I seem to have a serious problem and I just can't understand what is happening to me and nor can my doctor which just doesn't help matters.
I have always looked extremely feminine having started on hormones since the age of just 10 and now being 36. But since over the last 2 years something terrible is happening to me and no-one can figure out what the cause is despite having had so many blood tests done.
For some insane reason over the last 2 years I have started to loose a lot of my hair and the texture is of my hair is so very dry and now my hair is starting to slowly thin along the top of my head from the crown and slowly progressing to the front. Whereas before I always had extemely thick dark hair, my hair has become lighter in colour probably because it is so dry and people keep making horrible remarks to me commenting how very thin my hair is now and this reduces me to tears.
I am just 5' 4'' tall and petite UK dress size 6 to 8 but I have also noticed I have slight development of bicep muscle and also have started developing some dark hairs along my top lip about a dozen or so which are now becoming darker and courser and I am having to shave these each morning. People have told me I am also becoming more aggressive and acting more masculine whereas this has never happened to me ever before. Truth is, they are right, I have noticed over the last 6 months or so I have become extremely aggressive and I cannot seem to control this at times. My hands have also become slightly puffy and hot and the veins have become dilated too. In the mornings especially I can't even get my rings on.
As a result I am so worried about this that I am loosing a lot of sleep.
My doctor sent me to an endocrinologist for hormone evaluation and the results are as follows: Estradiol 850 Pmol/L FHS 8 LH 9 note LH is higher than the FSH whereas it has never been like this before as my LH has always been lower than my FSH. Testosterone 'very low' at just 0.3 nmol/L SHBG 170 Prolactin low levels. ESR 5. Thyroid they tell me is within normal range. Ferritin they also tell me is within norrmal range.
I take muti vitamins every day also.
Yes I am stressed but my stress is caused by what is happening here and not the other way round. I know stress can cause a lot of problems but I know the stress is not the underlying cause here. So what is?
I am starting to feel extremely unfeminine now whereas I have always been extremely attractive petite and feminine.
Recently I have felt like giving up altogether because the doctors seem to be of no help whatsoever and, if they don't know what to do, then there seems like little help left for me now and of course not very pleasant thoughts have been entering into my mind now and these thoughts out of shere desperation are becoming more frequent and I am starting to fear now because if I cannot find a solution to this and quickly too I don't know if I will be able to cope with this if it gets any worse.
Recently I have been taking 'Estrofem' sublingually in the morning and in the evening. I started to get hot flashes? never had hot flashes ever before until now. My doctor said she doesn't like the idea of me increasing the dose. The crazy thing is, two weeks ago I had a blood test and my estrogen level was a massive 4,500 pmol/L = 1,225 pg/ml. I admit I took estrofem one hour before the blood test, but even so, surely the estrogen level can't reach as high as that on just estrofem can it? a week later I had a repeat blood test done 12 hours after my last dose of estrofem and my estradiol level dropped dramatically to just a mere 270 pmol/L = 73 pg/ml.
I am so desperate I need help. Please can anybody shed some light on what is or could be happening to me?
Please help me.
Nicki.
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Edited out dosage information - Nicki the mod
It sounds to me like you need more support here. It must be pretty scary seeing these changes and not knowing why and nobody is giving you the answers. I don't think any of us will be qualified to give you any answers, but perhaps we can suggest some options.
The person who can give you the best answers to do with hormones is going to be your endo. I would talk to them about your results as it sounds like your doctor may be out of their depth here.
But I agree with your doctor, best not to play with your dosage unless you know what is going on.
There are various reasons why you might be loosing your hair, and it may not be hormonal (though it is often related to hormones, and considering your intersex history is likely to be the cause). So I think there are things to explore in that area. Perhaps you could talk to a hair loss clinic and show them your blood work, they might have more expertise in that area. I would also suggest finding a support group for women with hair loss.
Have a look at http://www.womentowomen.com/womenshealth/femalehairloss.aspx (http://www.womentowomen.com/womenshealth/femalehairloss.aspx)
*hugs*
It could be something even more serious than your hormones.
Hi again,
I have been off hormones since I wrote this and my hair completely stopped coming out. My hair texture has dramatically improved already and looks very healthy. I also sleep so well and I don't feel stressed at all, in fact I have felt so relaxed and so calm about everything. My boyfriend remarked I look so much better and my skin and hair looks so much more healthier, my eyes too, in fact everything. I have never felt this good before.
I am seeing my doctor this week to discuss how soon I have my next ultra scan to detect for ovaries considering I had cyclic bleeding for 18 years despite the doctors doing little about it. But now my new doctor here in the UK she is taking this very serious and even though the last ultra scan detected I have a normal size cervix but did not pick up on ovaries. My GP told me that is not unusual and that's why she is sending me for further scans and tests.
This may explain why I have been feeling ill for years as it could be the hormones? especially the last 9 years or so have felt like I have an estrogen overload. But since coming off them I feel really totally different for the best because I do not have all the side effects I was experiencing like to before.
Nicki
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