YAS (Yet Another Symptom): Cold (and a question)

Not a cold flash. More like a couple of days of feeling chilled, like
I've been out in the cold too long. I go to bed at night under several
blankets and with a hot water bottle, even though the room is warm. It
happens in the days just before a period, so it does seem to follow the
cycle. At the same time, I get severely constipated.

I've just been to the doctor's. He took a bunch of blood tests,
including a panel for thyroid and that one seems to be the healthiest.
My liver and kidneys, though, seem to not be perfectly healthy any more;
just healthy.

So, is this YAS of perimenopause?

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

x-no-archive: yes

Keera Ann Fox wrote:
> Not a cold flash. More like a couple of days of feeling chilled, like
> I've been out in the cold too long. I go to bed at night under several
> blankets and with a hot water bottle, even though the room is warm. It
> happens in the days just before a period, so it does seem to follow the
> cycle. At the same time, I get severely constipated.
>
> I've just been to the doctor's. He took a bunch of blood tests,
> including a panel for thyroid and that one seems to be the healthiest.
> My liver and kidneys, though, seem to not be perfectly healthy any more;
> just healthy.
>
> So, is this YAS of perimenopause?
>

Maybe, but not the liver and kidney worsening; those are more closely
associated with long undiagnosed diabetes and/or elevated cortisol,
particularly if your liver enzymes are elevated and you show protein or
microlbumin in your urine.

It would be useful to first get a blood glucose meter and test yourself
according to this procedure:
http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/...0Diagnosed.htm

The fasting glucose test failed to diagnose 70% of women diabetics as
compared to post meal testing.

I mention adrenal suppression or cortisol because my thyroid, too, is
just fine, but I get freezing chills that won't quit when I'm a quart
low on cortisol. Elevated cortisol causes fatty liver and elevated
blood glucose, too. In fact, I'm extremely insulin sensitive, but still
am diabetic due to cortisol alone.

Susan

"Keera Ann Fox" <thinkbig.shrinktofit@online.no> wrote in message
news:1ihtk5c.11dwos61kcyx3sN%thinkbig.shrinktofit@ online.no...
> Not a cold flash. More like a couple of days of feeling chilled, like
> I've been out in the cold too long. I go to bed at night under several
> blankets and with a hot water bottle, even though the room is warm. It
> happens in the days just before a period, so it does seem to follow the
> cycle. At the same time, I get severely constipated.
>
> I've just been to the doctor's. He took a bunch of blood tests,
> including a panel for thyroid and that one seems to be the healthiest.
> My liver and kidneys, though, seem to not be perfectly healthy any more;
> just healthy.
>
> So, is this YAS of perimenopause?

I had both cold flashes - they alternated with hot flashes on & off all day,
& a few (individual) days of being chilled all day long. Which for me was a
distinctly odd sensation since, if anything, I tend to run overly warm.

Cathy


>
> --
> Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
> http://home.online.no/~kafox/

x-no-archive: yes

Cathy F. wrote:
> "Keera Ann Fox" <thinkbig.shrinktofit@online.no> wrote in message
> news:1ihtk5c.11dwos61kcyx3sN%thinkbig.shrinktofit@ online.no...
>
>>Not a cold flash. More like a couple of days of feeling chilled, like
>>I've been out in the cold too long. I go to bed at night under several
>>blankets and with a hot water bottle, even though the room is warm. It
>>happens in the days just before a period, so it does seem to follow the
>>cycle. At the same time, I get severely constipated.
>>
>>I've just been to the doctor's. He took a bunch of blood tests,
>>including a panel for thyroid and that one seems to be the healthiest.
>>My liver and kidneys, though, seem to not be perfectly healthy any more;
>>just healthy.
>>
>>So, is this YAS of perimenopause?
>
>
> I had both cold flashes - they alternated with hot flashes on & off all day,
> & a few (individual) days of being chilled all day long. Which for me was a
> distinctly odd sensation since, if anything, I tend to run overly warm.


I had freezing flashes, too, and I get them now only when I'm adrenally
insufficient.

I don't think you or I had worsening kidney or liver function, though.

Susan

"Susan" <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote in message
news:6adnlbF378qklU2@mid.individual.net...
> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Cathy F. wrote:
>> "Keera Ann Fox" <thinkbig.shrinktofit@online.no> wrote in message
>> news:1ihtk5c.11dwos61kcyx3sN%thinkbig.shrinktofit@ online.no...
>>
>>>Not a cold flash. More like a couple of days of feeling chilled, like
>>>I've been out in the cold too long. I go to bed at night under several
>>>blankets and with a hot water bottle, even though the room is warm. It
>>>happens in the days just before a period, so it does seem to follow the
>>>cycle. At the same time, I get severely constipated.
>>>
>>>I've just been to the doctor's. He took a bunch of blood tests,
>>>including a panel for thyroid and that one seems to be the healthiest.
>>>My liver and kidneys, though, seem to not be perfectly healthy any more;
>>>just healthy.
>>>
>>>So, is this YAS of perimenopause?
>>
>>
>> I had both cold flashes - they alternated with hot flashes on & off all
>> day, & a few (individual) days of being chilled all day long. Which for
>> me was a distinctly odd sensation since, if anything, I tend to run
>> overly warm.
>
>
> I had freezing flashes, too, and I get them now only when I'm adrenally
> insufficient.
>
> I don't think you or I had worsening kidney or liver function, though.

AFAIK, those symptoms of mine were just part & parcel of menopause.
Post-meno (not in peri) for me - I had no flashing of either sort until
post.

Cathy


>
> Susan

On May 31, 1:30 pm, thinkbig.shrinkto...@online.no (Keera Ann Fox)
wrote:
> Not a cold flash. More like a couple of days of feeling chilled, like
> I've been out in the cold too long. I go to bed at night under several
> blankets and with a hot water bottle, even though the room is warm. It
> happens in the days just before a period, so it does seem to follow the
> cycle. At the same time, I get severely constipated.
>
> I've just been to the doctor's. He took a bunch of blood tests,
> including a panel for thyroid and that one seems to be the healthiest.
> My liver and kidneys, though, seem to not be perfectly healthy any more;
> just healthy.
>
> So, is this YAS of perimenopause?
>
> --
> Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.http://home.online.no/~kafox/

every once in awhile i get really cold & a few times i have had the
cold flashing. mine came right before my period. it was one of the
1st symptoms for me that made me think that something was awry with my
hormones.

Susan <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote:

> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
> > Not a cold flash. More like a couple of days of feeling chilled, like
> > I've been out in the cold too long. I go to bed at night under several
> > blankets and with a hot water bottle, even though the room is warm. It
> > happens in the days just before a period, so it does seem to follow the
> > cycle. At the same time, I get severely constipated.
> >
> > I've just been to the doctor's. He took a bunch of blood tests,
> > including a panel for thyroid and that one seems to be the healthiest.
> > My liver and kidneys, though, seem to not be perfectly healthy any more;
> > just healthy.
> >
> > So, is this YAS of perimenopause?
> >
>
> Maybe, but not the liver and kidney worsening; those are more closely
> associated with long undiagnosed diabetes and/or elevated cortisol,
> particularly if your liver enzymes are elevated and you show protein or
> microlbumin in your urine.

No urine test, but it is the second time that my (non-fasting) blood
sugar has been pointed out as "borderline" (though a second test -
HBA1C) said b.s. was fine. Note: The first time was by the company
doctor so my regular one wouldn't know about it.

> It would be useful to first get a blood glucose meter and test yourself
> according to this procedure:
> http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/...0Diagnosed.htm
>
> The fasting glucose test failed to diagnose 70% of women diabetics as
> compared to post meal testing.

That _is_ interesting (considering what I wrote above). What the heck is
a normal value? The one I got an hour after breakfast was 7.6.

> I mention adrenal suppression or cortisol because my thyroid, too, is
> just fine, but I get freezing chills that won't quit when I'm a quart
> low on cortisol. Elevated cortisol causes fatty liver and elevated
> blood glucose, too. In fact, I'm extremely insulin sensitive, but still
> am diabetic due to cortisol alone.

I was thinking of you when I got the results back. S-creatinine was one
of the things that had just gone beyond normal range (by 1 point). Some
liver enzyme (S-GT) was the other thing that had left the normal range.

The nurse seemed a bit surprised that the doctor did not want to check
my blood sugar further.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

ellen <epdpster@gmail.com> wrote:

> On May 31, 1:30 pm, thinkbig.shrinkto...@online.no (Keera Ann Fox)
> wrote:
> > Not a cold flash. More like a couple of days of feeling chilled, like
> > I've been out in the cold too long. I go to bed at night under several
> > blankets and with a hot water bottle, even though the room is warm. It
> > happens in the days just before a period, so it does seem to follow the
> > cycle. At the same time, I get severely constipated.
> >
> > I've just been to the doctor's. He took a bunch of blood tests,
> > including a panel for thyroid and that one seems to be the healthiest.
> > My liver and kidneys, though, seem to not be perfectly healthy any more;
> > just healthy.
> >
> > So, is this YAS of perimenopause?
> >
>
> every once in awhile i get really cold & a few times i have had the
> cold flashing. mine came right before my period. it was one of the
> 1st symptoms for me that made me think that something was awry with my
> hormones.

Nice to know someone else has this, too. :-)

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

x-no-archive: yes

Keera Ann Fox wrote:

> No urine test, but it is the second time that my (non-fasting) blood
> sugar has been pointed out as "borderline" (though a second test -
> HBA1C) said b.s. was fine. Note: The first time was by the company
> doctor so my regular one wouldn't know about it.

Sugar doesn't spill into urine until your diabetes is extremely, I mean
WILDLY out of control for a long time. HbA1c has no place as a
diagnostic test, it's only appropriate for monitoring treatment progress.

> That _is_ interesting (considering what I wrote above). What the heck is
> a normal value? The one I got an hour after breakfast was 7.6.

That's a lot higher than I like to go, but not considered diabetic
range. 140 is the threshold where organ and nerve damage occurs, even
if brief. People with perfectly healthy pancreatic function stay within
a tight range of about 85-105 at all times after eating, and every
single point on A1c range above 4.6 or 4.8 is associated with an
incremental rise in cardiovascular mortality.


> I was thinking of you when I got the results back. S-creatinine was one
> of the things that had just gone beyond normal range (by 1 point). Some
> liver enzyme (S-GT) was the other thing that had left the normal range.
>
> The nurse seemed a bit surprised that the doctor did not want to check
> my blood sugar further.
>

She's right; he's a dope.

Check out www.phlaunt.com/diabetes

Great informative site in plain language and citations.

Keep testing at one and two hours after meals (and test before your
first bite) to see when you spike (more than 20-30 point rise after
eating) and what spikes you, too.

I had protein in my urine and very advanced peripheral neuropathies for
over a decade while my DM went undiagnosed because my fasting never went
into DM range (still doesn't after many years DM) and I reversed that
damage quickly and completely with diet.

Susan

x-no-archive: yes

Keera Ann Fox wrote:

> Nice to know someone else has this, too. :-)
>

I had freezing flashes, too, early on.

Susan

Susan <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote:

> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
>
> > No urine test, but it is the second time that my (non-fasting) blood
> > sugar has been pointed out as "borderline" (though a second test -
> > HBA1C) said b.s. was fine. Note: The first time was by the company
> > doctor so my regular one wouldn't know about it.
>
> Sugar doesn't spill into urine until your diabetes is extremely, I mean
> WILDLY out of control for a long time. HbA1c has no place as a
> diagnostic test, it's only appropriate for monitoring treatment progress.
>
> > That _is_ interesting (considering what I wrote above). What the heck is
> > a normal value? The one I got an hour after breakfast was 7.6.
>
> That's a lot higher than I like to go, but not considered diabetic
> range. 140 is the threshold where organ and nerve damage occurs, even
> if brief.

OK, reading the website you linked to below, my 7.6 is 7.6 mmol/L and
the threshold of 140 corresponds to 7.8 mmol/L. I can see why the nurse
commented quite specifically on that.

> People with perfectly healthy pancreatic function stay within
> a tight range of about 85-105 at all times after eating, and every
> single point on A1c range above 4.6 or 4.8 is associated with an
> incremental rise in cardiovascular mortality.

Oh. Ouch II. That was the value, though, that the nurse said was fine
and really mattered vs. the non-fasting blood sugar. My HbA1c value is
5.6 (it doesn't say 5.6 what, but I assume %).

> > I was thinking of you when I got the results back. S-creatinine was one
> > of the things that had just gone beyond normal range (by 1 point). Some
> > liver enzyme (S-GT) was the other thing that had left the normal range.
> >
> > The nurse seemed a bit surprised that the doctor did not want to check
> > my blood sugar further.
>
> She's right; he's a dope.

LOL!

OK, reading the site below, it looks like I should ask for another
non-fasting test, but have it taken later in the day (both tests were
taken after breakfast).

> Check out www.phlaunt.com/diabetes
>
> Great informative site in plain language and citations.

Yes. Thank you.

> Keep testing at one and two hours after meals (and test before your
> first bite) to see when you spike (more than 20-30 point rise after
> eating) and what spikes you, too.

I'll see what my local pharmacy has for blood sugar testing. Looks like
I'm joining Chris is self-diagnosing. (Hi, Chris!)

> I had protein in my urine and very advanced peripheral neuropathies for
> over a decade while my DM went undiagnosed because my fasting never went
> into DM range (still doesn't after many years DM) and I reversed that
> damage quickly and completely with diet.

Nice to know.

I don't like the borderline values shown for both liver and kidney. I
want to know why I'm no longer in the normal range. I want to know if it
should be monitored.

If I go back for more blood tests, what should I ask for?

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

Susan <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote:

> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
>
> > Nice to know someone else has this, too. :-)
> >
>
> I had freezing flashes, too, early on.

I don't flash, really. I spend all day wanting the heat cranked up, and
then the next day I'm myself again, and the day after that, my period.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

x-no-archive: yes

Keera Ann Fox wrote:

> I don't like the borderline values shown for both liver and kidney. I
> want to know why I'm no longer in the normal range. I want to know if it
> should be monitored.
>
> If I go back for more blood tests, what should I ask for?
>

You're absolutely right to want to prevent anything more serious before
it advances. Frankly, right now, I'd concentrate on the home testing to
see if you're hitting diabetic ranges. That's the single most important
thing, and it can be driving all the other stuff.

If you're still worried after low carbing and getting better numbers
(hint, hint... ;-) you might ask for a fasting insulin, 6-8 a.m. serum
cortisol, DHEA S, cortisol binding globulin, sex hormone binding
globulin, IGF1 (marker for growth hormone function, where the lowest 25%
of the normal range is frequently serious deficiency range).

You might want to see your total and free testosterone, estradiol,
progesterone, too, since they're also adrenal steroids.

Are you doing anything to lower LDL cholesterol? Statin drugs cause
adrenal suppression, since LDL is what all of our adrenal hormones are
made from.

Susan

x-no-archive: yes

Keera Ann Fox wrote:
> Susan <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote:
>
>
>>x-no-archive: yes
>>
>>Keera Ann Fox wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Nice to know someone else has this, too. :-)
>>>
>>
>>I had freezing flashes, too, early on.
>
>
> I don't flash, really. I spend all day wanting the heat cranked up, and
> then the next day I'm myself again, and the day after that, my period.
>

Is that when progesterone drops? When I cut mine back, I was a basket
case. When I increased it too much, I was weak and shakey, too... very
potent steroid.

Susan

Susan <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote:

> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
>
> > I don't like the borderline values shown for both liver and kidney. I
> > want to know why I'm no longer in the normal range. I want to know if it
> > should be monitored.
> >
> > If I go back for more blood tests, what should I ask for?
>
> You're absolutely right to want to prevent anything more serious before
> it advances. Frankly, right now, I'd concentrate on the home testing to
> see if you're hitting diabetic ranges. That's the single most important
> thing, and it can be driving all the other stuff.

OK, I'll get a home testing kit.

> If you're still worried after low carbing and getting better numbers
> (hint, hint... ;-)

Right, no more candy for a while. :-)

> you might ask for a fasting insulin, 6-8 a.m. serum
> cortisol, DHEA S, cortisol binding globulin, sex hormone binding
> globulin, IGF1 (marker for growth hormone function, where the lowest 25%
> of the normal range is frequently serious deficiency range).

Noted. Thanks.

> You might want to see your total and free testosterone, estradiol,
> progesterone, too, since they're also adrenal steroids.
>
> Are you doing anything to lower LDL cholesterol?

No. AFAIK, there's nothing wrong with my cholesterol. Haven't had a
panel for that, though. Total cholesterol has actually gone down since
my last measurement, to 4.2 mmol/L (162 mg/dL). Funny thing is, I
stopped eating so much meat and went back to more bread (usually whole
wheat or rye) and have lost a couple of kilos and lowered my
cholesterol. I don't think I have the metabolism of a meat-eater.

> Statin drugs cause adrenal suppression, since LDL is what all of our
> adrenal hormones are made from.

After what I've read about statins (thanks to posts here), I wouldn't
want to try them, anyway.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

Susan <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote:

> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
> > Susan <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >>x-no-archive: yes
> >>
> >>Keera Ann Fox wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>Nice to know someone else has this, too. :-)
> >>>
> >>
> >>I had freezing flashes, too, early on.
> >
> >
> > I don't flash, really. I spend all day wanting the heat cranked up, and
> > then the next day I'm myself again, and the day after that, my period.
> >
>
> Is that when progesterone drops? When I cut mine back, I was a basket
> case. When I increased it too much, I was weak and shakey, too... very
> potent steroid.

Right before a period both progesterone and estrogen drop. I'm not
taking any hormones. Basal body temperature's supposed to drop when the
period starts. My seems to drop a couple of days ahead of schedule. Gee,
this is fun! X-D

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

x-no-archive: yes

Keera Ann Fox wrote:

> No. AFAIK, there's nothing wrong with my cholesterol. Haven't had a
> panel for that, though. Total cholesterol has actually gone down since
> my last measurement, to 4.2 mmol/L (162 mg/dL). Funny thing is, I
> stopped eating so much meat and went back to more bread (usually whole
> wheat or rye) and have lost a couple of kilos and lowered my
> cholesterol. I don't think I have the metabolism of a meat-eater.

If you have blood glucose problems, you don't have the metabolism of a
starch or fruit eater, either. That leaves fat and veggies. Oh, and
nuts. :-)

>
>
>>Statin drugs cause adrenal suppression, since LDL is what all of our
>>adrenal hormones are made from.
>
>
> After what I've read about statins (thanks to posts here), I wouldn't
> want to try them, anyway.
>

Not on a dare. Poison.

Susan

Susan <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote:

> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
>
> > No. AFAIK, there's nothing wrong with my cholesterol. Haven't had a
> > panel for that, though. Total cholesterol has actually gone down since
> > my last measurement, to 4.2 mmol/L (162 mg/dL). Funny thing is, I
> > stopped eating so much meat and went back to more bread (usually whole
> > wheat or rye) and have lost a couple of kilos and lowered my
> > cholesterol. I don't think I have the metabolism of a meat-eater.
>
> If you have blood glucose problems, you don't have the metabolism of a
> starch or fruit eater, either. That leaves fat and veggies. Oh, and
> nuts. :-)

Funny. I prefer fat, veggies and nuts.

> >>Statin drugs cause adrenal suppression, since LDL is what all of our
> >>adrenal hormones are made from.
> >
> > After what I've read about statins (thanks to posts here), I wouldn't
> > want to try them, anyway.
>
> Not on a dare. Poison.

Too much experimenting on the general population and not enough in the
lab, if you ask me. Seems to be that way for several drugs.

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

x-no-archive: yes

Keera Ann Fox wrote:

> Funny. I prefer fat, veggies and nuts.

Good start! How about full fat dairy, too! Olives, avocadoes...

> Too much experimenting on the general population and not enough in the
> lab, if you ask me. Seems to be that way for several drugs.
>

Zackly.

NIH in the US has undertaken a study to see how bad the effects of
adrenal suppression with statins are, since ALL adrenal steroids are
made from LDL, hello????

Shouldn't that have happened *before* they went to market? HPA function
determines EVERYTHING about our immunity, cancers, energy, etc...

Susan

Susan <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote:

> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
>
> > Funny. I prefer fat, veggies and nuts.
>
> Good start! How about full fat dairy, too! Olives, avocadoes...

That's what I like. In fact, I always have a jar of black olives in the
house. And good hard cheeses, preferably aged, like a Jarlsberg or
cheddar.

> > Too much experimenting on the general population and not enough in the
> > lab, if you ask me. Seems to be that way for several drugs.
> >
>
> Zackly.
>
> NIH in the US has undertaken a study to see how bad the effects of
> adrenal suppression with statins are, since ALL adrenal steroids are
> made from LDL, hello????
>
> Shouldn't that have happened *before* they went to market? HPA function
> determines EVERYTHING about our immunity, cancers, energy, etc...

Methinks the drug makers are too eager to get their product to market
and the FDA happily lets them. Used to be you could trust the FDA...

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

x-no-archive: yes

Keera Ann Fox wrote:

> That's what I like. In fact, I always have a jar of black olives in the
> house. And good hard cheeses, preferably aged, like a Jarlsberg or
> cheddar.

Great, just skip the crackers!


>
> Methinks the drug makers are too eager to get their product to market
> and the FDA happily lets them. Used to be you could trust the FDA...
>

When could we trust the FDA? I must have been absent that day. :-/

Susan

Susan <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote:

> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
>
> > That's what I like. In fact, I always have a jar of black olives in the
> > house. And good hard cheeses, preferably aged, like a Jarlsberg or
> > cheddar.
>
> Great, just skip the crackers!

I usually do.

Hmmm... I'm already doing everything right. So why is there something
wrong? Must be peri.

> > Methinks the drug makers are too eager to get their product to market
> > and the FDA happily lets them. Used to be you could trust the FDA...
>
> When could we trust the FDA? I must have been absent that day. :-/

Back in the 70's. I see I never should have left the US. After I came
back to Norway in 1981, everything's gone downhill "over there". ;-)

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/

x-no-archive: yes

Keera Ann Fox wrote:

>
> Back in the 70's. I see I never should have left the US. After I came
> back to Norway in 1981, everything's gone downhill "over there". ;-)
>

So you're to blame!

Susan

Susan <nevermind@nomail.com> wrote:

> x-no-archive: yes
>
> Keera Ann Fox wrote:
>
> >
> > Back in the 70's. I see I never should have left the US. After I came
> > back to Norway in 1981, everything's gone downhill "over there". ;-)
>
> So you're to blame!

Indeed. Norway's been constantly improving since I came back. :-D

--
Keera in Norway * Think big and then ask for more.
http://home.online.no/~kafox/