Oestrogen and thyroid function

[Countrylou]

Hi, after 15 years of oestrogen patch and 18 years of thyroxine, I had to come off the oestrogen 6 days ago (cold turkey) due to a diagnosis of breast cancer.

All well so far with regards to menopausal symptoms although I am taking herbal supplements.

Today after breakfast my temperature suddenly dropped to 34.9c and I felt really ill. It took 5 hours of wrapping up, hot water bottle, heating on to get my temp back up. Also I’ve noticed that my pulse has also dropped a couple of BPM when I’m relaxed.

Does anyone know if there is a correlation between a sudden reduction in serum oestrogen levels and thyroid function please?

[posthinking01]

Hi there - sorry to hear you are having these problems - many years ago I went on HRT (oestrogen only because I had had a hysterectomy) and never felt so well for the first time in my life. No problems at all until 30 odd years down the line I 'could see' I was oestrogen dominant.

On doing loads of research I found out that oestrogen can in fact affect thyroid hormone BUT can stimulate the adrenals - the adrenals produce a small amount of oestrogen and it is this that should kick in when we go through the menopause - in those like me who didn't have enough adrenal hormone - as I was to find out way down the line - then my symptoms at 50 started severely. So yes in answer to your question there is a link between oestrogen and thyroid hormone but the sudden drop in your temperature etc. I would say are your adrenals not happy you have stopped the stimulation that they needed via this route.

[Countrylou]

Thank you for this, I had a thyroid scan about 4 months ago (as part of a routine endocrine screen) and there were “sub centimetre nodes” they didn’t seem concerned.

I have been prescribed letrazole also but have decided not to take it due to the potential horrendous side effects and long term health implications.

I haven’t told the oncologist: the cancer is invasive nodular and oestrogen positive.

I’m waiting for a radio active iodine mammogram (Friday) but not sure if I’ll go if I feel no better.

I’m taking essiac tea - the oncologist said the cancer was 21/2x3 cms and we had a long discussion about quality of life v longevity.

She agreed to do a lumpectomy (eventually) without radiotherapy (said I could be part of a trial: presumably if I die or not!)

I didn’t have the guts to tell her about the tea or not taking the letrazole 😳

[Countrylou]

Thank you I will look in to that xx

[posthinking01]

Just as an aside whilst on this subject - I am not overly convinced that breast cancer is caused by too much oestrogen per se - rather that the progesterone hormone has gone down to such an extent that the oestrogen has become dominant. It is therefore a progesterone deficiency or imbalance.

Not advising anyone to take progesterone but just saying when the balance goes out that is when there are problems.

[Countrylou in reply to posthinking01]

So much to think about, I’m taking my time to research everything, refuse to act on panic. I believe in risk taking once armed with all the knowledge from a wide variety of sources. I need the courage to speak my mind at the oncology appointments, not be coerced into unnecessary brutal treatments and be placed into a “one size fits all” for my particular type of cancer.

What amazes me is the complete lack of interest from any of the professionals as to my lifestyle, general health and background and my own philosophy of health

[FancyPants54 in reply to Countrylou]

I know you posted this 3 months ago, I hope you are doing well. Have you read the book 'Oestrogen Matters' by American oncologist Avrum Bluming and Carole Travis? His view is that oestrogen is important, even with/after cancer. His wife and daughter are both breast cancer patients but both take HRT.

It would be worth your reading at this time. The book goes into some depth. You can find it on Amazon. You can also find him speaking on YouTube.

[posthinking01]

Me too - felt energised for the first time in my life but..............unfortunately a low lying thyroid/adrenal issue was looming when I hit 50/menopause. Incidently I felt so well on the pill too. A lot of my problems started when I came off the higher dose pill - and within months I had a fibroid growing - low progesterone is linked to fibroids.