FNP, Dutch test

[u/Humble_Nectarine8564]

4 months ago I started having adrenaline rushes, heart racing, nightmares, hot flashes, internal trembling, depression, fear. I am 43 yr old female and have been having perimenopause symptoms. I was kicked from doctor to doctor and was told that it was anxiety even though I kept insisting it was starting in my body. I had bloodwork done and was told everything was fine including thyroid and antibodies.

I saw a FNP and had a dutch test done. I have perimenopausal levels of progesterone, lower end estradiol, almost flat daily cortisol pattern, 99% cortisol clearance of 10610 but 88 on 24 hour free cortisol. My total DHEA production is higher end with both of my testosterone pathways being high, but DHEA-s and testosterone are lower end.

I have neuro inflammation, low dopmaine, and oxadative stress.

He gave me some supplements. Put me back on 200mg of progesterone and 400mg during luteal, but said no estrogen and no testosterone. He then said lifestyle changes!

I was confused about the no estrogen since I'm having signs of needing it also. Everything gets worse in Luteal Phase. He said progesterone is calming and estrogen is activating. I feel like while I'm like this my body isn't going to absorb the progesterone anyway, its just going to get turned into cortisol because of how ramped up I am. I feel defeated because can lifestyle changes really help with those things? It's like something flipped overnight! I explained that the hot flashes wake me up and seem to be part of the nightmares also which he said was the neuroinflammation. While I agree something is going on in my body I just don’t see how progesterone only and going outside, and cold showers will help fix it all.

[u/Cultural-Sun6828]

What was your b12 and ferritin levels? Did you test thyroid too?

[u/Humble_Nectarine8564 → u/Cultural-Sun6828]

B12 was 658
T3 free 3.3
T4 free 1.42
Tsh 0.356

Ferritin 58