Well, I went to the Gyn and this is the scoop: Ever since being diagnosed in
Aug 96 (with my Gyn catching what 3 other doctors missed), PMS has
been murder. Even as my thyroid hormones got subdued by PTU, during the
luteal phase of my cycle I had some anxiety, hot flashes, insomnia, frequent
bm’s, skin troubles…all things that felt very much like Graves’. I was
sure that it was making a comeback, I’d feel fine 1/2 the month then all
hell would break loose…in varying degrees. My Endo & Internist both said
that “PMS is a factor” but didn’t offer any suggestions for dealing with it.
SO I went back to my Gyn, who thought it was great that I kept a symptom journal
and had this thing tracked, plotted and figured out (the other doctor’s are
less enthused). Anyway, knowing my history of low progesterone causing miscarriages,
etc, he said the symptoms I described and the time frame were CLASSIC to progesterone
deficiency in the luteal phase…and I left with a mild prescription to
take during that half of the cycle. Graves’ has been aggravating PMS and
vice versa.
Girls, keep a journal of symptoms that happen and when they occur in
regards to your cycle. It might nøt be entirely Graves’ doing these
whacky things. Esp. when we enter our 30’s and 40’s…it’s important
to be aware what our female hormones are up to and to realize that we
do not have to suffer! Gyn’s often ask women to keep a journal for at least three
months of their cyclical changes…I think with this disease it’s a must. I know
if I hadn’t kept such good records and had a doctor who appreciated the effort, I would be going for RAI this week instead
of being on a lower dosage of PTU with meds to take care of other fluctuations.
Glynis
