Re: Question about Birth Control pills

[Guest guest]

I personally think there is.

When I first went in to the dr in Nov. my dr thought I had low thyroid function.

She did labs and went ahead and gave me a " trial " estrogen shot. She did this

b/c I am 38 and have had a hysterectomy. She said I may also need estrogen

treatment as well as thyroid hormone replacement. She said to give it a try,

and let her know when I came back the following week how I felt. If it helped

she would give me a prescription. I felt drastically worse. Only worked a 1/2

day the next day(friday) then struggled through the weekend. All complaints I

had were worsened. I researched this and guess what I found........Estrogen

suppresses thryoid. Plus, there I was. Listed out in the low thyroid symptoms

lists. So I thought, " well then I must really have low thyroid function " ! I

went back in for the follow-up and we were both shocked. My labs said I was

hyperT. I was confused, I asked her about the estrogen suppressing the thyroid

and that I hadn't felt better. She said the shot I got also had progesterone in

it and prog. will simulate the thyroid and that is why I felt worse.

I, of course, don't know how long I have had hyperT. From looking at various

symptom lists I can see that I have had alot of the symptoms dating all the way

back to childhood. By looking at my symptom history, it seems I had less severe

symptoms while I was on birth control pills(nordette 7/7/7). I don't know as I

haven't researched it, but this pill my have been an estrogen only pill. And

just maybe kept me slightly suppressed on the thryoid hormones. Don't really

know though, only speculation at this point.

Hope that helps some. Its my story and I'm stinkin' to it!

Kim M.

Question about Birth Control pills

I posted this same question on the Graves' Support board, but thought

I'd try it here to see if I get different answers. My mother seems to

think there might be a connection to my hyperT symptoms (put back on

PTU 1 1/2 weeks ago) and my BC pills. Anyone have any idea??

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

I also have some suspicion about Birth Control pills.

On Feb 2003, I gave birth to a little girl. Somewhere in April or May 2003, I

started on progesterone only birth control pills because I was nursing my baby.

My OB told me my normal birth control pills had estrogen and it would interfere

with milk production.

I continued on using progesterone only birth control pills until 2004, even

after I stopped nursing. Because I thought, it worked ok for me. In May 2004, I

was diagnosed with hyperT. My Endo didn't think this was post-partum related

because it was over a year after my daughter was born.

I read somewhere that progesterone is often used to stimulate thyroid

production and is normally used to treat hypothyroid. I immediated stopped

taking the progesterone only pills and switched back to my normal pills. I

started treatments with Tapazole and ThyroidThrou.

I am fine and normal now. But I think I would probably avoid taking

progesterone only pills again.

Anyone out there has similar experience?

-shinta

--- kkmwn@... wrote:

> I personally think there is.

>

> When I first went in to the dr in Nov. my dr thought I had low thyroid

> function. She did labs and went ahead and gave me a " trial " estrogen shot.

> She did this b/c I am 38 and have had a hysterectomy. She said I may also

> need estrogen treatment as well as thyroid hormone replacement. She said to

> give it a try, and let her know when I came back the following week how I

> felt. If it helped she would give me a prescription. I felt drastically

> worse. Only worked a 1/2 day the next day(friday) then struggled through

> the weekend. All complaints I had were worsened. I researched this and

> guess what I found........Estrogen suppresses thryoid. Plus, there I was.

> Listed out in the low thyroid symptoms lists. So I thought, " well then I

> must really have low thyroid function " ! I went back in for the follow-up and

> we were both shocked. My labs said I was hyperT. I was confused, I asked

> her about the estrogen suppressing the thyroid and that I hadn't felt better.

> She said the shot I got also had progesterone in it and prog. will simulate

> the thyroid and that is why I felt worse.

>

> I, of course, don't know how long I have had hyperT. From looking at various

> symptom lists I can see that I have had alot of the symptoms dating all the

> way back to childhood. By looking at my symptom history, it seems I had less

> severe symptoms while I was on birth control pills(nordette 7/7/7). I don't

> know as I haven't researched it, but this pill my have been an estrogen only

> pill. And just maybe kept me slightly suppressed on the thryoid hormones.

> Don't really know though, only speculation at this point.

>

> Hope that helps some. Its my story and I'm stinkin' to it!

> Kim M.

>

> Question about Birth Control pills

>

>

> I posted this same question on the Graves' Support board, but thought

> I'd try it here to see if I get different answers. My mother seems to

> think there might be a connection to my hyperT symptoms (put back on

> PTU 1 1/2 weeks ago) and my BC pills. Anyone have any idea??

>

> Thanks,

>

[Guest guest]

I started on hormone replacement therapy (hrt) because my gyno convinced me

that if I didn't I would develope heart disease and osteoporosis. Within in a

year I developed the thyroid goiter, then my hair started falling out and I

went to a dermatologist. He felt because it happened in relation to the time

I starting hrt, that that was the most likely cause. I quit the estrogen and

the progestrogen at that time, but, soon after I was diagnosed with hyperT.

In one of my conversations with an endo, I told her that I thought there was a

connection between the hrt and my developing hyperT. She came back sooooo fast

with, " there is no evidence to suggest that! " , that I was taken back. I firmly

believe the pharmacutical companies and the doctors don't want to admit the

connection because of the risks of law suits. So, that's my story & I'm

stinkin to it too, Judy

[Guest guest]

I guess I should have mentioned that I am on Nortrel 1/35 (generic

of Ortho Novum). The ingredients say norethindrone 1mg, ethinyl

estradiol 35mcg. I haven't, from your responses, figured out if

what I am on would have an adverse affect on my hyperT coming back.

Does anyone have any more info, or should I just wait to see what

the dr. says when I go for my 2nd opinion?

>

> I started on hormone replacement therapy (hrt) because my gyno

convinced me

> that if I didn't I would develope heart disease and osteoporosis.

Within in a

> year I developed the thyroid goiter, then my hair started falling

out and I

> went to a dermatologist. He felt because it happened in relation

to the time

> I starting hrt, that that was the most likely cause. I quit the

estrogen and

> the progestrogen at that time, but, soon after I was diagnosed

with hyperT.

> In one of my conversations with an endo, I told her that I thought

there was a

> connection between the hrt and my developing hyperT. She came back

sooooo fast

> with, " there is no evidence to suggest that! " , that I was taken

back. I firmly

> believe the pharmacutical companies and the doctors don't want to

admit the

> connection because of the risks of law suits. So, that's my story

& I'm

> stinkin to it too, Judy

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In the early 90's a chiropractor I was using at the time said he thought

there was a connection between the birth control pill comng on the market in the

60's and the rise in thyroid problems in women after that. I asked two endos.

and both said no evidences. I tend to believe the chiropractor. I went from

the bc pill to hrt. I'm now on bioidentical compounded hormones for

menopause. This is really interesting.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

Judy did you hair problem and goiter resolve itself? I have both a goiter

and a hair problem. Both are long term. My hair started shedding in the shower

when I was about 36. I'm now 54. Only in the last few years have I noticed

a thinner look to my hair. I' m surprised I'm not bald by now. I was

thinking about trying saw palmetto for the hair loss. I was reading on the

iThyroid

website that for male pattern it's helpful. It seemed to say that women can

use it for the same thing.

I had been thinking lately about going off the hrt. I just had my semi

annual visit and didn't feel like talking about it to my gyno at the time.

Sandy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/19/2006 10:47:03 PM Eastern Standard Time,

richjami@... writes:

I guess I should have mentioned that I am on Nortrel 1/35 (generic

of Ortho Novum). The ingredients say norethindrone 1mg, ethinyl

estradiol 35mcg. I haven't, from your responses, figured out if

what I am on would have an adverse affect on my hyperT

According to , who founded this list and continues his research on

iThyroid.com, estrogen suppresses thyroid hormone, while progesterone stimulates

it.

This is actually pretty well documented elsewhere, as well.

AntJoan

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

My hair loss problem did resolve after about a year and a half. I think it

had to do with quiting the hrt and getting on PTU to get my thyroid levels in

check. The goiter stayed and didn't vary in size much over 5 1/2 years that I

was on PTU. In Dec. 05 I had the goiter side of my thyroid surgically

removed. Against the advice of 2 endos and the surgeon I only had the goiter

side removed because the uptake scan showed that the goiter side was

overproducing through independently operating nodules, the other side was

hardly producing at all. We agreed that it was probably because the goiter

side was dominating the production and there was no need, however, the medical

professionals were convinced that if I didn't take the whole thyroid, I would

likely become hyperT with the other half. Now I am out to prove them wrong! I

started making life style changes before the operation, but, now I am

serious. I quit coffee & caffiene, limit sugars & salt and NO diet drinks. I

go to accupuncture once a month now (more often before surgery and right

after). I have the book Living Well With Graves' Disease and Hyperthyroidism

by J. Shomon. I am trying many of the suggestions suggestions, such as

lemongrass tea, eating whole grains, & goitrogenic foods, like millet,

walnuts, peanuts, carrots. I am waiting until 6 to 8 weeks after the surgery

to have my thyroid checked, but, at 5 weeks I'm feelng pretty normal. I think

that this condition can be controled by how I behave and take care of myself.

I'm 54 and I think I need to calm down and stop and quit hurrying my life

away - quit " feeding the frenzy " as my accupuncturist says. I'll keep you

posted on how things go. Judy

[Guest guest]

thank you Judy. I'm 54 also. Your story sounds very similar to mine. I'm

thinking I will start tapering off the hrt by using it every other day. How did

you taper off it?

Sandy

[Guest guest]

I just quite, but, talk to your doctor. Judy

[Guest guest]

When I went off hrt I did it very very gradually at my doctor's suggestion. She

was not in favoor of my going off it at all. I started out at halving the

pills, then went every other day, every 3rd day, on to once a week and took a

month at that before stopping altogether. I did have a few hot flashes but

nothing too uncomfortable at all. This was a really big improvement from where

I had been before hrt. I was 54 or 55 at the time...

Kate

Re: Question about Birth Control pills

thank you Judy. I'm 54 also. Your story sounds very similar to mine. I'm

thinking I will start tapering off the hrt by using it every other day. How

did

you taper off it?

Sandy

[Guest guest]

Has anyone noticed increased hyperthyroid symptoms at different times in

menstrual cycles, such as an increase at the time of ovulation ?

Re: Question about Birth Control pills

When I went off hrt I did it very very gradually at my doctor's suggestion. She

was not in favoor of my going off it at all. I started out at halving the

pills, then went every other day, every 3rd day, on to once a week and took a

month at that before stopping altogether. I did have a few hot flashes but

nothing too uncomfortable at all. This was a really big improvement from where

I had been before hrt. I was 54 or 55 at the time...

Kate

Re: Question about Birth Control pills

thank you Judy. I'm 54 also. Your story sounds very similar to mine. I'm

thinking I will start tapering off the hrt by using it every other day. How

did

you taper off it?

Sandy

[Guest guest]

thank you Kste. I use capsules so I'm thinking every other day for a while.

Snady

[Guest guest]

Hi Sandy

Some capsules you can open and dump half out...

just a thought

I was taking estrogen and progestrone. The doc said to keep full dose of the

progestrone until I was at ever other day, etc...because the progestrone

couldn't be reduced in pill size.

Kate

Re: Question about Birth Control pills

thank you Kste. I use capsules so I'm thinking every other day for a while.

Snady