Menupausa and T3

[birkie]

Hi everyone ❤️

I posted a few days ago in response to a post about FSH and getting it tested, my endo and gp have refused my request to re test my FSH.

My last test was 2015 results below:

FSH... (96.2) no ranges

LH... 45

Oestradliol <44

Post menupausal state noted.

I was told in 2007 by my then gp (left the practice) I was going through the perimenopause phase, my symptoms were a face / chest flush nothing more.

Because of symptoms I developed between 2014/2018 my gp blamed on the menupause it was actually graves disease 🙄 in that time he gave me the gel think it was the estrogen stuff, obviously it made no difference as my symptoms were graves.

I'm now wondering if maby I might find some relief from my symptoms I still have.. Sweating bad, slight hand tremors, headache sheer fatigue exshasted most days😔I'm grasping at straws here as I also got a diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism in 2020 so I have a lot going on atm😞

But I would really like to know what my FSH levels are now!

As I don't have ranges for the above tests I really only know what the specialist put in the letter... post menupausal state noted😕 does anyone reckon I should perhaps bite the bullet and get these tested again???

Thanks❤️❤️

[Jazzw]

That’s a long time ago, isn’t it?

How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?

Blue Horizon seem to do FSH testing if you really have no luck with your doctor: bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

[birkie in reply to Jazzw]

Hi jazzw❤️

Well according to my endo and gp they are not worth repeating as they were done in 2015 and would be little to no help now🙄

I'm 61 but had a hysterectomy in 2003 (ovaries left intact) 4 years later my blood test show the beginning of the menupause (2007).

Been looking on sites for FSH testing, some seem to be by urine 🤷‍♀️ and I don't know if maby a blood test would be a better marker🤷‍♀️ I will look in to blue horizon 👍 thanks, I'm also wanting a cortisol test to as my cortisol was very low but AGAIN gp will not re test because I responded to the test in hospital 🤦‍♀️

[Jazzw in reply to birkie]

So you were pretty much the same age as me at the time—I was 47 when my periods stopped (6 months after my husband died). Menopause runs quite young in my family though—my mother was very perimenopausal from age 42-ish onwards. But she went on HRT, so it’s hard to know when she would have naturally gone into full menopause.

And that’s your issue too, isn’t it—you just can’t tell what’s what because of having that hysterectomy. I feel your pain! I’m 53 now and knackered most days, headaches all the time. I’m not hot all the time though, apart from early morning which is plain weird. It’s like I wake up and know that within 30 seconds I’m going to be soaked with sweat! But once that’s passed I’m ok. I’ve thought previously it might be a cortisol thing but don’t really know.

I guess it depends on whether your doctor would prescribe HRT (I assume that’s what you’re thinking?). I guess it’s one of those things that could be useful to know but whether it helps or not is going to be about whether your doctor would be on board with trying HRT again.

[birkie in reply to Jazzw]

HiMy specialist who performed the hysterectomy told me there was a large chance I'd go through the menupause quicker because of the op.

The 2015 test the specialist says post menupausal does that mean I'm past it?? I really don't know much about the menupause, having trying to learn everything I can about my thyroid condition and primary hyperparathyroidism (had thyroidectomy in 2019) so totally rely on thyroid hormones.

I suppose I will need to get the FSH tested to see where I am then go from there🤷‍♀️

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to birkie]

Hey Birkie,

I've seen people mention the Balance App as very helpful for understanding Menopause and all that goes with it. TiggerMe might be able to help 🌱

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Regenallotment]

I don't really know about the implications of hyperparathyroidism... I'd be tempted to push for a trial of body identical HRT, if they feel inclined they might test but pretty unlikely as you have already been classed as post meno.... blood tests not really necessary they tend to go on symptoms which of course cross over with thyroid symptoms 🙄

I'd give it a try and make your own mind up if they are helpful to you, they certainly shouldn't deny you them 🤗

I can't function without them that's for sure! Balance is what it's all about, hence the name of the App... Dr Louise Newson has all the answers

Certainly ties in with being out of hormonal balance?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to TiggerMe]

HPT sounds very similar to low oestrogen

[birkie in reply to TiggerMe]

Well my pth was abnormal twice in june/Aug 2020..2 over range calciums in May 2020 and many more, kidney stones, gallstone, ostiopeania in total spine and thigh bone, calcification in most joints, calcified tendinitis in shoulder, calcification in LAD in heart...first diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism was in 2004 again one normal blood test and dismissed then got diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibro😔 endo wrote this could be primary hyperparathyroidism.. , private para surgeon as identified a nodule in my neck, don't know what it is yet, need a pet chlorine scan... But it's through the NHS... Still waiting to be referred to Liverpool 🙄But both gp and endo are washing there hand of it as my last bloods came back within normal RANGE,nhs wouldn't do the ultrasound scan that's why my son took me privately 😞

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to birkie]

Cripes! It is all such a tangled web isn't it....I've just noticed that Medichecks are doing an offer on Female hormone tests £63 for International women's day! If you can afford it it might put your mind at ease knowing where you are at... the great thing about being post meno it all stops bobbing up and down 🤗

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to TiggerMe]

This looks like a rabbit hole to explore...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/906....

??

[Jazzw in reply to birkie]

It’s a hormonal minefield. Or maze. Hope you get some answers soon x

[csj113]

Hi. There is probably no point in getting FSH tested so I would save your money in case you need to see a private menopause clinic . At your age and with your medical history you have been through menopause - I assume your periods have stopped which is the definition? Whether peri or post menopause women can be prescribed HRT at any age or stage if they are suffering symptoms. Your oestrogen will have plummeted and I would start by seeing if your GP surgery has anyone who specifically deals with menopause (there is lots of training for GPs available now and many are doing it I'm happy to say).

I second the Louise Newson Balance website as it has lots of great info - as with thyroid issues it's best to go armed and informed. If you don't have a good GP there may be a specialist menopause clinic in your area or you can look at Louise Newson's clinic which does remote consultations.

Edited to add - as you have had a hysterectomy you would be prescribed oestrogen only - this can be in patch, gel, spray or tablet form - the first 3 are body-identical and preferable.

Good luck!

[birkie in reply to csj113]

Hi

Thanks, ❤️ I'm probably just picking at straws as I said because I can no longer suffer with these symptoms.

I had my first diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism in 2004 then dismissed by endo watch n wait, had thyroidectomy in 2019 struggling with synthetic meds, then again diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism again in 2020 and now waiting on a pet scan in Liverpool.

My gp and endo are saying my symptoms can't be related to the primary hyperparathyroidism, but are forever jumping on the fact I shouldn't be taking T3 and have successfully got me off them twice, but I've managed to get back on it after several bad blood tests on T4 and another endo saying I was not absorbing.

My symptoms took a bad turn in around April 2020 with 2 high calciums then 2 abnormal pth since then I've had more over range calcium and both calcium and pth are at the very top end which is not a good relationship between them😞

Symptoms consists of constant weeing, thirst, bad headaches, sweating, shaking, utter fatigue, palpitations and a weird weak sensation in my lower limbs.

Its getting to the point I really don't want to live anymore, I've no real quality of life at all, no energy, feel rotten most days.. Today I should have gone for my shopping but here I am in bed feeling awful😔 no help from gp at all 😠

[csj113 in reply to birkie]

I'm sorry, it sounds awful. I'm afraid I have no knowledge of hyperparathyroidism. I also understand how hard it is to unravel what is menopause and what isn;t. One thing is for sure, your oestrogen will have plummeted and for many women symptoms are pretty debilitating, so I would have thought HRT was worth exporing. Personally I worked through thyroid issues, iron deficiency without anaemia (IDWA) diagnosis and finally peri-menopause and tackled them one by one with the appropriate medication. There is so much overlap in symptoms that is is very hard.

[birkie in reply to csj113]

I've been looking at oestrogen gel as I don't want to have a tablet I've got real stomach gut issues colitis and I'm lactose intolorent, the gp did give me the gel back in 2018 because I was sweating profusely but that was due to graves thyrotoxicosis not menupausal.I've been looking on amazon but its a flipping minefield 🙄 I may as you said look to see if we have a menupause clinic in my area first, then go from there👍

Thank you ❤️

[csj113 in reply to birkie]

Don't buy anything on Amazon you need a proper consultation and prescription - there are gel, patch and spray options now. All the best