Since Mirena removal I hav a conversion issue, possibly from oestrogen dominance. Anyone had experience of this?

I'm pretty sure I have sex hormone imbalances (most likely eostrogen dominant) since having my mirena coil removed 14 months ago. Pending test results may confirm. Blood results show I have good TSH and T4 but my free T3 is low. I am also very symptomatic of low thyroid (terrible fluid retention, myxodema, weight gain, depression, dry skin, brittle and thinning hair). So I have summised that I must have a conversion issue. I'd like to try T3 treatment and would like to know if anyone else has experienced this. Would T3 treatment make my thyroid lazy in producing its own hormone? Should I even care about this when my life is miserable due to the above symptoms? Anyone else had this fall out from the Mirena coil? Thanks

[ROMM53]

Hi I don't have any experience of the Mirena coil, but a lot of people on this website have found that the addition of some T3 to their existing T4 or even T3 only, is the key to getting their hypothyroidism under control.

I don't think you should worry about what your own thyroid is/Isn't producing.

Getting the T3 is the challenge, how to persuade your GP to prescribe is difficult, usually need the endocrinologist say so otherwise it's self-medication.

[PoppyRose]

Hello there, sorry you feel this way and I do not have an answer for you but I have the same symptoms and I still have the Mirena in. They have now put me on Fem50 to sort the terrible fatigue (low Oestrogen) although I have no hot flushes etc. The symptoms I feel now perimenopausal are no different to 4 years of being Hypo, therefor I deduce that it is still my thyroid or something else. ??

At some point I will need to have it removed too and I am dreading the lack of knowledge at my surgery.

I do know that the more oestrogen the more Thyroxine/treatment you will need as it inhibits the functioning of it. Could there be some issues here?? See below - not sure if any is helpful.

4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

medicines.org.uk/emc/medici... 2013

Sex hormones: Oestrogens increase and androgens decrease serum thyroxine-binding globulin; thyroid hormone requirements may be increased during oestrogen therapy and reduced during androgen therapy and thyroid function tests affected.

ALSO - HRT & ThyroxineTreatment

Hypothyroidism cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Replacement thyroxine, given in tablet form, is an effective treatment for most people with hypothyroidism. A synthetic hormone called thyroxine sodium is given in a daily dose, usually in the range of 0.05 - 0.15mg per day. It is usually recommended that it be taken in the morning, thirty minutes before eating.

Other medications containing iron or antacids should be avoided as they can interfere with absorption of the thyroxine sodium. The main side affect of this medication is a rapid heartbeat with palpitations.

After two months of thyroxine replacement therapy the TSH assay blood test is repeated. The amount of thyroxine sodium taken is adjusted depending on the TSH level. In older people, a lower starting level of 0.025mg a day is usually given, to avoid symptoms affecting the heart. This is slowly increased every eight weeks until the TSH has fallen. If heart symptoms increase, thyroxine sodium is given at the lowest possible level so that symptoms are minimised.

Women who are undergoing Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or taking the contraceptive pill may need a higher dose of thyroxine sodium, and conversely a reduction when HRT is discontinued. This is because increased oestrogen levels decrease the uptake of thyroxine by the body.

Once stabilised, thyroxine sodium is usually taken for life with monitoring by blood test every 6-12 months. Symptoms gradually disappear and even in those more severely affected a few months of treatment usually relieve dry skin, tiredness, brittle nails and other symptoms.

southerncross.co.nz/AboutTh... Accessed [Online] 2013

Keep us all posted and good luck

[suzannai]

If I am correct the Mirena coil does contain copper and this has an effect on thyroid function as it can also cause estrogen dominance.

[suzannai]

By the way, I am have the exact same symptoms as you - fatigue, hair loss, myedema, depression, dry skin and fluid retention. I did not have the coil but my symptoms began after a stressful period. My TSH and T4 are normal and T3 has come back on the low end. We dont know if it is a converion issue or a resistance problem. However I am on 180 mcg T3 and no changes so my next step is to look at adding progesterone to decrease possible estrogen dominance and I am also looking into possible heavy metal issues such as high copper low zinc and others.

[Hidden in reply to suzannai]

Thank you all for your replies. I have done an awful lot of reading and research into my condition. I may have high copper levels so I've been taking zinc for a while now. I am awaiting the results of a female rhythm test (12 saliva samples over the menstrual month) which will confirm if I have oestrogen dominance. I have only just got my periods back after 14 months of no coil! Thanks goodness I wasn't trying to conceive or I'd have become seriously distressed by the non-return of my cycle.

I may have to try bio-identical progesterone cream. Agnus Castus is reported to increase serum progesterone so I'm going to go back on that now that I've completed my month's saliva sampling.

Suzanni - maybe your dose of T3 isn't high enough? I've read about lots of people thinking T3 isn't working for them because they are under-dosing. And I've also read that T3 can shove the rT3 out of the receptors to solve the resistance issue so in a way whether you can't convert well or you are resistant may be irrelevant because T3 should solve both of those problems. Could you keep increasing the dose? If you monitor your body temperature and pulse and stop raising the dose when you reach optimum pulse and temp you should be safe enough.

I will be trying T3 soon. I really hope it gives me some relief. I'm sick of being swollen, fat, tired, cold etc!!