Can't tell if I'm perimenopausal or Graves' is back from the dead?!

Hello! I was diagnosed with Graves' around 2009 when I was in the middle of a terrible hyperthyroid incident. I ended up opting for methimazole and took that for 8 months. I started gaining too much weight and also wanted do go off of the terribly strong medication, so convinced my doctor to allow me to see if I could maintain balance myself at that point with yoga and supplements. She was reluctant, but allowed me to do it and was pleased when I kept returning with a balanced thyroid! She considered me in remission. My TSH which was at zero for a long time came up to 2.0 on tests and has held steady ever since. Even now it remains at 2.53. THAT SAID, I've lately been experiencing symptoms that I think could be Graves' acting up but they are so similar to perimenopause hormones (I'm 44 now)... I just don't know which it is. I hope it's just hormones, but I'm so uncertain. All of the symptoms are hormonal - but all fall under Graves' as well. How do I know which it is so I can address it properly? Any advice? Labs appear in normal ranges...

[zoebrandy]

Hi, so sorry to hear you do not feel well. Graves because of the antibodies can affect you even if your blood work is normal, at least I still have bad symptoms even though my blood work is in normal range. I keep going from being hyper to being hypo with period of normal blood work in between for a couple of months. Before I was diagnosed 2 years ago doctors use to tell me it was menopause symptoms still affecting me even though I went through menopause nearly 12 years ago. I started feeling bad on and off nearly 5 years ago and did not get diagnosed until almost 2 years ago. You could get hormone level blood test. I think my thyroid levels fluctuate throughout the day. Some morning I can feel hypo and evening can feel hyper or vice versa. I also have symptoms of severe PMS most all the time. Retain fluid, sore breast and other symptoms like I had before I went through menopause 12 years ago. I have been on PTU 50 mg 4 times a day until I went hypo again a month ago. When I am hyper, I sweat heavily even though I am not doing much. Hope you can find something out. It is horrible and most doctors just look at you like you are nuts and dismiss you. Good Luck.

[Hidden in reply to zoebrandy]

Have you tried evening promise oil for those hot flash/being hot/nightsweats? It's a natural form of help for women who have that problem. Most any pharmacy carries it, mg varies, I take 1ooomg a day., i hope something i said gives u hope? None of this is your fault, its your bady responding to itself, but hasnt your body done some great things too? Have a little patience, be calm that produces effects to u r body too. Try something calm, drink water, best to you🌉