thyroid and reproductive hormones-connection?

[gotitall]

Is there a connection between the thyroid and reproductive hormones?  I've had complex partial seizures at ovulation since college.  I am now 38.  After being diagnosed with severe endomentriosis in 92 I was told to have children.  I had many seizures the first month and then none until after I stopped nursing and began ovulating again.  Same with my second pregnancy.  In 03 my periods increased to seven days.  In 04 I had an ANA antibody show up in bloodwork after having dizziness and pain in my arms.  Arthritis and Lupus were ruled out.  Following a laparoscopy in 04 for a hemmoragic cyst I was diagnosed with en coup de sabre morphea.  My periods then increased to ten days and I could go five months without a seizure.  In April I went to an internist due to excessive heat, all over body itching, weakness in my legs, breathlessness, rapid heart rate, etc.  At this same time my periods decreased to five days and my seizures returned.  I was diagnosed with Graves.  My TSH was .03, T4 2.74, T3 9.7, Thyroid Stimulating 157. I was sent to an available endo a month later.  He redid my bloodwork and said my numbers were beginning to improve on their own.  I was placed on a low dose of Methimazole.  This worked well for the first few weeks, but then I ovulated and my symptoms came back.  I upped the medication, but then I started falling asleep in the afternoons.  Is there a connection in all of this?  I am reading thyroid and hormone books (which is not easy because my eyes hurt from this graves). I'm exhausted.  Does one Dr. treat for all of this?  Thanks.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

There may be some changes in thyroid status with ovulation/menses - this, to my knowledge, has not been well documented but I have heard it from a few patients.  

Tapazole is a good start -- check labs every 5-6 weeks in the beginning to properly titrate the dose -- watch T4/T3 more closely than TSH in the beginning.

May end up best with I-131 to eliminate thyroid fluctuations -- but if you do this see an eye specialist first to make sure you won't need prednisone before/after I-131.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Call the office 941 342 9750 and tell them about the "unstable" HYPER and the evaluation can usually start within a week.

[gotitall]

I am in the Sarasota area.  Dr. Swor's office recommended you, but said it could take months to get in.  My internist recommended someone in his group that I could see right away as he was concerned at my levels.