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[Tc]

Hiya ladies.
Whilst reading up on surgical meno it would appear that even once oestrogen/progesterone are sorted there is a delicate balance to be struck over androgens and several other endocrine factors including how the adrenal, pituitary  and thyroid can be affected by meno and hrt.
Just wondering to myself if an endocrinologist might be more rounded in  balancing hormones than a gynae or menopause clinic.

Any thoughts or experiences Ladies?
Best wishes to you all.

[BlueButterfly]

Sorry I don't have experience with an endocrinologist but it has been mentioned to me as a possibility to help figure out all my hormone fun.

My thoughts...would it hurt? If you aren't having luck with HRT or it just isn't quite right yet and you have the option, why not?

[Kathleen]

Hello Tc.

I've often wondered if we should all be seeing endocrinologists at this time in our lives but how anyone manages that is a mystery! It's hard enough getting to any kind of specialist.  I have seen two meno consultants privately but I haven't  learned anything new,  even the HRT I was prescribed was already freely available from my GP.  Balancing our hormones is obviously a complex matter and it would be nice to see someone who had the relevant expertise.

If you manage to see an endocrinologist Tc I guarantee many ladies here would be eager to learn from you. I'm guessing you'd be the first one!

Sorry that I can't be more helpful and wishing you well.

K.

[Tc]

Thanks ladies. It would have to be on the nhs so I don't hold out too much hope but I will try. I'm seeing gynae Friday and because it's gynae oncology and I was lucky that my tumour was benign I guess they will sign me off which is fair enough I don't want to take up oncology appointment for hrt. If she suggests meno clinic I will bring up the subject of endocrinologist. I'm not happy to let my gp take over managing my hrt as she has already refused me ovestin when I've got obvious urinary/atrophy symptoms so hey ho!! No harm in asking.
I have heard of men being referred to endocrine for low testosterone and hormonal imbalance but maybe as in life not everything is equal
Does anyone know anything about the meno clinic at Chelsea and Westminster?

[Joaniepat]

Yes, I go to the Chelsea & Westminster. My experience has been positive and I find them thorough. Their menopause clinic referred me to urogynaeclogy, women's physio and got me a bone scan. I was actually referred to their meno clinic by the Chelsea & Westminster dermatology department. Is this the hospital you go to for oncology?

JP x

[Katejo]

I had a referral several years ago but the consultant told me that patents with underactive thyroid are usually managed by the GP. Only overactive needs to see an endo. A secretary had made an error and told her that I had overactive thyroid.

[dangermouse]

I've been referred to an endocrinologist when younger for hormone imbalance (she was an expert on women's hormones and the pill) and also seen one privately more recently who is a menopause specialist.

I've never understood why GPs now seem to refer to gynaecologists for hormonal imbalance as their specialism seems to be surgery (hysterectomies) and fertility. Unless their specialist training now covers menopause?

[Hurdity]

Hiya ladies.
Whilst reading up on surgical meno it would appear that even once oestrogen/progesterone are sorted there is a delicate balance to be struck over androgens and several other endocrine factors including how the adrenal, pituitary  and thyroid can be affected by meno and hrt.
Just wondering to myself if an endocrinologist might be more rounded in  balancing hormones than a gynae or menopause clinic.

Any thoughts or experiences Ladies?
Best wishes to you all.

Surgical menopause is very different from natural menopause in how other hormones are affected due to complete cessation of oestrogen and androgen production by the ovaries (which normally continues to some extent even after menopause).

I think thyroid function should routinely be investigated in all menopausal women at the same time as other hormonal tests since this is the one gland which seems to have a tendency to malfuntion in women approaching menopause and beyond. Otherwise there would only be an indication for wider hormonal testing if symptoms indicate a problem or deficiency I would say?

I did visit a menopause clinic once (Annie Evans: sadly - for us - now retired) and she was an endocrinologist so would look at thyroid function as well as sex hormones, In fact when she prescribed testosterone she said to come back after 6 months and if little or no improvement she would consider going down the thyroid route with me.

Hurdity x

[AG]

Hi,

I am sure thyroid and many other systems in the body are having a bit of a "wobble" at times with hormone fluctuations. I had thyroid tested earlier in the year and it was fine at that time but I did find an interesting blood test kit by Medichecks that contains a "menopause test" for hormone levels and thyroid function in one test. I am planning to use this kit at some point and go back to my GP with results if thyroid function is low. My GP thought that normally thyroid function does not deteriorate fast.

Anna

[SueLW]

GP's know very little about thyroid issues.  Or, I should say, they understand very little about it. 

Never believe a "fine" blood test result is the best advice to anyone feeling low, tired, cold, fatigued, miserable, taking a long time to recover from exercise etc. etc.  You need to get a print out of the result and research the result.  There is a "normal" reference range but it's too wide.  It goes up to 4.5 yet people in America are considered hypo with a reading of 3.  Then in the UK they leave us until our TSH number reaches 10 before we are given any medication.  You really have to fight for it.  Many people can't get out of bed with a TSH of 10.

Medichecks do good thyroid panel tests.  I use them and many others too.  But you really need your TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 plus Total T4 at the same time.  Your GP probably only tested your TSH, which is a pituitary hormone and lags behind actual blood activity.  It an also be completely wrong for various reasons.  Doctor's have forgotten how to diagnose thyroid issues by symptoms and by looking at patients.

The loss of oestrogen impacts the adrenal glands which try to keep the body going themselves.  That impacts the thyroid gland, which slows down to ease the adrenal stress and the slower thyroid then impacts the adrenal activity and production of sex hormones.  It's very much a hormonal cascade and it breaks at menopause.  If you pick it up fast and get on some HRT and thyroid meds if necessary, the consequences can be reduced fast.  But most of us suffer too long and do ourselves more serious harm that then takes longer to recover from.

[jennyr265]

This is a very interesting thread. I am about 4 years post menopause (last period July 2014) . In May (after about a year of feeling extremely unwell) I was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism and had an adenoma removed. I am certain that the menopause caused the condition - it affects twice as many post menopausal women as any other group.
Since my op I have felt better but still have issues- joint pain, dehydration and digestive problems. I'm  sure that a combination of the menopause and the phpt has upset my whole endocrine system. I feel that my fluid balance is out of whack. I am constantly thirsty (and i drink a lot of water - i had to when i was ill) but also suffer with swollen fingers. My blood tests are all within the normal range so my GP won't carry out further tests.
I'm not on HRt at the moment. I tried it for 6 months but it gave me terrible migraines so I stopped. However at that point i had hpht without knowing it so maybe that was a factor.
I am considering consulting an endocrinologist specialising in the menopause if I can find one!