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23 Year old with constipation, no period, anxiety, binge eating

by Sylvia
(USA)

Hello,

This is my first time blogging and I hope someone can read and help me save my life.
About 5 years ago I was on Ortho-tricyclen for about 1 year and a few months. I stopped that because I was no longer sexually active. I then started to break out terribly which I had never had a problem with in my life. I continuously went to the dermatologist and they gave me every medication and antibiotic you can think of besides Accutane. About 4.5 years later I started to have severe constipation that lead to anal fissures and I had 2 colonoscopies but doctors said everything was fine and I just needed to eat more fiber (which didn't help much). Meanwhile, I was still breaking out so I then decided to go back on bc and took Yaz for about 7 months. During that time I gained 20lbs. I never had a weight issue in my life and never thought twice about what I ate. This caused me to start to diet and exercise. I had very low self esteem which caused me to slowly cut myself off from the rest of the world. What started out as a way to get healthy became an obsession and turned into severe restriction and binging (which I am now only binging but still obsessing about food). I no longer wanted to be on birth control regardless if I broke out or not. I continued to exercise but again I was having issues with food. About a year later (Feb 2011) I moved to Korea to teach English and be with family and I thought this was going to be my ticket to stopping the binging because I thought I might have just needed a change in my life. Instead of being there for a year I ended up leaving after 4 months because my anxiety, depression, binging, and restricting intensified. I still hadn't had a natural period or spotting for over 1.5 years. The only times I did bleed was because it was induced by Provera (which I am totally against now that I am well informed). I've been going to therapists, doctors, and nurse practitioners to try and solve my problem but I haven't had any significant help. I had my blood tested and it looks like I have high testosterone but I also suspect low estrogen because it was higher than 32 but less than the normal range for the luteal phase. The doctor told me that was normal. I have a lot of anxiety every day along with headaches and fatigue and I just want a solution, and preferably a natural one. I apologize this is such a long story but I am just so desperate for a solution. Thanks for the help!

Sincerely,

Losing Hope

Comments for 23 Year old with constipation, no period, anxiety, binge eating

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Dec 04, 2011
 research these areas and get these tests
by: Rosanne

please get a cortisol saliva test. Too high or too low can create so many problems. For two years I battled many symptoms. For two weeks I gained a pound a day. When I review my symptoms and the strategies I put in place I believe the main culprit was hypoadrenalism, which is simply too much stress physical or emotional. The adrenal glands cannot keep up. Google adrenal fatigue, adrenal fatigue recommended supplements etc. This is a good place to start. Your high testosterone like mine is indicative of adrenal issues. I take a full supplement and herbal adrenal supplements, dessicated thyroid and progesterone. I am finding as I improve my adrenal issues I need less progesterone. Once you improve these deficiencies then your cycles should begin to return to normal. Also get your thyroid checked as this can cause your symptoms also. Adrenal issues affect thyroid also. Digestive enzymes and probiotics can help digestion while you strengthen your adrenals or other areas. We have to be good to our tummy's, however our hormones interfere with digestion also.

hope that helps to steer you in the right direction
Rosanne
Dec 05, 2011
 youth is on your side re solution
by: Anonymous

It must be really hard for you experiencing all these symptoms.

Did the doctor explain to you the possible reasons for high testosterones levels?

Diet is especially important for the hormones to seek a balance so binging and fasting probably needs to be addressed as a matter of priority. If you binge the hormones will go out of whack and if go the ohter way then constipation is a big side effect as well as encouraging your bodies hormones to keep going beserk.

Get off the merrygoround of despair and ill health.

I am at the other age spectrum and am finding it hard to ajust to dietary changes, but I must do it to tranistion myself through this progression of life stage.

In your case youth will also help heal your hormone imbalances, but somehow inorder for the body to heal itself one must bind the body and the mind as a united force to wards the process of healing.

I belive nature knows best, and I sure you do too, as you are a flower waitng to bloom yourself, you just need the right ingredients to acheive that.

All the best
jenny
Dec 05, 2011
 23 Year old with constipation, no period, anxiety, binge eating
by: Wray

Hi Sylvia All drug based Contraceptives have the potential to cause harm, I'm so against them. You might like to read Annette's comments about her journey, see here, here and here. We do have a page on Acne which explains why it can occur, and particularly after stopping the bcp. Oestradiol can range from 30 - 400 pg/ml, see Medline. Yours is at the low end, but to my mind a good thing. It's the ratio between progesterone and oestrogen which is the critical factor, not the amount. It doesn't surprise me your testosterone is high now, the bcp upsets our reproductive cycle hugely. Testosterone causes an increase in visceral or abdominal fat, see here and here, facial hair, scalp hair loss, an oily skin, and of course the acne as it increases sebum rate, a perfect environment for bacteria to live. All the problems you have are interlinked, so you're now in a vicious cycle. That has to be broken first before healing can occur, starting with the stress. Please consider the progesterone, it activates GABA, a very calming amino acid/neurotransmitter, see here. We have more info on our page How to use progesterone cream. I think you will need the higher amount I suggest to begin with, possibly more. Please read our page on Oestrogen Dominance before you start it. Progesterone will also help get your cycle normal again, although it will take time. It helps control blood glucose, and depression too. Progesterone is the precursor to cortisol, one of the stress hormones, levels drop when stressed. I would also suggest you take taurine, another calming and healing amino acid, about 2000mg/day. Continued below. Take care Wray
Dec 05, 2011
 23 Year old with constipation, no period, anxiety, binge eating Part 2
by: Wray

Hi Sylvia You also need tyrosine, another amino acid. Start low on about 250-500mg/day and work up, it's best to increase slowly. This is one of the most important aminos. It's the precursor to the stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline, so levels drop when stressed. It's the precursor to the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, so the thyroid slows down if it's low. It's also the precursor to dopamine, one of the most important neurotransmitters. Levels of this drop when stressed, as the tyrosine is used up making adrenaline and noradrenaline. A lack of dopamine leads to cravings because alcohol, glucose, drugs like nicotine, heroin and cocaine, all raise levels of dopamine. But in the process cause untold damage. Glucose and the other sugars are found in all carbs, it's essential you avoid them all, even those hidden in grains, legumes and sweet, starchy fruit and veggies. I can't emphasise this enough, as fructose, sucrose and glucose reduce levels of SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) by 80, 50 and 40% respectively, see here. A low level of SHBG causes free testosterone to rise, simple as that. Progesterone lowers testosterone levels by increasing levels of SHBG, see here. The amounts used in the study were very high, but that was because they were using oral progesterone, it's not the best Delivery system. For info on food to eat see our page on Nutrition. I would suggest the Paleo Diet, as you need plenty of protein to stabilise your blood glucose. I also feel MCT oil would help you as it's slightly laxative. It acts like a carb as cells can use it for energy, but it does not cause unstable blood glucose. It's useful against candida too, although you don't mention having this. It's chemical name is caprylic/capric triglycerides, and caprylic acid kills candida. I use about 30ml or more per day on my salad and veggies, it has no taste, so is good in smoothies. This site has good info on it, see here. And these studies might interest you, see here and here. Continued below. Take care Wray
Dec 05, 2011
 23 Year old with constipation, no period, anxiety, binge eating Part 3
by: Wray

Hi Sylvia Finally, please have a vitamin D test done, this is most important, as I think your level is too low. This is the most vital nutrient above all others, a lack leading to most of the health problems we now confront. All cells require it to function normally. The dopamine system too, as a lack of vitamin D inhibits the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase. This enzyme is needed to convert tyrosine into dopamine, a lack of TH leading of course to low dopamine. We do have a page on Anxiety you can look through. And for more info on the aminos etc see this page here. For more info on vitamin D testing etc see the Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth, Birmingham Hospital and Vitamin D Links websites. Blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml or 175-250nmol/L and not the 30ng/ml or 75nmol/L most labs and doctors regard as adequate. And the minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, although the latest research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. You don't have an easy or quick journey ahead, but with the help of the healing aminos, vitamin D, plus progesterone, I can't see any reason why you won't get better. Take care Wray

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