Many clients come to me with a deep feeling that something is off or out of balance but they just don’t know how to find it by themselves.
They feel dissatisfied, disappointed with the answers and/or lack of answers provided by their doctors. And frustrated by more diagnoses and more medication.
Most of us have had the experience of going to the doctor to have them tell us:
- “I don’t see any problem with your health, everything looks fine.” Even when you definitely don’t feel fine!
- “This blood test result is abnormal. I will prescribe you medication.” Without even explaining why exactly!
I have a client where it took almost one year and 4 appointments to find out the cause of her symptoms…
First appointment was last year with her general practitioner, when she first reported her changes in menstruation, menstrual irregularities, premenstrual symptoms and loss of libido for instance. Everything was dismissed, according to her GP from that time, everything was normal for her age, 39 years old. She was clear to go…
Client was not satisfied with the answer! She wanted to have a referral for a gynecologist and go through a check up and also to prepare herself for pregnancy. According to her GP it was not necessary. The recommendation to get pregnant was taking folic acid and try and if it doesn’t go she had to come back.
After several contacts back and forward and a whole fight she finally got her referral with the gynecologist at OLVG.
Appointment was scheduled for February. She had an ultrasound and hormones tested. All her tests were “normal”, according to the gynecologist she didn’t have anything to worry about and she could just try to get pregnant.
In the meantime, she had an appointment with an integrative medical physician, in a private practice. When they got to the subject of blood testing the doctor asked my client: “What would you like to have tested?” Beg your pardon?? Who is the doctor anyway? She got so frustrated with this doctor…That she didn’t continue with the appointments.
After hearing about my services from a friend of her friend she came to me. She expressed her frustration and that even with the “normal results”, she felt that something wasn’t right. She was looking for guidance. I listened to her. All we need is to be heard and seen when we are expressing our concerns and health issues.
We have been through questionnaires and assessments to identify where she is on the health spectrum and establish baseline metrics. I identified hormonal imbalances, among others.
First I suggested that she change her GP, which she did. And to make an appointment with the new doctor for further testing and to ask for the blood tests that I had recommended to her to get and provide an overall picture of her health.
Conclusion: The results of the blood tests proved the hormonal imbalance, high and abnormal levels of prolactin, which explains her symptoms.
Ladies, abnormally high levels of the hormone prolactin in women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding can cause menstrual irregularities and infertility!
If you have Hypothyroidism ( underactive thyroid ) be aware that this condition may increase prolactin levels!
My questions are:
- How could a general practitioner dismiss all the symptoms?
- How could a private integrative medical doctor ask my client “ What would you like to test?”
- How could a gynecologist not have tested all her sex hormones?
Mind-blowing. Go figure!
