Cleared the Slate and Started Over

[Trina64]

I felt like I was spinning my wheels, so I basically cleared the slate and I am starting all over. I went through surgical menopause in my early 40s and now I am 58, so I am trying to figure out sex hormones as well as thyroid. I know I need adequate amounts of estrogen and thyroid to feel well. My problem here is that conventional doctors will give me estrogen, but pooh-pooh thyroid if labs are in range and alternative doctors don't seem to like much estrogen, but will gladly give me NDT. They do push testosterone and progesterone and I don't do well on either one or at last not at the moment.

I found a new GYN and she changed my estrogen to a more stable and consistent delivery method. I am trying a ring that is inserted called the Femring. I have been using it for 3 1/2 weeks. I am sure it will take several weeks to get the full benefits. I am trying to get in with another GYN for a 2nd opinion, only because the first one gave me a script for a year a year and doesn't want a follow-up, labs, or anything. I am just to call if I have issues, I guess???

I kept my naturopathic doctor for my thyroid only. He was handling everything and crashed my estrogen, so he won't be messing with it anymore. I am still climbing out of that hole.

So, I am leaving my estrogen to the conventional side and the thyroid to the alternative side. For now, I am leaving the estrogen alone and letting it settle in over the next few weeks.

I stopped the thyroid for about a month in order to get a baseline or as close as possible. Here are my results:

TSH 3.645 (range - 0 .400-4.200)

FT4 0.7 (0.6-1.5)

FT3 2.9 (1.5-3.5)

I started .5 grains (30 mg) 2 weeks ago and increased it by .25 grains yesterday and doctor says I can increase to 1 grain (60 mg), but I will wait a few days. I don't really have symptoms when I increase.

These labs were done when I was on oral estrogen, so it will be interesting to see if changing the delivery method will change my thyroid needs. I was on testosterone at this time as well, but it was making me agitated and anxious, so I just stopped it recently.

I had to go to the emergency room on Sunday with a very bad UTI and also tested positive for yeast, but not sure where the yeast is located. (Not in the typical female location). I was given Diflucan 200mg (1 pill). I woke up with my eyes matted shut this morning, so I don't know if that was due to the pill killing the yeast or not. My body temperature at the time of a raging infection was 96.8 F (36 C), so 2 degrees below normal. I assume my body is not capable of fighting any infection and I only knew I had an infection when the pain got really bad.

My B12, ferritin, D3 are all high in range, so that doesn't seem to be an issue. I have been gluten free for a year and eat very little sugar.

Right now, I don't know which hormone will address which symptom, but the combo of estrogen and NDT seem to be what I need, if I can just get them both at the right levels and keep them there.

My worse symptoms are:

Low body temperature

Fatigue

Brain fog

Lack of good sleep

Moodiness at times

Goosebumps

Jaw clinching

Tight muscles/can't relax

Sometimes a bit anxious

I am sure I am forgetting others.

Does what I am doing seem logical? I think the NDT dose that works for me is 1.25-1.50 grains. When I was at 2 grains, I was over medicated or I just went too fast. When I was overmedicated, I was just more tired and a little depressed. I didn't have typical hyper symptoms.

When not on any thyroid medication, I was diagnosed with ADHD and have been on a stimulant for about 3 years. I am really hoping I can get off of it. It doesn't make me feel very good or give me much energy, but it keeps me going for now.

I really want my life back !

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and suggestions!

[Fruitandnutcase]

I’ve bern in remission from Graves’ disease since 2013 so I’m a bit out of touch with maters thyroid.So I’ll leave it to others to come on and offer advice on most of your questions and I almost hate to say it on top of everything else you’ve got to contend with - but if you’ve had an early surgical menopause be sure to keep a check on your bones - that is one of the things that can lead to osteoporosis (there are lots of other factors such as being coeliac, having an overactive thyroid, parathyroid problems, taking PPIs, taking steroids, lots of other things too) so read up all about bone friendly diets and weight bearing exercise, cut out smoking if you do, avoid junk food and fizzy drinks. If you’re like me you will discover that absolutely no one on any of your medical teams will warn you about the possibilities until it’s too late and you find out for yourself.

[HeartWoman in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thanks! Yes I keep on top of all of that...bones, heart, brain, etc.