HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Update on hormones and symptoms

Support Forums
>
Lupus
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/31/2008 2:13 PM (GMT 0)
I'm happy to report after being on my testosterone cream for a week, I'm noticing a nice change in my level of fatigue.  For those of you who didn't know, I recently found out that my testosterone level was pretty much non existant and since testosterone regulates most of your other hormones, they were all off too. I'm still fatigued, of course, but nothing like before and there are times during the day when I actually have energy and feel pretty good.  It's a very welcome change.  I really hope this will help me finally get my prednisone down to a dose of around 5mg.  I've tapered down to 7.5mg and will stay there through April and then slowly start to taper some more. I want to encourage all of you to get your hormone levels tested if you haven't had that done.  I had no idea until I did some reading that lupus can deplete your hormone levels (I'm not sure why though). On a quick off topic note, I'm glad I have more energy now because my little 6yr old daughter has a big dance competition this weekend.  It's her first competition and she is so excited, but there is so much to do to get ready and a lot that goes into it.  Then shortly after competition she gets ready for her spring recital.  Her dance teacher has her doing 5 dances, so we will be really busy with dress rehearsals, etc.  
Posted 3/31/2008 2:28 PM (GMT 0)

Great news!  I hope it continues to help you.

Good luck to your daughter!

Posted 3/31/2008 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats on the good news and good luck for your daughter.
Posted 3/31/2008 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hippi,

   I'm so glad to hear your feeling better. It's amazing what our hormones will do to us. Thank you for the update and reminder for everyone to get their hormones checked. Good luck with all the upcoming excitment with your daughter. I know you are very proud of her and Josh. How is Josh doing lately? I hope he is doing better as well. Keep us updated and take care. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

                                                        Babs

Posted 4/1/2008 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Hippi, I am so happy to hear that your fatigue is getting better, it has reminded me to ask my doctors to check my hormones (I forgot on my last appt tongue ). I hope your Pred taper goes well too, I know it's hard coming off it. Is your doctor trying to get you completely off it and replace with another med?

The increase in energy came at the right time, have a great time watching your little girl dance her heart out! You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers! Hugs and luv
Posted 4/1/2008 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. Stacie, I think right now the goal for my prednisone is to get down to a low maintanence dose of 5mg or less. I can't believe how much energy I had yesterday, so of course I did a little too much. My stomach ended up giving me lots of preoblems last night and it's still off this morning. I ended up being up a lot during the night, so I'm dragging today. We have snow this morning - Uhg! I woke up with my joints on fire and once I saw the snow, I understood why I was hurting. I'm so ready for consistently warm weather - not hot, just warm :)
Posted 4/1/2008 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
FYI Hippi, testosterone can held with the old sex drive, which can fade away with illness, fatigue, weight gain, etc. etc. Hope you're doing ok.

Pat
Posted 4/1/2008 6:14 PM (GMT 0)

Hippi:  Which doctor did the hormone testing for you?  I ask because I have been referred to a new endocrinologist next Monday.  My neuro wants to have a lot of the "rare" endocrine type bloodwork run on me since the myelin sheaths in my spine were attacked by the lupus on Easter. I had a full cat scan and mri, and I have no plaques, so he wants to rule out anything endocrine before we proceed with a possible spinal tap.  He is trying to work with my rheumy, but you know how that is... trying to get those types of doctors to communicate.  He has mentioned CNS Lupus a couple of times.  I really hope thats not the case.  sad

I swear, I truly wish Dr. House was real.


Posted 4/1/2008 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
Victoria, my new pcp is the one who tested my hormone levels during my physical. I would guess that any doc could do it though, so you could ask the endochronologist. I'm sorry you are going through so much and I hope the endochronologist can help. Let us know what you find out.
Posted 4/2/2008 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
Great news hippie!! I was looking forward to your updates and hope you'll keep posting about your progress. Make sure you increase your activity SLOWLY or you'll put yourself in another flare. Don't let life's urgencies suck you down again. Enjoy the dance and your little girl!! Blessings!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply