Hormones.

[NoMercy]

How have these little swines affected you at different stages of your life, from puberty to menopause or anywhere in between?

I think this is an area of medicine / science which is completely under-explored.

[queenofmean]

As a teenager they caused me to go bleeding psycho...if you annoyed me it was guaranteed something would get thrown at you or you'd be told unless you stopped bits would be lopped off or parts would be re-arranged.

I'm a little mellow now I just slam doors or scowl. OH notices I growl when I'm having a hormonal outburst...makes me laugh. Maybe by the time I reach the menopause I'll be a gentle soul

[NoMercy]

I sympathise, QoM. I was a tad "difficult" as a teenager too.

[queenofmean]

I just wish I came from my grans generation as a teen NoM - and I quote 'we didn't have hormones'
I feel terrible now for my teens but they can't be helped I guess.

[NoMercy]

That's an interesting point, QoM, and probably true. According to what I've read there are a lot of "xenoestrogens" in the environment. When GPs prescribe contraceptive pills and HRT and its excreted through urine, all those synthetic hormones make their way into our water supply which our water filtration plants currently cannot filter out. These hormones are consequently getting into our rivers and lakes and contaminating our fish stocks.

The argument for bottled water doesn't hold much stack either as the chemicals which leak from the plastic into the water mimic these xenoestrogens.

Is this possibly the cause for the explosion of breast cancer in this corner of the world?

[wolf63]

It's not just humans - girl bunny rabbits suffer too. Their female hormones make them more aggressive than the boy rabbits.

[Tilly2]

Wait until your thyroid gland starts playing up........that's a real treat!

[ummmm]

When I was pregnant last I was told to not eat more than two portions of fish a week because of contamination.

[NoMercy]

That's another widespread hormone problem, Tilly, but fortunately one the Endocrinologists can manage well with good compliance from the patient and a few adjustments here and there based on your TFTs.

I do think oestrogen dominance and reproductive endocrinology are issues which require greater exploration.

[queenofmean]

It's the same with cats too I think Wolf.

It is a bit NoM - I always thought she was kidding. But your right there is no getting away from them, nothing is safe. I don't eat fish but I do drink a lot of water and it's the fact you have no idea what's in what you are drinking or eating.I've actually just came off the pill as I felt terrible and I cannot begin to tell you how normal I feel (for now).
It's possible they link a lot of things back to hormones and the various Pills that women take.

[NoMercy]

Yes, that's currently the recommended guidelines, Ummmm.

[EcclesCake]

As a teenager and through my twenties I just had the odd bit of cramping and tender breasts. In my thirties 1/10 of my periods turned me into a psychotic axe wielding ***, I scared myself! In my early forties I went through the menopause without a hitch.

Overtime I have had depoprovera which resulted in me gaining a dress size for every year I was on it and I was also given HRT at the same time as I was low on oestrogen. After giving up contraception and HRT my weight returned to normal.

[ummmm]

When I had the contraceptive implant I put on loads of weight. Slowly iv'e come back down to what I was since it was removed.

[NoMercy]

I've got to be honest, Eccles, I would happily have the lot removed if I were fortunate to have a family first and I'd say a big fat "no thanks" to HRT.

[EcclesCake]

My male GP patronisingly told me that the depo and HRT didn't make me put on weight, it simply stimulated my appetite :-/

[Barmaid]

I am one of those very lucky ladies who have never had any sort of problem. Although a male friend of mine once remarked that "BM never gets PMT she's just a ***** ALL the time".

[ethandron]

My hormones took flight about ten years ago, thankfully, so every day is Christmas Day now.
Trouble is, I now have hair in places I didn't, and no hair in places I used to..

[EcclesCake]

LOL Barmaid, I always said I didn't suffer from PMT, every other Beggar around me sure as hell did though :-)

[gness]

Hi NoM......I had no problems with hormones until my early thirties then I had about six years of hell for me and everyone around me because numerous gynae problems couldn't be diagnosed at KGH.

I eventually, after nearly losing MrG.....and trying to run over a lass who wouldn't get out of the road, I got myself diagnosed by a relative in the RAF.

A hysterectomy and HRT solved everything......but I really dislike the three men who didn't take my condition seriously.....perhaps one of them needed to live with me for a year...just to experience how bloody awful hormone problems can be.

[Tilly2]

Yes, NoM, you are right about Thyroid gland problems. It is a bit of a bombshell when it hits though and needs a bit of tweaking to get it sorted. I think mine has gone out of kilter, recently, and I need to visit the GP again.

Gnash, gnash, gnash!

[queenofmean]

Know the feeling there Eccles!
Mum's hormones...were a night mare when she went through the menopause - now I know why dad is scared of women.