Case Study: Abnormal Bleeding, Weight Gain
Names have been changed for patient privacy.
Kimberly’s Background
Kimberly is a 38-year-old mother with two adolescent children. Her monthly cycle used to consist of a normal flow and lasted three to five days. Over time, her periods became progressively worse with heavier flows, large clots and longer cycles. Problem A variety of issues plagued Kimberly. Over time, she had gained forty pounds (mostly around her stomach). The lethargy she felt was related to anemia, and she was advised to take daily iron supplements. A recent ultrasound showed that the small fibroids that were detected five years ago had grown. Her previous doctor suggested scheduling a Myomectomy to remove the fibroids or consider having a hysterectomy (which she was adamantly against). A neurologist prescribed a new medication to treat the debilitating migraines, but Kimberly did not like the way it made her feel nor saw any improvement. Treatment Plan At her first visit, Kimberly brought a file containing her medical history along with lab and ultrasound results. Kimberly’s former doctors had chosen not to measure her female hormones, had conducted one thyroid exam and ran a lipid profile for cholesterol levels. Georgia Hormones administered eight thyroid tests along with female and adrenal hormones, took additional blood tests and also checked for vitamin deficiencies and sugar metabolism. Test results revealed Kimberly was not making much progesterone but was producing plenty of estrogen (read more about Estrogen Dominance). Her blood sugar count was high but not considered a diabetic threat. She admitted to eating many sugary and starchy foods, which are known to stimulate fibroid growth). We instructed Kimberly to take progesterone every month, but only in the second half of her cycle (read Progesterone to Regulate the Cycle). She was also taking magnesium in conjunction with progesterone to prevent migraines or to lessen the severity if one popped up. Kimberly also added vitamin C to her daily regimen to help absorb the iron. Results After four months, Kimberly's blood counts returned to normal. Her periods became regular, lighter and shorter. Migraines only happened on occasion and were milder. She was instructed to read Healthy Eating and developed an eating regimen that lowered her insulin level (it also helps slow down fibroid growth). After reading Healthy Exercise, Kimberly began to exercise regularly. She not only lost twenty pounds and a good amount of abdominal fat, but she felt much better as invigorating energy was restored. |