Hormone testing?

[unicorn]

I'm somewhat at a loss as what to do next in trying to treat my recalcitrant MGD. Three months of a very strict diet (no dairy, gluten or sugar) has done nothing, and antibiotics aren't helping. I'm trying to address stress and anxiety and have recently started taking pregabalin (Lyrica) for the pain and anxiety although it hasn't helped yet.

I'd like to ask for hormone tests to see if something might be going on here, but I'm not sure which hormones I should ask to be checked.

I also have endometriosis, and get very painful breasts and bad PMT every month. My anxiety and depression also get worse in the week before my period. (Sorry if this is TMI...!)

Which hormones should I be asking to have tested? And does anyone here have experience of getting hormone tests NHS.... is it hard to make a case for it? My GP is usually quite good with this sort of thing.

Thanks... Feeling quite low about all this at the moment so any support or suggestions more than welcome

[unicorn]

Really.... No-one?

[Skizzy91]

I am struggling with something similar at the moment, But I am not any expert, and I will have some kind of hormone testing myself next wednesday at my eye doctor, I advice you visit eye doctor too.

About the anxiety I am an expert however, all I can say is antidepressants are worthless things, it is all in your own thinking, you just gotta soldier through and exercise and have an anxiety reducing diet.

[littlemermaid]

Unicorn, The NHS website is so good these days, and also Clinical Knowledge Summaries, and Cochrane reviews. Also Medscape. I am finding GPs accept these, and it is a fail if they don't know how to treat to these guidelines now.

Also I was wondering if you'd tried going 'cold turkey' from face products. Whatever I put on my face creeps and dries my eyes, and I don't have dry eye, just a bit of rosacea burning. Obviously, junior must have inherited some of the genetics. Pure oils are even worse, and we are both better with super sensitive formulated stuff eg Body Shop; even then, some of the 'natural' perfume ingredients flare us both up.

Could you be hypothyroid? It's easy to get hormone testing at GP because so many women are disregulated, on pill, menopause.

[lizlou29]

Unicorn. GP can test testosterone, progesterone, FSH and LH. My GP said they can't test Estrogen, I'd need specialist for that. As you have endometriosis they shouldn't have an issue with doing these tests. Luckily my GP does as I ask now, my last GP told me to stop reading on internet blah blah. I second Littlemermaid, get your thyroid checked if you haven't. If your results are borderline try and get Endo referral unless you think your GP is thyroid savvy. X

[unicorn]

Also I was wondering if you'd tried going 'cold turkey' from face products. Whatever I put on my face creeps and dries my eyes, and I don't have dry eye, just a bit of rosacea burning. Obviously, junior must have inherited some of the genetics. Pure oils are even worse, and we are both better with super sensitive formulated stuff eg Body Shop; even then, some of the 'natural' perfume ingredients flare us both up.

Could you be hypothyroid? It's easy to get hormone testing at GP because so many women are disregulated, on pill, menopause.

Thank you, Littlemermaid. I haven't tried going 'cold turkey' on face products for more than a day or two. My skin gets very dry without moisturisers. How long do you think it would take to see if there's a beneficial effect on the eyes? I never get any obvious topical reactions on face from any products I use; like you I use very 'plain' products eg Oilatum facial repair cream, also Simple products. Which Body Shop products do you like?

I had thyroid tests two years ago, which came back normal.

[unicorn]

Unicorn. GP can test testosterone, progesterone, FSH and LH. My GP said they can't test Estrogen, I'd need specialist for that. As you have endometriosis they shouldn't have an issue with doing these tests. Luckily my GP does as I ask now, my last GP told me to stop reading on internet blah blah. I second Littlemermaid, get your thyroid checked if you haven't. If your results are borderline try and get Endo referral unless you think your GP is thyroid savvy. X

Thanks Lizlou as I said, had thyroid checked two years ago but can ask if it was borderline. I'll ask my GP about the tests you mentioned. Wonder why they can't test estrogen? Endometriosis can be sign of excess, I think. I'd rather not push for specialist referral unless I really have to.

I don't know why three months of strict diet hasn't helped at all- I guess that's why I'm starting to think about looking into other underlying conditions.

[lizlou29]

My GP said NHS only test for estrogen (estradiol blood test) if a woman is having fertility issues. Not sure whether this is the same in Scotland. I expect I could have it done privately.

Thyroid hormone levels can change a lot in 2 years so worth testing again.

Do you notice ANY difference with diet? I think I've ruled it out as a major contributor to my rosacea. It's only sugar that makes a difference for me so I avoid it most of the time. I can eat a hot curry and not flush at all or feel any difference in skin or eye symptoms in the following day or two.

[unicorn]

Thanks Lizlou, that's really helpful information. I wonder which hormones are most relevant to dry eye symptoms though? I'm thinking low androgen/testosterone levels, low progesterone... But I guess it could be a whole host of things. Interestingly, I was reading on the NHS CKS website (really useful this, thanks Littlemermaid) that they are now thinking endometriosis has an immunological/hormonal cause - it's all starting to make sense now. My rosacea started around the same time, along with chronic tiredness, bloating and aching all over. This was in my early to mid twenties, following a terribly stressful time in my life and some rather nasty and complex gynae issues.

I don't notice any changes at all with diet, to be honest. (Gluten, dairy and sugar free for three months). Eyes just the same and facial rosacea just the same. I'll get a flush from eating thermally hot foods, and it's worse in the winter when the central heating's on, but I've never noticed any reaction to any specific food. A warm bath will make me flush but doesn't make eyes any worse at all- in fact the steam is quite soothing. I'm going to slowly reintroduce the foods I've been cutting out, and watch for any changes, but doubt there'll be any.

Has anyone else found no changes through diet? Or gone cold turkey on face products to see if it helps? I'd be interested to hear.