Stinkin' Endocrine System

[Rachel4]

I posted this over in women's health too, but I have a strong suspicion that my thyroid is somehow involved.

The facts:
- I'm 26 years old.
- I have never conceived or tried to conceive.
- I have been on birth control pills since I was 17 for irregular periods (irregular meaning 2 weeks, then 7 weeks mostly too frequent)
- I was diagnosed with autoimmune hypothyroidism in November 2008. I have been taking T4 replacement hormone since diagnosis. Nodules have been biopsied and declared non-malignant.
- I was also diagnosed with several nutritional deficiencies in November 2008 (iron, b12, b6, vitamin d, and zinc) and have been supplementing since diagnosis to balance.

I went into the doctor for PMS symptoms that began last August and have worsened over the year. I am depressed, irritable, and anxious to a debilitating point the week before my period. My GP suspected estrogen dominance. Labs were taken about ten days prior to when I should start my period (birth control pills have regulated it).  

Results are pre-puberty level. What causes this?
- Estradiol <10
- Progesterone 0.2

[stella5349]

I have a journal in my profile on this typ of information - check it out. It' called progestrone and estrodiol.

Maybe A-4 docs too,.

[stella5349]

If your levels are not in correct range for you then YES these aother issues will pop up.

The thyroid will control other hormone components to become faulty. It's finding the correct situation for you.

[Rachel4]

Update: I got into the endocrinologists office today. The NP had no idea what to think of my hormone levels so she talked to my doctor. It seems my doctor doesn't either. They referred me to the menopause clinic and said they were sorry. I'm 26. Awesome.

[Rachel4]

Does having Hashiomoto's thyroiditis make a difference with the low sex hormones?

I'm really not that concerned whether I have Hashiomoto's or not since the treatment is the same. The likelihood of other autoimmune disease goes up, but that is the only applicable factor I can find.

Please let me know if you know of another connection?

[Rachel4]

I'm definitely hypothyroid. My TSH could be at 2.0 while I'm on medication if I were hyperthyroid.

[TamraW]

Get both TGab and Anti-TPO Hashi antibody tests again. They might be high now.

You are on thyroid meds, right?

You shouldn't be having all of these menstrual issues at your age. I still suspect your thyroid.

:) Tamra

[Barb135]

Your TSH could be a tad high, if you've only been hovering around 1.0 and your frees are about mid range.  Your med might just need a slight adjustment.  

Maybe it's time for another round of antibody tests?  

[Smilerdeb]

If you was Hypothyroid, your TSH would be a LOT higher than what it is.
Hyper = low tsh
Hypo = high tsh

I would be getting a 2nd opinion as somethings not right there.

[Rachel4]

Latest thyroid testing...
T3 Total 195 (expected 90-200)
Free T4 1.22 (expected 0.73-1.95)
TSH 2.0 (expected 0.3-5.1) I know this is a bit high for someone with hypot. It's been hovering just above 1. This is my highest since diagnosis in Nov 2008.
Free T3 3.1 (expected 2.3-4.2)

Suspected Hashimoto's. I had tests done for Hashimoto's back in November 2008 when I was diagnosed but everything was within range. However, my first US in November 2008 showed an enlarged thyroid but no nodules. Being on Levoxyl (first at 75 now 88) has decreased the size of the overall thyroid but I now have a multinodule goiter. I had FNA on two of the nodules in June 2009 and they were fine. Why nodules are developing when I'm on thyroid hormone is a whole different question. The multi-nodule aspect leads my endocrinologist to suspect Hashimotos.

I'm keeping up with my endocrinologist too. She doesn't know about the low sex hormones. They are very difficult to get into. I have an appointment with her NP on Sept 21...soonest available that didn't cause me to miss class during my first week of graduate school.

[TamraW]

By autoimmune hypo, do you mean Hashimoto's disease? I am pretty sure all of us hypo/hashi people have vitamin issues. It goes with the disease. I had endometriosis (spelling?) two years ago. I gave birth to a preemie six years ago. I have irregular periods again. I don't know about your Estradiol and Progesterone. I hope you are also keeping up with your endocrinologist. I, too, suspect your thyroid in all of this. Just as Hope said, it could be your thyroid meds, or maybe you're not getting the right dosage. Maybe you should post your current FT4, FT3, TSH and antibody levels on this forum, along with your current dosage of T4 meds.

:) Tamra

[hope4thegoodstuff]

I don't know about your results...I'll let the experts on here handle that...As far the the symptoms...have you looked at the adverse physical reaction from your T4...my meds have this little pamplet that you unroll and it's about three miles long (exaggerated) with very tiny little print....I'm on a synthetic T4 and I know it's causing me issues, I just can't convince the dr that it is.