Hypothryoid and menopause?

[elelsie]

I am 51 and have been on synthroid for 27 years.  I am post-menopausal.  I had a total thyroidectomy when I was 27 for papillary carcinoma. Oh I also had to have a total hysterectomy (still have ovaries) when I was 32.   I was curious, in general, has anyone noticed menopausal symptoms being more severe and earlier onset due to taking synthroid and having a hysterectomy?  I have 3 sisters and we are all close in age... 53, 52, 51 and 50.  I am the only one who appears to have started meno and I have had very strong symptoms. My sisters say none of them have really started yet.   Me on the other hand, hot flashes off the charts, heart palps 10xday (I have mitral valve prolapse anyway so palps are "normal" for me but they increased in frequency since onset of meno), panic attacks (I never had these before meno), short fuse, constipation worse, foggy brain (I am a sharp person, quick witted and I have a highly technical job of which I have never had trouble focusing before), insomnia (I used to sleep on a dime), and I have overall body pain, like my soft tissue is a bruise (everywhere all of my soft tissue), extreme stiffness in the morning.  It feels like I have to walk through an ocean of mud to get up.  I have also gained an extreme amount of weight. 75+lbs over the last 4 years and it seems to be increasing.  I just started the estrogen patch and it has helped with the meno symptoms alot, the heart palps are gone, very infrequent mild hot flashes now vs before etcetc.  Mainly now I am still dealing with the insomnia, panic, weight gain and constipation and the overall pain.  What is this and why do I feel so crappy?  I never knew menopause was so horrible AND I MEAN HORRIBLE.  If someone had told me when I was in my 20s that... oh yeah and guess what when you hit your 50s your gonna wish you were dead rather than feel like you hit a wall physically (figuratively speaking) EVERYDAY.  This is hell srsly.  I never knew I would hit meno age and feel this poorly.  I have been googling fibromyalgia for gods sakes to see if that's it????  I have been taking aspirins like they are candy 2 in the a.m. and 2 in the p.m. EVERYDAY this can' be good for the stomach lining in the long term? Plus, I am still in pain most of the time ie its not really helping. I take xanax .025 as needed, I'm on the patch (lowest dose, estrogen only, I don't need the progesterone because I had the hysterectomy), Ambien for sleep one a night.  This from being a person who took NO meds except the synthroid, of course. Now here is my daily list:
2-6 aspirin
1-2 tylenol #3 (if needed, for migraine)
synthroid
climara (estro patch)
ambien (1 a night)
2-4 a day xanax (usually 1-2, one in the morning and one in traffic =D.  I only have to take additional if I have panic attacks start up in between the other times I take it)
1 multi-vitamin for 50+ womens 1-a-day multiple
2 ginko biloba's

I'm trying to think if I forgot anything.  I think this is it in a nutshell.  Please let me know if meno symptoms are made more severe due to a combo of thyroidectomy and having had a hysterectomy.  It sure seems like it to me because NONE of my sisters are having any of these symptoms as bad.  They didn't have any of these surgeries either.

[BB8911]

Maybe get a ANA test to see if you might have any other autoimmune diseases going on.  We usually always resort back to the thyroid if we aren't feeling well, but sometimes it could be something else going on.  Especially if you have one autoimmune disease it's likely you could have more.  Just a thought.

[elelsie]

Thanks for your input.  I don' t recall if I was ever checked for Hashs.  I am going to have to go back and get my levels checked again.  I will ask about the TGab and TPOab too.  Since I posted I have just recently developed severe joint pain in the mornings to the point where I can't even bear weight on my feet.  I'm really scared now.  I have never felt this kind of pain.  ne way.  thanks for your help

[TamraW]

Also, get your vitamins checked. Many of us are B12 and D deficient. When I was low on D, I felt terrible!

:) Tamra

[TamraW]

I have a terrible time with my Hashimoto's disease during menstrual cycles. All Hashis who I've spoken to who have periods, do. A woman I spoke to who had a hysterectomy, still has issues during that time of the month, and she no longer has periods!

I'm sure the same would apply to menopause. You need to get your thyroid levels tested: TSH, FT3, FT4, even if you have no thyroid. Then, post those numbers here along with your current dosage of Synthroid. When you were diagnosed with thyroid cancer, did you also have Hashimoto's? Ever get the TGab and TPOab antibody tests?

Also, did you know that many drugs and vitamins can lessen the effect of your Synthroid if taken within four hours after taking Synthroid? Check with your doctor on this.


:) Tamra