Thyroid, Iron and Menopause

[DeborahE]

I just posted on the Menopause forum but am curious.  I did a little comparison between hypothyroid, low iron and menopause symptoms and was amazed to see the similarities.  My last workup in Dec put my TSH stable @ 1.31 and my Ferritin @ 18 (ack! no wonder I was feeling so bad).  At 49 I am also premenopausal.  Complicated (I know!) but a good reminder to me to pay attention to the whole me.

I am wondering if others experience these 'cross over' symptoms and how you may be addressing these different yet interconnected challenges.

On my low ferritin, I am very happy to say that since I started taking iron supplements my headaches, night time leg cramps, excessive menses, racing heart, sharp chest pain, chronic bladder infections, stomach upsets, swollen calves and sore joints have all but disappeared!

And I'm feeling less tired and more focussed which I contribute to being able to pay more attention to other important things like drinking plenty of water, eating healthier and exercising.

[MJ13]

I had a TT in DEC 06, RAI in JAN 07, then was told I was in full blown menopause at the age of 46 a few months later.  I found out a couple of months ago the I was anemic, so I started taking iron supplements on top of my multivitamin.  So far I can't tell any difference.  Still feel dog tired no matter how much sleep I get.  Oh, forgot to mention I have insomia and have been on 3 different types of sleeping pills for about 8 months.  

I decided this past year that God had to me a man...cause NO woman would make another woman go thru thyca and menopause in the same year!!!!

[kitty9309]

Yikes! I hit the button too many times. Sorry!

[kitty9309]

I am also hypo and have a very low ferritin (9 and 14 on recent tests). I have started taking 156% RDA of iron, even though the PCP said I don't need it!

Did your doc recommend the iron or did you supplement on your own?

I also had a racing heart and it seems better lately. I don't know if the iron helped or the lower TSH is less of a stressor to my body.

Thanks for mentioning the inter-correlation of these symptoms/disorders.

[kitty9309]

I am also hypo and have a very low ferritin (9 and 14 on recent tests). I have started taking 156% RDA of iron, even though the PCP said I don't need it!

Did your doc recommend the iron or did you supplement on your own?

I also had a racing heart and it seems better lately. I don't know if the iron helped or the lower TSH is less of a stressor to my body.

Thanks for mentioning the inter-correlation of these symptoms/disorders.

[kitty9309]

I am also hypo and have a very low ferritin (9 and 14 on recent tests). I have staryed taking 156% RDA of iron, even though the PCP said I don't need it!

Did your doc recommend the iron or did you supplement on your own?

I also had a racing heart and it seems better lately. I don't know if the iron helped or the lower TSH is less of a stressor to my body.

Thanks for mentioning the inter-correlation of these symptoms/disorders.

[kitty9309]

I am also hypo and have a very low ferritin (9 and 14 on recent tests). I have started taking 156% RDA of iron, even though the PCP said I don't need it!

Did your doc recommend the iron or did you supplement on your own?

I also had a racing heart and it seems better lately. I don't know if the iron helped or the lower TSH is less of a stressor to my body.

Thanks for mentioning the inter-correlation of these symptoms/disorders.