Irritated by Hormones

Today, I'm irritated!!

Irritated with my husband. Irritated with myself.
I'm irritated with the smallest inconveniences or mistakes that are made throughout the day!!
 
Sometimes I think I'm about ready to go bonkers! I know why I'm feeling this way. I just am tired of trying to deal with it!

(A little hormone humor!!)

I've been pre-menopausal for over 8 years and am currently having irregular periods and ENJOYING all the symptoms listed below!!!!

• Weight gain without any apparent reason around waist and hips,
• Headaches
• Insomnia or sleep disturbances,
• Low energy and fatigue,
• Mood swings (crying at the drop of a hat)
• Periodic depression
• Irritability,
• Inability to handle stress,
• Craving caffeine, sweets and carbohydrates,
• Very sluggish in the morning,
• Occasional Hot flashes,
• PMS
• Pain in the joints or stiffness,

http://www.goodbye-belly-fat.com/hormone-imbalance-in-women.html

I've been to SO many different doctors and specialists that I am plum tired of searching for someone who has a different and effective remedy. Here's a list of what I've tried already, unsuccessfully, of course:

• Natural hormone replacement therapy (with estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.) - I had a pharmacist at our local drugstore compound Bio-identical hormones, specifically for my needs. Took them for over a year and had very slight changes, but it was costly, so it really didn't pay off for me.

• Drinking soy - I drink it every day, so I know it doesn't work for me.
  

• Oral Contraceptives - Tried them, not helpful at all!
  

• Exercise - I try to get moderate exercise 3-4 days a week, but am limited, as I have some major knee and joint issues.
  

• Eat healthy foods - For the most part, I try to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and calcium-rich foods, and cut out fat.  I'm gonna be honest, though, I do mess up and have sugary stuff when I'm REALLY craving it, which seems to be worse, some days more than others.

• Herbal supplements and vitamins, with Dong Quai, Black Cohosh, Calcium - Tried all of them, with very little effectiveness.

• Get plenty of Sleep - Still an issue, but when insomnia is one of the symptoms, unless I take strong sleeping pills, this treatment is ineffective for me.

I haven't tried using prescription or synthetic hormone replacement drugs, which can be effective, but may not be totally safe. So I don't want to go that route.

• Some doctors have suggested that I have a hysterectomy (and I actually came very close to having it done.), but I've heard there are many possible negative side-effects of having the uterus removed. I guess I feel that I've gone this long and I just need to hang in there till I get through this hormonal change. It's just taking longer than I ever anticipated.

• Prayer!!! Which often has been highly effective. For some reason, I believe God allows me to go through these times of suffering to draw me closer to Him and pray, pray, pray!!! But on some days, when I REALLY struggle to even get out of bed,  prayer is the most difficult thing for me to do. I literally have to force myself to go to God...

And I admit, many times my prayers have been more of a pleading and begging, (and even making promises, if healed) for God to take my symptoms away.

 

I usually share in my post this time each week what I am grateful for....but I'm struggling to do that today!  I can't wrap my brain around what I am thankful for when I am not feeling well and just want to have a good cry. Hopefully, I'll have a list ready to post by next week. 

(Just a little more dry humor, please?)

Until then, your prayers for me would be greatly appreciated....

(Of anything I can be thankful for this week, it would have to be all my blogger friends that I've gotten to know and have learned so much about here on my blog and in the blogosphere!)

Blessings to you all!!

Also linking over to these blog hops:
Heart Reflected Blog Hop 
  Sharing His Beauty (Beauty In His Grip)

  Soli Deo Gloria Party (Finding Heaven)

Titus2sdays (Time-Warp Wife)
UNITE (Rich Faith Rising)
Gratituesday (Heavenly Homemakers)
Winsome Wednesday(My Daily Walk in His Grace)  
Watchful Wednesdays (He Cares For You) 
 Word-Filled Wednesday (Woman to Woman)

T.G.I.F. (Bible Love Notes) 
Sunday Stillness(He Cares for You