Re: thyroid + fibroids

[Guest guest]

Tish,

I've also heard that women with fibroids tend to be overweight and yet I've

met many, many thin (some tooo thin!) and also " normal " sized women with

fibroids. I'm more and more convinced that it's in the genes. I'm adopted

but recently met both sets of birth families. Found out that I have an aunt

on both sides who suffered with fibroids. My adopted mom has hypothyroidism

and no fibroids. The thing about low thyroid and fibroids is that there are

so many women with thyorid problems out there, and there are also lots of

women with fibroids, so there's bound to be a great overlap. However, I

don't know much about the thyroid myself.

Carol H.

> http://www.lef.org/doctors/directoryofdoctors01.html

>

http://www.worldhealth.net/cgi-local/DB_Search/db_search.cgi?setup_file=whn.

> setup.cgi (this site is for anti-aging docs with an interest in hormones)

>

> That's really interesting that you can't keep weight on. I had read one

> study that found that women with fibroids on average were 10 to 20 lbs

> heavier than women without. I've seen posts over the years from women who

> were personal trainers or had other jobs or activities that kept them thin

> and in great shape who had fibroids. I really wish someone would take a

> close look at a wide range of hormones of women with and without

fibroids.

> So far about all they've looked at is estradiol and progesterone. Maybe

that

> has little to do with it. Maybe high estrogen is merely a symptom of

> something else out of balance that is causing the fibroids to grow. Or

maybe

> they are mostly genetically related.

>

> Anyway, good luck and take care.

> Tish

[Guest guest]

Tish,

I've also heard that women with fibroids tend to be overweight and yet I've

met many, many thin (some tooo thin!) and also " normal " sized women with

fibroids. I'm more and more convinced that it's in the genes. I'm adopted

but recently met both sets of birth families. Found out that I have an aunt

on both sides who suffered with fibroids. My adopted mom has hypothyroidism

and no fibroids. The thing about low thyroid and fibroids is that there are

so many women with thyorid problems out there, and there are also lots of

women with fibroids, so there's bound to be a great overlap. However, I

don't know much about the thyroid myself.

Carol H.

> http://www.lef.org/doctors/directoryofdoctors01.html

>

http://www.worldhealth.net/cgi-local/DB_Search/db_search.cgi?setup_file=whn.

> setup.cgi (this site is for anti-aging docs with an interest in hormones)

>

> That's really interesting that you can't keep weight on. I had read one

> study that found that women with fibroids on average were 10 to 20 lbs

> heavier than women without. I've seen posts over the years from women who

> were personal trainers or had other jobs or activities that kept them thin

> and in great shape who had fibroids. I really wish someone would take a

> close look at a wide range of hormones of women with and without

fibroids.

> So far about all they've looked at is estradiol and progesterone. Maybe

that

> has little to do with it. Maybe high estrogen is merely a symptom of

> something else out of balance that is causing the fibroids to grow. Or

maybe

> they are mostly genetically related.

>

> Anyway, good luck and take care.

> Tish

[Guest guest]

Testing for low thyroid is a simple blood test. Granted there are several

hormones involved in the test and there are several blood tests that can

check each of these.

In general (and I stress this point) a hypoactive thyroid is treated by

taking a pill called Synthroid on a daily basis. This is the treatment that

I have had since I was diagnosed with a hypoactive thyroid at age 5. I have

been taking Synthroid ever since (I'm 38).

I can tell you that I can usually tell when my medication needs to be

increased because I become tired, cold and have no energy. Once it is

corrected, you won't believe the difference. I've found the symptoms for low

thyroid are very similar to those of anemia.

I was the first one in my family diagnosed with this problem. Since then, my

Mother, and brother were also diagnosed.

Hope this helps,

Ann

[Guest guest]

Testing for low thyroid is a simple blood test. Granted there are several

hormones involved in the test and there are several blood tests that can

check each of these.

In general (and I stress this point) a hypoactive thyroid is treated by

taking a pill called Synthroid on a daily basis. This is the treatment that

I have had since I was diagnosed with a hypoactive thyroid at age 5. I have

been taking Synthroid ever since (I'm 38).

I can tell you that I can usually tell when my medication needs to be

increased because I become tired, cold and have no energy. Once it is

corrected, you won't believe the difference. I've found the symptoms for low

thyroid are very similar to those of anemia.

I was the first one in my family diagnosed with this problem. Since then, my

Mother, and brother were also diagnosed.

Hope this helps,

Ann

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the information.

[Guest guest]

I agree with you about the genetics and that the two groups may be

overlapping. I am well aware that many women with fibroids are thin.

So, probably there are many causes of fibroid growth. One way that

low thyroid might be overlapping into the fibroid group is in the

fact that low thyroid causes estrogen to go high, progesterone low,

and prolactin high. It also interferes with the ovulation cycle. If

there isn't enough T3 to give the body energy, the liver slows down.

When the liver gets slow, it can't eliminate estrogen efficiently.

The liver is the biggest processor of hormones. Also, when there is

low thyroid, the intestinal tract doesn't function properly and

nutrients and protein are not properly taken up resulting in poor

hormone production and reduced liver function again. High estrogen

itself can cause thyroid problems because it causes the binding up of

thyroid hormone to a protein making it unavailable to cells for

energy. There have been some articles written where doctors have been

concerned about estrogen in pills or in the environment raising

estrogen in women and effecting thyroid function. Also, I have read a

couple of studies that found that women with fibroids on average were

a bit heavier than those without. Though, they admitted that there

were some in the group who were thin. So, who knows the answer? I

suspect that perhaps my fibroids whould never had bothered me and

gotten so large had I not had other health issues fueling them.

Another thing is that celiac sufferers often develop thyroid

problems. Celiac disease can cause women to be thin and not able put

on weight while at the same time they have altered hormone and liver

function from the lack of taking up nutrients needed for good health

and hormone function. I'm not denying at all that fibroids may be

caused by genetics (I'm a case in point) and a wide range of other

health issues mixed in. In my case I think that I might have made it

to menopause just fine with mine had I not had other health problems

making it worse.

[Guest guest]

I have

>suspected that I have low thyroid function as well but don't know for sure.

>Does anyone know how easy it is to test for that and if it is low, how do you

>remedy low thyroid function?

>

The usual first test is a blood test for TSH levels (TSH is thyroid

stimulating hormone). I think it's a pretty basic test, no special

technique required, shouldn't be expensive or something that a doctor

should have a problem with ordering if you say you're concerned about it --

and a useful baseline for the future.

There is a school of thought that holds that you can have a blood test in

the normal range and still have low or borderline-low thyroid function.

The alternative test for low thyroid function -- which was also the

standard medical test in the days before the blood test was developed -- is

something you can do at home at no cost or risk, assuming you already have

a thermometer (or more than one if anyone else in the household wants to

use it in the next two weeks and is going to be grossed out by what you're

planning to do with this one!). It consists of taking your temperature in

your armpit every morning -- just as soon as you wake up, just sit up in

bed and grab for the themometer which you've left next to the bed the night

before. It's important that you don't get up, go to the bathroom, have

anything to drink -- move as little as possible. Hold the themometer in

your armpit for three minutes or until it beeps if you have that kind, and

then record your temperature. Do this every day for two weeks. According

to this school of thought, a consistently subnormal reading -- like 96-97 F

or so, or even lower -- indicates low thyroid.

Doctors who don't agree with this school of thought will tell you that low

morning temps are very common in women over 30. Doctors who do will say

yes, and that's the point, subclinical hypothyroidism is also very common.

Anyway, you can do the temp test and have that as an additional symptom to

point out to your doctor along with whatever other symptoms you may be

having. Or, if your temps are normal and your blood work is normal, then

thyroid may not be part of your problem.

The remedy is prescription thyroid supplements, which is most commonly

Synthyroid, but some people and some doctors prefer Armour Thyroid which is

made from pig and cow thyroid (so not suitable for people who are avoiding

meat byproducts for any reason -- or if you really can't take a pill that

sometimes smells slightly like rancid lard!) For the subclinical cases,

you'd usually be started on a very low dose.

I take Armour myself and have been happy with an improvement in fatigue and

depression since I started on it about four years ago. But I have noticed

that the effects seem to be wearing off or plateauing, and now with the

thought that there may be an estrogen connection which could also be part

of the fibroid picture, I think it's time to check back with my doctor.

You can find out a lot more about thyroid on the Web. I found the About.com

site on hypothyroidism a useful start point (some of their others are not

so hot).

[Guest guest]

I have

>suspected that I have low thyroid function as well but don't know for sure.

>Does anyone know how easy it is to test for that and if it is low, how do you

>remedy low thyroid function?

>

The usual first test is a blood test for TSH levels (TSH is thyroid

stimulating hormone). I think it's a pretty basic test, no special

technique required, shouldn't be expensive or something that a doctor

should have a problem with ordering if you say you're concerned about it --

and a useful baseline for the future.

There is a school of thought that holds that you can have a blood test in

the normal range and still have low or borderline-low thyroid function.

The alternative test for low thyroid function -- which was also the

standard medical test in the days before the blood test was developed -- is

something you can do at home at no cost or risk, assuming you already have

a thermometer (or more than one if anyone else in the household wants to

use it in the next two weeks and is going to be grossed out by what you're

planning to do with this one!). It consists of taking your temperature in

your armpit every morning -- just as soon as you wake up, just sit up in

bed and grab for the themometer which you've left next to the bed the night

before. It's important that you don't get up, go to the bathroom, have

anything to drink -- move as little as possible. Hold the themometer in

your armpit for three minutes or until it beeps if you have that kind, and

then record your temperature. Do this every day for two weeks. According

to this school of thought, a consistently subnormal reading -- like 96-97 F

or so, or even lower -- indicates low thyroid.

Doctors who don't agree with this school of thought will tell you that low

morning temps are very common in women over 30. Doctors who do will say

yes, and that's the point, subclinical hypothyroidism is also very common.

Anyway, you can do the temp test and have that as an additional symptom to

point out to your doctor along with whatever other symptoms you may be

having. Or, if your temps are normal and your blood work is normal, then

thyroid may not be part of your problem.

The remedy is prescription thyroid supplements, which is most commonly

Synthyroid, but some people and some doctors prefer Armour Thyroid which is

made from pig and cow thyroid (so not suitable for people who are avoiding

meat byproducts for any reason -- or if you really can't take a pill that

sometimes smells slightly like rancid lard!) For the subclinical cases,

you'd usually be started on a very low dose.

I take Armour myself and have been happy with an improvement in fatigue and

depression since I started on it about four years ago. But I have noticed

that the effects seem to be wearing off or plateauing, and now with the

thought that there may be an estrogen connection which could also be part

of the fibroid picture, I think it's time to check back with my doctor.

You can find out a lot more about thyroid on the Web. I found the About.com

site on hypothyroidism a useful start point (some of their others are not

so hot).