I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's and mild Hypothyroidism, started on 25mcg and now on 75mcg Levothyroxine, at the same time a gynaecologist discovered I had a fairly big fibroid and my iron level was low. I had a partial hysterectomy (uterus only taken out) 5 years ago. Had no HRT at that time because they thought I did't need it. I now think that the two things together exacerbated the two different conditions. I recently said to the doctor that I: can't speak properly; having a difficult time word finding and remembering instructions; dry, thin skin; dry eyes; dry and atrophied vulva; hair breaks easily, getting weaker. (I'm 51 years old so unlikely to be the same as I was 20 year ago). These symptoms could be on the list for Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism AND the menopause. The doctor has prescribed Oestrogel Pump-Pack 0.06% gel (Besins Healthcare). The gel seems to have some ingredients that aren't good and may cause side effects. So did some searching with Dr Google, recommends bio-identical progesterone to balance the oestrogen. Not sure how I can get that but also found DHEA can help with balancing thyroid hormones and the sex hormones and more.
Thanks and best wishes
Written by
Soldieress
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Try combined oestrogen and progesterone patches..visit menopause matters website for menopause info. Consider Sjogrens syndrome possibility which could account for the dry eyes and vulva - and good luck..
Thanks Speccy, menapause-matters site looks interesting although they prefer people use the regular NHS HRT. I'm still interested in using the bio-identical hormone first. The website has an interesting leaflet by Dumfries & Galloway NHS about Alternatives to HRT
Hi soldieress, I also want to know more about dhea as I have had a lifetime of unbalanced hormones and the menopause has made things 10x worse. I too did research for hrt and I use estradiol 0.06% gel pump and use cyclogest progesterone pessaries 400 mg. These are the most bio identical hormones that I could find.
I have been to a hormone specialist, I was just told that I have a sensitivity to change in my hormone levels.
From what I've read and seen on USA sites, dhea is a precursor hormone and would help. Not heard of anyone being treated on the NHS though.
Thanks Karen... ,I like the way you put DHEA as a precursor (that was what I was thought it was from my researching yesterday but couldn't find that word - precursor. So I'm thinking of using the DHEA and also eating oils, foods and herbs which increase oestrogen and progesterone. If it doesn't work, I'll go back to the doctor
It sounds like you may still be undermedicated for the thyroid. 75 mcg is a very low dose. I wonder what your blood test results say. If I got up the energy to try, I spoke so quietly and slowly that I was completely ignored, I sounded like a darlek in the end. My memory especially short term was hopeless I could not even dial a telephone number it took so long to try and read it all off and then hit the correct number in the right order. I had very dry skin and lots of other symptoms. These were all put down to the menopause but worsened once the menopause ended and I eventually got a diagnosis of overt hypothyroidism. Most symptoms have gone or are much improved now. I took Levo then switched to NDT which worked better for me. My sex drive got up and went around 1 yr on Levo and has never recovered. I wondered if that might be DHEA but I heard the NHS withdrew treatment and because it is a steroid it is illegal to buy on line. My doc gave me cetraben for the dry skin which I have found to be excellent - the ingredients sound bad but doc told me because they are mineral based they do not cause allergies everything else causes me boils. I hope you get some resolution ☘️🍀☘️
Sorry to hear that you've had such a bad time. I think 75mcg is probably ok for me. I'm slightly underweight since I went gluten and dairy free. Plus I avoid processed sugar, corn and soya (but will be eating organic soya now to get the oestrogen from it). But I like a pint of Guinness for a treat xxx PS I know it's got loads of gluten in it. But I'll just have the one
hi, my dhea is v low and think it contributes to my thin, prematurely ageing skin. tried DHEA supplements but they mad me kind of angry/agitated, i then used progesterone cream for a while - but now use pregnenolone cream as it's the pre-cursor to both progesterone, dhea etc.* so in theory will become whatever your body needs most. Easy to use & tolerate (for me) but not entirely sure how helpful it is - i eat a lot more hormone balancing foods now so don't suffer the way i used to anyway, and tbh think it's probably too late to improve my skin though i use it in case it helps prevent it getting worse!
Can you please tell me where you get your Pregnenalone cream ?
I've had very low DHEA now since last summer and although I've been taking 7-keto zyme tablets for DHEA, they haven't made any difference whatsoever. I was thinking of taking DHEA tablets, but maybe the Pregnenalone cream would help me better.
I buy Eurovital from Biovea online. can't say (or remember necessary) how much research i did first though. You may want to research for yourself, but i find the above ok, albeit 1 pump is quite a low dose i think (sorry not at home to check)
Soldieress, it's good you are looking into things. DHEA converts to estrogen or testosterone, it doesn't balance other hormones. Look up Hormone Conversion Chart.
My blood DHEA was low (it's the only one he tested right away) so my Former doctor suggested I take DHEA, but similar to Jacs, I felt badly on it (gained weight, puffy, irritable) so stopped. Asked to have Pregnenalone tested and that was low, then had my other hormones tested via saliva and they were ALL low, not Just DHEA.
On my own I started taking Pregnenalone tabs which is the precursor to all hormones including progesterone. I also take progesterone drops.
Too much estrogen can cause problems with your thyroid and many other things, so be careful with DHEA. I mean, you may need it, but you may not. Look up estrogen dominance.
My DHEA is virtually nil, but dare now supplement with it because I had breast cancer years ago. I am worried in case it increased my oestrogen levels, which I do not want.
If you select A (adrenals, dhea ...) from the link above you will find her reference to pregnenolone. I also have her books where she may have gone into more detail (i read so much but can't always remember where!)
I'm sorry to bother you once more, but wondered if you could answer me a few questions, as I am about to order the Pregnenalone cream.?
Did you know how to judge the amount of cream you needed? You said you use 1 pump, what is that equivalent to?.....
How quickly did you feel the benefit?........
How long did you take it for, or are you still taking it? ......And if still taking it, will you take it indefinitely.
I was under a functional doctor in London a few years ago and he gave me Pregnenalone, but at every appointment he varied the amount of Pregnenalone that I needed. So I know it works.The average amount over time was around 25 mg. but I think I'd rather start at a lower amount at present.
I'd really value your comment ?
Sorry to ask you so many questions, just don't want to keep bothering you !!...,,thank you .
Happy to write about me experience but just to reiterate that I don't know enough to make recommendations on dosage - this is something you should research/use your own judgement based on how you feel.
I use 1 pump which is 15mg, may be lower than recommended elsewhere but i find personally that creams seem to work better for me than tablets. Biovea who make the one i use suggest 1 pump a day, rotatating where you rub it in, for 25 consecutive days followed by a short break, but again use your experience & judgement
Dr myhill in her book suggests 10-20 for physiological supplementation or 50-100mg daily if using for high cortisol with low DHEA
I use only when I feel like i'm below par & will use 1 pump a day until I feel I no longer need
Yes that's a help. I think I will need to have it everyday for a while, as my adrenals are still low ! I am quite sensitive on tablets and am increasing my Nutri Adrenal by small amounts every three weeks, as each increase affects me for 10 days or so.!!!...I do so hate this horrible journey !!!
My DHEA was on the floor (last October), when I had my saliva test done. So when I read Dr Myhill's comments on what Pregnenalone does, l thought that was the route forward, (alongside my Nutri Adrenal meds), hopefully. I think I would need more than 15mg though, but I'm going to start on that and move gently
I'm intrigued that you only have to use it occasionally now. So I'm guessing you've been on it for a while and are quite well now?
Could you tell me the title of Dr Myhill's book, so that I can order ?
Well it's been a long journey - 20 years since i was diagnosed and probably 8 since i went to see dr peatfield. at one point i was on x 9 (or 12?) nutri thyroid & 9 nutri adrenals alongside b12 folate, vit c ...
Increased slowly & decreased slowly as i felt better (around 18m 2 yrs in total)
Although i was obviously much better I still had 2pm crash occasionally and eventually started to take T3 which made a huge difference. I think i had to go through the rest first though to be strong enough to change
Also became GF and that stabilised things (including my weight) and now take 50 T4 (75 in winter) and 25 T3 along with routine vits
Everyone is different though so it's trial and error, but stick at it and you will get to a much better place 😃
I am under Dr Peatfield, though he's been ill and in hospital for the last month, which is why I'm now "swimming in the dark", and it's very hard!
May I please ask if you took the Pregnenalone at the latter stages of your adrenal treatment?....as I'm in the middle of my journey (I think).
Do you know what 9 Nutri adrenals is equivalent to ? I am taking 200mg of Nutri adrenal, plus 100mg of Thorne adrenal cortex and 1 1/2 grains Armour thyroid, and am nowhere near better !! Every time I try to increase my Armour, I get night time Palpitations. 😢
Please Could you give me the title of Dr Myhill's book ? Thank you so much for all your help!
oops i forgot. it's 'sustainable medicine (whistleblowing something-or other - can't remember full title but if you look at her website you'll find it) the other book is chronic fatigue syndrome
i used pregnenolone after i was significantly better/adapted to all the nutri, and T3 later still. I believe that once you're adrenals are shot, piling too many things too quickly does not help as your body can't cope, making you feel worse. As dr p said to me 'it took a long time for you to get this ill and it will be a long, slow recovery, step by step.
I used a couple a couple of nutri T and 1 nutri A building up slowly to the max i mentioned above, then after about 6-9m when i felt a bit better and was sleeping better, reduced them slowly & added pregnenolone (or maybe i started that before reducing, but either way was definitely stronger b4 i added) Then T3 once i was used to the T3
This is just a post to thank you for all your help. I have ordered the Dr Myhill's book today, and I'm going to order the Pregnenalone Pump. Though I shan't rush into taking that, as my thyroid is very under active at present, because my adrenals are still not strong enough.
But I was interested to see that it took you quite a while to recover !
Dr P has told me that because of my age it would probably be best to stay on a maintenance dose of adrenal support and presumably Pregnenalone for the rest of my life as I am 70, (though very active when well). ! As he says "everything get weaker with age."
One word. Tibolone. (It is a very different HRT than others and doesn't affect breast or uterus tissue in the same way other HRT's do. It has been used for decades and is the first in line to give women who are predisposed to cancers etc.)
And I also take DHEA 25mg about 3 times a week. Wonderful. Have been taking DHEA for a very long time. We need it as we get older. It will help keep your hair from going grey as well.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
xxx PS I know it's got loads of gluten in it. But I'll just have the one
when does your low TSH stop following you around the NHS?
Bipolar and hypo/hyperthyroidism
Recently diagnosed as Hypothyroid
Amiodarone.....again! Sorry....
