I've been reading a lot lately about abnormal hormone levels in Fibro patients and the effect it has on the Central Nervous System. Many of my symptoms such as anxiety, unrestorative sleep, IBS, sweating, increased heart rate and muscle spasms and last but not least PAIN, make sense to me after reading about the effects of the hormone level abnormalities. Why isn't there more testing of hormone levels? I read that the standard thyroid test is not reliable. Should we really be seeing an Endocrinologist instead of a Rheumatologist. Has anyone been to an Endocrinologist to have hormone levels checked
Here is a link that offers more of the info given above.
I will tell you in one simple word why there is not more testing of hormone levels: Expense. The tests are expensive so they do not ask us to have them as a matter of routine. I have had to have hormone tests done, and one of them involved me attending a hospital that was 10 miles away from my normal one, at which point a taxi was called, I had to rest for 10 minutes, then my blood was drawn, shaken and packed in an ice box, rushed to the taxi which was then sent on a four hour journey to take it to a lab that will test it. Now I live in the UK so that was all on the NHS, imagine paying for a four hour taxi journey and specialised testing yourself or an insurance company agreeing to it.
Not saying that all hormones are difficult to test for, but the majority of the ones that we are likely to have deficits in are a pain in the arse to get the proper readings for. Hopefully in the future these tests will become cheaper and easier so more people can have them. Sadly, whatever the result of the test it is unlikely that the treatment for us will change dramatically, that is why it is not seen as economic to have us tested. I hope this is of some use in explaining why.
Realistically, in an ideal world we would see both rheumatology and endochrinology, but again expense plays a big part so we cannot... and if we had to pick one then the rheumatologist is probably better placed to deal with us xx
That's interesting. I am very sensitive to hormonal changes. In fact, entering peri-menopause is what catapulted me into my first fibro spiral. It took me year to figure out what was going on. Now that I connect the dots it is quit apparent that peri-menopause was the catalyst. I am going to check out that link. Thanks for sharing.
I should also add that my "cortisol levels were off and my adrenal glands were shot". That's the doctor's exact words. I had finally found a doctor who believed me when I said I am NOT depressed She ran many tests including blood and saliva test. She is a medical doctor but also follows a more holistic approach. She never diagnosed me as fibro but she addressed the symptoms. She helped me a greatly but I never got to 100% with her. Now I am working with a Rheum and the jury is still out.
I am scheduling an apt with an endocrinologist this week … Keeping my fingers crossed she can find something that can be corrected ! One fibro " specialist " said he believes that pre-menapause is a likely reason for a worsening of symptoms… In my book it can hurt to check it out !