Hypothyroidism and PCOS Questions

HeatherV · 08-14-2006, 04:22 AM

Hello all,
I have recently been diagnosed with both PCOS and Hypothyroidism. The two conditions came to light when I went almost three months with no af after having a miscarriage in March. I also had no af (except for one which was Provera induced) after stopping BCP last August up to when I got pg at the end of Jan. My gyno ordered bloodwork which showed a TSH of 8. Subsequent testing by an endo revealed a lower TSH of 5.51 and high androgen levels from which she diagnosed PCOS. I'm now on .05 mg of Synthroid a day and building my way up to 1500 of Metformin. I have so many questions but the three that I need the most help with are:

1) Is it normal for TSH levels to fluctuate so greatly pre-medication (my TSH of 5.51 was from blood drawn the morning I took my first dose of Synthroid). Part of me wants to think that the high TSH was from my pregnancy and that my levels were dropping on their own. However I also have high levels of Thyroid Autoantibodies.

2) Is there anyone out there who has gotten pregnant "naturally" with both Hypothyroidism and PCOS? How long did it take?

3) Is it common to have PCOS and have no symptoms except for absent periods (which could have been caused by my thyroid)? I've gained 10 - 15 lbs in the past two years but my eating habits aren't great and I don't exercise (I know that I have to change all of this and will be seeing a dietician in Nov). I don't think that I have more body hair than the average person. I have pretty good skin, although it's slightly more prone to break outs as of late. Pre bcp my cycles were 2 months long on average with a very heavy af with horrible cramping but I never skipped an af.

So sorry for the long post. I'm just so confused about everything that I'm going through, the PCOS especially. Any real world advice or answers to my questions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Heather

CRISTINACEC · 08-14-2006, 02:14 PM

Hi Heather,
1. Taking your pill would effect your levels. The pill breaks down pretty quickly and goes into your system.
2. I was taking my synthroid and metformin and I got pregnant after six months of being on the medication. I used fertilityfriend to check my cycles I did the temp checking so I would know when I ovulated. Each month after taking synthoid and metformin my cycles were getting normal.
3. Before I was diagnosed with POCS and hypo throid disease my periods were getting lighter and lighter till the point I just spotted for a day. When I was younger I used to get real heavy periods and bad cramps. Back then I never kept track of when I got it so I don't know how far apart they were. Its strange one symtom of POCS and hypo throid is heavy periods my went to almost non existant. I wound up waiting a long time before I went to an ob to see what was wrong. I gained almost 100lbs but it was a mix of things with that. After I had my son I stopped taking metformin cause it would transfer over to my breastmilk. My ob had me stay on it the whole time. The first three months I was fine then I got my first period spotting. Since them I have been getting my period. My skin has become very greasy not matter what I do and breaking out right around the time I would ovulate. I'm also not ovulating till cd20 then getting my period 9days later. I'm going back to my doctor this week and going back on metformin.
I hope this helps if you have any guestions I will try my best to help you. Good luck Cristina

jsr72 · 08-17-2006, 02:43 AM

Ugh...I just deleted my response to your post so I'll try again.
This post probably won't be as eloquent.

1. The synthroid could affect your levels.

2. If you mean "naturally" as without the help of meds, then I did not get pg on my own. I needed the help of a great RE, who discovered my hypothroidism as well. Metformin, clomid, and hcg trigger shot and levothyroxine is the combo that got me pg. It took only 3 months under the care of an RE for me to get pg. Prior to that we had been trying for 6 months. In fact, we were still trying to get my thyroid under control when I got pg. Now, post-partum, my thyroid levels are still a little off. Have to get that blood work done next week...I'm rambling.

3. I think the symptoms of PCOS are different for all of us. I'm of average weight but had been quietly adding a few pounds each year. I do have excessive hair but nothing that tweezing and waxing can't handle.

Quote:

When I was younger I used to get real heavy periods and bad cramps. Back then I never kept track of when I got it so I don't know how far apart they were. Its strange one symtom of POCS and hypo throid is heavy periods my went to almost non existant.

This was exactly me too. I got heavy, frequent periods when I was young and then they vanished.

I hope this helps. I'm bummed I deleted my original post, it was so much better. Good luck.

CRISTINACEC · 08-17-2006, 02:13 PM

I am having the same problems with my levels. When I was pregnant I went from .075 to .088 and after I had my son I was on .088 for a few months I felt great then my re dropped it back down to .075 when my bloodwork came back as too low. I felt terrible once I was on .075 I just had bloodwork two weeks ago and it was too high so now I am back on .088 and I feel so much better. I just got my period this week. It has been the worst in many many years. Yesterday was so bad I was thinking of going to the hospital just to make sure I was ok. It was so heavy. Of course I had an ob appointment this week had to change it.

shenacat · 08-18-2006, 02:28 PM

I couldn't get pregnant until I was treated for my thyroid AND took metformin for my PCOS. And also my periods went nonexistant too. I started my first period at age 11 and by age 13-14 they started getting farther and farther apart. By the time I was 18 I had one period after an 8 month hiatus and it lasted 2 weeks.

I never had regular periods until I went on bcp when I was 21. I was not diagnosed with hypo or PCOS until I went off bcp to TTC when I was 24, and my thyroid started going nuts because of estrogen withdrawal.

My first pg was a miscarriage, but the doctors told me first pg's often ended in m/c. 5 months later I was pg with my 2 year old, and now I am pg w/#2. Each pregnancy was "natural" i.e. I took no other meds other than thyroid & metformin & vitamins.