Heavy period advice please.

[Bellerin]

Hello, I have been having problems with my period for about a year now and was just wondering if anyone could give me some advice on what to do.

Up until about a year ago I hadn't had a period for about 10 years due to my anorexia, but they have since started again when I was diagnosed with hypothyroid. They had always been very heavy, causing my migraines, unbelievable cramps and making me sick (actually one of the reasons why I wanted to be anorexic to stop them coming at all) and they have done this since starting up again. I read somewhere that heavy periods were related to the thyroid so I have been just coping with it.

But since starting them again I am extremely irregular, probably one every two months, which I again I have coped with. But last month, I had another period two weeks after finishing my last one and more worryingly I haven't stopped. Its been nearly 3 weeks now & it doesn't show any signs of stopping. To say this is making me feel ill is a massive understatement. I've been to my GP and she just said it would settle down, but I am very worried and obviously in constant pain. I have a problem with my liver, so I am not allowed to take my painkillers, so it has been a nightmare.

Can my thyroid be the cause of this? Is there anything I can make my GP do? I do not want to go on the pill because the weight gain, and where I did try them before, none of them agreed with me & made me worse.

Sorry I know this may be unrelated but I am at my wits end. Thank you so much for any advice.

[shaws Administrator]

Yes, the dysfunction of your thyroid gland can be the reason and I'll give you a link. You may not be on the optimum of thyroid hormones if GP is insistent upon the TSH alone and is happy if it somewhere in the range.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

Get a print-out of your most recent results with the ranges and post for comments. Blood tests should be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Have you had vitamin D, folate, B12 & ferritin levels checked? If not ask GP to do so. Make sure you get actual figures and also the ranges (figures in brackets) Then come back here for advice

Heavy periods are sign you are still not correctly treated. Also very likely to be making you Anaemic. So essential to get vitamins tested

Do you have Hashimoto's- high thyroid antibodies? If not been tested ask GP to do so

All thyroid tests should be done as early in day as possible, fasting but drink plenty water, and do NOT take Levo in 24 hours before, delay until straight after.

Assume you know Levo should always be taken on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after. Many take on waking, but can be more effective taken at bedtime. Must be no food or drink at least 2 hours beforehand

[Bellerin in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. Yes I had my vitamin tested by my Liver consultant a fortnight ago, and he said they were all fine, and my vitamin D is very good. Not sure how, I am very reclusive & don't supplement, so not sure on that one.

I am lucky to inherit a high iron level from my mum, so anaemia has never been a problem, not even when I was very, very low weight.

Can your GP test for thyroid antibodies? Mine isn't very understanding at all and I have now done to a private endo as the NHS one was useless!!

Thank you for your advice, I have had a private test done for my thyroid and RT3 (mine is high at the mo), so just wanting on the results.

Thanks again, I feel better to know there could be reason for this.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bellerin]

Hypothyroidism may be linked to anorexia.