Levothyroxine and Hrt

[Elenhaf]

Hello,

Just joined, looking for advice! So I’ve been taking levothyroxine for 7 years, I’m now peri menopausal and having interrupted sleep due to hot flushes. Waking on average every hour. I’m taking sage supplements but have seen no improvement. Am considering HRT, but would this only delay these symptoms to a later date? Am I better off going through it now?

[Tikaneko]

I can only speak for my self. When I started the menopause I didn’t want to go on HRT as I also felt it was delaying the inevitable. I decided to really research treatment, took advice from a nutritionist and completely changed my food intake. I felt it worked for me. After having tremendous sweats not just nights but days as well, brain fog, tiredness etc. I slowly started to reverse the symptoms and never looked back. The only vitamins I took were B12. I am now through to the ‘other side’ good luck and take care

[Elenhaf in reply to Tikaneko]

Thanks for your response, how did you change your food intake?

[Lora7again]

I went through the menopause 5 years ago and didn't really get any symptoms and I am unable to take HRT because of a family history of breast cancer. Compared to thyroid disease it didn't really bother me luckily the only thing I noticed was my skin became a bit drier but I now use coconut body butter twice a day which has helped. I do know some women have horrible symptoms and HRT has helped them but my grandmother didn't use it because it wasn't available when she went through the menopause and she coped ok as well.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

When were vitamin levels last tested

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Do you have Hashimoto’s?

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin (doesn’t include folate)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks - JUST vitamin testing including folate - DIY finger prick test

medichecks.com/products/nut...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 often gets worse at menopause

Add any results you have already

Or come back with new post once you get full results

[tattybogle]

I didn't use HRT, my thinking was like yours. ..' won't it just be putting it off till later ?'

It was rough , for years. having to change the bed, sleep on a towel, ridiculous anxiety about things i normally coped with..... like trying to park my van in a busy car park.......and quite a lot of shouting at everyone. And unable to make any decisions at all, whether it be about carrots or building estimates.

If i had to do it again. i'd try HRT.

My FT4 also started going up while on the same dose of levo, leading to a reduction in dose, (which has not had a good outcome so far, hence me being on here ) although i'm not sure if this was related to menopause, but logic say's it probably was, as there is a connection between estogen and thyroid hormones.

If you take HRT, it may possibly mean you need a slight increase in levothyroxine, but not sure if this still applies nowadays, as the newer forms of HRT have lower amounts of estrogen i believe, but it's worth keeping an eye on your Thyroid blood test's and how you feel thyroid wise.........although having said that... it's not easy to tell the difference between menopause/thyroid symptoms.

Sorry if that's just adding to your confusion about what to do.

[cjrsquared]

I am on hrt as well as levothyroxine and liothyronine. It was a life saver for me. Wasn’t sleeping well, struggling at work, very emotionally labile. Thyroid bloods remained the similar to before onset of menopause, vitamins and minerals optimal so tried hrt. Much improved sleep, less emotional volatility, able to cope with work better, reduction in stress. Had to tweak thyroid meds slightly and ensure I take hrt opposite end of the day as an interaction between levothyroxine and oestrogen. Have been on hrt for 4 years, about to start reducing and change to patches with a thought to stopping in 6-12 months. I will have some symptoms on stopping but being post menopause will not have hormone swings from my own hormones.

It is very individual, I would optimise thyroid hormones, vitamins and minerals first before trying hrt if still having severe symptoms. Good luck.