Leaks, Squeaks, Sags, Fat, and Tantrums: Are You In A Hormonal Drought?

Aging is natural, if you live long enough to experience it!  We can all attest that as the birthdays come, so do other strange and unusual things.   Why is that happening?  Do I look as bad as I feel?  Did I just lose it? What's up with that?  These are common questions you might be asking yourself.    Various symptoms often accompany aging including loss of energy, weight gain, brain fog, irritability, achy/squeaky joints, insomnia, decreased libido, sluggish bowel function, bladder leaks, sensitivity to heat and cold, irregular menstrual cycles, restless sleep, afternoon fatigue, and so on.  But is it "normal" to have to deal with these things year after year, after year? For some sufferers, they just commit to the reality of the advancing biological clock and move on.  For others, they choose to fight and conquer what others think is "normal".  My opinion is that these symptoms are a sign of decline in biologically identical hormones.  It's like your body is suffering a drought.  I'm personally in the latter group and test my hormones EVERY year (without fail) to make sure things are ship-shape and keeping me at the best performance possible. I'm not suggesting that 40&50-somethings have the levels of a 20 year old, but getting reasonably near that mark is where most feel their best.  I can write that with a lot of confidence and experience because our team takes care of hundreds of men and women who are addressing their hormonal imbalances.   And, this area of healthcare is growing daily.   Please, look at the possibilities of aging (lists above and below) and check yourself before you wreck yourself trying to cope with the changes.  It is your choice how you live.

All hormone therapy is not created equal and the best option, in my professional and personal opinion, is customized, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.  That simply means it's a direct structural match to what the body produces on it's own and to what you as an individual are missing.  Give someone what's missing and in the dose appropriate to address their hormonal deficiencies, and they will live, look, and feel so much better.  Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) simply replenishes what the hormonal drought has caused with the aging process.  Lifestyle, diet, and exercise also play a beneficial role in bringing everything together for a person who is struggling along in the aging process.

Here's an example of what hormonal shifts can do:
Estrogen Dominance (aka Progesterone Deficiency) is something that I commonly see in the patients that seek testing and evaluation of their hormones.  They may be common symptoms, but they are not to be considered normal for someone wanting to feel and look their best.  Here's a list of the effects from this type of natural hormonal shift in the body and what can happen to women of ANY age:

Premenstrual breast tenderness
Mood swings, irritability, and depression
Fluid retention and weight gain
Headaches, including migraines
Anxiety and panic attacks
Irregular menstrual cycles
Insomnia and restless sleep
Sagging skin and wrinkles
Dry eyes
Elevated blood pressure
Elevated cholesterol
Low thyroid function
Fatigue
Infertility
Loss of sexual desire
Bladder leaks with coughing, laughing, or sneezing
Uterine fibroids
Foggy thinking
Emotional sensitivity
Breast cancer
Joint aches
Sweats
Agitation


If you are experiencing leaks, squeaks, fat, sags, or tantrums, please do yourself a favor and call.  A baseline test to evaluate and treat your hormones is key to feeling normal again.  Trust me, aging happens to everyone, but not everyone seeks professional help.  You have the most compelling of information right here, but you have to own it and address it.  Give our team a call @ 417-231-4544 or email: drsonjaobryan@gmail.com

Here's to your NEW normal!!
Dr. Sonja