Does anyone have any knowledge of or experience with sex hormones and hypothyroidism? I understand having low levels of t3 thyroid hormone can cause low progesterone and then high estrogen which can in turn cause bad pms?
Every month I have symptoms like tender swollen breasts, leg cramps, anxiety, increased feeling of adrenaline, mild headaches, crying at the slightest thing and bad palpitations for sometimes up to 2 weeks before my period comes (and it’s only 26 days so doesn’t leave me much normalcy. This month (period is now due in 4 days though it is often irregular) I’ve had horrendous palpitations for almost a week including periods of tachycardia I don’t normally get - today alone I’ve had bad thumping palpitations 3 times (starting shortly after every meal) and they can last for a long time which is very frightening and horrible. I also had spotting blood mid period which I’ve never had before around when this horrendous pms started.
Does this sound like it could be a sex hormone issue? I had my thyroid tested recently and my ft4 is good: 19 (12.3-22) but my ft3 is still too low but where it always is around 43-46% or range - was 5.1 (3.8-6.8) and I’ve never had anything this bad before. I also had ferritin tested twice with a week between them because the doctors were concerned with my decreasing levels from 12, 11 then 9 and the first was 9 but the second was 17 with a week difference and with same prep so I’m very confused but doesn’t look like ferritin is the issue?
Any insight hugely appreciated!
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liaratsoni
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Perhaps an FT4 level close to 21-22 is what you need? If my FT4 was 19 I wouldn't be able to get out of bed. How much Levo are you on? I would say increase your FT4 to the top of the range by adding more Levo on 3 days per week and if your T3 doesn't rise or you feel poorly then it's probably time to look into a T4/T3 combo. I had each and every one of the symptoms you listed and they were so extreme that I actually thought I was going through early menopause at 37, of course it was confirmed that I was not even going through peri. Low T3 gave me horrendous pms when before I had none. My breasts were always hurting and I'd spot days before my cycle. I would have inappropriate spikes of adrenaline, always jumpy and startled. I was irritated and aggravated, ocular migraines, extreme fatigue, weakness, muscle spasms, carpal tunnel, tensed neck and facial muscles. After an afternoon meal I couldn't stay alert and would get palpitations and dizziness. Along with the low T3 can come high cortisol and higher blood glucose. Then low vitamins and minerals making the symptoms even worse. Low T3 pushed my blood glucose from the bottom of the range to the very top. It sounds like you have low thyroid hormone, high cortisol, and possible raised blood sugars. After adding T3 I do not have that horrible pms or breast issues.
Thank you so much for the response! I’m so sorry you went through this too it’s awful! I’m actually already on combo therapy and planning to add another 2.5mcg t3 as soon as my period is over. That’s exactly what I felt like to me too but I reasoned it was more likely to be thyroid related as I’m only 24 and my periods only came back last year after years missing when I started medication two years ago! Thank you again for the response really helps to know I’m not alone!
I was 27 when I found out about my hypo but had it for a long time prior and only realized my treatment wasn't sufficient in my mid to late 30s. It's good you're educated early on about all this! I have found that a too high T4 with even a small amount of T3 makes me feel worse. I'm at 12.5mcg of T3 and I take it 8 hours away from my Levo. It hasn't taken a large amount of T3 to feel an improvement but the hardest part has been getting the T4 where it needs to be in conjunction with the T3. Best wishes!
Thank you I am really glad to have the info I do now! I actually find exactly the same - I seem to like my t4 around a 65% of range sweet spot but as you say getting that to align perfectly with the right amount of t3 is tricky! Thank you and best wishes to you too! 😊
Dr Katharine Dalton who very successfully treated my PMSin the 1980s and 1990s always said there was evidence of thyroid disturbance in women with severe PMS. The first thing I had to do was stop taking the anti depressants I was on. (Tricyclics) I had put on stones while taking them. I was given a diet to follow which I would recommend to anyone else suffering as I did: It was three hourly starch. You only need 30 calories of starch every 3 hours to stop your blood sugar levels from dropping and causing symptoms like migraine blurred vision panic attacks and emotional outbursts. Starch from complex carbohydrates like oats barley rye wheat potato and rice. So six ryvita a day is all you would need. That was about 180 calories which you can easily subtract from main meals by reducing rice pasta or potatoes portions. Then you don’t need to put more weight on. The effect lasts longer if you eat a little protein with the starch, blood sugar will stay higher longer. Humous or cottage cheese eg.
I am also wondering what else you might be taking. We’re you given start/stop synthetic progestogens to make you start bleeding and having periods again ? Are they treating your PMS with them? I was treated with them and after a brief seeming improvement they made it worse. They mimic the action of progesterone but at the same time suppress your own ability to make progesterone. As time goes on you become more deficient and they also have side effects like causing fluid retention and high blood pressure . Blood clots and breast cancer risks. Are you on the pill?
If you decide to try the diet, eat plenty of protein, lots of fruit and veg, Ditch sugar and limit carb portion to 100g per main meal. I don’t recommend you eat mountains of fat but don’t go fat free as you need it and my experience of low fat diets is that they caused depression. I am simply passing on my experience and it is up to you whether you do it. Whatever the case, I do hope you find a solution as I know what misery it causes.
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