What's your damage?
9 Apr
Even bitches feel sad sometimes.
Around the same time every month, I succumb to a Belgian sugar waffle at Bonte and then call my friend Jami. I say to her, “I have that feeling, again. You know? Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I guess I’ll go eat worms.”
Jami sighs. I sigh. Jami says, “It’s that time of the month, right?” Then she tells me how much she loves me and how much I rock. Good friend.
Most men, and probably a lot of women, associate that “time of the month” with being “on the rag” or a few days before getting their period. But that’s not the case for me at all. My hormonal imbalance (at least the symptoms that show up) comes with ovulation, not my period itself.
TMI? There’s no such thing as TMI in this forum, my friends. There’s always a nugget of knowledge to acquire from my TMI, isn’t there? Lucky for you, the nugget is not brown and stinky this time.
Back to the topic at hand and your WAKE UP CALL for the day: Hormone imbalance is the cause of many seemingly unrelated ”disorders,” not just mood swings and irritability. Knowing your body and recognizing recurring symptoms that may be hormone-related is key to getting control of your health.
And WAKE UP CALL #2: It’s not just a woman’s worry.
Considering the amount of synthetic estrogens in our environment these days (Bisphenol A and phthalates have been getting the most press as of late), both men and women, boys and girls are experiencing harmful side effects of over-exposure to foreign, unnatural hormones. High levels of estrogen in the body cause the endocrine system to malfunction. For men, this might present as low libido, impotence, inability to lose weight, depression, or enlarged prostate.
Scared, yet? You should be.
So, my dear bitchy friend, do you have a list of blood tests we should request our doctor’s run so we can learn where our levels are and where they fall in the range of “normal” (which I know is not “normal” for everyone, but gives at least a hint of guideline…)
My husband has been having some pains and its has been written off as “out of shape” so far… but as he’s exercising (and limiting carbs and having a hard time losing weight for the first time in his life) I think there’s something else going on…
but where does one begin?
any ideas?
As you all know by now, I am not a doctor. So I can’t give medical advice or I risk getting my ass sued.
But to start, you may see a holistic-minded physician, an integrative physician, or a naturopathic doctor and explain your symptoms. The reason why it’s key to see an holistic practitioner is because they will read your blood tests in a very different way compared to how a traditional physician or endocrinologist might. Numbers that fall into the “normal” range might not be normal when taken into account with your husband’s symptoms and how he is presenting. Make sure to ask for all hormone levels to be checked, including checking for thyroid dysfunction.
Depending on what the pain is, he might benefit from seeing a chiropractor or an osteopathic physician.
But, in general, getting some bloodwork done to know where your body is “right now” would be an important move for anyone.
My female practice members are more open than I ever expected about their “time of the month.” Just by taking the time to listen I’ve found a variety of symptoms that are associated with fluctuations in hormone balance. Blood testing provides a great amount of information and it would be interesting to compare fluctuations in estrogen levels. In general, tests that look to find levels within a “normal range” are best utilized by making a comparison over time. This simplest test of all is to measure urinary pH. If the body is even slightly acidic, it’s a sign that the body is inadequately adapting to its environment. Under these conditions over time, it is bound to lead to illness or pain. A chiropractic assessment of the nervous system and its supporting structures including a nutrition analysis is often the way to start. As a holistic chiropractor providing gentle adjustment techniques, my goal to help reduce or eliminate health limitations, just by helping the body’s nervous system to function better. I practice in Clifton, NJ can be reached at 973-773-8244. More resources are avalable on http://www.drmagwood.com.
Me, again. Sorry!
That ‘nobody likes me’ feeling is common around ovulation and has an interesting basis in evolutionary biology. I recommend highly the book “The Female Brain” by Louise Brizendine. It explained me, to me, more clearly than anything else I’ve ever read. (She just released “The Male Brain” this month.)
Those feelings have a purpose and a source and understanding them goes a long way toward embracing & even enjoying them (this comment can be sung to the tune of “I enjoy being a girl!”).
Especially relevant to the work you are doing to uncover & reveal the critical impact our manufactured chemical environment bears on us all.
PS I’m pretty fond of you too and hope it’s clear that I think you rock 24/7!!! You need a national platform for the Bitch’s voice.
PS