Is it Thyroid or Menopause symptoms?

[sharwalla]

For those who are going through Menopause as well as Thyroid Disorder like myself here is some information that can be useful.

Similar Symptoms- Thyroid Disease and Menopause

Fatigue
Foggy thinking
Poor memory
Lethargy
Depression
Skin changes
Changes in mood
Changes in energy levels
Change in libido/sex drive
Hair Loss
Changes in hair texture
Increased anxiety
Nervousness
Sleep disturbances
Irregular or missed menstrual periods
Heart palpitations
Mood swings


Despite the similarities between thyroid disease and menopause there are differences, for example:

If you are experiencing neck pain, visual disturbances, loss of hair from eyebrows or eyelashes, extreme weight fluctuation, swelling of arms/legs - these symptoms would not relate to menopause but are more likely to be related to a thyroid disorder.

If you are experiencing hot flushes/night sweats or vaginal dryness - these are symptoms unrelated to thyroid disorders but are related to menopause.

Further similarities lie between hypothyroidism and depression. Symptoms such as fatigue, lack of motivation, mood swings and weight gain can be attributed to both and as a consequence is frequently under-diagnosed by healthcare professionals and is misdiagnosed as depression.

HYPOTHYROIDISM (UNDERACTIVE THYROID) SYMPTOMS

Fatigue
Feeling run down, sluggish
Difficulty concentrating
Depression
Feeling cold/cold extremities
Constipation
Foggy brain
Unexplained/excessive weight gain
Dry, coarse and or thinning hair
Dry, coarse and/or itchy skin
Muscle cramps
Increased menstrual flow
More frequent periods
Infertility/misscarriage

HYPERTHYROIDISM (OVERACTIVE THYROID) SYMPTOMS

Fatigue
Heat intolerance
Irritability
Nervousness
Thinning skin
Increased perspiration
Muscular weakness-upper arms and legs
Weight loss-despite good appetite
Lighter flow-less frequent periods
Panic disorder
Insomnia
Rapid or irregular heart beat
Frequent bowel movements/diarrhea
Shaky hands
Visual/eye problems
Swollen neck-enlarged thyroid called a goiter

- See more at: http://www.menopausehealthmatters.com/thyroid-disease-and-menopause.html#sthash.0PMTEEX3.dpuf

[Barb135]

While 50 mcg is a relatively low dose, it is a good place to start.  Typically, it's best to start low and work up to the dose you'll actually need.  Yes, it's true that Hashi's is progressive and the antibodies attack the thyroid until there's no more healthy tissue.  As courtney said, we all progress at different rates.  As the progression proceeds, you will probably have to have periodic adjustments in your med, to make up for the lower amount of hormones produced.

Your weight issue could be a combination of hypo and menopause, but once you get your hypo under control, you should be able to control it better, unless there are other issues contributing.  

While I haven't done a exact research on the relationship between asthma and Hashimoto's, it does seem that people sometimes have worsening asthma with Hashi's.  Your other symptoms, swollen hands and feet and itchy skin are those of being hypo. Hopefully, they would go away, or greatly diminish once your thyroid is better.  It takes 4-6 weeks for the med to stabilize in your system, than can take a while for your body to "heal", after all you have been ill and your body needs time to recover.

When are you scheduled for blood work, again?

[courtney48]

Sandra, there is really no way of knowing at what rate any given person's thyroid function will slow to the point of non-function.  It is different for everyone.  I also think your starting dose, though it may not be adequate, is a good enough starting point.  Hang in there to give it time to work.  As far as asthma, mine has become much worse in the past couple of years before I was diagnosed.  I'm quicker to use my rescue inhaler than in the past so it doesn't get too out of control too quickly.  Good luck.

[astunally]

I have Hashi and am hypo , I have never had a weight problem before but now the weight seems to be going on even when I don't hardly eat, very worrying. Periods come and go , very heavy when I do have them , Iam also going through meno so put everything down to that until I began feeling very sick.
I have just started meds 50mg of levo for the past 2 weeks, but if my thyroid isn't working good surly I need to be on a higher dose, concidering that Hashi's attacks the thyroid until it doesn't work, very confusing . My asthma has been getting slowly worst, would this be an effect of the Hashi's along with swollen hands and feet and itchy skin?
Sandra

[Barb135]

With all those symptoms, it sounds like you might still be hypo.

[sharwalla]

I am on Estrogen Therapy/Armour Thyroid and still not feeling my best. The weight has stabilized but the depression/hair loss/flashes/lack of energy is much.

[Barb135]

I had weight fluctuations/increase with both menopause and hypothyroidism; the difference was that the menopause weight was lost, whereas I'm finding the hypo weight much harder to deal with.  

I also had hot flashes/night sweats with both.  The night sweats I had from hypo were actually worse than the ones I had with menopause.

Because we're all so different, I think all options have to be considered, until we feel well. Too often, we get treated for just one condition, when we actually have more than one thing going on.