TSH 'normal' irregular periods blamed on thyroid

[AngieEMT]

Just a little history...I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's about 14 years ago. I am currently 29. After the initial diagnosis/med adjustment, everything was going along fine for several years. The last few years everytime I have my TSH checked they are jacking my Synthroid up. (about every 3-6 months) My periods are awful. I have bleeding pretty much all the time. No real cycle. My GYN kept blaming it on my thyroid. (which I can understand if I am hypo, but even when it is in the "normal" range I still have the bleeding) I switched Gyno's and the new one says that sometimes people with thyroid probs continue to have symnptoms despite their thyroid being regulate with meds. She told me I may just have to learn to live with it. NO WAY!! It is totally gross and really starting to wear on me emotionally. Does anyone else have this type of problem? Any suggestions??

[GravesLady]

I had problems way before thyroid and went to a gyno specialist who deals in cancer at a cancer clinic. No cancer found and was told that sometimes this just happens to women for no apparent reason. so I was offered two alternative treatments, DNC or birth control pills. I opted for DNC because I don't like the short and long term health consequences of birth control pills.  I would have your issue further checked out because
heavy prolonged bleeding can eventually cause anemia. Also, recent data from test demonstrates that hypothyroidism in women is less frequently associated with menstrual disturbance than was previously thought. Menstrual irregularities tend to be more frequent in sever hypothyroidism in comparison with mild cases, although this finding was not statistically significant. Oligomenorrhoea and menorrhagia are the most common menstrual disturbances.  I would think once thyroid was at Labs normal reference range and stable, a women's period would become stable again as well.  However, I would also assume this is not a 100% because there is always that percentage that presents a problem.
This can't be easy to live with - go for further check up and test, if necessary.

Good Luck!

[utahmomma]

Isn't the body a maddening problem?  :-)

Have you tried birth control pills to regulate your body?  If so, were they able to find a good combination?  Have you also been checked out for endometriosis?

Reason I'm asking is I had poly cystic ovarian disease and I had a problem very, very similar to yours.  Birth control pills helped for a while and Metformin did too but I kept developing ovarian cysts and finally had my ovaries removed after countless surgeries and huge, painful hemorrhagic cysts.

Some of my sisters have the same problem and we all have thyroid issues and diabetes issues.  We have some entertaining, undiagnosed autoimmune problem going on and the ovaries are part of the "Bermuda Triangle" that is our bodies.

Hormone regulation (birth control pills) helped for a while.

Try posting the same question on one of the women's health forums too - you might find different insight there.

Good luck

[AngieEMT]

Thanks for the help. This is about to drive me crazy. I forgot to mention. I can't take BC pills because I also have had pseudotumer cerebri and was told the BC pills can trigger a recurrence. They did help in the past however.

It was also mentioned that I had symptoms that might indicate PCOS - however - I have had four pelvic ultrasounds and each time was told they showed no cysts, but I might just not have any right then. Makes me skeptical.

I am scheduled for a D&C on Dec 1. Anxious to see if it helps.

[utahmomma]

Good luck on your D&C!  About the PCOD - the majority of my cysts were located *inside* my left ovary when it was removed.  My right ovary (removed about 10 years later) was encompassed within two HUGE cysts.  I'm not sure if Metformin would help or not but many OB/GYNs are now using it for PCOD.

Hang in there!