Hi Hurdity!
Thanks for the info! I have only had the patch for three weeks now (putting the last one I have on today.) I definitely have seen improvement in anxiety (maybe just because of lifestyle changes???) and heart palpitations but the hot flushes and the joint pain (hips and shoulders.) have increased and insomnia is the same. Kind of a mixed bag!
I just had blood work done on Friday to check my TSH, T-4 and T-3 and will get the results next week when I go to see the endocrinologist. We will be having a discussion about estrogen/thyroid hormones and how to manage those. I have actually had to change my Synthroid (levothyroxine) dosage several times in the past year and a half, both up and down, because of fluctuating TSH results. Probably due to perimenopause - which the doctor indicated that probably was the cause. If I understand it correctly estrogen causes less T-4 to circulate in your blood, making me more hypothyroid, so the need to replace it (with levothyroxine) increases. Because I am increasing estrogen via the patch I will probably need to increase my levothyroxine dose. When I went to the hospital with racing heart and palpitations it was the first thing they checked because too much levthyroxine can cause the symptoms I was having but all my levels were normal.
I think I will stay on the 50mcg patch until talking to her since my menopause symptoms, while not gone, are manageable.
Thanks for the help - I really appreciate it.