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🧬 Why I Finally Asked for Hormone Testing—And What I Learned

My real experience with confusing symptoms, bouncing progesterone, and finding clarity with estrogen patches

There was a time I honestly thought I was just losing it.
One minute, I was crying over laundry; the next, I was snapping at everyone. Then, suddenly, I was flat, tired, and not feeling much of anything.

I thought: Is this stress? Burnout? Am I just getting older?

But deep down, I knew something was happening beneath the surface—something hormonal.

That’s when I decided to stop guessing… and start testing.

😵‍♀️ The Symptoms That Pushed Me to Ask

What made me speak up?
It wasn’t just the mood swings. It was the exhaustion. The crashing energy. The lack of motivation.
My libido was gone. My brain felt foggy. My spark felt dimmed.

And worst of all?
I didn’t feel like myself anymore.

My period was still showing up—sort of. But everything about my body felt off. I just knew I needed more than another “you’re fine” from a provider.

🩺 I Asked for Hormone Testing (Even Though I Was Nervous)

I went in and asked for a full workup:
Estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, SHBG, B12, ferritin, thyroid. I wanted the full picture.

Before starting estrogen patches, my estradiol was 19—barely hanging on. I felt every bit of that number.
Now that I’ve been on patches consistently, my levels are up to 212, and I feel the difference.

But progesterone? That’s been a whole different story.

🔁 The Progesterone Rollercoaster

I’ve bounced around with progesterone—some cycles I try it, some I stop.
Some nights it helps me sleep. Other times it makes me feel off or even more anxious.

It’s been trial and error. It’s not something I’m on consistently because it hasn’t always worked for me.

My latest lab had progesterone at 1.0, which tells me my body’s not making much on its own—but it’s also taught me to listen closely to how I feel, not just what the numbers say.

💡 What Estrogen Has Done for Me

Estrogen patches have been my biggest win. Once I started them, everything began to shift:

• My mood became more stable

• My energy picked up

• My brain fog eased

• I started to feel hopeful again

It didn’t fix everything overnight, but it gave me a sense of balance—and a place to rebuild from.

💬 What I’ve Learned

• You can’t rely on standard lab ranges alone—trust how you feel

• Your hormone needs change, sometimes month to month

• You’re allowed to adjust, explore, and advocate for yourself

• Estrogen isn’t the enemy—it can be the missing support your body needs

And most importantly:
You’re not going crazy. You’re going through a major transition.