[Bobbi]

#1066584

The drug you are on is used to control the amount of thyroid hormone that your body makes. It acts as a chemical barrier to the production of thyroid hormone. How much any individual patient may need of this drug is estimated at first by the doctor, and after a few weeks, a blood test is used to determine whether the dose is correct, or needs to be adjusted. When you are on this drug, Tamara, you will need to have blood tests fairly often — at least for a while — to make sure that the dose is correct. If it is too much, you could become (temporarily) hypothyroid; if it is too little, you could remain hyperthyroid.

So, one possibility for your present problem might be that you are on a slightly wrong dose of the antithyroid drug, which will be helped by having your doctor make an adjustment to how much you should be taking. Heavier-than-normal periods, for example, can be a symptom of hypothyroid levels of hormone (too little).

There are, however, other conditions that can cause heavy, frequent periods, too.

So, your best course of action is to call your endocrinologist, to get a blood test. If that blood test shows that your thyroid hormone levels are in the right place, then you need to talk with your OB/Gyn or your GP about the periods to start looking for another reason.

[Tamara2010]

#1018703

Hello everyone,

I have been on Tapazole for a month or more. I had a period on January 23, 2010 and am still bleeding. I stopped for a week or so…but am now at it again. My stomach hurt like I was going to start on Friday and thought that was weird. I got so frustrated with my husband last week and yelled at him and he didn’t understand. It is like having a period everyday..my moods and cycle. I don’t feel like pills are helping me. What do you guys think?

[cathycnm]

#1066585

Tamara – I agree with Bobbi about the thyroid levels being a common cause of heavy periods. From the gyn side, many times the type of bleeding you are reporting can be from what is called an anovulatory cycle. Simple English – for some reason, your ovary did not produce an ovum or egg. It is the production of the ovum that kicks in the second part of the hormone cycle. When that does not kick in – your estrogen gets higher than normal and overstimulates lining – so you bleed off and on throughout the cycle in a bit of a never ending period.

There are other reasons for this kind of bleeding – like infection or pregnancy – so there is no way to know from a post. But a high percent of the time it is a cycle without an ovum. And it is quite possible that the thyroid changes were enough to keep your ovary from producing an ovum. The anovulatory cycle is not generally linked to anything serious – but it can lead to anemia so be sure you are getting enough iron!

If you are on the pill or something else that keeps you from ovulating – then it could be that you need a slightly different pill to prevent the break through bleeding if, as Bobbi said, your thyroid levels are normal. If your thyroid levels are off – then fixing those is a first step. However, if the bleeding is heavy (a pad or more an hour) or you have pain in your pelvic area – then get thee OB/gyn practitioner ASAP.

[cathycnm]

#1066586

PS – If you go on iron supplements, remember to seperate that from your thyroid by several hours – probably take it at night. Best to take with OJ and NOT with milk. My favorite is ferrous sulfate or ferrous gluconate – the gluconate is a little easier on the stomach.

[deberic]

#1066587

Hi – I just found this site tonight. I had been on tapazole for 6 months when I accidentally discovered I should not be taking an iron supplement at the same time as the tap. Neither Dr or pharmacy told me about it! Thanks to eveyone for the info here, and sorry to "butt" in!

[Kimberly]

#1066588

Deberic,

No need to apologize — welcome to the boards! Feel free to jump in on any topics that seem to be of interest…or start your own thread, if you have a particular question. This site has a wealth of information!

[Tamara2010]

#1066589

deberic wrote:Hi – I just found this site tonight. I had been on tapazole for 6 months when I accidentally discovered I should not be taking an iron supplement at the same time as the tap. Neither Dr or pharmacy told me about it! Thanks to eveyone for the info here, and sorry to "butt" in!

Why shouldn’t I be taking iron supplements? Thanks and you are welcome to post…that is what we are here for. You are not butting in at all. Thanks for your help…Tamara

[Ski]

#1066590

I think it has to do with taking it in close proximity (timewise) ~ not that you can never take it if you’re on Tapazole ~ but hopefully deberic will clarify.

[Author]

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