I have a few things going on and Im not sure what exactly is causing my problems, but I have got to get it figured out. I have premature menopause, Ive been taking loestrin 1.5/30 for years and it worked great at first, but for the past 2 years I started changing the way I take it because I am getting such severe water retention. I used to take it for 3 months straight then break for a period, when the bloating stared, I tried taking the break monthly, that was worse, I couldn't get through 2 weeks without feeling like a sausage. Anyway, about 10 months ago I decided to go off of the pills all together, the first 2 weeks were fine, then I got a migraine that could kill a horse, I had terrible anxiety and my blood pressure was sky rocketing, then I started getting muscle twitching and weakness. My doc ran some tests, still meno of course, but my liver enzymes were also slightly elevated. The anxiety and the tiredness got so bad I went back on the pills. I did ok but the muscle twitching never did stop, and the bloating came back. I tried a lower dose pill the loestrin 24 which is only 20mcg of estrogen instead of 30. I was so tired the entire months I was like a zombie. I ended up at a nuerologist who said he thought it was my thryroid, sent me to an endo who said I had Hashimotos even though my thyroid tests were normal because I had high antibodies. She put me on synthroid and withing 2 weeks I felt like I was on diet pills, I was having adrenaline rushes at night and couldn't sleep, but I did notice that the weakness in my legs went away, however the twitching was worse! I stopped taking the synthroid 1 week ago and I am so tired, Im on the loestrin 1.5/30 and trying to take it without the break again, but I am still noticing the anxiety. I feel like my blood pressure is up a few hours after I take the pill. I am at a loss, the endo says the thyroid meds weren't causing any of my anxiety, my GP says I don't need thyroid meds because my thyroid tests are normal and here I am still tired but anxious. Im starting to think maybe it is the female hormones that is causing all of it. Does anyone get adrenaline rushes, high blood pressure feelings, water retention and muscle twitching and fatigue from problems with there hormones? I must sound nuts. I feel like stopping all meds and starting over.

hi gofigerr, your gp doctor most likely doesn't have a clue about hashimoto disease, so i would still try to take some sort of replacement. what dose were you on of synthroid, and do you know what your levels are ? i would strongly advise you to get a copy of your labs from now on, and look up as much as you can about hashimoto disease. thank goodness your endo is smart enough to address this ! hugs, kelly

Thanks Kelly,

My tests before the synthroid were;

THS 2.62, free T4 .80 (very low end of normal) Free t3 1.65 which was right in the middle of the range. My tpo antibodies were 560. Normal is less than 20.

I have a feeling it is the higher dose of estrogen that is causing the anxiety and high bp feeling, but when I lower my estrogen I get so tired I can't function. I don't have any clear answers. The endo even said she wasn't sure if any of my symptoms were from the Hashimotos the only one she was really hoping would improve was the water retention. Im just so confused I really feel like Im falling apart

i can promise you, that thyroid antibodies can cause havoc. your tsh is too high, and your t4 is too low. you do need some kind of replacement. thyroid can affect ever cell in your body. i was misdiagnosed for years and years, and even had a partial hysterectomy.( i have one ovary). for years i wans't amking any estrogen on my own. it has just been in the last 3 months that i am starting to cycle and producing estrogen. all this because i am taking thyroid meds for hashimoto ( my antibodies were 4600 and are now down to 2610) i may still need to add some estrogen in, or maybe even take the pill, but i am doing better since taking thyroid meds. you may need to start out slow with them, or you may need to change brands. my tsh was also always within range, so please read up on hashimoto disease and see how it can affect your brain and menstral cycle. trust me when i tell you thyroid and ovaries go hand in hand ( so to speak). do you remember how much synthroid you were on?

i was on such a low dose, it was only 1/2 of 24mcg of synthroid (generic) levothyroxine.

I mean 1/2 of 25mcg

i sent you a pm. i wanted to give you the name of a good site to visit, and we cant post them on the threads. you may need to half the 12.5 as well, but i think you needed a little more time to get adjusted to the meds. remember you are waking up cells that have been sluggish for a while. hugs, kelly

thank you so much. A few people have said give it time it was just getting so bad, I could't sleep at night. The endo told me to take xanax but I figured if the thyroid meds caused me to need xanax maybe I just didn't need the meds. Maybe I will give it another try.