I've been using estrogel .75 1x a day now for about 10 months. I've also been on thyroid hormones low doses for the last 9 months too. In the past 2 months I was switched to Cytomel and have been going up in the dose. I've just noticed in the last two days that my nipples are a little painful. Doesn't that usually mean estrogen is too high? I've not noticed this before. My last estradiol level was 12 and that was after putting on the estrogel and the progesterone was 1.1 and that was after putting on some OTC progesterone cream. I'm waiting on saliva tests to see what my e to p ratio is. I suspect all along I've been E dominant even though I've been doing Prometrium every month before switching to the cream.
I'm wondering if the Cytomel is getting my system to work better and maybe I don't need the estrogel as much if I'm getting this nipple symptom.
Anyone on thyroid notice this?
Full Version: Anyone on thyroid and HRT?
Hi Corky,
I'm taking 1 1/2 1MG estradiol tablets and my estrogen (serum) is 229 so quite high compared to yours. I'm also taking cytomel (the only thyroid med I'm on) and taking 2-4 5mg tablets a day. I've only been taking this for a little over a month, maybe 2. I started out at 5 and have upped them as I went. I'm beginning to feel quite good. No nipple pain but my headlights are quite obvious... it's embarrasing to wear some shirts.
I've always heard there is breast tenderness if E is too high but have never heard that the nipple pain only is caused by E.
I found this online :
Nipple tenderness may be caused by dry skin in the areolar region (the darker area surrounding the nipple) of the breast. Women who are breastfeeding can have irritated nipples from too much moisture or if the baby doesn't latch on properly while nursing. Injury to or friction over the nipple area can cause tenderness, as can other skin problems such as bacterial or fungal infections.
And this:
I am a registered nurse who works in the area of ob/gyn and did numerous years teaching breastfeeding and breast/ nipple care. Some of the symptoms you are all describing can be related to a disease called Raynaud's phenomenon. It mostly affects people's extremities (hands, feet) but has been know to affect nipples. The symptoms include severe constriction of the blood vessels causing the nipple to turn white or purple and causes severe pain. Treatment is limited to the symptoms as the medical community doesn't have a cure. Warm compresses, warm clothing (vests, layers etc) can be used to help. It is fairly rare although I have seen it in my practice twice as a health care professional.
Hope this helps.
I'm taking 1 1/2 1MG estradiol tablets and my estrogen (serum) is 229 so quite high compared to yours. I'm also taking cytomel (the only thyroid med I'm on) and taking 2-4 5mg tablets a day. I've only been taking this for a little over a month, maybe 2. I started out at 5 and have upped them as I went. I'm beginning to feel quite good. No nipple pain but my headlights are quite obvious... it's embarrasing to wear some shirts.
I've always heard there is breast tenderness if E is too high but have never heard that the nipple pain only is caused by E.
I found this online :
Nipple tenderness may be caused by dry skin in the areolar region (the darker area surrounding the nipple) of the breast. Women who are breastfeeding can have irritated nipples from too much moisture or if the baby doesn't latch on properly while nursing. Injury to or friction over the nipple area can cause tenderness, as can other skin problems such as bacterial or fungal infections.
And this:
I am a registered nurse who works in the area of ob/gyn and did numerous years teaching breastfeeding and breast/ nipple care. Some of the symptoms you are all describing can be related to a disease called Raynaud's phenomenon. It mostly affects people's extremities (hands, feet) but has been know to affect nipples. The symptoms include severe constriction of the blood vessels causing the nipple to turn white or purple and causes severe pain. Treatment is limited to the symptoms as the medical community doesn't have a cure. Warm compresses, warm clothing (vests, layers etc) can be used to help. It is fairly rare although I have seen it in my practice twice as a health care professional.
Hope this helps.
Corky:
What you didn't say was what thyroid med you were on prior to switching to Cytomel. Cytomel is a triiodothyronine (T3) only medication. There is some supposition out there (although I have never found references or studies to support) that T3 can increase the number of estrogen receptor sites. If this is true, this may be at least one of the reasons for the increased sensitivity.
Avi
What you didn't say was what thyroid med you were on prior to switching to Cytomel. Cytomel is a triiodothyronine (T3) only medication. There is some supposition out there (although I have never found references or studies to support) that T3 can increase the number of estrogen receptor sites. If this is true, this may be at least one of the reasons for the increased sensitivity.
Avi
QUOTE (corky21 @ Oct 9 2009, 07:43 AM) 
I've been using estrogel .75 1x a day now for about 10 months. I've also been on thyroid hormones low doses for the last 9 months too. In the past 2 months I was switched to Cytomel and have been going up in the dose. I've just noticed in the last two days that my nipples are a little painful. Doesn't that usually mean estrogen is too high? I've not noticed this before. My last estradiol level was 12 and that was after putting on the estrogel and the progesterone was 1.1 and that was after putting on some OTC progesterone cream. I'm waiting on saliva tests to see what my e to p ratio is. I suspect all along I've been E dominant even though I've been doing Prometrium every month before switching to the cream.
I'm wondering if the Cytomel is getting my system to work better and maybe I don't need the estrogel as much if I'm getting this nipple symptom.
Anyone on thyroid notice this?
I'm wondering if the Cytomel is getting my system to work better and maybe I don't need the estrogel as much if I'm getting this nipple symptom.
Anyone on thyroid notice this?
Yes I was wondering about the T3 and the estrogen link. I was taking 1.5 grains of Armour for like 6 months, then 2 grains of Nature throid until tht became unavailable too. While on the 2 grains of Nature Throid I was taking 10mcg of Cytomel (doctor found I had very high Reverse T3) and then I edged up the Cytomel to 20mcg a day and was fine. In the last two weeks I was switched to Synthroid and 25mcg of Cytomel because of the natural thyroid shortage.
I've decided to 1/2 my estrogel dose and then go every other day and try to wean off for awhile and see if I feel any different. I will stay on the progesterone cream though.
I have to research the T3 and estrogen receptor thing. I've heard that when thyroid levels get better sometimes the menopause problem corrects a little bit so I may not need as much of that. I also have gained 30lbs since starting the E and P in 2008.
The weird thing is my estradiol levels have been strange on the same dose: one time it was 616, then a week before that 217, then two months later 79, then 40, then most recently 12 all on the same .75mg of Estrogel prior to the test. But my progesterone was lower, so I think that ratio is keeping me E dominant all this time, and maybe that is what started the weight gain and big boobs, and now painful nipples??
I've decided to 1/2 my estrogel dose and then go every other day and try to wean off for awhile and see if I feel any different. I will stay on the progesterone cream though.
I have to research the T3 and estrogen receptor thing. I've heard that when thyroid levels get better sometimes the menopause problem corrects a little bit so I may not need as much of that. I also have gained 30lbs since starting the E and P in 2008.
The weird thing is my estradiol levels have been strange on the same dose: one time it was 616, then a week before that 217, then two months later 79, then 40, then most recently 12 all on the same .75mg of Estrogel prior to the test. But my progesterone was lower, so I think that ratio is keeping me E dominant all this time, and maybe that is what started the weight gain and big boobs, and now painful nipples??
QUOTE (corky21 @ Oct 10 2009, 09:03 AM)
Yes I was wondering about the T3 and the estrogen link. I was taking 1.5 grains of Armour for like 6 months, then 2 grains of Nature throid until tht became unavailable too. While on the 2 grains of Nature Throid I was taking 10mcg of Cytomel (doctor found I had very high Reverse T3) and then I edged up the Cytomel to 20mcg a day and was fine. In the last two weeks I was switched to Synthroid and 25mcg of Cytomel because of the natural thyroid shortage.
DID YOUR DOC, UPON DISCOVERING THE HIGH RT3 (AND GOD BLESS HIM/HER FOR TESTING FOR IT) LOWER YOUR T4 CONTAINING MED? IF NOT, THEN JUST SIMPLY ADDING IN CYTOMEL WOULD NOT HAVE HELPED..TO DECREASE RT3, THE SOURCE OF T4 HAS TO BE REMOVED.
I've decided to 1/2 my estrogel dose and then go every other day and try to wean off for awhile and see if I feel any different. I will stay on the progesterone cream though. WITH YOUR LOW ESTROGEN LEVELS, I WOULD NOT ADVISE BEING ON P WITHOUT ANY E.
I have to research the T3 and estrogen receptor thing. I've heard that when thyroid levels get better sometimes the menopause problem corrects a little bit so I may not need as much of that. I also have gained 30lbs since starting the E and P in 2008.
THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO HIGH RT3..READ UP ON REVERSE T3 (WHICH HRT CAN WORSEN) HIGH LEPTIN/LEPTIN RESISTANCE. DO YOU HAVE GLUCOSE CONTROL/DIABETES/INSULIN RESISTANCE ISSUES YOURSELF OR IN YOUR FAMILY.
The weird thing is my estradiol levels have been strange on the same dose: one time it was 616, then a week before that 217, then two months later 79, then 40, then most recently 12 all on the same .75mg of Estrogel prior to the test. But my progesterone was lower, so I think that ratio is keeping me E dominant all this time, and maybe that is what started the weight gain and big boobs, and now painful nipples??
616 IS A LITTLE HIGH FOR ANYBODY..HOW DID YOU FEEL AT 217? DO YOU HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT YOUR OWN ESTROGEN PRODUCTION HAS DECREASED? ARE YOU CHANGING APPLICATION SITES REGULARLY TO FACILITATE BETTER ABSORPTION? I DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THE "ESTROGEN DOMINANCE" THEORIES, BUT MORE TO A PHILOSOPHY OF FINDING INDIVIDUAL BALANCE..FOR YOU, HIGH RT3 MAY BE AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO RESOLVE BEFORE YOU FIND YOUR OWN "JUST RIGHT" COMBINATION.
HOPE THIS HELPS,
AVI
DID YOUR DOC, UPON DISCOVERING THE HIGH RT3 (AND GOD BLESS HIM/HER FOR TESTING FOR IT) LOWER YOUR T4 CONTAINING MED? IF NOT, THEN JUST SIMPLY ADDING IN CYTOMEL WOULD NOT HAVE HELPED..TO DECREASE RT3, THE SOURCE OF T4 HAS TO BE REMOVED.
I've decided to 1/2 my estrogel dose and then go every other day and try to wean off for awhile and see if I feel any different. I will stay on the progesterone cream though. WITH YOUR LOW ESTROGEN LEVELS, I WOULD NOT ADVISE BEING ON P WITHOUT ANY E.
I have to research the T3 and estrogen receptor thing. I've heard that when thyroid levels get better sometimes the menopause problem corrects a little bit so I may not need as much of that. I also have gained 30lbs since starting the E and P in 2008.
THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO HIGH RT3..READ UP ON REVERSE T3 (WHICH HRT CAN WORSEN) HIGH LEPTIN/LEPTIN RESISTANCE. DO YOU HAVE GLUCOSE CONTROL/DIABETES/INSULIN RESISTANCE ISSUES YOURSELF OR IN YOUR FAMILY.
The weird thing is my estradiol levels have been strange on the same dose: one time it was 616, then a week before that 217, then two months later 79, then 40, then most recently 12 all on the same .75mg of Estrogel prior to the test. But my progesterone was lower, so I think that ratio is keeping me E dominant all this time, and maybe that is what started the weight gain and big boobs, and now painful nipples??
616 IS A LITTLE HIGH FOR ANYBODY..HOW DID YOU FEEL AT 217? DO YOU HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT YOUR OWN ESTROGEN PRODUCTION HAS DECREASED? ARE YOU CHANGING APPLICATION SITES REGULARLY TO FACILITATE BETTER ABSORPTION? I DON'T SUBSCRIBE TO THE "ESTROGEN DOMINANCE" THEORIES, BUT MORE TO A PHILOSOPHY OF FINDING INDIVIDUAL BALANCE..FOR YOU, HIGH RT3 MAY BE AN IMPORTANT ISSUE TO RESOLVE BEFORE YOU FIND YOUR OWN "JUST RIGHT" COMBINATION.
HOPE THIS HELPS,
AVI
Corky, Are these Estrogen readings from serum or saliva testing? If serum testing then something is strange.. if saliva then.. the flucuations may be typical of this.
Yes, serum. And the weird thing is that even when it was as high as 616, I didn't feel much different than the week before when it was in the 200's. And I haven't felt much different when it was down to 12. I use the insides of my arms every day, maybe I should move it around? I also use P cream and have to switch that between my neck, legs, stomach, and inner arms. It gets confusing. A few people here on Estrogel said they always use the inside of both arms every day. So I did the same.
Maybe I'm not absorbing it anymore and getting that recent level of 12?
When I got the 616 reading I hadn't had a period in 3 months or so and that was exactly 7 days before I did get a period. And the week before when it was in the 200's may have been a mid cycle time?? Then it started going back down again even on the same dose of gel.
Very weird. But I'm also taking Cytomel, Hydrocortisone, and Synthroid (this in the last two weeks, prior to that I was on 90mg of Armour for several months)
My doctor did a blood binding test and said the estrogen wasn't competing in anyway with the thyroid, but maybe the thyroid hormone is lowering my E now?
I did a saliva test two weeks ago and I'm waiting on those results. I've read so many conflicting views on saliva vs. blood. I think blood is better indicator, but my doctor says that only saliva shows what is at the tissue level and the blood doesn't.
This nipple sensitivity is driving me nuts. I remember getting this when I first started the bios and the pharmacist said it was because of higher estrogen?? How can that be? I'm using the same dose all these months. Maybe the Cytomel is making my E go up now instead of down like two months ago??
It's so confusing to me. Why it goes up, up, then down, down. And now nipple problem which could be E dominance.
Maybe I'm not absorbing it anymore and getting that recent level of 12?
When I got the 616 reading I hadn't had a period in 3 months or so and that was exactly 7 days before I did get a period. And the week before when it was in the 200's may have been a mid cycle time?? Then it started going back down again even on the same dose of gel.
Very weird. But I'm also taking Cytomel, Hydrocortisone, and Synthroid (this in the last two weeks, prior to that I was on 90mg of Armour for several months)
My doctor did a blood binding test and said the estrogen wasn't competing in anyway with the thyroid, but maybe the thyroid hormone is lowering my E now?
I did a saliva test two weeks ago and I'm waiting on those results. I've read so many conflicting views on saliva vs. blood. I think blood is better indicator, but my doctor says that only saliva shows what is at the tissue level and the blood doesn't.
This nipple sensitivity is driving me nuts. I remember getting this when I first started the bios and the pharmacist said it was because of higher estrogen?? How can that be? I'm using the same dose all these months. Maybe the Cytomel is making my E go up now instead of down like two months ago??
It's so confusing to me. Why it goes up, up, then down, down. And now nipple problem which could be E dominance.
QUOTE (corky21 @ Oct 13 2009, 12:31 PM)
Yes, serum. And the weird thing is that even when it was as high as 616, I didn't feel much different than the week before when it was in the 200's. And I haven't felt much different when it was down to 12. I use the insides of my arms every day, maybe I should move it around? I also use P cream and have to switch that between my neck, legs, stomach, and inner arms. It gets confusing. A few people here on Estrogel said they always use the inside of both arms every day. So I did the same.
Maybe I'm not absorbing it anymore and getting that recent level of 12?
When I got the 616 reading I hadn't had a period in 3 months or so and that was exactly 7 days before I did get a period. And the week before when it was in the 200's may have been a mid cycle time?? Then it started going back down again even on the same dose of gel.
Very weird. But I'm also taking Cytomel, Hydrocortisone, and Synthroid (this in the last two weeks, prior to that I was on 90mg of Armour for several months)
My doctor did a blood binding test and said the estrogen wasn't competing in anyway with the thyroid, but maybe the thyroid hormone is lowering my E now?
I did a saliva test two weeks ago and I'm waiting on those results. I've read so many conflicting views on saliva vs. blood. I think blood is better indicator, but my doctor says that only saliva shows what is at the tissue level and the blood doesn't.
This nipple sensitivity is driving me nuts. I remember getting this when I first started the bios and the pharmacist said it was because of higher estrogen?? How can that be? I'm using the same dose all these months. Maybe the Cytomel is making my E go up now instead of down like two months ago??
It's so confusing to me. Why it goes up, up, then down, down. And now nipple problem which could be E dominance.
Maybe I'm not absorbing it anymore and getting that recent level of 12?
When I got the 616 reading I hadn't had a period in 3 months or so and that was exactly 7 days before I did get a period. And the week before when it was in the 200's may have been a mid cycle time?? Then it started going back down again even on the same dose of gel.
Very weird. But I'm also taking Cytomel, Hydrocortisone, and Synthroid (this in the last two weeks, prior to that I was on 90mg of Armour for several months)
My doctor did a blood binding test and said the estrogen wasn't competing in anyway with the thyroid, but maybe the thyroid hormone is lowering my E now?
I did a saliva test two weeks ago and I'm waiting on those results. I've read so many conflicting views on saliva vs. blood. I think blood is better indicator, but my doctor says that only saliva shows what is at the tissue level and the blood doesn't.
This nipple sensitivity is driving me nuts. I remember getting this when I first started the bios and the pharmacist said it was because of higher estrogen?? How can that be? I'm using the same dose all these months. Maybe the Cytomel is making my E go up now instead of down like two months ago??
It's so confusing to me. Why it goes up, up, then down, down. And now nipple problem which could be E dominance.
Hi there,
I have been using estrogel for almost 4 months now and I too have extremely sensitive nipples. NOT breasts-just nipples. I am only taking 1/2 push of the estrogel pump--so instead of .75 mg. I figure I'm getting about .38 mg. I also cycle in P ever other month for 14 days. I have to wean myself off of the P because if I don't my Crohns disease flares up. I also take T a couple of times a week. I have also been battling vaginitis and toe fungus and have heard that Estradiol can help those so I often think I need to take .75 mg. of the estrogel but am afraid of the sensitive nipples. EGADS--what are we suppose to do. Every day I say I am going to throw in the towel and just take Black Cohosh and eat soy but here I am continuing to figure it all out with the E, P and T> If anyone can shed some light I too will be so grateful.
If it were me I would get a lower prescroption of E. sensitive nipples would be my thinking too much E. Fullness of breasts I think is ok but not pain or sensitive enough to notice.
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