Always grumpy, bad hair...hormone imbalance?

[New_Natural_Mom]

I don't know where to start. First off, since I had my son (2 years ago next week ) I noticed that my hair is just gross. all. the. time. No matter what type of shampoo, treatment, anything, it is always gross. I can't let it air dry anymore because it clumps into these crunchy tentacles. It gets oily instantly (it seems) and it can't be styled any longer. It also seems like I can't ever wash all the shampoo off (any type of shampoo.)

Secondly, I am in a permanent bad mood. Everything is irritating. I am snappy, sarcastic, and doom and gloom. I'm not depressed, I am just irritable. I don't get great sleep, but even if I sleep all day my DH could just walk in the room and breathe and I want to snap at him.

Third, I have developed terrible insomnia. It either takes hours and hours and hours to fall asleep, or I will drop right off but be awakened in the night and not be able to go back to sleep.

I eat a healthier than average diet. I take beta-carotene, cod liver oil, vitamin D, and an assorted host of other supplements.

What gives? This weekend I started putting it all together and wondering if it is hormonal or nutritional. How could I even begin to figure this out?

Help! I am tired of the constant grump and bad hair. I used to be cute and fun! I swear!

[neverdoingitagain]

What an interesting situation.
I had the same thought at first, must be hormonal, but I can't find anything to verify it. Then I remembered that a deficiency of EFAs can cause seborrhea dermatitis aka dandruff(well actually cradle cap), which is sort of along the lines of oily hair. Depression can manifest as anger, insomnia is a symptom of depression and depression is another symptom of a deficiency of EFAs. BUT oily hair isn't a sign of efa deficiency. Dry hair is, so back to square one...
Only thing that seems consistent is the idea that hormones trigger sebum production and stress can trigger those hormones. Insomnia and irritation can be signs of depression, or more importantly anxiety. Now heres the chicken-egg question, which came first? The anxiety or the insomnia? Is the irritation/anxiety causing the insomnia or the insomnia causing the irritation? Or are we completely off track and its something else all together?

What a conundrum. My only suggestion is to go to a doctor and get your blood levels tested for hormone, mineral, vitamin imbalances. You might want to also ask about a sleep clinic that can monitor what kind of sleep you are getting.

For what its worth, I've been struggling with the same issues off and on for almost 6 years(since my first child was born) I did do all the blood tests, and as it turned out I'm normal little low in vitamin D but within optimal range for everything else. Since I'm breastfeeding and co-sleeping with my youngest I can't do much sleep-wise.
This hasn't been the most helpful post, has it? I hope you at least take from it that there are other people going through the same thing


...just out of curiousity, do you also have issues with your skin?

[BellinghamCrunchie]

I have those symptoms. I'm low progesterone/estrogen dominance. Natural progesterone cream helps me a great deal.

[New_Natural_Mom]

My skin is relatively good. Before I cleaned up my diet I had *terrible* skin, but now it is fine. I have had anxiety issues in the past, but they were/are specifically tailored to certain situations - it isn't generalized anxiety.

Someone on another thread (completely different subject) mentioned the book "The Mood Cure" and it is something I put on my reading list.

I am still nursing and we co-sleep, so that situation is limiting treatment options.

[neverdoingitagain]

Originally Posted by New_Natural_Mom

My skin is relatively good. Before I cleaned up my diet I had *terrible* skin, but now it is fine. I have had anxiety issues in the past, but they were/are specifically tailored to certain situations - it isn't generalized anxiety.

Someone on another thread (completely different subject) mentioned the book "The Mood Cure" and it is something I put on my reading list.

I am still nursing and we co-sleep, so that situation is limiting treatment options.

Sounds like we both need to "muscle" through for a bit.
I looked up hormone imbalances because of BellinghamCrunchie's post and got an eyeful! You might want to add hormone testing to that list. I need to find a doctor in town so that I can get that tested too.

Here's a website I found that might be helpful.

http://www.nativeremedies.com/ailmen...imbalance.html

Funny, I had planned to get my hormones tested but I forgot why. Then I forgot that I wanted to get my hormones tested

I wonder if adrenal fatigue is part of it? I just read a little about "The Mood Cure" book and it sounds very interesting. From the little I found, low seratonin would be your issue.

Interesting, very interesting.

eta: I just realized I already mentioned hormone testing in my first post. Wow, my memory is shot.

[logansmom109]

sleep apnea

I could have written this post myself.

I finally ended up getting sleep study as this was my main concern due to falling asleep while driving more than I care to admit. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea. Couldn't belive it. I am of normal weight and never had any sleep problems before DS was born (almost 2 yrs ago).

I also had 0--zero minutes of stage 3 and 4 sleep so this helped explain some of my blood work that showed hormonal deficiencies. Apparently that state 3/4 sleep is where the body gets restored and that included hormones, serotonin, etc.

I've been using a cpap for one week now, not going great so I am listening for others suggestions as well. I think there may be multiple issues going on and it is hard to know where to start.