAS THE TIME?

[stuology.livejournal.com]

my progesterone was nearly off the chart on the low scale

Ah-ha! Yippee (in the sense you can address it)!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

No kidding! I practically danced into his office.

[nottygypsy.livejournal.com]

I found your tumbler inspiring and can not say how happy I am they have found something to TREAT! YAY!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Hooray all around!

[sherwood21.livejournal.com]

I am irrationally excited to hear that there's something wrong with you. By which I mean, something identified that you can actually DO something about. :)

Also: Fierce Women. OOONF. <3 <3 <3

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Yes, all around!

[alryssa.livejournal.com]

Well I'm glad you've gotten SOME results out of that test, finally. I hope it helps.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Woot! woot! You and me both!

[theoneinblue.livejournal.com]

Love this tumbler collection! And I'm glad you have "something" to treat now? I hope the treatment makes a difference!

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And yes! Here's hoping!

[the-lucky-nun.livejournal.com]

That Tumblr collection was SO GOOD. Also, glad to hear you've got an answer for your health issues. Hormones are a motherfucker.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Thank you for letting me know you liked the collection!

Hormones are a motherfucker.

Aren't they just.

[the-lucky-nun.livejournal.com]

There are few silver linings, though someday I'll have to tell you the story of how I became internet friends and had dinner with Neko Case simply because we both struggle with a nasty case of PMDD.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Wow.

The only person I can think of whose meeting would be worth all the troubles I've seen for the past decade would be Tom Hiddleston. And to honestly be worth it, we'd have to do a damn sight more than have dinner.

Unless it's Irene Adler's version of dinner.

That lasted for a three-day weekend.

In a luxury hotel.

[the-lucky-nun.livejournal.com]

I wholeheartedly agree with all of these statements, although I would also want Irene Adler to be present. Good god.