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Hormones! YAY!
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I know this has been discussed before but I need some more!
ok
44yrs old- triathlete, personal trainer, back in school for a RN degree
on synthroid and BCP
IM's and 1/2's I love the distance
got off the pill back in March 09 just because I was sick of taking it- had been for 10 years- I just wanted to see how my organs would function without a hormone supplement- well it went well for about 3 months and BOOM!! Menopause! At the age of 44!! No hot flashes really but occasional sleepless nights.
Went back to the doc, was put back on the BCP to slow it down and I about decked the nurse because she told me that I needed to workout and eat better to lose the 10lbs I have gained! If she only knew what we did. I wanted to practice some Kempo on her LOL!
so here I am
was reading today and it was talking about athletic stresses and hormones (I am in RN school so we are studing this a tad)
ya know injuries, slowing down, tiredness, weight gain - GOOD TIMES LOL!!
gotta love our hormones!!!
but I cannot find any med searches on the subject or any internet articles.
we all know about life stresses (I am a blessed single mom) - they mess with our bodies
my thoughts-
I was kicked into early menopause because of:
hormonal stresses from years of athletic training, life stresses (divorce, back in school, raising boys) and my hypothyroidism
I cannot go off my older sisters experiences because they all had it all yanked out at the age of 30ish and none of them workout so.......
any thoughts??
any great articles??
anyone tried to supplement to increase testostone levels???
thanks for letting me vent!

http://www.trainerbecky.com
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Re: Hormones! YAY! [trichic] [ In reply to ]
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I really wish there were studies on how endurance training effects hormone levels IN OLDER WOMEN!

I too have early menopause kicking in after 20+ years on the pill then going off. I honestly think that the Drs don't really know the long term effects of the pill on women. It is our generation (I'm 41) that have really been long term users and what studies that are out there are pretty narrow. They focus on cancer risks and not other effects, as far as I've been able to find.

I've said this in multiple threads, someone with a science degree needs to do a study of women athletes at 35+ years old and hormone levels. I tried to go back on BC to regulate my hormone levels and I felt horrible. My cardio was a disaster. I couldn't catch my breath when I ran. Went right back to normal when I stopped taking them.

There are a lot of athlete women who are 35+, it would be great if there was more data. Right now I'm just dealing with the insomnia by taking melatonin, the how flashes by wearing layers, night sweats by layers of blankets I can pull on and off, and if I could figure out how to deal with the forgetfulness I'd be thrilled.

Wait...what was your question?

Smile

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Jen

"In order to keep a true perspective on one's importance, everyone should have a dog that worships him and a cat that will ignore him." - Dereke Bruce
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Re: Hormones! YAY! [trichic] [ In reply to ]
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same boat as you- PTrainer for 25 yrs-triathlete for that long as well, 45yrs old, 2 kids, work full time, have always worked out even when I took a 10yr break from competing no health issues ever, went off BCP after kid #2 at age 34-was self regulating up until age 42-then things went south... every winter even though I train through with a run focus, 8-10lbs, no changes in diet, body fat increase around the middle and hips, talked to Gyn and they poo pooed me; other signs were sleep issues, cold all the time, dry skin so I asked for a thyroid test-it came back fine... by march I could loose the weight- now though, 44 and presently 45 it's taking longer to get off- there must be a connection between hormones and endurance exercise because I put in approx. 17 hrs a week. This year I did alot more speed work in Jan/Feb and it didn't make a diff.- I recently cut out ALL alcohol :(red wine) and in 3 weeks-no change... So, appt with an internal medicine specialist in the coming week because I suspect adrenal fatigue onset or high cortisol that's not budging... periods are normal for a few months in the fall/winter- spring they go haywire, even out again by May-Aug. then a month or 2 of weirdness. Now my speed hasn't decreased in these years by much- mainly in running and only off by seconds so I don't think it's affected by the above- I'd like to know if you find out more and if I find out more from the internal med. specialist (who's also a triathlete).
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Re: Hormones! YAY! [trichic] [ In reply to ]
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check out womentowomen.com EXCELLENT website
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Re: Hormones! YAY! [trichic] [ In reply to ]
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hey ladies,
its been a long time since I posted last. I read alot of the postings but this one caught my eye.
So background:
41, short course elite level athlete converting over to long course (IM Austria on 7/4/10)...
Hashimoto's thyroiditis - been on synthroid for 10+ years.
Major change: got off BCP and Gluten - going on 10 weeks....have lost almost 10 pounds (three pounds away from goal race weight now), have renewed energy, normal periods (hadn't had one in 3 yrs while on BCP) and they were terrible - like puking terrible before, blowing my power numbers on the bike away, cut major time off my swim TTs and my splits on the track.
I haven't felt this good in FOREVER.
Husband is a DC who specialized in functional rehab and he determined through alot of research that over 50% of women with thyroid issues (its more but he's not here to give me the number) are Gluten intolerant and have a reaction to gluten.
I think this is what has made a huge difference for me. Yes, it is costly...egg protein powders, different ways of using recovery products, etc. but this is mind blowing and I highly recommend with the help of a RD or physician who has worked with high level endurance athletes in developing a proper gluten free nutritional plan.
It appears now that my hormones and metabolism is finally working the way it was intended to!
So today, I had a blood draw to check everything to see how I am doing...keeping my fingers crossed, but for once I know I am right and am healthy!!
Just my two cents.
Kat

Kat Donatello
2015 Betty Designs Team
RD, The Pumpkinman Triathlon Festival
http://www.pumpkinmantriathlon.com/
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Re: Hormones! YAY! [giddy-up-n-go] [ In reply to ]
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Interesting! I have a friend who was treated for thyroid cancer and was also diagnosed with Celiac.
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Re: Hormones! YAY! [trailbait] [ In reply to ]
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You gals have been really giving excellent insight and thought to what happens to us as we get older!! I can't say thanks enough. I've been pulling my hair out trying to figure out why my weight will not budge (well it budges but in the wrong direction) when all the changes I've made are in the right direction! I'm in the process of giving up gluten and will see how that works! Thanks again for everyone's sharing of information.
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Re: Hormones! YAY! [trichic] [ In reply to ]
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Another 44 here.

I started getting hot flashes a few years ago and have definitely been through a few periods when I felt my body was out to get me. I would put on weight for no apparent reason and quickly, too, lose speed, have trouble sleeping.

Last fall, I amped up my weight training and speed work, and that seems to have convinced my body to cut me some slack.

Also, not drinking alcohol in the evening definitely helps with my sleep quality and quantity, which in turn helps regulate hunger the next day.
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Re: Hormones! YAY! [esquared] [ In reply to ]
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I swear women athletes experience hormonal fluctuations differently than non-athletes in that we are probably more sensitive to them.

I've finally started to feel more on track on my sleep by taking Melatonin if I don't fall asleep within 30 minutes of going to bed. I don't wake up until morning. I also take Black Cohosh before going to bed and haven't had a night sweat since starting that last week. It has been amazing. I'm usually skeptical of herbal remedies but when they work I'm thrilled. No need for Dr prescription. I'm much better rested now.

I'm still having an awful time with weight. I'm injured right now but as soon as I can I'll be doing weights regularly. I do intense workouts a couple times a week already. I'm hoping the weights do the trick because I can't find that magic place where I am eating enough but not too much. I used to know it but that is no longer working.

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Jen

"In order to keep a true perspective on one's importance, everyone should have a dog that worships him and a cat that will ignore him." - Dereke Bruce
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Re: Hormones! YAY! [giddy-up-n-go] [ In reply to ]
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YES so true and more people esp Drs should know about this, but not many know much about celiac.
I've been on synthroid more than ten years and never gave it a second thought-just took a pill and a blood test once a year. 3 years ago Dxd with celiac disease. Celiac disease it NOT a wheat/gluten allergy...it is an autoimmune disease, like thyroid. In a book I read and highly recommend -WHy Am I Still Having Thyroid Symptoms WHen My Tests Are Normal? the Dr/author suggests that everyone with thyroid issues be tested for celiac.
Within weeks of stopping gluten I didnt realise how much I was living with as I truly forgot what it was to feel 'normal' again.
Sorry can't input more about the hormones...I was only on the pill 6 months, in my late 30s now.
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Re: Hormones! YAY! [Snap!] [ In reply to ]
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Snap! wrote:
check out womentowomen.com EXCELLENT website

Thanks for the recommendation. I visited and too the thyroid quiz as proxy for my wife (which is why I'm here in The Womens), but there's a ginormous elephant in the room that alters things: My wife has multiple sclerosis (MS).

What my wife (I'll call her N) & I have both noticed is that N's symptoms tend to fluctuate with her menstrual cycle—which has been "wonky," for lack of a better term—attributed by her to both her competitive running through high school and college. During college, especially, N struggled with eating disorders to always be at "racing weight." But that was nearly 20 years ago by now. A mastitis infection about a year after the birth of our second daughter in 2016 really kicked her symptoms into overdrive and her DMTs (disease modifying therapies) have been largely ineffective. During that infection, her temperature spiked to 103, which paralyzed her from the neck down. Antibiotics rid of her of the infection and restored mobility for a few months. Since then, she's been super-sensitive to heat, requiring the house to be kept at 68 F year-round.

While I recognize our situation is unrealistically unique, can anyone in this forum recommend a type of legit medical practice to seek...one specializing in hormones, maybe? The quiz on womentowomen.com indicates that (for a "normal," healthy woman) hyperthyroidism could be a culprit, but the MS caveat complicates things. It complicates everything.

Anyway, we're after answers and just want to avoid barking up any wrong trees. I come here because triathlon brought us both together, and—even in her current state—N has more in common with you, fellow triathletes, than most anyone else we know who has MS.

N is now essentially bedridden, unable to move more than a few dozen feet with the aid of a walker; her legs simply don't work. We've no delusions that she'll be toeing the line ever again, but being able to use the bathroom on her own would be a huge step (ugh, pun) in the right direction for her, for us.


#cureMS
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Re: Hormones! YAY! [triLA] [ In reply to ]
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Have any of you looked into ROAR by Dr Stacy Sims? She has done a lot of research on hormone responses in female athletes and mentions how most research and products are geared towards men. Might be helpful to look her up.
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