Pain and Menstrual Cycle- Thyroid Problem?

[dustybrown]

My Uncle has Graves disease. My grandmother has Hashimotos (sp?). I have suffered from pain, tendonitis anxiety and a number of other co-occurring issues (DDD, arthritis, nerve dysfunction) that may be clouding my real problems. A year ago a had a THS test that was a 1.06, which is normal. My doctor never ran any additional tests. I have been tested before and usually test around this mark. Since then I have been placed on new medication (Topamax), have lost about 20lbs. Anyhow, for a number of years I notice that right before my menstrual period I become horribly tired to the point where I almost cannot manage and my pain levels are incredible. My period only lasts about a day or two. I feel better afterward. I suffered from a miscarriage once and have never had any children, but I haven't tried since. I have had a bout with something that seemed like atrial fibrillation, which put me in the ER overnight. I have had heart palpitations on and off in my life. My father also has this problem with his heart and also has tested borderline Graves disease, but he too is normal.

I am wondering if anyone out there thinks it might be possible that I am having some kind of endocrine related problem or thyroid issue even though my THS is normal? Should I have the test run right before my period begins? I am at my wits end trying to figure out what's wrong.  

[laura1967]

Yes an endo or internal medicine dr, etc can order these tests. Yes it is possible to test positive for autoimmune thyroid diseases and develop antibodies long before TSH shows.
Imbalances are treated by supplementing with whatever you are lacking.  :)

[dustybrown]

I would ask an endocrinologist to perform these tests correct? Do you think with my family history I will have a problem getting them to do them? So are you saying it's possible to have Grave's disease even with a normal TSH reading?

If any of these hormones are off, how do they treat the imbalances? Let's say my only my progesterone is off, would the doctor then just medicate me with that hormone? Is it that easy?

[laura1967]

If it was me I would have a saliva hormone panel done: Progesterone, all 3 estrogens, dhea, adrenals, testosterone, etc.
It also wouldn't hurt to ask for the antibody testing for Hashi's and Graves. Antibodies can appear along with symptoms long before test results show in TSH, etc.
The tsh shows pituitary function, not the actual thyroid hormone levels. Free T4 and free T3 are the tests to run which show the active thyroid hormone in the body.