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End of the Rope

by Dawn Thompson
(New Castle, Indiana US)

llo Wray..wont know if im at the right site untill test results are in ( just ordered the saliva kit all 8 tests today) Three years ago I had to leave my well paying job of 9 years for an unknown illness. I went to doc and told him my symptoms and he advised extreme stress... he tested my blood for vitamin defincies and thyroid.all was good! I was prescribed an anti depressant and Zanex Oh yea and cognitve therapy. I refused the meds and went for the therapy... 20 weeks of therapy and a multi phasic personality test ruled out crazy and never was told why I felt like I was going to die every day from a heart attack, extreme panic attacks.. could not make a decision,in a deep dark cloud and suicidal thougts that I know were not my own. I have spent 2 weeks of almost every month of the last three years on the sofa or bed so agoraphobic that I could not leave the house or answer the phone. and then the minute my period started it all would lift off and I would become myself again. I can laugh and call all my friends and tell them im back and they would all say you need to get something done about this its getting worse... There have been a few times that the symptoms would not completly sbside whth the start of my period and I knew I would be in for a good one the next time around >> before the job loss one of my co workers told me I had a problem with hormones and that my cycle was disrupting the work space.. I dont know how (PUN HERE) I would not speak to anyone for fear something evil would come out. I had extreme hate and disgust for anyone around me.. Funny I talk as if in the pastence as I have started my period early this morning and all this seems like its not real. But it is! its very real and it been going on for about 15 years progressing the last 5 being the worst.. I just turned 50 last July and have no one to comepare myself too. my mom had a hysterectomy when I was a kid so all I have ever known from her was pure crazy she never took any meds... I have an extreme fear of medication. However I can take a valium 5 cut in quarters one at a time untill the anxiety that fills my body calms.. this anxiety is not the same as a panic attack. this is the uptight jittery on edge that just makes you sick. I have nausea, shortness of breath, tired all the time. 3 or for naps a day bloating out of my sweat pants boobs so sore that you cant even look at them with out them hurting. There are so many more symptoms but the worst is noted in this drawn out blurt cause there is no one else to talk to about it ... but smiling today and well enough to share. I soon as I get my results I will share with all of you ( God Bless us all on this crazy Hormone swing )

Comments for End of the Rope

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Mar 03, 2013
 End of the Rope
by: RJ

You have just found the end of the beginning of a new rope that you will soon be climbing up! Wray will be able to help you...you're not alone, we're all here for the same reasons...hormonal imbalances. But be prepared for lots of cream and supplements and most importantly....patience. God Bless!
Mar 04, 2013
 End of the Rope
by: Wray

Hi Dawn Well Peri-menopause says it all! I never had the panic attacks thank heavens, but everything else you mention including the agoraphobia. I would have to psych myself up to go shopping. But once finished I had great difficulty finding my car, because of short term memory loss. Once I had to walk round and round the parking lot pressing my remote locking device until the car responded! Luckily I discovered progesterone before I did myself in. We do have a few pages you could look through explaining the panic attacks, see Anxiety. The 'extreme hate and disgust' see Aggression. The 'heart attack' can be explained by high oestrogen levels. Oestrogen causes prolongation of the QT interval, which results in palpitations, arrhythmia, Torsades de Pointes and sudden death. Whereas progesterone shortens the QT interval, see here, here, here, here, here, here and here. This is why more women get these problems than men, they have very little oestrogen, whereas we have a great deal more. You say it's been going on for about 15 years, that fits too. From about age 35 we begin getting anovulatory cycles, when we don't ovulate and therefore don't make any progesterone, but oestrogen and testosterone production continues. These cycles increase in frequency during Peri-M until Menopause, when the ovaries shut down. You are almost at menopause now, the average age for this is 51. I found the last years of Peri-M were the worst. If you should consider progesterone I feel you will need at least 200mg/day to overcome those symptoms. Too little and they could become worse, more about this on our Oestrogen Dominance page. Take care Wray

Mar 04, 2013
 Couple of questions and some sharing
by: Dawn Thompson

Thank You so much for responding to me. I have ordered the saliva test and it shipped today. I am confused though on when to take the test. I consider myself on a 21 day cycle. I have been counting from the last day of my period and I start 20 to 21 days from then. so I was thinking that I must ovaulate on the 7th day after my period ends because I start bleeding 2 weeks after that... OH it is soooo confusing to me. I am still hypoglycemic and this is worring me more then the panic attacks I have had these so long (since I was in my 20's) that I wouldnt know if I was havin a heart attack or not.. I assume they are both kinda the same in the beginning.. and that sudden death thing I am ok with. It would be way better then this. Its not death I fear. Its having to live like this untill then. Please trust that I have no intention on ending my life. But I do feel the cards stacking against me. I smoke and drink coffee. And I just came to know that I have never really eatin right. I have read so much in the last year and this is the most informative and valuable site I have found. However I do have to reread because I forget so fast. And Wray I have had to triple check at a stop sign and then triple check again because I did not trust my own decision to go. That scared the crap out of me.
any way...Thanks for being here for all of us
Mar 05, 2013
 Couple of questions and some sharing
by: Wray

Hi Dawn I know exactly how you feel, and I'm sure RJ does too! She's always so supportive, and yet has had a journey and a half to deal with herself. Re-checking at stop signs? Oh yes all of that and more, re-reading?! Well I could read a page 10 times and not understand a word, let alone remember any of it! Well my memory came back, I now remember where hundreds of papers are on my computer, to give to people to help them to piece together their own journey, always so different. Would make my life so easy if we were all the same! You are spot on about ovulating on day 7, you would. The normal range for our cycles is 21 to 35 days, making 28 the average only. My daughter has a 21 day cycle. There's info about this on our page How to use progesterone cream and our Menstruation page. The panic attacks can be caused by hypoglycaemia. A sudden drop in blood glucose causes the adrenals to secrete adrenaline, this constricts blood vessels, makes the heart beast too fast, tightens the chest, making breathing difficult and more. Oestrogen destabilises blood glucose, whereas progesterone doesn't, see here. There's greater detail on our anxiety page. Well we all know about smoking, but coffee has been given a clean bill of health, see here. It does of course cause adrenaline to be produced so best to go easy if your adrenals are having a hard time! If interested in eating right, you might like to look at our Nutrition page. There are a number of good eating plans to choose from. Thanks for the kind words! Take care Wray
Mar 06, 2013
 one more question before the saliva test
by: Anonymous

If I am not Symptomatic on the date I should take the saliva test should I wait untill the following month ... Since this last month was so horrible I may have a good month this time around. As I have said before. Its like throwing a loaded gun around you just never know whats comin. Thanks again for all your support.
Mar 09, 2013
 one more question before the saliva test
by: Wray

Hi Dawn If by symptomatic you mean signs of ovulation, then the next would be a good month. Because if you don't ovulate it will show up as low and explain why you are feeling so awful. If you prefer to wait for a good month you could do so, but it seems to me you don't have good months. Maybe you could explain, I think I've confused myself! If you do the test, it should be ± day 14. This is when your progesterone should be at it's highest level. Take care Wray
Mar 11, 2013
 more words of comfort ;)
by: Margit

Hi dawn, wray,

i was sad to read your story especially reading that you suffered so long with it! I am writing to you as I have been in a similar boat and controrary to you I am only 29 , so you see it can really srtike you at any age,, mine was provoked by three pregnancies and long breatsfeeding, but I believe I have always been progesterone def.
I have started progesterone with the help and advice of Wray about 3 months ago. I was like you going mad with panik attacks, feelings of getting heart attacks , anger , depression etc. Yet I did not suffer from these symptoms as long as you did and from my background knowledge in natural medicine I immediatly put it to hormone imbalance. I had all tests done and yet was told all was fine, this is why I stress to say symptoms count more than any tests!!! I am now on progesterone continously ( at a high dosage 600 mg) and it helped me tremendously. many symptoms either went away or just got much better . But i have to also mention that it takes time and there will be many days where you think it is not working,,, its like a battlefield of hormones, the one trying to beat the other for dominance being estrogene the bady here ;) but sticking to it will ease out all. one cannot say how long it takes to come right as we all function uniquely but it feels so much better being on it ;) I have though some experience in additional supplements which greatly ease out temporary estrogen uprises which I would like to mention : First of all magnesium , this calms big time and I take it every day, sencondly calcium at night , this is superb to make me sleep and it helps with the rythm of the heart. i realized that i needed both minerals ( being mag and calcium) in order to regulate an abnormal fast heart beat ( other than progesterone alone doing already a good job) these minerals are inexpensive and really saved me many anxiety attacks. There are quite a few other supplements which Wray can mention to you as well , all helpful! Raising my vitamin d3 level also made a huge difference. To mention at last , changing my diet was fundamental as well. I follwed the paleo diet which you can also find on wray's site under nurtition. I could write so much more but it would never end ;) Please dont give up with life, believe me i also had these feelings, ( being dead at least would mean not to suffer anymore) I now see it as a wondeful life experience as I am able to help many fellow women now and truly know now what it means to suffer emotionaly and physiological! If you ever need to talk ,, dont hestitate to write via this site,,, i will glady hear you ;)
whishing you all the best!!!
margit
Mar 15, 2013
 more words of comfort ;)
by: Wray

Hi Margit What a lovely post! It's so important to encourage others. If you still have problems with your heart, think of taking taurine. It's the most important amino acid for the heart, calms it right down. It's also a calming neurotransmitter too. So pleased you find the Paleo diet is helping you, it is such an obvious way of eating, when we look back at how we used to eat and compare it to the food we now eat. Although I'm rather relieved I don't have to go hunting for my food, or searching for roots etc! Take care Wray
Apr 14, 2013
 feelin some better
by: Dawn D Thompson

Ok Guys... Taking saliva test in morning.. but just to let you know as I feel its very important!!!! I started taking magnesium and I am feeling better than I have in years. Started it a month and a half ago. Im just sayin WOW I am so not 100 % but so much better on the constant anxiety and the panic attacks and the agoraphobia is a little better to... its been three years since I have done anything but in the last two weeks I have been to the theater to watch movies twice and out to eat with husband I will be taking a magnesium / calcium and vitamin D3 combo from GNC as soon as I can get it ok in my head.. I think you should have plenty of mag / in you before you take the D3 I did some reading..( I shouldnt do ) and I will leave it at that :) and not to say this is the answer for all but is truly worth the try and its cheap. However I have been able to get outside and enjoy a little sun too and I think that helps with the depression Again afraid to take the test feeling so good.. I hate to waist it as it is NOT cheap :)
Apr 15, 2013
 feelin some better
by: Wray

Hi Dawn This is such good news! I see looking back I didn't tell you about vitamin D and magnesium, but luckily Margit did, thank heavens! I sound like a stuck record about, vitamin D in particular, that I can overlook telling someone. Magnesium is the most important co-factor for vitamin D. Vitamin D is the most important nutrient there is. If both that and magnesium are low many things can go wrong. If they are out of balance too. I'd go easy on the calcium, unless you eat no dairy or foods that are low in it. It's an excitatory mineral, whereas magnesium relaxes. The best combo is one Dr Cannell put together, you can get it here. It has all the vitamin D co-factors. So please make sure you get your vitamin D up high. For more info on vitamin D levels, test kits etc see the Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth and Birmingham Hospital. Blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml (175-250nmol/L) and not the 30ng/ml (75nmol/L) most labs and doctors regard as adequate. The minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, although recent research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. Take care Wray

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