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[ATB]

Exactly shoppingqueen, it is really really hard when thyroid and perimenopause symptoms are the same, that’s why careful analysis is important and an understanding of the whole system. It’s taken me years to get good at understanding my own. Thyroid tests are a lot more helpful than testing estrogen is.

[Gilla999]

Interesting article, thanks for sharing ATB. And really interesting to think that thyroid symptoms can be misinterpreted as Peri. I know I have a lot of the classic hypo symptoms: unexplained weight gain, fatigue, chronic constipation, hair loss and thinning eyebrows at the ends but not others (for example I'm not a cold person). I'm seeing my meno doc on July 19th where she will hopefully give me a Testosterone prescription - I want to try that first before addressing my thyroid results (as no doctor is hassling me to address it at the moment). Very interesting though, thanks for sharing!

[Marchlove]

Hi All, especially ATB if you’re about!

Got Medichecks coming 10am Thursday to do full thyroid test (plus vitamin e as I’ve been on it for ages).

So according to the article you posted ATB I shouldn’t take my levothyroxine until after the test, is this correct?

Also should I be fasted? X

[ATB]

Hi!
Yes take Levo after the test- away from food and coffee as usual.
No you don’t need to fast. Let us know how it goes!

[Marchlove]

Will do, thank you ATB.
Glad I don’t have to fast

[shoppingqueen]

Let us know how you get on and post the results 👍 it’s literally like being your own Sherlock Holmes when it comes to deciphering symptoms and causes.
ATB so glad you are getting there with knowing the difference it’s a science I’m beginning to see- I’m still learning and trying to untangle the hypo from meno- still got my L plates  at this point 😂. These forums are a life saver so we can connect with those further along the rocky path for valuable advice and insights.
Thanks for sharing info x

[Clarella]

Hi, micronised progesterone raises t4 and  lowers tsh slightly when taken orally if you’re on thyroxine. I’ve just been looking at papers.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34183565/

I go very much by sleep ability and puffy or slim ankles. I used to be able to tell via bowel movements but peri has messed that up!

I’ve been on thyroxine for 20 years. There is a sweet spot with thyroxine; slightly too much thyroxine can give too much reverse t3 and swingling hypo / hyper symptoms. I’ve just reduced my thyroxine by 75 and tsh hasn’t changed, (0.2) t4  slightly (24 to 19 but I’m a lot better. Gp happy with that. Face less puffy and not crashing in the afternoons.
All hormones can vary wildly during the day, particularly t3.

Always get a test in the morning before taking thyroxine (24 hrs later).

Stop any biotin for a week before a test (b vitamin.)

I’m taking my utrogestan vaginally; if I go to continuous I may take orally but will ask for a thyroid blood test I think a couple of months after.

Being on slightly too much is really bad for bones and to me almost worse than slightly too little. I can’t be much above tsh 1 I find.

You can  tweak doses very slightly but must wait for at least 8 weeks (3 months is best) before a test.

[Marchlove]

I’m sat here waiting for the Medichecks nurse to arrive feeling very cold.  Yesterday I was lovely and warm.

Can’t help thinking that the thyroid test would give me more information if I’d actually taken my early morning Levothyroxine.
After all, don’t I need to know what my levels are on medication not off it!

Any thoughts? X

[ATB]

I do exercise before the test, like a 10 minute Leslie sansone walking  video? Gets you warmed up. I don’t know how much difference taking the medication makes, I’ve found that the way they ask you to do them does give me reliable results that match the symptoms or lack of. I had thought the effects of the thyroid meds aren’t felt for a week anyway. Someone else might have more input.

[Clarella]

No, the advice I was given from The British Thyroid Foundation via Prof Simon Pearce is to take thyroxine after the test.

It has a half life of around 7 days so the dose you take the previous day will still be very much there.

A morning dose can sometimes give a falsely high reading.

It’s all v approximate as all the levels fluctuate during the day anyway, so interpreting tests are always a mix of looking at the numbers but also how you feel. everyone is different too.  Tsh is naturally slightly higher in the morning.

If you’re on thyroxine you do need slightly more than healthy people but it’s all individual. Slightly too Much can actually cause similar issues to slightly too little as the reverse T3 action means less T4 is converted.

Good levels of Oestrogen can actually give you cold extremities too!

[ATB]

Marchlove which test did you get? The full panel? Medi checks are good because the doctors understand the importance of the Free T3 & T4 numbers and that TSH is suppressed on medication so largely irrelevant.

[ATB]

Also not everyone is just on thyroxine, so whatever you take, take it after the test just to be sure.

[Marchlove]

Hi ATB and Clarella

Yes got the full works thyroid check done and didn’t take my thyroxine until after the test.

It’s all such a muddle for me, but I’m glad I’ve at last got the full panel done.

I’ll report back with my results and also list current symptoms, so hopefully you more knowledgeable ladies might help me understand what might be going on.

Big thank you xxxx

[ATB]

You’re welcome. Also I was advised by an old specialist to take my daily body temperature as well, first thing in the morning before getting up. If you Google it you will find more info and a chart to help you. It’s a good way of assessing and some think the most reliable. I prefer all 3, symptoms, tests and temperatures when I think I’m not quite right.

[Marchlove]

Will do ATB xx