I recently had quite a bit of blood drawn with a new doctor. He tested my norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine and dopamine. My NE was 700 something and the high level was 490 I think. He said that was the only flagged item. However, my estradiol was 12 and my progesterone was 1.1 and it was day 18 (I did shed a month before). I was also told to put on my estrogel and progesterone cream before the blood draw and I did. I would think that the E/P would have a spike level, but 12 and 1.1. What is going on?
Is the high NE level because of the low estrogen or the imbalance? I see many different ideas about this. Also I've read that a person can have high NE because of post traumatic stress, or other emotional stresses from awhile ago. I read that one can get locked in to these problems even after the stress has gone. I've suffered PTSD from 9/11. I am mostly feeling anxious about body pains, and depressed about my life even though I feel very grateful too. I feel weird all the time. Is it all the peri/meno imbalance or do I feel this way because of high NE?
I also wonder if the high level of NE was because at the time of the blood draw I had a bad muscle spasm in my back and I was nervous getting to the lab, and I was also nervous about all the blood that was to be taken as well.
Also it seems weird to me that on a few different labs while taking either .25mg of estradiol or .75mg at other times that my estradiol levels have looked like a roller coaster. It's been as high as 616 (day 21) on .25mg of estradiol, to 212 on day 15 on the same dose, to 79, same dose, to 29 on .75mg, and now to 12 on .75mg. How come? I thought once one started using the supplement and you took blood you would get an idea of your level and what dose to stay with. If my levels swing that much even with the supplements how can I know what I should be using? I also was using 100-200mg of Prometrium 14 days a month and I'm told some of that can convert to E, yet my levels seem to still be low.
When I do the conversion of E to P on some of those labs my P level is low in relation to the E, even with the low E.
I'm with a new doctor who is ordering saliva tests for E/P so maybe I'll get a better idea with that? He says saliva will show more accurate idea, but I've read that serum is the better picture. What is the real deal with that? So even though my last estradiol tested at 12 and progesterone at 1.1, the progesterone ratio at that time was normal to that low E. That was the only time so far, usually it's the other way around, yet that estradiol level is very low, right?
I don't know how to proceed. And I'm so unsure if the high NE is a mental problem that I've locked onto because of stress, or if it's because of high estrogen, but on that blood test my estrogen was 12 so you can't say the high NE was because of high estradiol, right? Maybe it was high because I was nervous?
Full Version: High Norepinephrine--Bio related?
Corky
I don't really understand all of your technical post but there is one part of it that I have locked on to.
You mention you have high norepinephrine.
I have not had blood tests done but I have researched the reason why I am unable to tolerate ERT as it sends my anxiety through the roof.
It is likely heightened norepinephrine which, as I am sure you know is another name for noradrenaline.
Estrogen is generally good for improving mood because it increases serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. They are all "feel-good" and stimulating in the correct amounts but I have read that some women just can't tolerate the higher levels of norepinephrine.
I have now looked into finding some way of reducing my norepinephrine (other than progesterone-which actually also has this effect) without reducing the serotonin and dopamine. I have come up with GABA.
You may like to google it as there is lots about it and it all seems to be good.
It is a health supplement which targets the high norepinephrine in the brain without causing reduction of the other neurotransmitters.
It will calm and reduce anxiety and stress and in higher doses can help you sleep.
It is easily obtainable and not expensive. I am just waiting for mine to come from Amazon. I can't wait because I am tired of feeling anxious even when I use a tiny amount of estradiol vaginally. I am really hoping for a miracle! I will let you know if it works if you are interested?
janet c
I do have some Gaba. I have a theanine supplement with 500mg of Gaba in it. I tried it before sleep the other night and it was okay. I don't normally feel in an anxious state except when I start to feel muscle spasms and pain. Maybe I should take one a day for a few days and see what goes on. THe only worry I have is that I'm also on low doses of hydrocortisone (cortisol) for my thyroid medications and I don't know how that will react with taking theanine and Gaba.
I also wonder if the high NE level was just a temporary thing during the blood draw? Can someone's NE level rise at just one point, or does NE rise over a period of time and remain high due to high estrogen or other factors? This is what I'm trying to decipher.
I also wonder if the high NE level was just a temporary thing during the blood draw? Can someone's NE level rise at just one point, or does NE rise over a period of time and remain high due to high estrogen or other factors? This is what I'm trying to decipher.
[quote name='corky21' date='Aug 29 2009, 08:38 AM' post='306742']
I do have some Gaba. I have a theanine supplement with 500mg of Gaba in it. I tried it before sleep the other night and it was okay. I don't normally feel in an anxious state except when I start to feel muscle spasms and pain. Maybe I should take one a day for a few days and see what goes on. THe only worry I have is that I'm also on low doses of hydrocortisone (cortisol) for my thyroid medications and I don't know how that will react with taking theanine and Gaba.
I also wonder if the high NE level was just a temporary thing during the blood draw? Can someone's NE level rise at just one point, or does NE rise over a period of time and remain high due to high estrogen or other factors? This is what I'm trying to decipher.
Can you take Gaba if you take a little xanax? I feel terrible. It is my anxiety//nervous level that is off the
charts. I use bio's estorogen and progesterone. Does anyone have any suggestions to keep me a little calmer and to stop worrying about everything. I am in a constant state of panic.
Kim
I do have some Gaba. I have a theanine supplement with 500mg of Gaba in it. I tried it before sleep the other night and it was okay. I don't normally feel in an anxious state except when I start to feel muscle spasms and pain. Maybe I should take one a day for a few days and see what goes on. THe only worry I have is that I'm also on low doses of hydrocortisone (cortisol) for my thyroid medications and I don't know how that will react with taking theanine and Gaba.
I also wonder if the high NE level was just a temporary thing during the blood draw? Can someone's NE level rise at just one point, or does NE rise over a period of time and remain high due to high estrogen or other factors? This is what I'm trying to decipher.
Can you take Gaba if you take a little xanax? I feel terrible. It is my anxiety//nervous level that is off the
charts. I use bio's estorogen and progesterone. Does anyone have any suggestions to keep me a little calmer and to stop worrying about everything. I am in a constant state of panic.
Kim
I think GABA works in the same way as Xanax but it is a natural supplement and therefore not addictive. I don't think you would need both at the same time.
I have to be honest and say that when I take no hormones (having had surgical menopause almost 4 years ago)I feel quite happy and at ease with myself. No panic attacks or anxiety.The hormones really do make it worse for me.
The only reason I am trying to use a little vaginally is for atrophy and libido. Unfortunately I always feel wired and I am thinking if the GABA doesn't work I am just going to give it all up.
janet c
I'm not sure about taking both GABA and Xanax. I guess it depends on the Xanax dose and how much GABA. You should google that and see what you come up with.
QUOTE (corky21 @ Aug 29 2009, 10:49 AM) 
I recently had quite a bit of blood drawn with a new doctor. He tested my norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine and dopamine. My NE was 700 something and the high level was 490 I think. He said that was the only flagged item. However, my estradiol was 12 and my progesterone was 1.1 and it was day 18 (I did shed a month before). I was also told to put on my estrogel and progesterone cream before the blood draw and I did. I would think that the E/P would have a spike level, but 12 and 1.1. What is going on?
Is the high NE level because of the low estrogen or the imbalance? I see many different ideas about this. Also I've read that a person can have high NE because of post traumatic stress, or other emotional stresses from awhile ago. I read that one can get locked in to these problems even after the stress has gone. I've suffered PTSD from 9/11. I am mostly feeling anxious about body pains, and depressed about my life even though I feel very grateful too. I feel weird all the time. Is it all the peri/meno imbalance or do I feel this way because of high NE?
I also wonder if the high level of NE was because at the time of the blood draw I had a bad muscle spasm in my back and I was nervous getting to the lab, and I was also nervous about all the blood that was to be taken as well.
Also it seems weird to me that on a few different labs while taking either .25mg of estradiol or .75mg at other times that my estradiol levels have looked like a roller coaster. It's been as high as 616 (day 21) on .25mg of estradiol, to 212 on day 15 on the same dose, to 79, same dose, to 29 on .75mg, and now to 12 on .75mg. How come? I thought once one started using the supplement and you took blood you would get an idea of your level and what dose to stay with. If my levels swing that much even with the supplements how can I know what I should be using? I also was using 100-200mg of Prometrium 14 days a month and I'm told some of that can convert to E, yet my levels seem to still be low.
When I do the conversion of E to P on some of those labs my P level is low in relation to the E, even with the low E.
I'm with a new doctor who is ordering saliva tests for E/P so maybe I'll get a better idea with that? He says saliva will show more accurate idea, but I've read that serum is the better picture. What is the real deal with that? So even though my last estradiol tested at 12 and progesterone at 1.1, the progesterone ratio at that time was normal to that low E. That was the only time so far, usually it's the other way around, yet that estradiol level is very low, right?
I don't know how to proceed. And I'm so unsure if the high NE is a mental problem that I've locked onto because of stress, or if it's because of high estrogen, but on that blood test my estrogen was 12 so you can't say the high NE was because of high estradiol, right? Maybe it was high because I was nervous?
Is the high NE level because of the low estrogen or the imbalance? I see many different ideas about this. Also I've read that a person can have high NE because of post traumatic stress, or other emotional stresses from awhile ago. I read that one can get locked in to these problems even after the stress has gone. I've suffered PTSD from 9/11. I am mostly feeling anxious about body pains, and depressed about my life even though I feel very grateful too. I feel weird all the time. Is it all the peri/meno imbalance or do I feel this way because of high NE?
I also wonder if the high level of NE was because at the time of the blood draw I had a bad muscle spasm in my back and I was nervous getting to the lab, and I was also nervous about all the blood that was to be taken as well.
Also it seems weird to me that on a few different labs while taking either .25mg of estradiol or .75mg at other times that my estradiol levels have looked like a roller coaster. It's been as high as 616 (day 21) on .25mg of estradiol, to 212 on day 15 on the same dose, to 79, same dose, to 29 on .75mg, and now to 12 on .75mg. How come? I thought once one started using the supplement and you took blood you would get an idea of your level and what dose to stay with. If my levels swing that much even with the supplements how can I know what I should be using? I also was using 100-200mg of Prometrium 14 days a month and I'm told some of that can convert to E, yet my levels seem to still be low.
When I do the conversion of E to P on some of those labs my P level is low in relation to the E, even with the low E.
I'm with a new doctor who is ordering saliva tests for E/P so maybe I'll get a better idea with that? He says saliva will show more accurate idea, but I've read that serum is the better picture. What is the real deal with that? So even though my last estradiol tested at 12 and progesterone at 1.1, the progesterone ratio at that time was normal to that low E. That was the only time so far, usually it's the other way around, yet that estradiol level is very low, right?
I don't know how to proceed. And I'm so unsure if the high NE is a mental problem that I've locked onto because of stress, or if it's because of high estrogen, but on that blood test my estrogen was 12 so you can't say the high NE was because of high estradiol, right? Maybe it was high because I was nervous?
QUOTE (corky21 @ Aug 29 2009, 02:52 PM)
I'm not sure about taking both GABA and Xanax. I guess it depends on the Xanax dose and how much GABA. You should google that and see what you come up with.
I would not take the two together. At the very least check with your pharmacist. It's always a good idea to double check when taking natural supplements.
I have tried GABA and L theanine and 5 HTP, Valerian (you name it almost) and I do not feel great on any of them. Very lethargic, dopey and out of it. I can't imagine taking any of these with Xanax, so check first just to be safe.
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