[Libertybel]

Hi Sunny.
Mine is gelatinized so it may not be a prob. I have a lot of stress which Im putting mine down to. I have no need to be stressed but i just am. That's why i wonder if my hormones are right.
Its just hormone tests cost sooo much

Jaaaa.... exactly... saving up for the whole family to get tested here, that'll be a serious investment (husband, daughter and myself). We could go to the GP's office but that would require a lot of discussion for the test to be done on the correct days and I'd prefer urine over blood, too - in the end they'd probably do a blood test on some random day and only check for estrogen or something like that. So I'll rather pay...

Good to hear that the Maca will probably not be the culprit in your case - had read of so many people abandoning wonderful Maca due to having taken the raw form, so I thought I'd rather ask

Sunny and liberty when do you guys think a blood hormone test would best be done in my cycle? I know Peggy said bloods aren't reliable but at least they are free as a starting point ...

I've no idea. Surely the doctor should know if it's reliable and when to do it? They didn't say anything about that to me?? I'm not sure xx

[EllaC]

Argh Ella my test revealed NOTHING have no idea why my rummy is crummy

Is this the giardia test?
Have you done a gluten or coeliac? I had a blood coeliac and that was clear and my hair allergy said im fine with gluten/wheat and my digestion is still effedd too.

Are you on maca?
I am.. Lotus thinks this could be a culprit..

I have digestive pains around my intestines not necessarily my stomach. Gonna try no coffee today and see how I go. Might knock the maca on the head too if it carries on.

I had both tests Ella. I don't eat much gluten at all so I'm not surprised it's negative. I'll have to start eating it again for 6 weeks for a clearer test result.

Coffee seems to be irritating my gut too. I love coffee 1 or 2 lattes a day I will truly miss

How about wheat then? Lol grasping at straws for u. And I hear you sister even decaf Is highly acid to the gut

[Libertybel]

Hi Sunny.
Mine is gelatinized so it may not be a prob. I have a lot of stress which Im putting mine down to. I have no need to be stressed but i just am. That's why i wonder if my hormones are right.
Its just hormone tests cost sooo much

Jaaaa.... exactly... saving up for the whole family to get tested here, that'll be a serious investment (husband, daughter and myself). We could go to the GP's office but that would require a lot of discussion for the test to be done on the correct days and I'd prefer urine over blood, too - in the end they'd probably do a blood test on some random day and only check for estrogen or something like that. So I'll rather pay...

Good to hear that the Maca will probably not be the culprit in your case - had read of so many people abandoning wonderful Maca due to having taken the raw form, so I thought I'd rather ask

Sunny and liberty when do you guys think a blood hormone test would best be done in my cycle? I know Peggy said bloods aren't reliable but at least they are free as a starting point ...

Now that I'm actually awake....and thinking about it..logically estrogen in dominant in the first half of your cycle isn't it? So I'm thinking then.

You could do an experiment and try using some progesterone cream for a month in the second half of your cycle and see if it helps.??

When I said to my Dr why i wanted a hormone test, feeling stressed and cranky it was suggested it was due to my crazy life of busy kids x 3 and a husband who works very long hours.

Have you had any luck with your weight gain?? Do you get any exercise at the moment? My friend who had big troubles gaining weight is ok now, she's actually trying to lose a few kegs!! She started a new job, and as a result stopped being stressed, and gained weight.

Maybe you need a change of job or something Ella?

[Libertybel]

Argh Ella my test revealed NOTHING have no idea why my rummy is crummy

Is this the giardia test?
Have you done a gluten or coeliac? I had a blood coeliac and that was clear and my hair allergy said im fine with gluten/wheat and my digestion is still effedd too.

Are you on maca?
I am.. Lotus thinks this could be a culprit..

I have digestive pains around my intestines not necessarily my stomach. Gonna try no coffee today and see how I go. Might knock the maca on the head too if it carries on.

I had both tests Ella. I don't eat much gluten at all so I'm not surprised it's negative. I'll have to start eating it again for 6 weeks for a clearer test result.

Coffee seems to be irritating my gut too. I love coffee 1 or 2 lattes a day I will truly miss

How about wheat then? Lol grasping at straws for u. And I hear you sister even decaf Is highly acid to the gut

Going back to the doc, I suspect I'll have to eat normal toast for 6 weeks n try again!! Haha, I'm grasping at straws for u too xx

[Libertybel]

Hi Ella & Libertybel!

Just a question - do you use raw Maca, gelatinized Maca, or some Maca extract? Many people run into digestive problems taking RAW Maca due to the starches it contains. In Peru, Maca is not eaten raw.

Years ago, when I took Maca for the first time, it was a raw form - it took 10 days or so until I ran into problems, in the end I had to completely stop taking it. Even then, it took a while until I was completely ok again. Symptoms were absolutely worst when taken together with Yoghurt or protein shake.

I do not have any problems taking Maca extract or gelatinized Maca at all (and I am currently taking LOTS).

As an aside: The raw "Maca Monster" from www.therootofthematter.ca, which does not contain the starches as it is dried root juice, does not cause problems for me either. It has a strong radish-like taste to it (so I would not recommend it to anyone suffering from heartburns easily), but only very little of it is needed, as it is highly concentrated.

Ah shit mine is raw macca.

My troubles started before I started using the macca, but it could have been the next cause and I didn't realise.

I took iodine to try and help with a benign breast lump and my thyroid and I had massive reaction....running to the loo like crazy!!

Then I had pizza, pasta and gluten cake at a party after very little gluten for a year...and high carumba, cramps and more running to the loo.

Now, I get up, eat n take vitamins and have a coffee, and off to the loo.....7 times out of 10 its a nasty experience.

I'll change my macca. Thanks Sunny!!

[EllaC]

Hi Sunny.
Mine is gelatinized so it may not be a prob. I have a lot of stress which Im putting mine down to. I have no need to be stressed but i just am. That's why i wonder if my hormones are right.
Its just hormone tests cost sooo much

Jaaaa.... exactly... saving up for the whole family to get tested here, that'll be a serious investment (husband, daughter and myself). We could go to the GP's office but that would require a lot of discussion for the test to be done on the correct days and I'd prefer urine over blood, too - in the end they'd probably do a blood test on some random day and only check for estrogen or something like that. So I'll rather pay...

Good to hear that the Maca will probably not be the culprit in your case - had read of so many people abandoning wonderful Maca due to having taken the raw form, so I thought I'd rather ask

That's just it and even docs are reluctant to address hormones. That's why i Wana stick it out with maca and try get balance that way. Alternatively eat to balance hormones. I heard tuner boosts progesterone and a avo's balance but then I also heard avo's are more estrogen related so buggered if I know!

[Sunny68]

Jaaaa.... exactly... saving up for the whole family to get tested here, that'll be a serious investment (husband, daughter and myself). We could go to the GP's office but that would require a lot of discussion for the test to be done on the correct days and I'd prefer urine over blood, too - in the end they'd probably do a blood test on some random day and only check for estrogen or something like that. So I'll rather pay...

Good to hear that the Maca will probably not be the culprit in your case - had read of so many people abandoning wonderful Maca due to having taken the raw form, so I thought I'd rather ask

Sunny and liberty when do you guys think a blood hormone test would best be done in my cycle? I know Peggy said bloods aren't reliable but at least they are free as a starting point ...

I've no idea. Surely the doctor should know if it's reliable and when to do it? They didn't say anything about that to me?? I'm not sure xx

The timing depends on what is "suspected" to possibly be out of balance.

At my age (46) and with a cycle of 27-29 days, it would e. g. be good to do a test around day 19-21 and see whether I was ovulating, what the progesterone vs. estrogen ratio is, etc..

As my daughter might be low in estrogen but not progesterone, I'd want to have her tested shortly before ovulating to catch the estrogen-"high" (but of course not only test her estrogen levels).

For a full cycle monitoring, repeat tests are done day 3-6, then again shortly before ovulating and finally, 5 days after ovulating. Whether or not GPs do the full range under insurance coverage (at least here) depends on the symptoms one has.

[Sunny68]

That's just it and even docs are reluctant to address hormones. That's why i Wana stick it out with maca and try get balance that way. Alternatively eat to balance hormones. I heard tuner boosts progesterone and a avo's balance but then I also heard avo's are more estrogen related so buggered if I know!

Exactly... or, they'll tell you they'll "balance your hormones" prescribing some BCP, effectively shutting down your whole hormone production. That's of course a way to get "balanced", too. Been there, experienced it all and that stuff really messed up my whole body. I am glad to still be alive today.

I love tuna - will have to do some reading! Also on the avocado, great hint - thank you! If I come across useful/reliable information regarding avocados and estrogen or hormone balancing, I'll let you know!

[Libertybel]

Oops, read the whole bottle.....gelatinized raw Maca, 750mg. So this should be ok?!

[EllaC]

That's just it and even docs are reluctant to address hormones. That's why i Wana stick it out with maca and try get balance that way. Alternatively eat to balance hormones. I heard tuner boosts progesterone and a avo's balance but then I also heard avo's are more estrogen related so buggered if I know!

Exactly... or, they'll tell you they'll "balance your hormones" prescribing some BCP, effectively shutting down your whole hormone production. That's of course a way to get "balanced", too. Been there, experienced it all and that stuff really messed up my whole body. I am glad to still be alive today.

I love tuna - will have to do some reading! Also on the avocado, great hint - thank you! If I come across useful/reliable information regarding avocados and estrogen or hormone balancing, I'll let you know!

Magnesium breaks down excess estrogen . Vit c raises progesterone levels.
Vitamin be, thyme, oregano and tuner help raise. Had a quick refer her read.
Watch out for tuna if it's in a can. Stupid cans linings are toxic and promote breast c. I imagine those toxins raise estrogen.

Vitex might be a way to go.. but I prefer maca as its more a superfood .

DAN you expensive saliva tests *sobs*