Symptoms (and solutions!) of Hormonal Imbalance

Possible symptoms of hormonal imbalance: it really is quite a laundry list, isn’t it? How many do you have?

• Breast tenderness/cystic breasts
• Chronic fatigue
• Acne
• Aches & pains
• Anxiety/depression
• Facial hair
• Thinning of scalp hair
• Hot flashes/night sweats
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Excessive menstrual cramping
• Ovarian cysts
• Endometriosis
• PMS
• Heart palpitations
• Lack of concentration
• Foggy thinking/memory loss
• Uterine fibroids
• Weight gain
• Insomnia/sleep disturbances
• Low libido

Yesterday, I had my initial consultation with Debbie Williams, RN of Alternative Hormone Solutions. The appointment consisted of a 1.5 hour review of my symptoms, medical history, blood pressure check and a personalized care plan for me. That’s how she describes it in her brochure and on her website.

For me, however, it felt more like a light-bulb moment and an all-inclusive course in Hormones 101, rolled into one. Let me explain: there is nothing like sitting across a desk with a health care provider who “gets it”. Debbie has lived peri-menopause and hormone balancing, and now she is passionate about sharing her knowledge and solutions. She does a mighty-fine job of calling up information on her screen as she walks through the various changes associated with perimenopause, and printing off information for me to take home.

Debbie is very clear–she is not interested in replacing your family doctor. Her mission is to work with your doctor to help you achieve and maintain optimal health. (However, I gotta ask: When was the last time you sat across a desk for 1.5 hours with your doctor?)

Apparently I’m a classic peri-menopauser: foggy brain, lack of concentration, anxiety/depression, facial hair, sleep disturbances…oh, and then she asks about libido. “Lib who?” I ask. ”Yeah, add that to my list too,” I tell her.

So, I left with a folder full of information, my suggested care plan*, and a new little bounce in my step.

*Tune in for tomorrow’s post as I kick-start my new daily regimen.