Hashimoto's v perimenopause

[Tinamcdon]

hi can i take menopace original for really bad hot flushes,then i am shivering . I have been underactive hashis about 10 years now and dont want hrt . Tia ????

[greygoose]

I really wouldn't advise it. It's just a glorified multi-vit really, and it contains iodine, which is a very bad thing to take when you're hypo - especially with Hashi's. But, there are a multitude of other things wrong with it, too. What makes you think it would help with hot flushes?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Not a good idea. It's a multivitamin and it contains iron and iodine, both of which should be tested. Iodine, if deficient, should only be supplemented under the guidance of an experienced practitioner. It also contains soya isoflavone extract, we Hypos are advised to avoid soya.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

when were your thyroid and vitamin levels last tested

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

 

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested.

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum….especially with Hashimoto’s

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test 

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

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

List of private testing options and money off codes

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

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

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

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

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

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning. Watch out for postal strikes, probably want to pay for guaranteed 24 hours delivery 

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Regarding menopause info/ treatment options , it may be useful to have a look at Dr Louise Newson’s free Balance App, as I find it really useful for comparing medications & having up to date research articles. There is also an ability to post questions.healthunlocked.com/redirect... 

I’ve tried many natural HRT supplements for peri menopause but didn’t find natural treatments effective long term…...although my sister swears by Red Clover, so it definitely works for some!

[Beads]

A friend used to get flushes all the time; she’d take a sage extract, I think from Holland and Barrat or similar. She hated the taste (aftertaste??) but persisted with it as she said it helped.

I’ve also heard of the Red Clover that Buddy said. I think it’s a matter of reading up about supplements and then seeing which works for you.

[posthinking01]

From experience as a renal patient amongst other problems - shivering is a reaction by the kidneys - a strain being put on them. One has to remember that these companies produce a product that is probably tested on a strapping 19 year old male student who doesn't have a thyroid condition.

[greygoose]

Have a look at the many replies I got on this post:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......

[turquoisea7]

I found the Wellsprings cream through another post - I think in answer to greygoose about menopause as she has noted above . It is not cheap but lasts forever so worth the money and fixed about 90% of my hot/cold in a week. I was shivering too, freezing when soaked with sweat. wellsprings-health.com/page... It will take a week to arrive but for me was literally a lifesaver within days. (the rest of my flushing (very slight and only really when I eat now) I believe/hope is unbalanced T4 at this point i.e. not enough). Wellsprings I see do a 20:1 cream with oestrogen in it as well if your symptoms don't clear up on the progesterone cream ( I may try that further along). All natural and conscience-free, not made from some poor pregnant horse's wee and means you don't have to take anything oral which (in my very limited understanding) I am told can interfere with taking T4.

[FAB-jellybean]

I would retest your TSH, fT4 and fT3 levels before taking anything for hot flushes. I was prescribed HRT patches about 18 months ago based on my symptoms (they don't do blood tests for this as the hormones fluctuate so wildly), but I didn't realise that my thyroid hormones should have been checked as that could have been causing the symptoms. Fast forward to June this year when they were tested and I was very under-medicated. My T4 was increased from 100mcg to 125mcg daily and T3 kept at 20mcg (results are better but still room for improvement) and within a month of the higher dose my periods became non-existent. Got the advance well-woman medichecks test and found my LH (17.5 iU/L [2.4-12.6]) and oestradiol (1139 pmol/L [45.4-854]) were too high. I stopped using the patches a month ago and so far haven't had a return of the menopausal symptoms, although I did read somewhere that it can take 12 weeks to return to base levels. I will retest thyroid hormones in 8 weeks time and see what if anything needs tweaked at that point. I will also go back to the GP at that point and explain what's been going on.