PCOS and Thyroid problems

[Krystykal]

Hey Guys.

A little while ago I posted about suspected Thyroid issues - hypothyroidism.

Still battling with GP, they've not yet done a full profile of all Thyroid Functions, but have done individual testing on certain functions a few months apart.

It has been identified that I have Fibroids and PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome).

After a few separate appointments with different doctors, I have Metformin tablets and am having more blood tests.

I still do feel like there's an underlying thyroid problem. Any views?

Thanks 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

PCOS and Hashimoto's are often linked

verywellhealth.com/things-w...

thepcosnutritionist.com/res...

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

[Fox78]

I have both and yes they are linked So it’s worth pushing the gp to follow up thyroid tests

[Ruthi]

PCOS seems to be primarily a metabolic disease. Ideally, instead of metformin you would be managing diet very carefully, and controlling blood sugar that way. Metformin can have horrible side effects.

[Krystykal in reply to Ruthi]

For the last 12 months I have been very careful with my diet and nutrition. The diagnosis for PCOS only came a few weeks back. I've not shifted a pound in weight for 18 months, now. It's a real struggle.

I am sure I have a thyroid problem based on my issues, but it's hell trying to get the GP to listen.

[Ruthi]

Far be it from to to suggest that you ignore your GP, but I've certainly stopped listening to mine.

It IS difficult to justify treatment with your current numbers, but your thyroid certainly needs to be monitored.

On diet are you eating fully keto?

Are you taking PPIs?

[Krystykal in reply to Ruthi]

Keto and now phasing to Vegetarian Keto.

What are PPIs.

To be fair, the GP I saw yesterday took me more seriously than the others I've seen. She's going to look at the bloods in the image first and then we'll discuss the Thyroid profile again in 4 weeks.

But otherwise, yes I'm past listening to doctors opinions on my body. I know how I feel every day!

[Ruthi]

PPIs are things like lansoprazole and omeprazole that suppress stomach acid. Reflux is common in thyroid problems but the due to low, not high stomach acid.

I would suggest that whatever else you do taking a magnesium supplement will help optimise nutrition.

[annnsandell]

How did they identify PCOS? Forgive me if you know this. PCOS increases Testosterone therefore stopping regular periods but it also affects the way your body handles glucose and insulin. This easily leads to weight gain and diabetes. Are you pre-diabetic? It has been found that Metformin will balance the sugar levels and improve periods etc. in younger women and help to stop weight gain and diabetes. They say that losing weight helps but of course all the symptoms make this very hard and Metformin might help, certainly not a miracle cure. Watch your sugar levels that you don't have a hypo. always a problem if you don't eat much anyway. Increase Metformin very slowly. Keep an eye on B12 levels, long-term Metformin may lead to a lack of B12. Was it an Endocrinologist that prescribed Metformin as I understand GP's aren't supposed to prescribe it. I have no thyroid and PCOS, trying me on Spironolatone at the moment to see if that reduces Testosterone but unlikely to help sugar levels. There is a PCOS forum online.

[Hidden]

Has you PCOS been confirmed by a scan? i see that your GP is testing your cortisol levels as high cortisol levels can also be the cause of weight gain. Often PCOS is wrongly diagnosed when the person actually has Cushing's syndrome. The blood for cortisol needs to be done between 8-9am as this is when cortisol is at it's highest in the body. Make sure you get the numbers results for this as the reference range covers the whole day & most GP's don't understand this.

[Miffie]

I hope you get your problems resolved soon. I noticed someone suggested you increase Metformin slowly. This is not a bad idea as some people do not tolerate it well. If this happens you can request the SR version. You were also advised to watch for hypos, this hardly ever happens when taking Metformin as it does not lower blood glucose levels. Hypos are most common in T1 diabetes. I know that a fair number of younger Type 2 diabetics has PCOS. It may be that you fall into this group. If so you will benefit from losing some weight if currently overweight. I strongly recommend a LCHF lifestyle to help with shifting the pounds and putting T2 into remission. Good luck going forward.

[Hidden]

Isn't high cortisol sometimes connected with hypothyroidism as well? The adrenals (that produce cortisol) try to compensate for lack of thyroid hormone to keep the body going