low progesterone = thyroid troubles??
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| Wed, 09-15-2004 - 11:30am |
I have noticed my eyebrows are DISAPPEARING! I never really paid too much attention to them -- didn't often pluck them, but noticed a few stragglers the other day by the inner brow and then I noticed as I looked really closely to the further line of the brow, there's little to no hair there!
Earlier this year, I had blood work due to menstrual problems and pain. They found a thickened uterine lining and after a biopsy, said it was related to a very low progesterone. Gyne said no chance for a successful pregnancy with this low level, which wasn't a concern for me, as my husband has a vasectomy! I was given a rx for progesterone...which, I never filled or took. And now this... is there a link between very low progesterone and thyroid problems? I always was diagnosed with Raynauds (cold hands/feet). I've been told I'm in perimenopause for the past 3 yrs now.
I also was doing WW for the past 2 yrs and successfully lost 60 lbs... have gained almost 7 in 2 months and don't know why! UGH....
I don't really know exactly which test the dr had ordered in Aug, but the high range on their lab would be 10.9 and mine was 11.4. The blood TSH levels that were taken in March at the gyne office were 1.57 -- within the normal range, so I am told for that test.
This stuff is confusing! My sister has been battling with a lupus/scleroderma diagnosis for the past 3 yrs.... My next step in my mind is to see an endo dr and have all the hormones/thyroid stuff checked. How do I find a good one???
Thanks....

Your family ahs a pattern of autoimmune diseases, of which hypothyroidism is one - it's called Hashimoto's hypothyroidism, named after the doctor that discovered it. The thing about autoimmune conditions is that once you have one, you're more prone to get other ones! It might not happen but you also have Raynaud's, which is another autoimmune condition.
Perimenopausal symptoms are also very similiar to hypo symptoms but you have the Raynaud's, menstrual problems - were your periods very heavy and painful? - and the whole eyebrow thing!! That happened to me, too. I also lost most of my eyelashes. Do you notice that you don't have to shave your legs etc, as often either? That happened to me.
Your TSH level of 11.4 is high. I haven't ever heard of a lab range with a high end of 10.9. The average is 5.5. And considering that it was normal in March, your levels are climbing pretty rapidly. To find a good doctor, start asking around! Ask your family and friends, co-workers, at your church if you go, wherever you know people well enough. You can also go to http://www.aace.com/, and click under Services for endos in your area that are members of the AACE, American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologists. You can also let us know where you are so that if someone here knows a good doctor in your area, they can give you their name and number. But honestly, taht would have to come from a lurker because most everyone who posts here has a terrible doctor so far! LOL! But seriously, someone here may be able to help. I hope this helps you and I'll get back to you if I find anything out about the progesterone. Cathy :)
Anyways, the menstrual problems I was having were irregular and lots of starting, stopping starting again. My abdomen felt bloated alot. Gyne did an u/s and found the lining thickened. Did a biopsy to rule out precancerous condition/cancer, etc. I was told it was thickening due to lack of progesterone and if we didn't correct the thickening, there was a chance in 10 + yrs of it becoming precancerous or cancerous. I am leery of taking the progesterone. Probably because my sister was given an estrogen patch a few years back and WHAMO, she got deathly ill and so the lupus/scleroderma adventure began :(
The cold hands/feet for me started about 3 yrs ago in just one toe. It would swell real bad and throb. Then turn purple and almost get an ulcer thing on it. Didn't believe my family doc, so went to a podiatrist who did x-rays to rule out a break or arthritis. Now, just sitting in the house with the AC on and my hands/feet are ALWAYS cold!
I'm going tomorrow a.m. for another blood draw and the medical asst said no need to fast for this one.
I even was pulling out my wedding pictures (11 yrs ago) and more recent pictures to see if my eyebrows were always this thin and non=apparent. They weren't. Husband keeps trying to tell me, well, you're getting older now, blah blah blah. I have horrible sinus/allergy problems and attribute my lack of feeling like "walking on sunshine" to that. hmmm..
Thank you for all the helpful info on this board...
Anyway the link between low progesterone and hypothryroid is an interesting one. It's also something I had never heard of. Here's some of what I've found:
">I have PCOS, and I have struggled with it for many years. I've tried everything and nothing has ever helped. But I recently found out that there is a relationship between having to much estrogen and hypothyroid. I found out at a class that there a two hormones in a woman's body that are supposed to work together- Estrogen and Progesterone. Estrogen is like the gas in our cars and Progesterone is like the brakes. Estrogen dominates the first half of our cycle and Progesterone is supposed to dominate the second half of our cycle. Progesterone is made in the ovary after the egg comes out when we ovulate.When we don't ovulate every month like we are supposed to we lack in progesterone. When we lack in progesterone it causes a lot of problems,Such as -hypothyroid,lack of blood sugar control,infertility, depression,fatigue,weight gain,PCOS,increased body hair,etc. I found out that you can't take progesterone in a pill because it is hard on your liver and if you go to the doctor and ask for some progesterone they will give you something called Progestin.This is not the same Progesterone in our bodies. It is synthetic and fools our bodies into thinking we have progesterone without any benefits,but with side effects. So someone made a cream that you rub on your skin and your body absorbs the progesterone and is able to use it. I decided to try it. I first wnted to see if I was low in Progesterone .So I had a Saliva test done during the 2nd half of my cycle and I found out that I was low in progesterone. I decided to give the cream a try, I was desperate. I tried thre different kinds of cream and found one that really works! I felt better almost immediately. My depression lifted , my hypoglycemia felt better, I have regular periods , I ovulate every month,I'm not so emotional, My thyroid is working better. This was the answer to many prayers." This is from the site: http://forums.obgyn.net/pcos/PCOS.0301/0713.html
"Hi Catherine,
I would like information on how the progesterone affects the thyroid. I am hypothyroid. When I take the cream it has the affect (after about a week) of too much thyroid medication. Please explain why this happens.
Thanks,
Terri
Catherine responds ...
Dear Terri,
The thyroid gland, largest of the endocrine glands, is the body's metabolic thermostat. It regulates body temperature and the rate of energy production, which greatly influences the rate at which all body organs function. This butterfly-shaped gland, located close to the windpipe, secretes two hormones: thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3). Approximately 93% of the thyroid gland production is T4 with 7% T3. Secretion of thyroid hormones is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone, secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain. The thyroid gland also secretes a hormone called calcitonin, involved in calcium metabolism.
Although all the body's hormones interact, there is a closer than usual relationship of thyroid to ovarian hormones. Most commonly, as a woman approaches menopause, estrogen excess or progesterone deficiency tends to cause a hypothyroid state.
Progesterone deficiency, for example, can cause fatigue, weight gain, irritability, depression, memory and concentration problems, headaches, irregular and painful mentstrual cycles, fluid retention, loss of sex drive, and cold hands and feet. These same symptoms are also characteristic of hypothyroidism and thyroid hormone resistance.
Emerging evidence suggests the symptoms of hypothyroidism occurring in patients with progesterone deficiency become less so when progesterone is added and hormone balance is achieved. In other words, progesterone supplementation can play a major role in balancing our hormones which can very likely include improved thyroid hormone function.
Many women suffering estrogen dominance are taking thyroid supplements that, when progesterone is introduced and estrogen dominance is corrected, can often reduced or eliminate thyroid medication altogether. Therefore, if you have been diagnosed with a thyroid problem, are on thyroid medication and now want to incorporate natural progesterone into your regime, there's no reason why you can't providing you do so under the strict supervision of your treating physician.
Your thyroid medication, however, may require regular adjustment as progesterone exerts an influence upon the thyroid gland (progesterone may cause a potentiation of thyroxine's effects leading to hyperthyroidism)." me again - This is from the site: http://www.natural-progesterone-advisory-network.com/News/article040120-3.htm
me also: Here is a link on pregnancy, low progesterone and high TSH: http://www.medhelp.org/forums/maternal/archive/3942.html
It is interesting that I've always had an allergic reaction to my own progesterone -a rare condition that I experienced during the high progesterone phase of my menstrual cycle. As I got my thyroid under control, and as I aged and produced less progesterone, the allergy has all but disappeared. I never connected it my thyroid in terms of the hormones but more in terms of the autoimmune condition but I see now that is probably related more closely than I thought. It seems that you and your sister are both suffering from hormonal imbalances. This is such a complicated area - but I think you've really hit on something here!
I'm going to check this out some more later but I've run out of time for now!! I have a doctor's appointment and I'm meeting a friend for lunch so I'll check back with you later. Cathy :)
Complicated creatures, we are, aren't we???
Thank you again... My sister has her dr appt today to discuss why the lupus dx now turned to a scleroderma dx. She's lost all the hair on her legs and she uses a pencil for her eyebrows. She's got a whole host of other issues (severe Raynauds, swollen joints, liver troubles, bladder troubles, low heart rate, the list goes on )
She's going to bring up the thyroid issue today, as they have not been checking that on a regular basis... I'm surprised at that!
Thank you....
Kris
Now, I AM CONFUSED! UGH.
I'm going to wait to see what the results come back from this test, but may still make an appt with an endo to have my ENTIRE hormone system checked! The only blood work the dr ran last month and again today was the TSH and T4... I keep reading about other thyroid tests that are available... why wouldn't he order those?
Thank you for all your info....
Kris