hormonal imbalance?

[alfonsina]

I am not reaching menopause or anything like that, but I am suspicious about a sex hormonal imbalance. I am taking thyroid medicine  for hypothyroidism and still have not found optimal dose. About 6 months ago I started to have lots of headaches, everyday.

I also started to spot before my period, maybe a week before and now two days before. I have a lot of pain when having my period and headaches jut leave me useless. My bowels also changed during this time. They are now coming in little pieces, never experience this before. I have to add that I also have a very stuffy nose and sneezing. I have very dry skin, mouth, nose and hair. My doctor wanted to put me on the pill, but I do not want although I know I could get some relief. I want to try bioidentical. He does not believe in that, and he order some to tests. I went for estradiol test which is 78. Not sure if my estrogen is too low. I will have progesterone test in one more week. My FSH is 8.3
.
Anybody experiencing something similar? is my estrogen too low for an ovulating woman? should I go into hormonal replacement (bioidentical)? any input will be appreciated. Thanks.

[garrettandelsasmom]

I have thyroid issues, also, and it sounds like your thyroid medication may not be at a high enough dosage to help with your symptoms.  Low sex drive is pretty common for people with hypothyroidism, but I would have suspected the dry skin and hair to clear up with proper dosage.  You might check on the thyroid forum here to see their opinions.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Estradiol levels are dependent on the day of the menstrual cycle and your levels are not too low. The symptoms that you have mentioned are suggestive of thyroid disease being responsible. You need to get your recent thyroid levels done and the dose of the thyroid medication monitored.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[alfonsina]

Thanks for your answer. I have had my levels at the upper range (my frees) and even in there my symptoms have not improved. I am also facing a reverse T3 problem that my doctor does not know how to manage, since he raised my T3 medication and lower T4 and I felt much worse. I am now doing the opposite, more T4 than T3, two weeks so far in that, a little better, but still dry all over my body. That is why I thought it could be my sex hormones which could be out of the control. Thanks again.

[alfonsina]

Thanks for responding. I had my estradiol test done the 6th day of my period. but that was weird, because I had spotting for two days and then the real thing (pain and real bleeding). My doctor said that I should count since the first day of the spotting so that would be the 6th day of the cycle. As I have said before my symptoms persist even though my level were optimal (frees on the upper range). I have  my progesterone test this coming week. I have also heard that the ratio between estrogen and progesterone is very fundamental to feel well. I will post my progesterone results when I have them in case someone has an input.

Before taking medicine for my thyroid I took the BCP for years and my hair and skin were beautiful, normal. That is why I think it has to do with my sex hormones.

Thanks.