Thyroid disorder???

[daisymae247]

I am an 18 year old young woman who has been very healthy my whole life. Starting in February of 2008, my periods went from being every 28 days to every 21.  They were also EXTREMELY painful, heavy, and draining to me.  I would get so sick that I wouldn't be able to lift my head off my pillow.  I have also gained 12 pounds in the last 6 months.  After going to see my family doctor, he put me on Yaz.  Yaz took away off of my symptoms from my period and I was beginning to think it was a magical pill until the third month.  During the third month I was taking Yaz, I became very emotional and could cry at the drop of a hat, crying for over 3 hours at a time.  I was utterly irritable and would blow up and yell at my family for the littlest things.  I also became extremely depressed and tired all day long.  After returning to my family doctor, he switched my birth control to Femcon.  I have been on this pill for one month and are seeing little improvement.  I take my pill religiously at 5pm everyday.  Around 2pm I can tell that the hormones are wearing off and become irritable once again.  A half an hour after taking my pill, all of my symptoms are gone again.  I am afraid to take the placebos because I risk becoming extremely irritable and have crying spells for a week straight.  I have recently gone to the gynecologist for the first time.  My blood was drawn and all of my tests came back in the normal range.  After doing some research on my own, I have found that I have 90% of the symptoms of hypothyroidism.  But since my blood tests came back normal, my doctor doesn't think there is anything wrong with me.  I don't know where else to turn, I know there is something wrong with my body and everything just feels off.  I am also a vegetarian but not sure if the two are related.  I constantly have to watch the clock and avoid going to public places a few hours before I'm due for my birth control pill in fear that I will not be able to control myself and cause a scene when my irritability comes on.  I am also in fear that by stopping birth control, all of my previous symptoms will return with vengeance.  Living day to day is very uncomfortable to me since I don't have a diagnosis.  I have heard that a blood test for hypothyroidism can be inaccurate.  Is this true and does it sound like i have have a hypothyroid?

[Rite760]

I too have spent a year trying to find out what's wrong with me. My thyoid function tests kept coming back normal though I had all the symptoms. They now swing from normal to borderline hypo. I am also suffering from a premature menopause. There is definately a big connection between female hormones and thyroid hormones, but so far I haven't worked out if HRT helps or makes it worse. I have also just been diagnosed with Sjogren's and so my symptoms are all mixed in together so it's hard to know which belongs to which. If I were you I'd ask for further thyroid screening and also female hormone levels, this will give you a better idea of how your oestrogen levels etc are affecting you. I would also ask for regular thyroid testing as although you can have the symptoms it can take a long time for it to show up as proof in your blood.

[emel2229]

I am new to this board but I've been dealing with thyroid stuff for a while now.  I have found that doctors really take a conservative stance with thyroid.  I am scheduled for surgery in two weeks.  I spent a lot of time trying to get doctors to investigate.  My symptoms (pounding heart, fatigue, mood swings, lightheadedness, foggy head, etc) were getting bad enough to interfere with life.  My periods also got heavier and more painful than ever before.  My thyroid levels were normal (and still are).  I pushed for an ultrasound and they found a tumor (2.5 cm) that may or may not be cancerous.  I then had to undergo a fine needle biopsy that also came back "normal."  Long story short, I have to get at least a lobe removed and possibly the whole thing.  If they tumor ends up cancer, I will continue treatment (scans, radioactive iodine, etc).  To this day, not a single test has come back abnormal -- I had to be very proactive.  Only you know your body.  If something is wrong, trust your instincts and find a doctor that will listen to you!  Good luck.

[Kipp44]

I think that it would be helpful if you had an edocrinologist review anyway even if itis related to PMT. Your severe tiredness may well be related to blood loss from the increased frequency and heaviness of your periods - was you iron levels okay - this is especially important being a vegetarian as it can be difficult to make up - did you have iron store studies done? The other thing that may help would be a visit to a naturpath, there are many wonderful natural remedies that could help with the dreadful symptoms you describe - evening primrose oil was one.

Don't give up - if need be change your Doctor if you feel thay are not listening. If all investigation is normal you may also need to try an antidepressant at least shortterm. Do not feel this is a failure or that "you're mad" but it may help you cope with those difficult feelings and severe fatigue. Even people with a thyroid condition often needs this help as depression / anxiety type disorders are due to chemical changes, and if things are out of wack with your hormones then I expect it would be contributing with these feelings.

Look after yourself and continue to seek help.