HRT and Thyroid function (non-medicated)

[weedee41]

Afternoon everyone.

So after months of getting nowhere fast, my GP results confirmed that my estrogen levels are very low after my repeat test after 6 weeks. Delighted to finally get somewhere! They have prescribed evorel 50 patches to start. As i expected, they won't do anything about thyroid as the TSH was fine, and T4 within their range. But - at least I have something to hopefully start feeling a bit better.

I'm wondering though, will these patches sort my thyroid levels?? Or improve them in some way? I have my private consultation soon where i was hoping to finally try thyroxine but wondering if they will tell me to wait and see how I go with the patches. Obviously the initial appointment is a small fortune, so I just want to be sure it won't be a wasted appointment and if it might be worth postponing.

If anyone one has any knowledge or experiences could they please share?

Thank you 🙂

[Star13]

May I ask what your oestrogen levels were?

[weedee41 in reply to Star13]

They were 82 pmol/l on day 10 of cycle - previous tests while i was on a low dose combined pill were 25.6 pmol/l, but understandably I had to come off this for a couple of months and recheck. Really hoping to feel a difference soon!

[Britomartis29]

All I can tell you is that my endocrinologist insists on testing all those hormones, not just thyroid hormones, and adjusting them in conjunction with one another. She has a rather complicated way of explaining that they all affect one another in some kind of mutually responsive way... the only reason I accept this without inquiring further is that finally, finally, finally, after she tweaked all of them together a few times, I have been doing so well, and am back to normal energy, weight, ability to concentrate, no more dry skin/hair, etc. What she has me on are T3, now down to 50mcg/divided; bioidentical progesterone-estradiol in a compounded dissolving buccal tablet; and low-dose bioidentical compounded testosterone in a gel to apply to specific parts of the skin (alternating sites each day, inner arms, inner thighs, stomach/midriff area). I feel like myself again, except 10 years younger.

While she was finding this perfect balance she would raise one or another slightly and test again in six weeks, asking me a lot of questions about things like "at what time did you grow sleepy?" or "are you able to exercise hard for 30 minutes?" or "are you constipated?" and many more clinical points like that. "Patient experience" (she says) "is essential information, as important as labs, and our goal is optimization for you, the individual, not just getting inside normal limits based on population averages" (see why I love her). Anyway. I hope you find the right mix and balance for your optimal health.

(Edited to add I'm 65, have been struggling with thyroid problems and perimenopause/menopause for 22 years, since 2002.)

[Murphysmum in reply to Britomartis29]

Oh please tell me (by pm) who this wonderful woman is!!

And where she is - though I suspect your answer isn’t going to be Scotland.

I need this lady, the time I feared has now arrived where I need to sort my hormones as they are negatively affecting the thyroid levels, but after a failed trip to the GP today (as I suspected) I am feeling like I might be looking at mission impossible!

[Britomartis29 in reply to Murphysmum]

PM on the way; you're right, USA now, and it took me years of trial and error (no exaggeration) to find her. When I was in the UK I did not get much help from GPs who consistently said "you are in range" when I was ill, and "your TSH is too low; we have to stop meds" when I was feeling well. Not much help either from the NHS specialist I waited a year to see. Endocrinology is a very difficult field for finding doctors, both in US and UK and also other places, I suspect. Sorry I don't have better help. 🤕

[weedee41 in reply to Britomartis29]

Funnily enough, my gp today did say if they gave me thyroxine while 'in range' I could end up hyper. With my T4 levels I would be rather surprised if a starter dose did that! I asked her why is my TSH not higher to produce adequate T4 as it seemed off. She agreed but still stood by it. She also said my antibodies were a red herring in my problems as 'they just show you might end up with a thyroid problem' I just left it there and will let the private specialist decide.

Your reply is very hopeful, this Dr I am seeing also specialises in hormones. My final tests in advance of that are on Monday. So by sounds of it, even if i start my patches after those tests, she would likely have the knowledge to (hopefully!) start me on thyroxine too based on results and the HRT dosage? With re-testing a couple of months later? I just want to get started on the road to feeling better, I'd just hate to mess it up by starting HRT and then causing delays to the thyroid side of things.

[Insomania]

I got on well with evorel 50 patches. In fact I’m now on a different regime (75 oestrogen patches with progesterone tablets for two weeks) and I’m wondering whether to back to evorel.

[weedee41 in reply to Insomania]

That's very good to hear Insomania, so no side effects? I'm a little anxious as I really struggled at times with various contraceptives. Though the ones i really didn't get on with were the progesterone only - seemed to have those pushed on me but I used to get horrendous side effects. Got my fingers crossed i tolerate these well 🙂