Hormone Makeover Testimonials 

What better way to help explain the impact of hormonal imbalance symptoms than to have real women share their hormone makeover stories?

The following ladies willingly wrote their own accounts because they wanted other women to know what a difference bioidentical hormones can make. Each precious story is literally in the woman’s own words and has not been edited or changed. You are going to enjoy each one. After each lady’s note, I will share commentary on the types of hormones each one takes. Perhaps this will help further explain their responses.

A.B.’s Hormone Makeover

Age 47

For years I had long, heavy, frequent periods, so I eventually became seriously anemic and depressed. Not realizing I was anemic, I thought I was lazy and hated myself for it. I also had really bad PMS—I was irritable and horribly depressed. Later I began to experience symptoms of estrogen deficiency: hot flashes that lasted for hours at a time, memory problems, and terrible brain fog that almost cost me my job.

Based on my saliva test results, Donna and her physician got me started on bioidentical estrogen and progesterone, and all my symptoms resolved very quickly. Sleeping through the night without waking up soaked in sweat was a lovely relief, and I looked more professional at work with my hair and clothes no longer drenched. My memory improved and the fog lifted so that I became very competent at work. My boss sure noticed a huge improvement.

A few years later, as a result of stress at work and in my personal life, my cortisol level skyrocketed to three times the normal level, and I sure had the symptoms. I couldn’t sleep; I was easily startled, and I felt very much on edge. I just generally felt awful and couldn’t think. Donna recommended some nutritional supplements that caused my cortisol levels to drop back to normal, and since then, I sleep great and am not at all easily upset. My brain works much better too. My hormone makeover revolutionized my life.

A.B.’s hormones: 0.025 mg estradiol patch, 20 mg of progesterone cream once daily, basic supplementation, and phosphatidylserine to manage her elevated cortisol.

A.G.’s Hormone Makeover

Age 39

I have personally used Donna White’s “Hormone Makeover” services and also as a referral for my patients as a health professional. In both areas, her services have shined. For me personally, I cannot say enough. I am in my late thirties, and Donna and her physician worked with me years ago on my hormones, which were literally all over the place. She got me on a wonderful regimen of progesterone and natural supplements. It made a world of difference. Not only did I feel more leveled out with my moods and energy, but I also started to ovulate on a very regular basis. This regularity was the best blessing of all because soon (after years of doctors telling me I may not be able to conceive) I was able to conceive NATURALLY. I stayed on the progesterone during and after pregnancy and swear that it helped me with adjusting as a new mom. While I hear moms experience some post pardon depression, I experience nothing but feelings of joy. I can’t help but contribute this to my hormones being leveled out.

As a health professional, I have referred to Donna many of my patients who were at a stand-still with their weight. They were very frustrated and were doing all of the right steps nutritionally, but my gut told me it was their hormones—out of experience and some of the charts and guidelines Donna had taught me. Sure enough, after meeting with Donna and doing the saliva test, clients were coming back to me with grins on their faces, more energy, better control over food cravings, less depression, and less irritability. It was and still is amazing. I love how they are getting the help they need via natural supplements and hormones.

I personally am honored to know and be able to work with Donna on both levels (personal and business). Her expertise and genuine care for others shines right through her, and you just know sitting with her that she truly does care and will do all she can to get to the bottom of the problem. I am blessed to have her in my life.

A.G.’s hormones: 30 mg of Armour Thyroid daily and 20 mg of progesterone cream daily on Days 7-28 of her cycle.

K.P.’s Hormone Makeover

Age 48

I just want to thank you for all your help and advice that has truly changed my life.  Before I came to see you and your doctor, I was suffering from terrible dizzy spells, heart palpitations during the day and night, hot flashes, and trouble sleeping. I was extremely tired and had no energy.  After wearing a heart monitor, having several EKG’s, an ultrasound of my heart, stress tests, and blood tests, I was diagnosed with depression and given an anti-depressant.

Well, that was not good enough for me since I was not depressed and refused to take anti-depressants.  I saw a sign for one of your Hormone Makeover Seminars and after attending and immediately making an appointment to see you, my life changed for the better. 

You immediately suggested a saliva test which is much more reliable and informative for hormone levels than a blood test.  My results showed that my thyroid was unproductive. I had very low progesterone levels, high testosterone levels, and I did not need the estrogen my male gynecologist had prescribed; my body made plenty on its own. (Estrogen supplementation seems to be the number one cure doctors like to prescribe for all women with hormone problems, whether they need it or not.)  I also needed to increase my vitamin C, calcium, and iron, easy vitamins to take, no prescriptions needed. With these simple, healthy changes, I feel so much better and have lots of energy. I did not need to take any anti-depressants. Every chance I get, I recommend you to all my friends who have many similar problems that I had, with no results from all the tests their current doctors run them through. Thank you again, Donna, for all of your help.

K.P.’s hormones: Thyrolar 2, 30 mg of progesterone cream daily, 5 mg capsules of DHEA once daily, along with supplements to help with insulin resistance and reduce testosterone (N-A-C).  

M.M.’s Hormone Makeover

Age 59

For several years prior to using bioidentical hormones, I took hormone replacement therapy prescribed by my physician.  When the government study was published, which indicated that women who used synthetic hormones were more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes, I discontinued the treatment.  

I took herbs, which helped somewhat, but I still had some problems with hot flashes, low energy, and low libido.  Since taking bioidentical hormones prescribed by Donna White’s medical providers, I feel much better.  My energy level has increased significantly as well as my libido, and I do not experience hot flashes.

M.M.’s hormones: Biest Cream at 0.1mg (70% Estriol, 30% Estradiol) compounded with 30 mg of progesterone and 0.1 mg of testosterone along with 90 mg of Armour thyroid.

D.P.’s Hormone Makeover

Age 45

My name is “Diane,” and I am forty-five years old. The hormone-related symptoms I experienced began in my late thirties but increasing became worse by the time I was forty-three. One night while I was lying on the couch with my hands resting near my throat, I discovered a lump on the front of my neck. I made an appointment to see my family doctor the next day. He ran thyroid tests and an ultrasound to measure the lump—later diagnosed as a goiter. The thyroid test results came back within a range where it was explained that no treatment was necessary, and I was told there was nothing I could do about the goiter (that the lump was not likely to go away). My original symptoms further worsened and now included a racing heart, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, muscle aches, headaches, and more difficult periods with blood clots. I confided in several of my menopause-aged friends to ask them questions about their experiences. They were very supportive and said much of what I described sounded similar to what they were going through or had already experienced. Convinced I was entering menopause, I began to read books, educate myself, research, and watch television programs featuring information about its symptoms. I wanted to prepare myself, or should I say “brace” myself, for the inevitable.

I was always a healthy person, but the symptoms I was having made me feel like I was losing my mind. I did not have PMS like many of my friends. I did not have mood swings or other symptoms. At this time, however, I had to begin “talking myself off the ledge” every month at the end of my period when heightened anxiety and depression set in. I was getting little sleep and my mind would not shut down when I tried to rest. I put a pen and paper by my bedside so I could write down the thoughts whizzing through my mind in the middle of the night. There were times when tears would flow for what seemed like no logical reason. Many days I would think, “What is the matter with me? There isn’t anything going on in my life situationally that would explain the emotions I am having.”

I consulted with my family doctor again and explained that I thought I was going through perimenopause and experiencing what appeared to be hormonal symptoms I could track each month with my cycle. I asked if there was any kind of test I could get to show what my hormones were doing. I was told there was not a test available. He listened to me describe my symptoms, but then suggested three prescriptions to solve my problems: 1) Zoloft for anxiety and depression 2) Birth Control Pills for difficult periods and 3) Ambien to help me sleep. It was suggested that I write down when I could expect to feel the worst symptoms on the calendar and mentally “deal with it” as part of my changing body. He was unable to piece together the other clues and information in my medical chart. I tried Ambien and several other types of sleep aids, and none helped me get a good night sleep. The entire experience did not feel right to me. I sensed something was wrong with the treatments offered to me, but I needed help to find out the root causes. I felt like my doctor was trying to put a Band-Aid on the problems, and I left feeling very discouraged.

A month or so after seeing the doctor, I was at a brunch with a good friend who asked me how I was doing. I explained what happened at the doctor, and she suggested I set up a consultation with Donna, a hormone education specialist. I learned she had a saliva test that determined hormone levels, which sounded worth trying. I was apprehensive of the cost, but I felt so bad most of the time that I was willing to take a chance. I prefer alternative medicines and approaches when it makes sense, but it is also difficult because treatment is not covered by insurance. As women, sometimes we put ourselves and our needs last which is a big mistake. If we are healthy, we will have more to give to the other relationships and activities in our lives.

I called the office to make an appointment and meticulously filled out the paperwork for the consultation. As I read the questions, I began to feel hope, even based on the information being requested, that Donna might have answers that my doctor did not. I was right in what I thought because it is exactly what resulted from my first consultation. Donna explained what I had been experiencing was not normal and was not something I should have to suffer with on an ongoing basis. I felt relieved. Donna took the time to listen to all of the different symptoms I was having and pieced them together like a puzzle. In my particular case, the hormonal-based symptoms I described pointed to a thyroid issue, not menopause. She also suspected, very common for my age, that I might have a progesterone deficiency.

After my consultation was over, we worked with the medical doctor on staff to “apply the science” to Donna’s hypothesis. I was actually diagnosed with a thyroid disorder called Hashimoto’s Disease. It is possible my thyroid had not worked properly for many years, and I would have continued to live with horrible symptoms the rest of my life if it were not for the help I received. The separate saliva test also showed high levels of estrogen resulting in a progesterone deficiency. Within the first week of taking the thyroid replacement hormones, I no longer experienced anxiety or depression. Almost 50% of my symptoms were gone within a couple more weeks. My entire life felt back on track, and I felt like myself again for the first time in years.

We are still in the process of determining the correct doses to treat my issues, and it requires patience to work through the details of Hashimoto’s Disease. I am glad I did not give up and that I followed my instincts to pursue the root causes for the symptoms I was experiencing. Because of this positive experience, I no longer fear menopause. I know there is a way to measure hormone levels and that compounding pharmacies are available to provide bioidentical hormone replacement in lieu of synthetic drugs. Thank you, Donna, for your expertise and patience in helping us find the right treatment(s) to bring us optimal health.

D.P.’s hormones: Synthroid 25 mcg and 5 mcg of Cytomel thyroid medications, 20 mg of progesterone cream, and Indole-3-Carbinol supplement to reduce and metabolize elevated estrogen.

J.G.’s Hormone Makeover

Age 45

Thirteen years ago, I had a total hysterectomy, and when I was going through it all, my gynecologist did not even mention that it would put me into immediate surgical menopause. But within a week after surgery, I started with the hot flashes and crying almost all the time. He then did put me on an oral estrogen. As a couple years went by, I kept inquiring as to why estrogen only and no other hormones. And their reply was always the same thing: you don’t need progesterone if you no longer have a uterus. So I went for a decade with what I can presume to be estrogen dominance. Therefore, I developed many of those symptoms such as weight gain, mood swings, sugar cravings, and severe breast pain. About five years ago, I started trying to get my specialist to test my hormones, and he would only run blood tests, which came back in what they called a normal range. I tried to get them to run saliva tests, and I was just laughed at. So I was left on estrogen alone.

Finally at a primary care specialist, I was introduced to Donna White, a BHRT Clinical Education Consultant. Donna provided education on how to properly test and treat hormones and their related imbalances. I learned that saliva testing allowed us to see what hormones were actually getting out to my tissues, etc. And also on saliva testing, we could test while I was on different hormones to see how they affected my ranges. My testing showed marked hormonal imbalance. So I was immediately switched to bioidentical hormones. Compounded progesterone was added, and my estrogen was changed to a patch. Within the first week, I became noticeably less depressed, and I had a marked decrease in anxiety and tremendous improvement in food cravings. And once I started on the progesterone, I noticed that I could concentrate and think more clearly. And over the next year, I lost eighteen pounds without even changing my diet. People are always asking me what I have done to my face, too, because they say my skin looks so much better, and I look younger. Also, for years doctors have been trying to get my adrenal health to improve to no avail. It took a couple of years on the BHRT, but now my adrenals have come back to life on their own. Before BHRT, I was on antidepressants, sleep, pain, and anxiety medication. Now I don’t have to take any of those. My life has totally changed thanks to BHRT.

I would like to encourage women to help themselves with this type of testing and treatment.  Remember the old saying, “If mamma ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy”? If we don’t take care of ourselves, it will inhibit our ability to take care of our family and enjoy life. But I would also like to point out that women should remember their daughters and realize this can benefit them too. When I was in high school, I had such horrible menstrual periods that my mom had to take me out of school and work for several days a month. I would lie in bed, literally screaming from the pain. And I wasn’t all that polite during the weeks before my cycle. If my mom had known about BHRT, she could have helped me find out that perhaps my estrogen and progesterone needed tweaking during the month, and I could have had a much happier, healthier adolescence, which we all know is a hard enough time without female problems.

J.G.’s hormones: 0.1mg estradiol patch 2 x weekly, 40 mg progesterone cream once daily, and one compounded sustained-release thyroid T3 capsule daily.

A.L.’s Hormone Makeover

Age 45

In my early forties, I had been having trouble sleeping and had horrible migraines lasting three to four days, two to three times monthly. After three years of working towards a master’s degree, I attributed much of this pain to stress and the late nights of studying. I was also struggling with some symptoms of depression, which I thought was the result of a recent move across half the country. In addition, I had absolutely NO sex-drive. Then, I began waking up in the middle of the night, soaking wet with sweat and needing to peel off my clothes to get comfortable. And, if this weren’t enough to deal with, I began putting on weight around my mid-section.

I read several books by Suzanne Sommers and Louise Gittleman on peri-menopause. I began to research Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT). I started with a doctor who advertised this specialty. He tested hormone levels through blood tests and determined that I was low in testosterone and progesterone. I began oral BHRT. After almost two years of this, I was still not feeling like I thought I should. I still had no energy, a low sex-drive, and I felt angry all the time.

I decided to pursue another professional who could re-evaluate my hormone needs. Donna had me do the saliva test, and she explained why it was a better method of testing. In addition, she explained why topical progesterone would be better utilized into my body rather than the oral. When the test results came back, my estrogen was very high, my progesterone was still relatively low, and my testosterone was off the charts high. I had been taking almost as much testosterone as a grown man makes in his body. Donna was able to help my doctor bring my estrogen and testosterone back into normal levels. And, the change to topical progesterone helped me as well. Today, I am pretty much symptom free.

Through this I have learned that I know my body pretty well, and I know when things are “out of whack.” I have learned that when I am not getting satisfactory answers, I need to keep researching and talking to professionals until I get what I need. I am thankful for the people, like Donna, that God has placed in my path and that have helped me so much.

A.L.’s hormones: 20 mg of Progesterone cream on Days 7-28 of her cycle, soy isoflavones 60 mg daily and DHEA 10 mg orally.

E.S.’s Hormone Makeover

Age 46

I am a forty-six year old woman who has suffered from hormonal imbalances since my early twenties; however, when I was younger, my symptoms were much milder. About a week before my period, I would feel bloated, sluggish, and crave chocolate. (I would make a batch of brownies and eat the whole thing.) A few days before my period, I might feel a little sad and melancholy for no reason. I would also experience mild to moderate cramps for a few days.

However after the birth of each of my three children, my symptoms worsened. About a week before my period, I was bloated, exhausted, had extreme anxiety, mild depression, and trouble sleeping. The brain fog that I would occasionally experience was extremely unsettling. I remember driving in my car and forgetting where I was going. I just wasn’t thinking clearly. The day before my period, I cried on and off for no particular reason. My physical symptoms were also debilitating. I couldn’t leave the house for the first two days; the blood flow was so heavy that I had to construct makeshift diapers.

In 1992, I had some ovarian cysts that ruptured and my doctor put me on five days of progesterone, followed by three months of the birth control pill. I felt horrible on these hormones; I was constantly nauseated, and I gained ten pounds. I knew that I would never go on synthetic hormones. In 2001, I had an endometrial ablation to alleviate the heavy bleeding I experienced each month. It worked in the sense that I no longer bled each month, but I still had all of my other symptoms.

Throughout the years, I had tried various supplements and healthy ways of eating with little success. I still had two bad weeks a month—the week before my period and the week of. As the years unfolded, my symptoms became more unbearable, with extreme fatigue, depression, and occasional hot flashes and night sweats. I felt like I had one foot in the grave.

I first found out about Donna at my doctor’s office. I saw her pamphlet, and I felt hope for the first time in a long time. I bought the test kit and waited for my results. I was so impressed with Donna. Here was a woman who actually listened to me and asked many questions. She looked at the whole picture and really dug deep to find out what was going on. My estrogen and progesterone levels were very low, and my testosterone level was very high. My adrenals were also shot. Donna also suggested that the doctor test my thyroid. Donna’s doctors prescribed progesterone cream, N-Acetyl Cysteine (to lower the testosterone), various supplements, and dietary changes. I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism and went on a low dose of Armour thyroid. Within a few months, I was feeling much better and saw occasional glimpses of my old self. Months later, I retested and returned to see Donna. Her doctor added a low-dose estrogen patch. I really feel like that was the missing piece of the puzzle. I have been on the estrogen patch for almost three months, and I feel better than I have in years. I went to pick up my estrogen prescription the other day, and I told my pharmacist, “I feel so much better; there are days where I feel like I am in my twenties.” I think much more clearly. I am much calmer and enjoy life again. I am so grateful! Thank you, Donna!

E.S.’s hormones: 20 mg of progesterone cream on Days 7-28 of her cycle, 0.025 mg estradiol patch, and 25 mcg of Synthroid.

T.B.’s Hormone Makeover

Age 55

I’d always joked that hot flashes would be a welcomed relief from the cold hands and feet I normally struggled with. Little did I know how miserable they really are. The biggest problem was getting enough sleep due to night sweats. During the day, without warning, I’d be drenched by what I came to call “spontaneous combustion.” Quality of life takes a huge nosedive when hormones go away. But the hot flashes proved to be less disturbing than the weight gain from an underactive thyroid. No matter how hard I worked out, I couldn’t make a difference. And I was blown away by the fact that western medicine interprets thyroid numbers totally different from the naturopathic point of view. Once that was under control, I began to feel like my old self again.

T.B.’s hormones: 0.05 mg estradiol patch, 10 mg of progesterone cream compounded with 1 mg of DHEA, and Thyrolar 2.

      You can have a fantastic hormone makeover story too. Call now and schedule your Hormone Makeover appointment with Donna White, BHRT Clinical Educator at Signature Wellness Center for Optimal Health. You do not have to live with symptoms. Take care of yourself so that you can take better care of your loved ones.