lowy thyroid and menstrual irregularities

[meadow20]

I was diagnosed hypothyroid a few months ago. The first trial of synthroid at 100mcg proved to be too much. Now I'm on 75mcg. I'm also 49 and thought I was menopausal not having had a period in 8 months. But I had a period a couple of weeks ago that was awful- painful cramps, backache and very heavy. Could this be a sign that I still don't have my thyroid levels quite right? Can thyroid anomalies make the menstrual cycle dry up and then come back?
Thank you for the help!

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

thyroid can influence menstrual cycles but more likely the perimenopausal state is the main factor.

[k9luvr]

Hi there!  It looks like you and I are going through many of the same things.  I, too, haven't had a period for about 3 months and I thought it is due to the premenopausal stage I am going through.  I would hate to find out that it is due to my low thyroid levels because I have enjoyed not having a period.  My periods have been irregular for the past year but never gone as long as 3 months without one. I am also going through the typical hot flashes, fatigue ,and inability to lose weight. I am on levothyroxin (levothyroxine) and was started on a very low dose of 25mcg and now I'm on 50mcg.  I don't feel any different at this point.  Now I don't know what my symptoms are actually from.  My levels started at 7.56...not sure how low that actually is because this is all very new to me.  If you care to share, please do.

[meadow20]

Hey k9luvr! I do hope your cycles are gone for good. I've been irregular for at least 5 years and it was a nice 8 months while mine were absent. I had hot flashes last winter, but they stopped. (winter is a convenient time to have them so they didn't bother me that much)  I even had an ultrasound just two weeks ago because the period was so painful and heavy, but it showed nothing wrong.
   So I don't know. I had my thyroid checked in April because of tingly feet, muscle aches, 5 pounds of weight gain for no reason and a family history of thyroid disease. My TSH was 8.45 and my MD put me on 100mcg of synthroid which made it go down to 0.1. Way too low and I felt crummy that way too. So I've been on 75mcg for 6 weeks on Tues when I'm getting rechecked. Given that my hair is falling out and I'm still achy plus the period thing (which I'll be interested to learn if that could be thyroid related), I'm thinking the TSH level is not yet proper. (from reading on here, it looks like 2 is the number to aim for) I'm almost hoping that is the case so there is an explanation for all this and not some other unknown and possibly unnerving cause. It does seem to me that no one can tell what your medication dose should be except by trial and error. I have managed to get 2 pounds off... whoopee. I've never had to diet in my life and my sympathies go out to others who have- eating what you want is much more enjoyable.
   I see from you user name that you like dogs. I'll second that!