Menopause and thyroid?

[madeline05]

I'm just wondering as a woman has of 51 if there is a link between menopause affecting the thyroid.

Any information on this would be great.

Thanking you in advance xx

[SlowDragon Administrator]

yes very common for thyroid symptoms to be miss attributed to menopause

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

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and 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

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[madeline05 in reply to SlowDragon]

Oh wow slowdragon this reply was so informative and helpful to me, all I wasn't aware of as I'm slowly learning about the thyroid and it's complications. Minefield isn't it. Thank you so much xx

[J972 in reply to madeline05]

Slowdragon is, as ever, bang on the money. Huge amount of overlap between symptoms and it’s likely that, given your age, any ‘borderline’ thyroid results will likely be attributed to the menopause. Mine were!

Get your thyroid levels tested, get hold of the results (print out and/or NHS app) and post them here for help interpreting. Quite often, ‘normal’ results can cause awful hypothyroid symptoms, regardless of what a GP might tell you. Loads of us on the forum are on both thyroid replacement as well as HRT for menopause (besides other stuff!). It’s a balancing act for sure and, as they say, a marathon rather than a sprint.

[madeline05 in reply to J972]

Thank you J972 for replying.Well isn't that the thing so many of the symptoms are similar, fatigue, brain fog, hair thinning, itchy skin, constipation.. Yes the only way it a thorough thyroid check.

It's annoying that a doctor wldnt do this as a precaution than just signing you off as menopausal because we are off that age. Very frustrating. Thanks for replying and how you are well yourself now xx

[J972 in reply to madeline05]

In my experience GPs will routinely run thyroid tests if you present with fatigue, hair loss etc but! it’s the diagnostic process where it often goes wrong.

According to my NHS blood test results, my thyroid is working just fine. However, here’s the thing: I’m suffering from archetypal hypothyroid symptoms, including a host of the co-morbidities. What’s more, private blood tests indicate that my thyroid is struggling (plus I’ve had mildly elevated TPO antibodies). The levels can fluctuate. So I’ve taken the decision to self medicate (I’m not alone) and lean on this forum for help.

I’m a work in progress. Saturdays I’m always ruined because I’m recovering from work (I’m now part time because of fatigue). I incrementally improve to the extent that, come Tuesday I generally feel quite a bit better. But by better I mean that I don’t have to remain horizontal and can go to my beloved pottery class. Still very tired, in pain etc.

I’ve been gluten and dairy free for at least 8 months now.

Next week I’m retesting my thyroid levels as well as those vitamins and minerals detailed in slowdragon’s response. This will be done at home using relatively inexpensive finger prick tests. I’ll then seek the help of the forum to decide on next steps. Likely that I’ll need to tweak my thyroid ‘meds’.

[madeline05]

Oh well tg for private blood tests and you found this out. The fatigue you are suffering sounds just awful. Do you find the change to gluten and dairy free helping you?Yes I've taken a screenshot of slowdragon vitamin advice. I'm so so happy to have found this website. I live in Ireland and we don't have any websites on this scale at all.

Thank you all for your wealth of information

Best of luck next week with your retesting J972xx

[J972 in reply to madeline05]

Thanks very much.

In terms of cutting gluten and dairy, yes, I’ve found that (alas) it’s helped. Last summer I developed awful gastrointestinal issues, which is not uncommon with thyroid problems, and have found that gluten and dairy worsen those. I also think that cutting these two things out has helped reduce inflammation throughout my body. GI issues are much improved, thankfully, but it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why. It’s probably a combo of thyroid meds, HRT, vitamins and minerals, diet.

[madeline05 in reply to J972]

Oh yes i had heard that dairy can cause inflammation. it must be very hard to make that change in your diet but I guess if it helps its so worth it. Its a juggle wit them all, I hope you are getting there, hugs xx

[Loz-lozza]

Hi. I'm 45 and confirmed peri 8 months and, subclinical hyperthyroidism ( so TSH levels are bit out of sync-ish), with nodule and now awaiting surgery for half thyroid removed.Thyroid issues going on 3 years , my mother has said for last 5 years she swears I'm menopausal.

I found my original Endocrinology letter from 3 years ago which (obviously I didn't read properly at the time) said ' in healthy peri menopausal stage'..

But prior to this I did read that both menopause and thyroid have mimicking symptoms, obviously menopause list is lot longer 🥴 whoopie 🙄

{I had been wondering why if they didn't bare both in mind, due to similar symptoms, and guess they kinda do?! 🤔}

Not sure if this helps at all..

(Only just joined the community)

[FallingInReverse in reply to Loz-lozza]

hi Loz-lozza !

Welcome to the forum! Please do consider (if you have questions on your own situation) creating a new post.

Thyroid is wildly misunderstood by the medical establishment, wildly mis-treated, evidenced by the global representation of forum members who are underserved and sub-optimally treated.

If you have blood test results, like antibodies, TSH, FT4, FT3 and key vitamins and minerals like B12, folate, ferritin and Vit D, you can share with ranges and get great input on what they mean.

Many of us arrive here at your age (well I did at least) for many reasons. I too am investigating the impact of possible perimenopause on my thyroid health.

Equally important - share your symptoms. And whereas many /most (?) people can do well without the forums help, having thyroid surgery is something you can search the forum for other experiences as well. Remember that many people arrive here when things get complicated, so there can be a bias towards thinking outcomes are worse than they are since those who do well never end up posting here.

But definitely consider your own separate post with blood test results, symptoms and questions. Never hurts to get a second opinion especially before undergoing surgery.

[Loz-lozza in reply to FallingInReverse]

HiyaThanks for the warm welcome to the group ☺️

I will do my own post at some point, I just got bit distracted while replying 😬😅

Yeah whole thyroid things is a minefield 🤯

I'm on folate acid, but only recently due to anemia. 🙄

I'm able to get all access to FBC and TSH as been tapping in to my details.

I only stumbled across this as I googled as to why my hospital thyroid op has come under oral, and not edno and very nearly didn't press send after writing comment