Why haven't I had my cycle yet?

[Emmy4337]

Has anyone had their cycle extend once they started synthroid?  Mine has been 14-25 days for the past 6 years and since changing from Nature Throid to Synthroid on Dec 15 I haven't had a period.  45 days at least and counting.  I've taken 3 pregnancy tests and all are negative (I have a non hormonal IUD) and no symptoms.  Any thoughts or comments?

[foreverlostmom]

Awsome!

[Emmy4337]

12 days after changing back to Nature Throid (up to 190 mcg a day w/ split doses) I finally had my period again!  I will definitely stick w/ non-synthetic version of this medicine from now on.  Just have to get to the right dose now.  Still ahving a few lingering symptoms but much better than when on Synthroid (with or without T3 added)

[foreverlostmom]

Thats great glad you are making progress.  I need to do my research on the same subject I was hit with the same thing today and won't be using that doctor but would like to be armed for next time..

[Emmy4337]

Update:  After 8 wks on Synthroid (weeks 3-5 I felt great & weeks 6-8 felt worse than before) my dr. has agreed to add T3-Cytomel!  I told him would rather be on Nature Throid and feel as I was before than have the aching/painful joints.  He didn't want to at first since my TSH was 0.02 and even wanted to lower my Syn. dose.  We are leaving it at 137 and adding T3 (not sure how much yet) and retesting in a month.  I did 2 different days last week on my old medicine and the aches, brain fog and low mood went away so I feel very sure the T3 will help.  Now hopefully the Dr. won't freak out about the TSH staying low.  We'll see in a month I guess.  I'll find all my research about low TSH-regular Frees not leading to osteo and fibrilations and have it ready to show him.  I can always go back to NT if I have to and try to find a dr. that can actually work with me on dosage.  Thanks for everyones comments and suggestions!

[foreverlostmom]

Also you should look over the testing you should ask for

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/recommended-labwork/

[foreverlostmom]

You need to do some research at www.stopthethyroidmaddness.com

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/tsh-why-its-useless/

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/mistakes-patients-make/

I am not positive on the antibodies if with a slightly elevated antibodies means Hashimotos but I believe it does someone else here will be able to tell you that.  But if it is Hashimotos your thyroid is slowly dying off and you will need to adjust your medication accordingly.

It is very common that your TSH will be suppressed on desicated thyroid its OK and if your T3/T4 were low that means you needed  more medication many people need 3-4 or even more.  my TSH has been suppressed since I was on 2 grains and has been ever since my T3 is slightly high but guess what I feel good and I am once again functioning.  I hope you will read as much as you can because obviously you are going to have to take control of this and fix it or you are going to continue to have problems.  

Also PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE refer your brother here andd stopthethyroidmaddness.com he needs to be aware of the issues so he can properly treat his patients I am sure he is a great doctor but there is probably alot he could learn from us.

[Emmy4337]

I had them checked at 4 wks (1-18-10) and will have them done again 6 wks from then (end of Feb)
These are my labs at 4wks:
TSH - .02 range .34-5.60
FT3 - 3.46 range 2.39-6.79
FT4 - 1.48 range .58-1.64
Cholesterol - down from 250 to 211
Glucose - down from 93 to 87
Anti Thymoglobulin  - 40 range 0-40
Anti Thyroid PeroxAB  -55 range 0-40

I told the Dr. I was having alot of joint pain & more hair falling out but he didn't respond to my email about it.  Dr., of course, wants to lower Synthroid from 137 to 125 since the TSH is so low.  He agreed to leave it for another 6 wks and test again.  Ultrasounds was good, no nodules, but atrophied since I have basically been on supressive dose since having thyroid partially removed due to potential cancer (it was negative after pathology). I had a bone density test 2 years ago and it was great. Dr. seems to be going more by TSH than the Frees although he said he goes by symptoms also.  Is there any test to run to know for sure that I'm not converting properly?

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

you need to have your levels of FT3 and FT4 checked.  Sounds like TSH wouldn't be very useful for you.

Joint pain is a pretty classic hypo symptom, as are delays in menstural period.

If your FT3 is very low you may need to get back on the nature thyroid.  If your FT3 and FT4 were too low, that means that your dose of meds was too low.

Anyway, let us know how you go.

[Emmy4337]

I was on armour for 3 years and on Nature Throid from Aug 09 to Dec 15 09.  I never could get my FT3 & FT4 up enough and my TSH was always below 1 and cholesterol and sugar was always very high.  Dr. was just changing meds as I directed, he didn't know anything about dessicated & I was learning. I was up to 120 Armour and then 130 NT. I promised family to try synthroid since it is the standard and my dr. brother-in-law recommended it.  I had a terrible transition, the endo had me going cold turkey on the switch and it wasn't nice.  I felt better after 2 weeks though and weeks 3-6 felt great but now at 6 wks feel worse.  Lots of aches and joint pain now as well as no cycle.  I'm 43 and have been told I shouldn't get pregnant again since I had pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome, bed rest and gave birth at 36 weeks 5 yrs ago.  That is why I am worrying about not having a period.  I really hate having thyroid problems!

[foreverlostmom]

Why did you switch?  I recently went to Nature Throid from Armour and before then synthroid and feel TONS better.  Maybe the disease is getting worse from going from a T4/T3 med to a straight T4 med?  Your thyroid may need that T3 also.  

This is what I came up with when I googled it.

Does the thyroid have anything to do with a missed period?
Yes, either high or low (more commonly low) thyroid disease can cause amenorrhea

So my thinking would be that your thyroid is to low with out the T3 now and may be causing the amenorrhea.

I went for so many years trying to figure out why I was not having a period because I was sure my headaches were related and I believe it is all related to my thyroid.  I am feeling tons better with nature throid we will see if my cycle returns.  I could just cry and scream at all those doctors!

[foreverlostmom]

Well I have only about 4 periods a year since I became hypothyroid I don't know that it is related to the meds but maybe more so the disease.