Hi there...popping in to conversations this evening. I'm hypo, but my issue is different. TSH tells your body to make T4 T4 converts to T3 and Reverse T3 T3 is works at the molecular level in your body. In the US, most doctors will tell you that Reverse T3 has no impact. Others will tell you that R T3 will impart your body's ability to absorb and use T3. So back to me....I don't convert T4 to T3 well. When I Finally found someone who would treat me, my RT3 was through the roof and my T3 was really low. My TSH and T4 were borderline. I was exhausted and had gained a lot of weight - including a 20lb weight gain over less than three months. I actually went to an endocrinologist who told me he could see something was wrong, but couldn't treat me because my TSH and T4 were both borderline normal. It took 10 years to find someone who would look beyond the standard tests and help me. I am on a compounded T3 only. T3 has a short uptake, so many doctors who prescribe it will have you get a compounded sustained release formula. I've tried Armour and supplementing with T4 with no benefits. It is also not uncommon for hypo patients to also be low D and B. Here are some resources that helped me finally understand the condition. Mary Shomon is a thyroid advocate and has written many books on the subject. Google her for a link to her website. Her site lead me to Holtorf Medical Group in Torrance, CA. Their website is Holtorfmed.com. This is where I first started getting treated. My only caution is that while they were more aggressive with testing and research, he seems to be pushing for the money and I was less impressed with the other doctors in the practice. That being said, the website has very valuable information.

i started having these same issues in January this year. have had hypothyroidism for a few years but with levo always felt fine . symptoms lasted about 6 weeks and everything stopped one day in February and felt like myself again. Until June when they started back up and still going strong now. I’m 47 and my gyno tested and confirmed with blood test I’m peri. i have an iud so havent had a period in 4 years. Some days i have a huge headache and then others I have the Foggy head feeling that is so bad to describe. gyno would not talk about hrt without me seeing a neurologist which he says Im not having migraines and okd hrt. Odd thing is one day when my ear started to hurt took an Allegrad and it took away the head fog within an hour. Unfortunately that didn’t last. I did for about a month but still had headache. Now the Allegra isnt helping with anything. I’m waiting to see an ent because I feel like my sinuses are so full been an antibiotic for a few days and dI want seem to help either. I’m sure the ent will not have anything to say. Ive had a nurse practitioner mention AD which I’m not really for but will as a last ditch effort. Husband doesn’t really get it and that makes me feel more alone which just makes me cry more. going to ent and if nothing there going to try hrt and AD. scared to death of something serious to but nerologist didnt see any need for ct scans or mri. i also get these weird eye/head feeling on occasion when watching fast moving things or really shaky scenes when the camera is moving. I’m not dizzy and can’t explain how I feel other than I have to shut my eyes to focus. So scary!! I think if I could just come to grips it’s peri symptoms I’d be able to deal. Oh been very stressed at work for about two years but that is lessening as I finally have help. Was hoping with help and less stress I’d be better but no such luck. Thanks for listening. brings me some comfort that others deal with the same symptoms

I've suffered from hormonal headaches for 17 years. Sure wish "modern" science was more helpful, I've found out most of what helps by reading on my own. I think each person's case is different, so it helps to try different ideas. Also, stick with a treatment for a couple of months at least, some take longer to work than others. For me, these are the helpful hints. #1 - This is KEY. Take whatever pain killers you use at the very first sign that a headache is coming on. Take a moderate amount. DO NOT wait until the headache is bad before you take any pain killers. This strategy will avoid you having to take huge doses of painkillers that won't work when the headache has gotten to the problem stage. Then you will get on a roller coaster of painkillers and you will always have a low grade headache. This is called "rebound" headaches. Use over the counter painkillers to nip headaches in the bud, not tame a roaring one. Try to avoid getting the roaring ones. #2 - Eat small meals regularly to keep blood sugar level. Never eat sweets or refined carbohydrates alone, always have carbs with protein #3 - Watch your trigger foods. For me it is red wine. I can have one glass but not two. #4 - Watch your salt intake. Low salt is very important. #5 - Caffeine boosts the effectiveness of painkillers. It also upsets your stomach and makes you jittery. A little is good, a lot is bad. #6 - Having regular routines helps. Especially regular sleep hours. #7 - Thyroid can play a role, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. If you're tired all the time and having sleep irregularities, have your thyroid level checked. It doesn't give me headaches, but it made fighting them harder for me until I was diagnosed. #8 - My personal theory is that prostglandins contribute to headaches. If you are having bad menstural cramps, try and get those under control and your headaches may not be as bad. Try herbal teas for cramps before your period, and with phytoestrogens when it starts to taper off. #9 - I suppose exercise would be a real help, but that's a hard one for me. #10 - Try some of the new headache drugs. Imitrex pills were just sweet tarts to me, but the nasal spray works fairly well to take the edge off the worst ones. It's pricey though, so I try 1-9 first. If you can't afford Imitrex, try Vanquish, or for something cheap, take asprin 250 mg and acetomyaphin 250 mg with some coffee or coke. Don't start with 500 mg., this is for EMERGENCIES only. The best thing to do is start with a half dose at the first sign of a headache, and if that doesn't nip it in the bud quickly, then add the extra pill. I have both regular strenght and extra strength versions of asprin and acetomyaphen, (sorry, I have no idea how to spell the generic tylenol drug) so I can adjust my doses so I don't take more than I need to. If you're allergic to asprin or acetomyaphen, then just take one or the other. If they don't work for you, try a non-steroidal pain killer like advil or motrin. Watch how much of these things you take, because they are bad for your tummy and bad for your kidneys, and probably bad for a whole lot of other things. A little is good, a lot is bad. #11 - At the first sign of a roaring migrane coming on, arrange your schedule to get the quiet and rest you need. Don't try to be a hero or superwoman. You will only prolong your agony. Abort all non-essential missions, take a time out, and then pick up things with gusto once the headache passes. Remind yourself - IT WILL PASS. YOU WILL GET BACK TO NORMAL EVENTUALLY. NOBODY IS PERFECT EXCEPT GOD.

I am up right now using my computer and everyone is settled-in playing cards, talking, or watching "The Natural" on American Movie Classics giving me a rest. Boy do I hear you for all the work involved! Sheeesh! However, my husband is a gem and I have NO complaints in that department. He is like a scurrying little elf trying to make it easier on me.. and sometimes makes it harder! LOL I just finished cleaning up for the day about 1/2 hour ago and I feel like I am going to die from the pain and pressure of this phantom period.. oh geeze. It is so much pain that I feel like sometimes I might throw-up with the intensity and chills it has. It is like I am in constant labor to deliver out of my whole bottom area everything above it! And, my legs ache with the pressure and pain. So far, I have been able to strive on and overcome it, but have had to slip away and lay down and take a few 750mg vicodin's and 800mg of naproxen anti-inflamatory pills. Which is only causing me to have a situation of constipation that isn't exactly a picnic either! I didn't shop at the sales today, it was too hard to stand-up and walk with the pain, but I am still in good spirits and have faith that tomorrow will be a better day.. My next gyno appointment is on January 8th.. oh, I can't wait.. I hope there is a CURE for this crud! Again, as I mentioned in a prior thread, this gyno is supposed to be a Hormonal Guru and know his stuff.. wish me luck! Merry Christmas to all of you who read this! And.. Happy New Year!!!!! I am woman, hear me roar..