Hormone And Bone Symptoms

[Aleshia]

hi, I've been having quite a few menopause symptoms and I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on my test results for different things, these were done about a year ago so I don't know how much has changed but with how I feel I don't think it would be much! at the time of the tests I was nursing. I weaned my baby about 6 months ago. but I still get the same symptoms and some are worse now than they were then. anyway

Low Iron total: 74 (ideal 100-175) causes hair loss

Low Iron saturation: 20% (ideal 30-50%) causes hair loss

Low Sodium: 139 (ideal 140-146) sodium helps blood pressure, fatigue and adrenal

Low Ferritin: 21 (ideal 75-200) form of iron storage helps energy and hair loss

Insulin 8 (ideal <17 excellent <5) my dr. said this indicates a carbohydrate sensitivity (gluten???)

Low Progesterone: <.5 (ideal 14-20)

Low Testosterone: 25 (ideal 42-76)

Low Estrogen: 15 (ideal 75-200) when all 3 hormones are low causes hair loss

also when they measured me it was 5'8 1/3" and I have always measured between 5'10 1/2" and 5'11" so thats a los of like 2-3 inches! in the last 2 years I got cavities in all of my teeth that weren't there before (more than $5,000 dental work!) and I get bone pain pretty bad... from the symptoms I had with pregnancy and after I believe that it is osteomalacia not just osteoporosis...

my other symptoms include: irregular periods (they were always incredibly regular before), hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, bladder control problems, disrupted sleep, palpitations, weight gain, dry skin, headaches, nausea, tingling skin, itchy skin, buzzing in head, bloating, dizziness, light headedness, sore joints, sore muscles, hair loss/thinning, dry mouth, irritability, brain fog, confusion, memory lapses, low energy/fatigue, lack of concentration, feeling emotionally detached...

alot of the symptoms I've had for most of my life but they are getting worse, otehr symptoms are new in the last year and getting consistantly worse.

anyway have any ideas? is this menopause or will this go away on a glutenfree diet? I am in the process of testing and diagnosing celiac.

[Gemini]

hi, I've been having quite a few menopause symptoms and I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on my test results for different things, these were done about a year ago so I don't know how much has changed but with how I feel I don't think it would be much! at the time of the tests I was nursing. I weaned my baby about 6 months ago. but I still get the same symptoms and some are worse now than they were then. anyway

Low Iron total: 74 (ideal 100-175) causes hair loss

Low Iron saturation: 20% (ideal 30-50%) causes hair loss

Low Sodium: 139 (ideal 140-146) sodium helps blood pressure, fatigue and adrenal

Low Ferritin: 21 (ideal 75-200) form of iron storage helps energy and hair loss

Insulin 8 (ideal <17 excellent <5) my dr. said this indicates a carbohydrate sensitivity (gluten???)

Low Progesterone: <.5 (ideal 14-20)

Low Testosterone: 25 (ideal 42-76)

Low Estrogen: 15 (ideal 75-200) when all 3 hormones are low causes hair loss

also when they measured me it was 5'8 1/3" and I have always measured between 5'10 1/2" and 5'11" so thats a los of like 2-3 inches! in the last 2 years I got cavities in all of my teeth that weren't there before (more than $5,000 dental work!) and I get bone pain pretty bad... from the symptoms I had with pregnancy and after I believe that it is osteomalacia not just osteoporosis...

my other symptoms include: irregular periods (they were always incredibly regular before), hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, bladder control problems, disrupted sleep, palpitations, weight gain, dry skin, headaches, nausea, tingling skin, itchy skin, buzzing in head, bloating, dizziness, light headedness, sore joints, sore muscles, hair loss/thinning, dry mouth, irritability, brain fog, confusion, memory lapses, low energy/fatigue, lack of concentration, feeling emotionally detached...

alot of the symptoms I've had for most of my life but they are getting worse, otehr symptoms are new in the last year and getting consistantly worse.

anyway have any ideas? is this menopause or will this go away on a glutenfree diet? I am in the process of testing and diagnosing celiac.

It certainly sounds like you have Celiac and with that many symptoms, you may want to try the diet even if testing doesn't yield definitive results. As far as menopause is concerned, Celiacs have a tendency to go through early menopause and it could certainly be the problem. Once you get testing done and if you decide to try the diet, see what happens with the hormone problems. If you've had a baby recently, and have celiac disease, your hormones may just be in flux because of those events and may calm down once you get things under control but be prepared that it could be the start of perimenopause and menopause. I hit menopause at 45 but my symptoms started in earnest at 38! Hope yout tests give you some answers!

[georgie]

anyway have any ideas? is this menopause or will this go away on a glutenfree diet? I am in the process of testing and diagnosing celiac.

Can I suggest you have your Thyroid function tested as well ? The autoimmune type of low Thyroid - Hashimotos - often occurs after having a baby. You need Thyroid Antibodies tested - as well as TSH, FREE T4, and FREE T3. Hair loss etc can occur with low thyroid function.

[Aleshia]

Can I suggest you have your Thyroid function tested as well ? The autoimmune type of low Thyroid - Hashimotos - often occurs after having a baby. You need Thyroid Antibodies tested - as well as TSH, FREE T4, and FREE T3. Hair loss etc can occur with low thyroid function.

had that tested at the same time dr. said: "the following areas were ideal: blood sugar (no diabetes), kidneys, electrolytes (except 1 calcium), protein levels, liver panel, total white cells= immune system, blood clotting, adrenal cortisol, thyroid, t3, t4, tsh (all three thyroid levels excellent) temp. 98.4 = good thyroid also"

T3 total was 104

T4 (thyroxine) total 8.0

not sure what the "normal ranges are on those

[Aleshia]

It certainly sounds like you have Celiac and with that many symptoms...

I hit menopause at 45 but my symptoms started in earnest at 38! Hope yout tests give you some answers!

I have WAY more symptoms than that! I haven't counted them all but I think it is close to 60 different things. those are just the ones that match the menopause symptoms...

I'm 30 btw feel much older than that though

[healthygirl]

Hi Aleisha,

Your doctor might want to run the Free T3 and Free T4 in addition to the T3 and T4 already done. They are different tests.

Here's a brief explanation:

What is the Difference Between T3 and Free T3?

Triiodothyronine (T3) is a thyroid hormone that circulates in blood almost completely bound (]99.5%) to carrier proteins. The main transport protein is thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG). However, only the free (unbound) portion of triiodothyronine (free T3) is believed to be responsible for the biological action. Furthermore, the concentrations of the carrier proteins are altered in many clinical conditions, such as pregnancy.

In normal thyroid function, as the concentrations of the carrier proteins changes, the total triiodothyronine level also changes, so that the free triiodothyronine concentration remains constant. (In an abnormally functioning thyroid, this is not necessarily so). Measurements of free triiodothyronine (Free T3) concentrations, therefore, correlate more reliably with your clinical status than total triiodothyronine (T3) levels.

For example, the increase in total triiodothyronine levels associated with pregnancy, oral contraceptives and estrogen therapy result in higher total T3 levels while the free T3 concentration remains unchanged (in normal individuals)

The principal thyroid hormone, thyroxine (T4), circulates almost entirely bound to thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG). Altered carrier protein concentrations induce changes in total T4 levels, and free T4 concentrations tend to stay within a tight range. Total T4 measurements do not always reflect thyroid status. TBG levels may vary under different physiological conditions, such as during pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, and estrogen therapy. Total T4 levels may increase above the normal range while free T4 remains normal. Alternatively, patients with a dysfunctional thyroid gland and altered TBG levels can have normal total T4 levels, masking the illness. Since abnormal T4 levels may signify either abnormal thyroid function or carrier protein variation (physiological or pathological), free T4 measurements more highly correlate with thyroid status than total T4 measurements.

[Aleshia]

thanks guys, I'll talk to the next dr. I see about this

I just looked up hashimotos on the internet... I have so many of these symptoms.. not all but lots

The signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism vary widely, depending on the severity of hormone deficiency. At first, you may barely notice any symptoms, such as fatigue and sluggishness, or you may simply attribute them to getting older. But as the disease progresses, you may develop more obvious signs and symptoms, including:

INCREASED SENSITIVITY TO COLD

CONSTIPATION

PALE, DRY SKIN

A puffy face

Hoarse voice

An elevated blood cholesterol level

UNEXPLAINED WEIGHT GAIN

[Aleshia]

I just did an online assessment thing on www.womentowomen.com and it says i am in perimenopause based on the thing i filled out

it said my symptoms were 3 mild 6 moderate and 12 severe and that other women my age were 4.93 mild 5.25 moderate and 3.35 severe (severity of symptoms listed)

[cyberprof]

Aleshia,

I've read your other threads and I hope you get answers soon.

I wasn't in menopause three years ago but was completely done in less than two years. I'm much older than you (48) but after the onset of the major celiac symptoms my menopause happened so fast!

It is possible that your pregnancy is messing up your hormones and if you go gluten free you may improve some of your hormone levels and/or not go into menopause. Or it may not be possible to reverse it.

Best of luck to you.

~Laura

[ravenwoodglass]

If you need to be gluten free, and are, you should see recovery from your perimenopausal state. You are very ill right now, and your symptoms scream celiac. I wonder if you found my diary (just kidding). I had a lot of struggles getting diagnosed and unfortunately was well into menapause before I was finally diagnosed. Even then my OB/GYN said that there was a good chance I might get my periods back again. Once your body heals you should find that things will normalize again. I would get the same tests run again after you have been gluten-free for 6 months to year. I bet you and your doctor will be very pleased and perhaps a bit surprised with the differences. If there should be any other issues going on being gluten free is not going to adversely effect them or effect any testing results other than the ones specifically for celiac. I do hope you are able to start the diet soon.

[Aleshia]

If you need to be gluten free, and are, you should see recovery from your perimenopausal state. You are very ill right now, and your symptoms scream celiac. I wonder if you found my diary (just kidding). I had a lot of struggles getting diagnosed and unfortunately was well into menapause before I was finally diagnosed. Even then my OB/GYN said that there was a good chance I might get my periods back again. Once your body heals you should find that things will normalize again. I would get the same tests run again after you have been gluten-free for 6 months to year. I bet you and your doctor will be very pleased and perhaps a bit surprised with the differences. If there should be any other issues going on being gluten free is not going to adversely effect them or effect any testing results other than the ones specifically for celiac. I do hope you are able to start the diet soon.

thanks I just threw out all the gluten stuff in the house in the last 2 days (well mostly) I took a lot of stuff to our church cause they are having a food drive and someone is giving a dollar for every pound of food people bring in so figured it was as good a time as any to get rid of all that junk. my husband wanted to keep a few things for himself so I put them in a box in the cupboard just for him and I have a few things like ravioli and pierogis in the freezer, not sure what to do with them, maybe give them to my parents or someone from church or something...

I went out and spent almost $100 at wholefoods and albertsons to get some stuff that was gluten free (albertsons for things that already don't have gluten cause they're cheaper!) so me and my kids (at least the 2 boys) will be gluten free now.

[Wendylynn]

Hi! I have a suggestion of something that may help with the menapause symptoms. Do you drink coffee? I am 42 and I started getting hot flashes about a year ago, even when I started going gluten free. As soon as I quit drinking coffee they went away. If I give in and drink coffee, the hot flashes come back.

By the way, I am on this site in the very early morning hours because I am having many of the other symptoms you mentioned because I thought I would try a truffle with unknown ingredients - big mistake.

Anyway, hope this helps and I hope you are able to find out what is going on

hi, I've been having quite a few menopause symptoms and I was wondering if anyone could shed any light on my test results for different things, these were done about a year ago so I don't know how much has changed but with how I feel I don't think it would be much! at the time of the tests I was nursing. I weaned my baby about 6 months ago. but I still get the same symptoms and some are worse now than they were then. anyway

Low Iron total: 74 (ideal 100-175) causes hair loss

Low Iron saturation: 20% (ideal 30-50%) causes hair loss

Low Sodium: 139 (ideal 140-146) sodium helps blood pressure, fatigue and adrenal

Low Ferritin: 21 (ideal 75-200) form of iron storage helps energy and hair loss

Insulin 8 (ideal <17 excellent <5) my dr. said this indicates a carbohydrate sensitivity (gluten???)

Low Progesterone: <.5 (ideal 14-20)

Low Testosterone: 25 (ideal 42-76)

Low Estrogen: 15 (ideal 75-200) when all 3 hormones are low causes hair loss

also when they measured me it was 5'8 1/3" and I have always measured between 5'10 1/2" and 5'11" so thats a los of like 2-3 inches! in the last 2 years I got cavities in all of my teeth that weren't there before (more than $5,000 dental work!) and I get bone pain pretty bad... from the symptoms I had with pregnancy and after I believe that it is osteomalacia not just osteoporosis...

my other symptoms include: irregular periods (they were always incredibly regular before), hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, bladder control problems, disrupted sleep, palpitations, weight gain, dry skin, headaches, nausea, tingling skin, itchy skin, buzzing in head, bloating, dizziness, light headedness, sore joints, sore muscles, hair loss/thinning, dry mouth, irritability, brain fog, confusion, memory lapses, low energy/fatigue, lack of concentration, feeling emotionally detached...

alot of the symptoms I've had for most of my life but they are getting worse, otehr symptoms are new in the last year and getting consistantly worse.

anyway have any ideas? is this menopause or will this go away on a glutenfree diet? I am in the process of testing and diagnosing celiac.

[darlindeb25]

It is true that many celiac's go through menopause early, it is also true that some women will go through menopause early. My perimenopause started around 40, at 42, I was going through the hot flashes, by 49, I was post menopausal. I have had women say to me, "You can't possibly know what menopause is like, you are too young!" Society thinks you have to be in your 50's, but it's not true. 30's is harsh, but not impossible.

[Aleshia]

Hi! I have a suggestion of something that may help with the menapause symptoms. Do you drink coffee? I am 42 and I started getting hot flashes about a year ago, even when I started going gluten free. As soon as I quit drinking coffee they went away. If I give in and drink coffee, the hot flashes come back.

By the way, I am on this site in the very early morning hours because I am having many of the other symptoms you mentioned because I thought I would try a truffle with unknown ingredients - big mistake.

Anyway, hope this helps and I hope you are able to find out what is going on

nope no coffee here... I have a frappacino maybe once a year... I can't stand coffee... I used to hate the smell of it too but since my 3rd pregnancy I love the smell of it but I still can't stand the taste... I wish I wish I wish it tasted as good as it smells!!

[georgie]

Low Iron total: 74 (ideal 100-175) causes hair loss

Low Iron saturation: 20% (ideal 30-50%) causes hair loss

Low Sodium: 139 (ideal 140-146) sodium helps blood pressure, fatigue and adrenal

Low Ferritin: 21 (ideal 75-200) form of iron storage helps energy and hair loss

Insulin 8 (ideal <17 excellent <5) my dr. said this indicates a carbohydrate sensitivity (gluten???)

Low Progesterone: <.5 (ideal 14-20)

Low Testosterone: 25 (ideal 42-76)

Low Estrogen: 15 (ideal 75-200) when all 3 hormones are low causes hair loss

Reading this again I see your Sodium, testosterone and sex hormones are low. I would be rushing to Dr and asking for Pituitary testing. Have you ever had a head injury/whiplash/ fall ? www.pituitary.org has info on the 12 or so hormones that are affected by low pituitary and also has links on how to find a good Dr. You need a Dr that is exp in HypoPituitary. Early menopause is a symptom. Low thyroid is a symptom. Low sodium is a symptom. As is low BP .... Good luck - I am battling this myself and it has been a frustrating 2 years of a holistic GP knowing what to do but unable to test fully, and a few Specialists able to test but refusing to see I am sick. My last Endo refused to believe I was Coeliac cos my blood test was negative ( although a high negative ) and sent me away as not needing to see me again. At present - I am prepared to stay with my holistic Dr forever and forget further tests - but be guided by symptoms !!!!!

[VioletBlue]

The hot flashes and night sweats I was having went away after three or four months on the gluten-free diet. They only return if I'm accidentallyl glutened or get a good dose of something else I'm sensitive to. The irregular periods are still irregular. I am entering menopause so that's not surprising. A lot of the other symptoms you mention here went away or were minimized by going gluten-free. There's antidotal evenidence out there that Celiac can bring on early menopause in women. I think Dr. Green mentioned it briefly in his book and I've seen it thrown around other places as well. I'm 46 so I am somewhat ahead of schedule.

The heart palpitations were the worst of it for me. They became truely frightening and what pushed me to seek answers. They were most likely the result of a very low iron count according to the Docs. And the uncontrollable weight gain stopped as well. Loosing the weight I gained will be tough, but I'm just thrilled the gaining stopped.

my other symptoms include: irregular periods (they were always incredibly regular before), hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, bladder control problems, disrupted sleep, palpitations, weight gain, dry skin, headaches, nausea, tingling skin, itchy skin, buzzing in head, bloating, dizziness, light headedness, sore joints, sore muscles, hair loss/thinning, dry mouth, irritability, brain fog, confusion, memory lapses, low energy/fatigue, lack of concentration, feeling emotionally detached...

alot of the symptoms I've had for most of my life but they are getting worse, otehr symptoms are new in the last year and getting consistantly worse.

anyway have any ideas? is this menopause or will this go away on a glutenfree diet? I am in the process of testing and diagnosing celiac.

[Aleshia]

Reading this again I see your Sodium, testosterone and sex hormones are low. I would be rushing to Dr and asking for Pituitary testing. Have you ever had a head injury/whiplash/ fall ? www.pituitary.org has info on the 12 or so hormones that are affected by low pituitary and also has links on how to find a good Dr. You need a Dr that is exp in HypoPituitary. Early menopause is a symptom. Low thyroid is a symptom. Low sodium is a symptom. As is low BP .... Good luck - I am battling this myself and it has been a frustrating 2 years of a holistic GP knowing what to do but unable to test fully, and a few Specialists able to test but refusing to see I am sick. My last Endo refused to believe I was Coeliac cos my blood test was negative ( although a high negative ) and sent me away as not needing to see me again. At present - I am prepared to stay with my holistic Dr forever and forget further tests - but be guided by symptoms !!!!!

I did get hit in the head with a hammer... it was my own fault and the story is really embarrassing... so ANYWAY....

well, I talked to another dr. about those low hormones etc. and he looked through the other dr.s comments and the actual test results with me and said that it showed I was in the follicular phase of my cycle and that they were normal for that phase... when I looked over it again he was right cause all of the things the other dr. had said were low were actually within the normal range. since she was a ND it would make sense becaue they don't consider the norms to be as broad as what the labs and MDs do. so now I don't know what to think... is my ND saying things aren't normal when they are? or is the MD saying they are normal just because they fall within a broader normal range but there is actually something worng. its all too confusing for me....

on a lighter note I am on day 6 I think of the gluten free diet and I don't remember having nightsweats last night... most of my brainfog is gone! HOORAY!! the first few days the neurological symptoms and my bone pain were way worse but now they are subsiding too. my fatigue is slowly diminishing to where I don't feel exhausted when I do even a few minutes of housework anymore... I managed to catch up on about 3 weeks worth of unfolded laundry and clean part of the kitchen and I still feel ok and my spine isn't killing me.

I think I'll do the gluten-free diet for about a month maybe 2 months then have a week or so of eating gluten and see what that does to me...

is that the normal way to do this or do I need to reintroduce it for longer to be sure?