Graves' Disease Support Group
Graves-Basedow disease is a medical disorder that may manifest several different conditions including hyperthyroidism (over activity of thyroid hormone production), infiltrative exophthalmos (protruberance of one or both eyes and associated problems) and infiltrative dermopathy (a skin condition usually of the lower extremities). This disorder is the most common cause of...
Ok... So I've been taking ortho evra (bc patch) for a few months now. My acne is just as bad, if not worse. I have no libido, constantly irritable.
I went ahead and did my labs on Monday, even though I wasn't supposed to until next month, when my endo appt is, but I thought I must be extremely hypo. The dr office called today and they got my tsh and ft4 back -the ft3 and trab aren't back yet. anyway, tsh is .96 which is up from .01 from november. ft4 is .56 with range .58-1.64
So, according to those, not extremely hypo. I was hoping that was going to be my reason, but I guess its not.
so, I'm going to try a different birth control. I'm thinking about Yaz.
I was wanting to get your opinions on birth control pills. If you've taken any while dealing with graves, what were your thoughts? Any in particular that were better or worse? Any of you have acne that you thought would get better with the birth control pills? how about libido?
I went ahead and did my labs on Monday, even though I wasn't supposed to until next month, when my endo appt is, but I thought I must be extremely hypo. The dr office called today and they got my tsh and ft4 back -the ft3 and trab aren't back yet. anyway, tsh is .96 which is up from .01 from november. ft4 is .56 with range .58-1.64
So, according to those, not extremely hypo. I was hoping that was going to be my reason, but I guess its not.
so, I'm going to try a different birth control. I'm thinking about Yaz.
I was wanting to get your opinions on birth control pills. If you've taken any while dealing with graves, what were your thoughts? Any in particular that were better or worse? Any of you have acne that you thought would get better with the birth control pills? how about libido?
Your FT4 is still below range which makes you hypO still.
I cannot answer Qs about the birth control for you because I've never been on any! I used the diaphragm. Hubby and I didn't care for me to be on the BC because of hearing and read horror stories that it wasn't safe, that it could decrease sex drive, etc.
Please ask the doctor if it 'safe' to be on BC while hypERthyroid with GD.
Good luck and I'm sure others will pop in with experiences on the BC. :-)
the dr just called me back a few hours ago and said that Yaz would be worth trying, especially with the acne. She didn't think the bc was the cause of the no libido, she said that was probably more of the hypo.
I have been feeling really hypo, I really thought the levels were going to come back way more hypo.
Started on ortho-tri-cyclin low and was on it for a year. Changed to cyclessa when prescription renewed because I went to buy the ortho-tricyclin-low and the generic form was $40 a month! Was not comfortable taking the generic form, so went back to get a different prescription. Was then on Cyclessa for a year. Have never had problems with either. I was initially scared of going on the pill, because of terror stories you hear and mood effects but I have only had positive effects such as better skin appearance and lighter more regular cycles.
I have a friend who was on the patch for about a month. Had to go to the ER because it caused clotting in her legs. Now has permanent damage in her legs and refuses to go on any birth control.
I am waiting to go back on the pill until I have been taking the anti-thyroid meds for a month. Both endos I have seen said taking the pill with the meds is fine, but I should wait until my levels go down so I don't just metabolize them right away and render them unaffective.
Good luck with your choice!
My niece and I are whiling away the hours reading through replies while she is recovering from a visit to the hospital. She is getting better now after her second round of RAI made her quite ill, and gave all of us a fright!
We are trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle and reading through all the many helpful replies here and she just piped up with an "I can help with this one, Auntie! (referring to your question.)
She told me to tell you that the "Yaz" she is on is "useless" when her levels are "bad" (meaning hypothyroid, she corrected.) Her doctor put her on it to help with acne and to regulate her period, and she tells me that it only does "the job" when her thyroid levels are "normal or "slightly hyper."
She says "If I'm even a little hypo Auntie, I get a heavy flow and acne that will last until my levels get back to normal." I am not on birth control myself, being too old to worry about such things now, but have noticed that I break-out in large blemishes when I am hypothyroid as well.
My niece and are looking at each other and we can plainly see that we are both hypo. We are broken out with wispy hair, and we both look exhausted and bloated. What comfort she is to me, although I am so sad that she is going through all of this and that she has been through so much.
May God bless us and keep us all.
Sandra