Under active thyroid and Oestrogen deficiency

[jackieeb]

Hi I am 67 years old have an under active thyroid I have been diagnosed with Oestrogen deficiency which I have medication for. My doctor takes my blood test, 10 days later I ring up to be told I am ok with the Levothyroxin dose I take. I have never been told scores etc. Also I am trying to lose weight which is really hard, is it with having the 2 complaints. Has any one else got the 2 complaints.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

jackieeb It's more likely to be related to not being optimally medicated for your Hypothyroidism. What dose of Levo are you on?

Don't just accept being told that you are OK. When you have a thyroid test always ask for a print out of your results, you are legally entitled to them under the Data Protection Act. So pop along to your surgery and ask for your latest results, then post them on here, with the reference ranges, for members to comment. The result will look something like eg -

TSH: 2.5 (0.2-4.2)

FT4: 14 (12-22)

When having blood drawn for a thyroid test, always book the very first appointment of the morning, fast overnight (you can have water) and leave off Levo for 24 hours (take after the test). This gives the highest possible TSH which is what is needed when looking for an increase in dose or to avoid a reduction. It also gives continuity so that you can compare each set of results accurately.

[jackieeb in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi thanks for the reply, I need my annual blood test in the next week so I will ask for the results. I will post them on here.

[shaws Administrator in reply to jackieeb]

Make sure your blood test is at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) as stated by seasidesusie and allow 24 hours between last dose and test. This keeps TSH at is highest as that's all doctors seem to go by.

[startagaingirl]

Hi - please be careful with taking oestrogen after average natural menopause age. I have a genetic condition that means many women have a surgical menopause around 40. The best advice from experts for them is that they should take HRT to protect bones and heart, but that the risks associated with it mean that it should only be taken to 50. These risks are even higher for those who still have a womb, as taking oestrogen without the natural menstrual cycle to remove the womb lining regularly considerably increases the risk of cancer in the lining. That risk- and the increased risk of breast cancer and dvts keeps increasing the longer you are on it and the older you get. Are you fully aware of the risks and have you made an informed decision to keep taking it?

Gillian xx

[startagaingirl]

Hi - as you are 62 and presumably long post menopausal, you are not meant to have much oestrogen, so what leads you to believe you are deficient? It is actually quite risky to be taking extra oestrogen in such circumstances, especially if you still have a womb, as you will be considerably increasing your risks of both womb and breast cancer (both a reasonable risk at your age anyway) as well as of blood clots. As the others say, you need to balance your thyroid first and then let your body take care of the rest of the hormones as messing with them can be dangerous.

Gillian xx

[jackieeb]

I went to the doctor with a prolapsed bladder, which was put right with an operation, after I was very itchy down below so she gave me tablets to insert twice a week. I was told it had also shown up as being low on the blood test. I had a hysterectomy about 20 years ago.

I stopped using the inserted tablets and went back to being very sore and itchy which is a classic symptom of lack of Oestrogen,

Jackie

[posthinking01]

Hi there - I am not sure many people would be diagnosed with oestrogen deficiency at aged 67 years of age only because the medical profession would not do such a test only in the private field.

There will be many women of that age who have an oestrogen deficiency but as just said previously they would not know due to lack of testing. Oestrogen will stimulate the adrenal gland for you so isn't all the 'baddy' it is made out to be - particularly when you are a thyroid patient who needs their adrenals to be at optimum - so in answer to your question - yes - there are people who both deficiencies.