Examination
 |
| photo credit |
Do you get yearly examinations? To be honest, I don’t unless you consider my annual GYN appointment, but to go in for a complete physical examination…NO! Yesterday, I saw my internal medicine doctor for the first time in 3-years. I had the routine things done – EKG, chest x-ray, blood pressure, weight, urinalysis, blood work,… Everything looks great!
Today, I should know my lab results. I suspect this will be normal for the most part, but I’m anxious to learn how my hormone levels stack up. In 2006, I began noticing significant change in my body metabolism and issues with libido. Six years earlier, I had a hysterectomy at the age of 40. My doctor managed to leave one of my ovaries but no HRT prescribed.
The first year I was on the lowest dose possible of Premarin (HRT), I didn’t see much change, if any. By my following GYN visit, my doctor suggested the next dosage boost, but I wasn’t ready to graduate to the next level. I’m apprehensive and reluctant when it comes to taking medicine, but sometimes you have to do what you must to help your body system along.
Stress is a huge factor which plays against a woman’s libido and something I wasn’t a stranger to. I was under a lot of pressure with home schooling three kids, then in 2009 our daughters moved into their own apartment. That was only trading one set of worries for another it seemed.
At some point during the first year our daughters were on their own, I had to reconcile myself to fully trusting the Lord. This was something that was completely out of my hands. No good would come from allowing the dark force to shadow my life and not taking care of myself like I knew I should. This was a pivotal moment for me.
Things didn’t instantly get better, but I began to relearn how to take care of my physical needs – diet, exercise, medication, …Signs of improvements with the HRT appeared by 2010. Issues about my libido was slowly changing for the better – nothing earth shattering fantastic, though. Maybe more time is needed.
Let’s face it, my libido was no where it should be. I know it’s part of the aging thing and when you have early onset menopause then this really doesn’t help matter. Last year, I finally agreed to a third step up in my Premarin dose. Would going from 0.9mg to 1.25mg make a difference? After several months, the new levels kicked in and slight changes occurred but not so much with my libido. Am I expecting too much?
I turned my efforts to solving the puzzle researching women’s testosterone levels on the internet. This is predominately a man’s subject and there’s a lot available for the male sex. However, I did find out low Testosterone is major culprit in affecting a woman’s sex drive, just like it does in men. In fact, I discovered that 50% of a female’s Testosterone is made by her ovaries. Bingo! I only have one and for years I’ve suspected it’s not doing its job properly.
While I do not know what my blood work will show, I know something is amiss with my body. Stress plays a hand in driving one’s sexual desires down, but I can’t believe this is what I’m experiencing most of the time. I’m confident my Testosterone levels are off — a little to a lot. If it’s a little then maybe a little is too much for body to tolerate. We are all different.
Self evaluation and experimentation are two important ingredients in maintaining excellent personal health without having to solely rely on an annual physical, but I highly recommend it not replace a doctor’s thorough examination.
My T2Q are:
1. Be honest, how important is sex to you? Sexual intimacy is very important to me. This is one special way for my DH and I to express our love…pleasures for one another. I don’t want to ever feel like sex is a chore. This is something I enjoy just as much, as DH. I want to be able to turn that little ‘sex’ button anytime of the day.
2. If you’re a woman, do you suffer with libido issues? Obviously, by now you know this is one of my concerns. I’m thankful and blessed for my over-all good health, but for an active, healthy 50-year old I want more. I consider myself young enough to still enjoy the sensual pleasures of a good sex life. I’m not saying what I share with my husband isn’t fulfilling, but more frustrating because it takes more to push my buttons than it did when I was in my 20s. This just shouldn’t be the case or at least this is the way I feel. Ladies, feel free to offer suggestions. I’m all ears!
Visit Miss Jenny and the rest of the Alphabe-Thursday classroom for more energizing and enlightening ‘E’ posts and while you’re hopping around, be sure to play along with Miss Amanda 92nd edition of Thursday Two Questions.
12 Comments
Jenny
Oh Cathy. Hormones can really wreak havoc on us, can’t they? Or maybe it is ‘lack’ of hormones.
Acupuncture helps me quite a lot as well as trying to adhere to a very specific diet.
Stress always throws a monkey wrench in everything, though.
I hope your tests give you some answers.
You might consider alternative treatment routes. They are the only ones that ever helped me.
This was an excellent and thought provoking link.
Sending a hug and a prayer your way.
A+
Andy David
Hello.
I hope you all won’t mind if I join the discussion.
I’m borderline diabetic so I have to see my doctor every 3 months as my blood sugar levels never seem to go down. I also suffer from sleep apnea, so that affects my health too. My doctor is very good and orders all the tests I need to have for my age. You’ve brought up some valid points which are very important to all women. Thanks for sharing.
Emotions Of Poetry
Jen
Great post about issues many women deal with. Super important to be honest with md in case there is something going on. For me it depends on how I feel about myself and the amount stress I’m dealing with.
Esther Joy
Cathy, you are a brave woman to just lay out your issues “on the table”, so to speak. Three of my sisters had breast cancer, so I stayed away from Rx hormone therapy. However, I did use premarin cream obtained from a health food store, and it did seem to help balance me out.
Jim
Hi Cathy ~~ This is a post that many of us need to read. I realize you are writing with the woman’s point of view but face it, men should be interested in his wife’s sexual well being also. Like I have been told, it takes two to tango.
1. Yes, both of us enjoy sex. We feel slightly over the hill for that but still WHEN it happens it is nice!
2. I take a lot of meds, many of which tear down libido, men’s as well as woman’s, for whoever takes it. I think this has happened to a great extent in our lives because of my meds.
My Q’s aren’t quite so personal this week,
http://jimmiehov.blogspot.com/2012/06/e.html
..
Self Sagacity
1) Very and I enjoy having sex. I don’t need anyone to push my button. I just need the parts working.
2) I guess that answers this second question.
I hope things will work out. It takes a lot of time to care for your health, but we have to do it. I get so lazy at exercise, since I didn’t have to until now.
anitamombanita
No hormones for me. I’ve been fortunate in that respect.
JamericanSpice
I hope your blood work will bring results to help you with your questions.
1. Sex. I don’t know any different. It’s only been him.
It feels like a chore to me. One more thing I have to do after dealing with kids all by myself, cooking, shopping, going here, there thither and cleaning without help.
2. Maybe I do..I don’t know.
Very interesting posts today Cathy.
Judy SheldonWalker
I take no medications for my menopausal issues. I took soy isoflavones when the hot flashes were raging and it helped tremendously. As far as libido, alfalfa and black cohosh assist with those issues.
Sex is not that important to me, but it is good for us physically and emotionally. I like the cuddling that precedes it, but hubby is not so inclined.
Judie
Cathy, I don’t take hormones at all. For some reason, Premarin makes me a danger to myself and others. A doctor once asked me to humor her and try taking it for six weeks. By the end of the first week, I was jumping out of my skin. She had told me to call her if I had problems and that she would call me back. I did, but never heard from her. I found a new doctor.
I hope the hormones work for you!!
Saimi
Ah you’re so good. I’m bad about seeing my doctor unless I have a concern. Even my yearly hasn’t been so yearly. Good Post and good luck with your results!
Theresa
Great info! Definitely sharing in these issues too…not a pleasant time. Interested to see what my dr visit leads to.
Happy AT!