Peri menopause and thyroxine

[haggisplant]

I appreciate this is a niche question!

I’ve been finding that when I’m over replaced I suffer many symptoms of low oestrogen. I’m having a very hard time getting the right balance. I really need to raise ferritin too which I think will help.

I actually know I do well with thyroxine it’s trying to maintain a routine of taking it properly and carefully (with a toddler and busy life...!) Gp is helping me, I want to try being at or just below tsh 1 for a while. When I was nearer two some symptoms were actually better (sleep and I didn’t have tight hamstrings and muscle aches) but others not great.

Last test 0.23, t4 was borderline high but I obviously didn’t take thyroxine that day. I felt horrifically buzzy and achey a few days later too. Was on x4 150 and x3 125; Id like to try x2 150 and x5 125 for a while. I’ve done x3 150 for a month and still feel awful.

I’ve been trying to research the effect of high thyroxine / hyperthyroidism on female hormones. Lots on hypothyroidism obviously, especially oestrogen clearance which is slowed. And female hormone impact on thyroxine. So I’m wondering if there’s an opposite effect? Oestrogen is lowered?

Is there any info anywhere on this?

[radd]

haggisplant

The symptoms of low oestrogen, ie hot sweats, palpitations, jittery feelings, etc can be the same as those felt when medicating thyroxine with high T4 levels combined with low iron levels.

I presume you reduced your dose as a response to the high T4 levels but you have dropped from around around 140mcg T4 a day to 63mcg T4. If this is right it is too drastic and probably why you feel awful. Have you had the six weekly recheck test yet? Also are you addressing iron issues if they are low?

Some say splitting a thyroxine dose is beneficial but biologically the half life is so long it is said you can actually take a whole weeks worth in one go (not that I would advocate it!).

I agree low thyroid hormone influences excretion, detoxification, etc. A clean diet is essential on the detoxification front because inadequate thyroid hormone impairs glycogen production that stops the glucuronic acid necessary for detoxification of both oestrogen & thyroid hormones.

Post any results you wish to share complete with ranges (numbers in brackets) for members to comment

[haggisplant in reply to radd]

Thanks, will reply later as off to work.

No I’ve only dropped two 25’s a week. So from x4 150s, to x 2 150s, rest 125 daily.

And starting to feel better. Lots more energy. You’re right though, ferritin too low.

I’m also wondering if extra zinc is helping as supports female hormones too. And I went back on berocca. Was always good on that. (I take a little extra folate.)

[london81]

i recently had my sex hormones tested and i test my thyroid every 6 months. i have noticed my oestrodil has fallen and my testosterone raised in last 6 months. my FSH is raised as SHBG raised which I understand from initial reading can be a result of taking t3, but I am still trying to find out more about this ( have a look on my profile all my results are there)

however my free t4 is very low 4% and free t3 is 56% ( I take NDT equivalent to 170 mcg t4 and 40 mcg t3). I was on a higher dose 6 months ago and my FSH LH and SHBG were all higher- my free t3 was overrange at that time, so you may be on to something.

i did read that FSH can be raised with a pituatry issue- and TSH is a pituatry hormone i think? as you can tell I don;t have all the asnwers I am just thinking out loud

my oestrodil went from 169 pmol to 125 pmol, I can't tell if it is due to peri menopause or something else ( I have hashimotos and I am 39 yrs old)