Extreme fluctuations in Hormones and their effect on Blood s

Re: Extreme fluctuations in Hormones and their effect on Blo

Hey Lucy!

Yeh, I have very similar. I tend to get high BGs in the week running up to a period and then crash! BG through the floor. My periods are not regular. I was getting very heavy nightmare ones, and I'm now getting sparse, barely there ones. I'm 45 and had this all checked out. You'll be pleased to hear that this type of thing can go on for up to 10 years before you finally stop!! In the meantime, it's just another unpredictable thing to factor into diabetes control!

Smidge

Re: Extreme fluctuations in Hormones and their effect on Blo

Hi,

Yep I get all the hormonal stuff. High Bg from mid cycle up to period then crash. I reduce my basal at that time as well as my meal boluses (I'm on a pump so bit easier to do this as I have a whole other 'profile' set up on it). I also get the headaches, spots, tiredness etc, more so than when I was in my early 20's (mid thirties now).

All I can suggest is keep making a note of any patterns and then have a plan! ie reducing your background insulin and fast acting too if necessary when your period comes, and increase doses at other times of the month. It's tricky though. Hop you get on ok

Re: Extreme fluctuations in Hormones and their effect on Blo

It would be a good idea to rule out endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome, the two most common disorders that cause these sorts of symptoms. I'm not totally sure but I think there is a hormone test for pre-menopause that can indicate whether it is starting or not. There are a range of gynae/hormonal disorders that can mimic menopause-type symptoms, and I imagine they would all wreak havoc with BG control.

So the first step is seeing your GP - they can glean a lot from asking you questions and maybe doing a simple pelvic exam in the office (unpleasant but still an important check). Ultrasound can be a useful test. If they think it's endo, then investigative laparoscopy is really the only way to be sure.

Of course it depends on what's wrong, but some things can be managed with medication, some things need surgery, others a combination of both.

Re: Extreme fluctuations in Hormones and their effect on Blo

shop said:

Thanks Catlady,

I will have it checked out. I hadn't considered either of those as I thought with poly cystic ovaries you gained alot of weight. Which in fact I have lost ( intentionaly ) and my counsin has endometriosis and it was extremely painful and I am not in pain. Thanks for mentioning it though as I do think I may need just to get it checked out. Also i had a smear in Jan which came back normal. And my thyroid which came back normal (on 150mcgs thyroxine.)

Thanks for you reply..

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I'm pleased you are going to get it checked out. Weight gain is a classic sign of PCOS and severe pain is a classic sign of endo, but what I've learnt from talking with many women over the years is that you can have either of them (or both) without necessarily having these signs.

Just to recap, your first post said you have the following signs and symptoms:
Bad Mood swings,
fuzzy head, memory loss, concentration problems,
probs with getting jiggy,
bad headaches
spots
periods have become more heavy and more clots.
hypos

Without knowing anything else about you, if you told a (competent) GP this list of symptoms, they would start down the path of checking for hormonal/gynae problems, and do an examination and order some blood tests. (An incompetent GP would fob you off with claims that this is all part of being a woman - if you're over 35 they'll say it's menopause, if you're under 35 they might even suggest you have a baby to fix the problems, regardless of whether you want to or it's a good idea for you.)

Back to what a competent GP would do... they would keep in mind that it could be non-gynae problems too. Mood, memory, concentration problems, headache and loss of libido can be signs of depression, thyroid (ruled out), or sleep problems, diabetes, post concussion syndrome, anaemia, vitamin/mineral deficiency, adrenal or other hormone problems, and many others that I can't think of right now. Heavy periods often cause anaemia. These mood etc symptoms can also be drug side effects.

Sometimes doctors will say that if your generalised symptoms are linked to your cycle (ie they are worse before and/or during menstruation) then that suggests a gynae problem. This isn't really correct. You can have symptoms at any time of your cycle and it can mean it's gynae, other, or both. It's still useful to keep a daily log though as it can help with solving the puzzle.

Sometimes heavy bleeding and clots can be treated by medication taken between ovulation and menstruation. Sometimes it can indicate a thickening of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. This may be caused by hormonal imbalance brought on by menopause, or uterine fibroids, or other things. It's good that you've had a recent smear because that (should) rule out cervical cancer. Your GP might repeat the smear just to be sure it wasn't read wrong by the lab (that happened in NZ and many women's cancer was missed).

Re: Extreme fluctuations in Hormones and their effect on Blo

Good luck Lucy - hope you get some answers x

Re: Extreme fluctuations in Hormones and their effect on Blo

shop said:

Thanks CatLady,

I will make an appointment and see what he says, I didnt realise that there would be so many possibilities. Both Gyne and Non Gyne. I am 42 so I dont know if it has any baring on it or not. Thanks for your time replying to me and for being so thorough. Either way it needs checking. When I say my period are heavier I am on Femodene and therefore dont have too much loss. I am not loosing loads as in flooding etc. Just a noteable difference to what I am used to and as I say more clots.

Thanks again...

Lucy xxx

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It's my pleasure to help out if I can - there are bound to be others lurking who might benefit from the info too. Yes your age will always have a bearing on it - menopause or pre-menopause is a definite possibility but you will know more when your doctor starts gathering info from questions and tests.

You might want to ask him if Femodene is still right for you - there are risk factors for any oral contraceptive pill that increase from the age of 35. Your list of symptoms could well be related to Femodene, at least in part. Other options like injections or a type of implant might be worth considering, or even a progesterone-only pill (but you want the most effective option that minimises side effects and risks of course - these pills might be safer but not as effective). I don't want you to worry about Femodene though, and like any med don't stop taking it until you've discussed it with your doctor, in case a sudden stop makes things worse.

You're right to ask about heavier periods and clots, whatever the circumstances. Esp. on Femodene because it could well be dampening down the amount of bleeding.

I'm about to talk about icky details so any squeamish readers, skip to the next paragraph. Your doctor might ask you what the blood and clots look like - darker brown or rusty colour means 'older' blood and is not normal. Normal bleeding is bright red. A normal amount is when you don't need to change a tampon or pad more than every 2 hours. (Women with endo often have to change them every hour, and need the 'super' products, having to get up several times a night). Sorry if that's all TMI for people, but it's relevant info for telling a doctor nonetheless.

Hope the doctor visit is helpful and that together you can solve the mystery! I'm hoping it's something not too serious and very treatable and manageable.