Hormone imbalance?

[ellie_carbone]

Hi! was hoping to get some guidance into some of the issues that have plagued me over my life. A lot of doctors are dismissive or don't realise the impact it has in my life. I often show 'normal' blood results, but I am desperately looking for answers.

Here are some symptoms that I get monthly (which last for about a week):

- extreme fatigue (can be in bed for 4-5 days)
- acne breakouts (once a month)
- headaches and migraines
- increase in appetite
- insomnia
- brain fog
- low mood
- anxiety (getting treatments for this)
- I have an Implanon so I don't get periods. But I recall them being heavy.
- Increase in body hair

I also eat healthily, exercise regularly and sleep well (when not going through this). I have been diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism, but most of the time, my blood are 'normal'.

Any guidance would be appreciated. Thank you!

[AnnieBrooke]

If you have an Implanon and are getting a lot of symptoms that sound hormonally related, one thing to do is to remove the Implanon and go on another form of birth control that doesn't involve hormones (such as condoms and foam or an IUD), to let your body go back to its normal hormone cycles. Do this for two or three months and see if your cycles regulate, and how you feel. Keep a journal, it will help you see patterns. Then see how you're doing with the symptoms you list.

I assume from your use of the phrase "over my life" that you have had these symptoms longer than you have had an Implanon, but it will be impossible to sort out your natural hormonal baseline if you're on hormonal birth control so suppressive that you are not even having periods.

A lot of what you are dealing with also sounds like you have a lack in the nutrition department. Try taking vitamin D3 (unless you are out in the sun for at least an hour every day) and also iron. When you take iron, take it with vitamin C to help with absorbtion, and a daily fiber gummy so the iron doesn't give you constipation. It's pretty mild on your body to improve your vitamin intake, so you could do it at the same time as your system is shaking off the effects of the Implanon.

I'd suggest a three-month trial without a hormonal birth control in your body. Condoms and spermicidal foam are one way to go and an IUD is another (as long as it isn't a hormonal IUD), just get off the b.c. that keeps your natural hormones so suppressed that you don't even have a period. Keeping your hormones that suppressed is not that great for you for other reasons.

[ellie_carbone]

Wow, that is really helpful. Thank you so much! I have had my bloods tested in March (all normal!)

[AnnieBrooke]

You said you had your "bloods tested" and they were "all normal." What tests did you do? For example, did you do one for osteoporosis? There is a link between menstrual-cycle intervals longer than 32 days and increased fracture rates in later years. What is cause and what is effect (whether natural irregular cycles are caused by some other thing that also later increases the risk of osteoporosis) is not known. But I sure would not be on a form of birth control that keeps me from having a monthly period. When they have tested young women who stop having their periods because their body fat gets too low, they have also found decreased bone density. Along with that, have you had your iron levels, estrogen levels, progesterone levels and vitamin D levels tested? Or did the doctor just run a standard panel?

[AnnieBrooke]

and p.s., if you get your estrogen and progesterone tested, do it after the effects of the Implanon have worn off. At least a month after having it removed. What you are looking for is your natural cycle and your natural hormone levels, not assisted by medical science. :-)

[ellie_carbone]

Thank you for replying! I appreciate it. The blood test was for liver function, cholesterol, glucose, phosphate, urate, calcium, creatine, full blood count, electrolytes, iron studies, vit d + B12, TFT and TFTINFO. They were all good!