HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Early menopause???

Support Forums
>
Lyme Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/25/2014 10:08 AM (GMT 0)
Been awhile since I've posted! Have been in a bit of a whirlwind over the past several months. Quick update:

LLMD has me on AL-Comples (3 mos. now) but just started A-Bab and A-Bart in the past day or two. I am CDC-positive lyme but Bart and Bab results, while positive aren't positive "enough" so I haven't started conventional abx yet. Overall, I am doing a lot better—able to exercise more but appetite is really really low. I have all the classic levels of insulin resistance but not the one or two specific diabetes levels so blood sugar is all out of whack. My cholesterol panel is REALLY REALLY bad—all levels (except overall numbers, which are good) are really bad, indications of the bad/sticky type of cholesterol. Neurotransmitter levels are bad. All this despite a very very strict diet for the past 6 mos.

Have started seeing a naturopath, who ran hormone bloodwork and said my estrogen, progesterone and testosterone were all in/beyond menopause "levels". She said the estrogen didn't even really register.

After completely melting down in her office upon hearing that...

I am shocked and confused. I'm 45, so I'm not 22. But... I have extremely regular periods including ovulation (I keep meticulous records) and have seen my periods become 1 day shorter every year—but this year I'm still averaging about 27 days and my ovulation is detectable with the cheap little sticks you can buy. I have noticed no other changes in my periods (except increased spotting and a short period (23 days) last month when I started the AL-Complex. I don't have any other menopausal symptoms except night sweats (which LLMD and I attributed to Babesia).

I didn't get to ask any questions before I was shooed out of her office because my appt. had run late. She wants to put me on a bio-identical cream. But how do you know if this is really menopause or lyme & co.? And do I really want to mess with my hormones if it is the lyme & co.? Or does it matter what is causing it—it's important to get the hormone levels corrected? Is this permanent? Is there a possibility my hormone levels will be normal again? Is my desire to have children now completely delusional — rather than just hopeful?

Believe it or not, I have been more worried about this than the lyme & co. Since learning I have these infections, so so many of my strange personality changes make perfect sense now... and all the things that have prevented me from being in normal, healthy relationships and starting a family. Forgive my self-pitying but after all these years going untreated—the thought of my fertility being stolen from me is utterly devastating.

-p
Posted 7/25/2014 11:38 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry this is causing you so much distress.

Funnily enough, though, when I didn't start menopause at age 45, I was pretty distressed. While all the women in my family had menopause at the age, but Lyme not only stopped it but also caused endometriosis, causing dreadful pain every month. However, as soon as I started Lyme treatment, I went into menopause.

So, I would say that it is definitely Lyme causing your hormonal imbalance. It causes so many imbalances in every body system. You will probably see this correct itself as your treatment continues.

I hope you will be able to stop stressing about this -- stress can cause even more problems.
Posted 7/25/2014 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
Achievinggrace -
Thank you. I am doing a little better now than I was tossing and turning at 3am this morning. ;)
I think you're right—the stress is harmful and I should probably refocus that energy. This disease is crazy in all the ways it affects us.

-p
Posted 7/25/2014 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
I assumed early (47) menopause as well but treatment with Buhner's protocol for bartonella (plus some bioidentical progesterone cream) has resolved all my symptoms.

Symptoms included: anxiety attacks, palpitations, derealisation, foot pain, emotional labiality, raging, exercise intolerance, crashing fatigue, hot flashes, chills, brain fog, flu-like body/muscle pain, fibroids, heavy period bleeding.
Posted 7/25/2014 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Pirouette - I think it could be the Lyme messing with your hormones.

I'm older - I was 51 - last year - when I had hormonal issues - severe ones - terrible hot flashes - crying, anxiety, low level depression. I had been experiencing "over the top" stress for a couple years prior...and was now trying to heal a "pinched nerve" (which I now believe was perhaps the start of my lyme symptoms). My Dr checked my estrogen and it was almost non-existent. I had never had hormonal issues before - no PMS, no post-partum blues, and was doubting that I'd now fall apart because of menopause. Went on the estrogen/progesterone - it did not help me one bit. My symptoms got worse, and then new ones appeared - due to Lyme disease. When she retested my estrogen after only 6 weeks on it, my levels were very high. (and I was only taking 1/2 of the recommended dose) She then retested three months after I was off, and it had risen again - out of menopause range. My Dr. said that was unusual and couldn't explain the now high level.
I now believe my hormones were out of whack, but the Lyme caused it. Can't prove it...but it's my gut feeling.
Posted 7/25/2014 7:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Rowingmom and Girlie...
Your stories are helpful and provide a little perspective.

I don't have menopausal symptoms (that I know of) other than intermittent light night sweats which got intense after starting the AL-Complex. And my hormone levels were checked two yrs ago and they were not only good, they were very good considering my age.

I have had a day now to process all the info from my appt. and I'm thinking more clearly. It was also quite cathartic to have a good, solid hysterical cry. Haven't done that in years ;)

I have a call into my LLMD to talk about how she interprets the hormone levels. But I think the hormone levels are what they are and I should probably use the bio-identical hormones and just get things retested in a few months and set the issue aside for now. My theory is if they remain imbalanced AFTER the treatment (which they might given the fact that I will be closer to 50 by then) I'll have to cross that bridge at that time.

But what is most critical right now is to focus on treatment, find a way in all this madness not to get overwhelmed with almost every single system in my body falling apart or get too narrowly focused on one thing, find ways to de-stress and take care of myself, and maintaining a positive outlook. It is also becoming abundantly clear that I need to seek emotional support. I live alone and have no friends or family nearby and I absolutely need to check in here on the forum more often.

And when I get cranky and whiney, I'll just revisit this post it will remind myself to buck up and move forward. ;)

-p
Posted 7/30/2014 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
So…after crying ALL DAY (at some points rather hysterically) after receiving my hormonal results at my naturopath appt…
(it was actually rather cathartic, looking back!)

I sobered up and sent an email to my LLMD asking if she had any input regarding why my hormones are so screwy. She responded today and was certain it was the babesia.

OK. mystery solved… question is, will they be able to recover after treatment. Guess time will tell…

-p
Posted 7/30/2014 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
I just got diagnosed with Lyme in November but have had symptoms for 15 yrs. I am 53 now but at 40 my periods stopped. In my late 30's they got really weird, I would have one regular then it wouldn't come for 3 months, then it would come, then less then a month I would have another. I had very mild ones but then they would be harsh, bad cramps and more bleeding.

Don't be alarmed, I think the Lyme must wack them out plus all the fake hormones in things.

Mine register like yours even with taking bio-identical hormones. I just finished my last script and can't afford to get more hormone right now so I am curious how that's going to work.

Be glad your still having one, it's hell not to have one and the symptoms associated with it.
Posted 7/30/2014 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your input Revive—I like how you describe the hormone levels as "faked" from lyme & co. influence. Or, at least I'd rather see it that way vs. the infection destroying yet another body system. It's all just too much.

Regarding the bio-identical hormones you're taking—whether or not they're actually influencing levels in your tests—do you FEEL any different when you're on them? Are they positively impacting your treatment? I'm ok with the test results being screwy but I don't want to buy and take anything unless it's important to my healing and how I feel…

And I definitely want them if there is a danger of long-term damage—even if levels are being "faked". But I haven't asked that question or the docs don't understand that's what I'm asking.

-p
Posted 7/30/2014 11:05 PM (GMT 0)
I don't feel any better on them but I'm not dried out down there, lol, and I don't have the hot flashes. My hormone levels since I've been taking them are really low like I'm not taking anything.

I've been told by others without Lyme that they feel so much better on them, more energy and they are not psychotic like some women get.

If your still having periods and if you have the money, I would check into the bio-identical hormones to see if it makes you feel any better. Plus they say your risk of heart attacks and stroke increase without the natural hormones. Don't get the synthetic crap, it will make you have a stroke.

I will get mine checked again soon so I can get back on it.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply