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I am 38 and started feeling unwell about 18 months ago, but this year things have really gotten bad. I have most of the perimenopause symptoms. The worst of it is that I am constantly tired, terribly forgetful (even forgetting names of close family members & having to look it up in my contact list), my migraines have gotten worse, my head almost always feels weird deep inside, dizziness, a strange off balance feeling like I'm going to fall, have lost approximately 50% of my hair (others frequently comment on this) and am struggling to lose as little as 2kgs. My cycle has gone from 7 days to 2-3. Recently I have started to wake up early in the morning and struggle to get back to sleep. I used to get heart palpitations, but oddly enough it’s not much of a problem anymore. I’ve been celibate for many years and have no interest in changing that. Lately I’ve developed an intense hatred towards men, even seeing men on television angers me for some reason.
I recently tested my insulin resistance and that's fine. A year ago I had my thyroid checked and it came back normal. This month I went to a doctor (my former long time GP has relocated) and requested that my progesterone be checked. It was a VERY short consultation, I might add. No more than 5 minutes. Didn't even get to tell her 20% of my symptoms. When I mentioned my hair loss, she replied that she doesn’t know me and can’t tell if my hair has always been thin or not! Is my word not good enough? I only discovered afterwards that she ordered a FSH test instead of the requested progesterone. Unreliable test from what I've read and the doctor never even asked where in my cycle I was.
The doctor seems to think that I am somehow irrational for requesting a progesterone test. When I asked for this test, she wanted to know if I think I have the swine flu as well! After a week I finally got her to call me back about the results. The FSH was 4.9 and I believe it was on D5. The doctor still didn’t ask about it. When I asked why she didn't test my progesterone, she explained that the test is "really very expensive". I went to pathology and asked about the cost. It is the exact same amount as for the FSH! I am mad as hell that the doctor showed no interest in what I am going through. The moment I mentioned the word "hormones", her attitude changed.
I am at my correct weight medically. Exercise 5 hours ever week. Am a very healthy eater. Have never been preganant and have no interest in that at all.
Why is it so hard to find a doctor who takes this stuff seriously? I don't have medical aid and will never go to a doctor just for fun! I have decided to complain to the practice manager, and to HQ if need be, but at this point I am so angry that I worry about losing it completely and killing someone (seriously).
I don’t know what to do. Is there a way that I can test my hormones without having to work with a damn doctor?
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