I'm not ready to join The Adrenal Thread, since I'm really not sure I'm dealing w/ AF...
First symptom that caused me to wonder what was up - my BBT is around 98.4 prior to ovulation, then spikes (slowly) up to 99.0 and today was 98.8 after ovulation. That's definitely high, but two OBs w/ whom I've spoken said it could be considered "normal." I just know that all my charts prior to both my pregnancies had pre-ov temps more like 97.6 or so and the spiking up to 98.3 or so after ovulation. So, it's either weird or a "new normal" for me. My luteal phases are not consistent - last one was 8 days, but usually around 10 days - sometimes 9, once in a while 12.
So at first OB appt to ask about the high BBTs, she ordered a thyroid panel, estrogen, and progesterone checks.
-thyroid panel was "normal":
-T4 was 7.8 - range is 4.5-12.0
-T3 uptake was 35%, range is 24-39%
-free thyroxine index(?! what's that - off to google) is 2.7, range is 1.2-4.9
- my estradiol was 185.2
- progesterone was 7.0 - this was 7 days past ovulation - she said this was low and they'd prescribe me a supplement if I was seeking pregnancy
- estradiol was 185.2 (I've been reading this is a bad ratio of estrogen
rogesterone but am not quite sure what to do and OB didn't say anything)
she referred me to the OB who specializes in adrenal stuff since I'd said I wondered if my high temps were connected somehow to an adrenal problem
He gave me the saliva test for Diagnos-Techs but I'm not certain it'd be helpful, esp for $99 not covered by ins. I told him how I'd had pubic hair growth when I was 6 but no other puberty signs til around 12. The testing at that time "only" indicated high cortisol levels. Nothing was done about it. I conceived two children fairly easily. He ordered a testosterone check and DHEA check.
-testosterone was "normal" (didn't ask for the #s)
-DHEA was high - range is something like 120-720 and mine was 1884
So what might low progesterone, possibly a high estrogenrogesterone ratio, and high DHEA indicate?
They said they'd refer me to an endocrinologist. I called the endocrinologist and they asked why I need to be seen. When I said b/c of high BBTs and low progesterone and high DHEA, they said they'd need to talk either w/ the OB who referred me or see the lab results since they're not sure why they'd need to see me. (And I'm not sure either, except something seems a little whacky!)
-I'm irritable, frequently, esp around my period
-sometimes short luteal phases
-a good deal of belly fat
-very low libido - though very unlike when we were first married; I doubt it's the normal decrease people talk about
-high BBTs
-somewhat delayed ovulation - sometimes around day 20+
-I'm quite hairy, esp for being very fair skinned - chin/lip hair
-unless I'm dead tired, I wake often in the night and not b/c a baby's waking me! - like 1, then 3, then 5, then up around 6
-low progesterone, high DHEA
-not sure of my current cortisol status
what's my deal?
should I pursue being seen by the endocrinologist? I'm extra-motivated to figure this out b/c my DD who's not even 2.5yrs has a pubic hair on her vulva. Pediatrician said we'll just watch it since there's just one right now, but did run through possible scenarios. I'm almost certain she has what I had/have? but it bothers me that she's growing pubic hair even earlier than I did... and I wonder if it's at all connected to my current hormone issues.
Thanks, mommas
First symptom that caused me to wonder what was up - my BBT is around 98.4 prior to ovulation, then spikes (slowly) up to 99.0 and today was 98.8 after ovulation. That's definitely high, but two OBs w/ whom I've spoken said it could be considered "normal." I just know that all my charts prior to both my pregnancies had pre-ov temps more like 97.6 or so and the spiking up to 98.3 or so after ovulation. So, it's either weird or a "new normal" for me. My luteal phases are not consistent - last one was 8 days, but usually around 10 days - sometimes 9, once in a while 12.
So at first OB appt to ask about the high BBTs, she ordered a thyroid panel, estrogen, and progesterone checks.
-thyroid panel was "normal":
-T4 was 7.8 - range is 4.5-12.0
-T3 uptake was 35%, range is 24-39%
-free thyroxine index(?! what's that - off to google) is 2.7, range is 1.2-4.9
- my estradiol was 185.2
- progesterone was 7.0 - this was 7 days past ovulation - she said this was low and they'd prescribe me a supplement if I was seeking pregnancy
- estradiol was 185.2 (I've been reading this is a bad ratio of estrogen
rogesterone but am not quite sure what to do and OB didn't say anything)she referred me to the OB who specializes in adrenal stuff since I'd said I wondered if my high temps were connected somehow to an adrenal problem
He gave me the saliva test for Diagnos-Techs but I'm not certain it'd be helpful, esp for $99 not covered by ins. I told him how I'd had pubic hair growth when I was 6 but no other puberty signs til around 12. The testing at that time "only" indicated high cortisol levels. Nothing was done about it. I conceived two children fairly easily. He ordered a testosterone check and DHEA check.
-testosterone was "normal" (didn't ask for the #s)
-DHEA was high - range is something like 120-720 and mine was 1884
So what might low progesterone, possibly a high estrogen
rogesterone ratio, and high DHEA indicate?They said they'd refer me to an endocrinologist. I called the endocrinologist and they asked why I need to be seen. When I said b/c of high BBTs and low progesterone and high DHEA, they said they'd need to talk either w/ the OB who referred me or see the lab results since they're not sure why they'd need to see me. (And I'm not sure either, except something seems a little whacky!)
-I'm irritable, frequently, esp around my period
-sometimes short luteal phases
-a good deal of belly fat
-very low libido - though very unlike when we were first married; I doubt it's the normal decrease people talk about
-high BBTs
-somewhat delayed ovulation - sometimes around day 20+
-I'm quite hairy, esp for being very fair skinned - chin/lip hair
-unless I'm dead tired, I wake often in the night and not b/c a baby's waking me! - like 1, then 3, then 5, then up around 6
-low progesterone, high DHEA
-not sure of my current cortisol status
what's my deal?
should I pursue being seen by the endocrinologist? I'm extra-motivated to figure this out b/c my DD who's not even 2.5yrs has a pubic hair on her vulva. Pediatrician said we'll just watch it since there's just one right now, but did run through possible scenarios. I'm almost certain she has what I had/have? but it bothers me that she's growing pubic hair even earlier than I did... and I wonder if it's at all connected to my current hormone issues.Thanks, mommas
)
