Testing 1,2...5

A major part of tackling heath issues is getting yourself tested. I mentioned the blood tests earlier, but I've come to learn is that it is important that your doctors order all of the specific lab tests to give the details you need in order to assess issues and then, in turn, start to tackle hormonal and nutrient deficiencies. The first blood panel I got (a 6 vile draw), and the conversation I had with the FM Nurse, led me to believe I knew exactly what the issues were... But last week I met with the Functional Medicine doctor I'll be working with here in Chicago, at Green Circle Wellness. When Dr Dina and I reviewed those lab results, she showed me a sample of the readout from the lab tests she runs. From a more detailed hormonal break down, to a full nutritional panel (I'll post about that one in a few weeks when I get it back)... we are gathering WAY more information... so, more tests!
Friday I filled a vile with saliva and mailed that out, Sunday I took saliva samples before Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/Bed, Monday morning I collected a urine sample immediately upon waking up and then I went in for a 13 vile blood draw.


HERE is a list of all of the test profiles available. They are running just about everything for me to make sure nothing is missed. Because I am young compared to those from whom the doctor would expect to see similar hormone levels, we are taking extra time to make sure to run as many lab tests as possible--the more information we have about what's going on inside of me, the better!!
If all goes according to plan, I could start Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy as early as the 31st! Testosterone pellets and progesterone cream are the methods the doctor has hypothesized we will use...To read a bit more about what HRT is, you can read on GREEN CIRCLE

Here are 2 great videos about getting blood tests and HRT from Stan Efferding: BLOOD TESTS and HRT

Empty

On Friday, I got my blood panel results back and conferenced with the Functional Medicine nurse. The results of my blood work showed that I have been running on empty for a very long time.

If you recall, in my original 2015 post, they found I had no progesterone, almost no estrogen and low testosterone too. I was put on birth control (artificial progesterone), but nobody ever followed up with more blood tests. Why? I’ll get to that.

After taking matters into my own hands and doing a lot of research, I reached a point where I knew I needed a professional who specializes in hormones to help me out. Through an incredible network, I got a FM to email me an order for bloodwork that I was able to have done at a local clinic (most states don’t allow people to just get their own blood panel done... so check your state regulations to find out if you can do this without a RX). 

My bloodwork showed that I have no progesterone, barely detectable estrogen and extremely low testosterone. 

 My levels: Estrogen <15, Progesterone < 0.5 , Test 15 / Free 0.6

Click HERE to see what are considered normal levels.

The nurse went on about how shocked she is that I am able to train and perform at the level I do without any hormones! I will be starting with a local FM very soon so that I can start on bioidentical HRT to bring me to "normal" levels and hopefully LOTS of the issues I’ve been facing over the years will improve.

There is no "why" yet... but based on my own research (and conference call w the FM & coach), it is very likely that my hormone levels have been an issue since puberty. To me, thinking about that is quite frustrating and painful. Knowing that 3/4 of my life have been spent fighting battles with depression and other health issues that could possibly have been prevented had doctors early on simply sent me for a blood panel and looked at these numbers instead of prescribing medications to bandaid my depressive symptoms!

So why didn’t anyone test my blood before? The answer is pretty simple: money. These days doctors make tons of money through pharmaceutical companies. Sending a person off for a blood test may seem like the simple basic place to start; nevertheless, because doctors are sold on pharmaceuticals with large dividends, prescriptions have become their go-to... instead of finding the underlying problem, they put a bandaid on it. Even when you hear terms like "chemical imbalance" being thrown around for people with ADHD, Depression, Anxiety etc... the likelihood that the actual chemical/hormone levels have even been assessed is slim to none!

I cannot emphasize how important it is to take your health and well-being seriously. Be an advocate for yourself and don’t be afraid to ask WHY! Ask you doctor to check your blood before (and after) taking any new medications... you might even learn that you don’t need those meds! Here are more links about why you should get your blood tested.

https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/things-your-doctor-wont-tell-you-about-blood-tests/

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a19929267/blood-test-results/

https://www.privatemdlabs.com/lp/anti-aging-testing-.php

Sick and Tired

If you are grossed out by "female stuff" I suggest you stop reading.

A little background.
When I got serious about lifting in November 2013, I went off all birth control...the pill I had been on made my monthly visitor nonexistent (normal as it had always been light before)... but I never got my period once I went off it. I asked my doctor and she said it wasn't uncommon in athletes as lean as I was. She suggested that I allow myself to gain some body fat after my April show. By June my cycle seemed to be back, and regular.
But that summer I didn't feel like myself. I can't exactly describe what it was...I just felt off. I tried to move forward.
Early in the new year a new problem arose. When my period came the first week in January, it never stopped. I went to the doctor in February and they said it was probably just stress.
I hired a contest coach soon after that who, hearing about my issue, suggested I take a supplement to metabolize estrogen.
Now... ladies... don't ever take something because your coach assumes something. He thought I was bleeding and moody from having too much estrogen...but he's not a doctor. I started taking DIM and the bleeding transitioned to more like spotting. But I was feeling REALLY off. I decided to stop taking it...
On March 19, 2015 I had just made a $200 deposit on my custom competition suit when I started to feel nauseous. I could feel the bleeding was getting heavy. In the car back to the city I was screaming in pain as my body cramped and gushed clots and blood.
I was rushed to the hospital. After 6 hours, 4 pelvic exams, an ultrasound and 3 blood panels, the doctor gave me some information.
I was not pregnant. But my body was going through a miscarriage...the only way it knew to reject massive amounts of tissue that had built up over several previous months. The DIM had made it worse...because I didn't have high estrogen. I actually had dangerously low estrogen & progesterone and naturally high testosterone. The test booster recommended by my first coach was actually making what little estrogen I had metabolize and my body freaked out without it.
Now, a little info. Most women who have participated in contact sports have higher test, so that's not uncommon.

I even got my uterus biopsied a week later.
The issue was... my body wasn't producing enough female hormones naturally... but they don't know why. Still.

Over the past few months I've gotten shots of progesterone and my system seems to be functioning properly... yet I'm not quite back to where I want to be. They can't tell me WHY. They can't tell me if I'll need these shots forever... and they have told me to avoid any extreme dieting.

I'm also fighting off extreme Adrenal Fatigue (I took myself off Adderall this year...after 20 years). My CNS is shot. I am trying hard to get my Vitamin D levels up as those were found to be extremely deficient. I no longer use preworkout or any fat burners.
I am always extremely tired. If I didn't have to get up to train clients,  I could easily stay in bed for days. My body hurts. My workouts have been almost nonexistent because of pain and stiffness most days. I still don't feel like myself.

I plan on meeting with a Naturopath when I get back from vacation... I look forward to getting my groove back!

So...will I ever compete again? I'd like to, some day. But I have no idea if/when my body will allow that. We shall see. I'm on a mission to get healthy. To find my sexy and be happy even if I don't have a visible six pack.