HRT and Hashimotos

[Rennixon]

My dr has prescribed HRT and although we went through other medical conditions she never mentioned my thyroid. I’ve not yet started HRT and wondered if anyone had advise on what affect HRT will have on my thyroid levels/health??

For background I take supplements B12,B complex, folate,iron, vit C, D&K2.

I’m on 125/150 levothyroxine

Test this week T4 23.7(12-22)

T3 6.2(3.1-6.8)

TSH 0.01(0.27-4.2)

[tattybogle]

As Britis say's , this is a definite possibility. (maybe less so nowadays than in previous times, as i think the amount of estrogen and is smaller than it used to be when previous research was done ) but still... if you take HRT , it would be a really good idea to get a full set of thyroid bloods done before you start and compare them after you start taking it. There are several examples on this forum and in research literature of thyroid hormone dose needing to be increased after HRT is introduced , and similarly needing to be reduced after HRT was stopped.

I think it is to do with an interaction of Estrogen and thyroid hormone receptors , but TBH i've forgotten the detail.

[Rennixon in reply to tattybogle]

Thank you. Hmmmm the dr may be reluctant as my T4 needs to be high, so my T3 is high enough for me to feel well. But I don’t take Selenium at this tome, so wondered if I should start taking that too?

[Miffie]

This is very interesting, when I was on HRT many years ago (only a gel for 1 year) my thyroud resukts were all in the bottom third at best of range and it was never suggested that any relationship between the two existed. Like most with hypothyroidism I had a relatively early menopause and was completely post menopausal before my mid forties. It may be that those younger than I was need greater care. Good luck getting your levels kept at such a great level. I certainly had a significant rise in meds list menopause with dose at 500mcg levo daily. Take care

[Rennixon in reply to Miffie]

Thanks, it’s something I wasn’t aware of until I got the tablets and it stated thyroid levels should be checked. I’m glad I did my own test too as it’s like getting blood from a stone having T3 tested. ( they can & will do it if I persist)

[Miffie in reply to Rennixon]

I hope all goes well. The lab here refuse point blank to do T3 testing no matter what my last set of results came back both TSH and T4 below reference levels and a suggestion they test again in 3-6 months on a different assay. Quietly confident that won’t cover T3. It is very much a post cade lottery . Take care

[Rennixon in reply to Miffie]

Thank you, it most certainly is ! Take care too

[Rennixon]

Thank you, this is what I’ve heard too.