His and Her Health

I have hashimoto's thyroiditis with right half taken out last July due to fibrous nodules that weren't cancerous.I also have Fibromyalgia and they are trying to figure out whether I might have sjogrens or not with dry skin,eyes, salivary glands etc. but with only half of my thyroid functioning. Plus it is autoimmune disease I know that will have some effect on my FSH test.I have had a thermal ablation in 1999 so no more periods on and off HRT for I am a survivor of 2 heart attacks. now one Dr told me I am perimenopausal one post menopausal with only a FSh of 53.9 what would you all say. what are the normal limits for FSh to determine whether you are menopausal or not.I am also having pelvic pain, back pain, bloating easily too nd the resident Dr didn't want to do a laproscopic procedure due to my prior heart attacks in 1999 & 2003. my damage is smaller than penny i have 3 valves that regurate and my EF is at 65%. any help would be helpful in letting me now the proper range for FSh to say whether you're menopausal or not. Heidi

Heidi, you are technically in menopause if you haven't had your period for 12 consecutive months. If you're not sure if you're there, the best way to estimate whether you are in the transition is to keep track of your periods. Try keeping a calendar for the next few months and keep track of your menstrual activity. Mark on your calendar the days you are spotting and the days you are bleeding. Your doctor can help you sort through it to truly determine when you are close to menopause or if you have already gone through it.

As far as your FSH levels go, there is more to it than just the number. The test results can vary from day to day depending on a bunch of factors. Think of the FSH test more of an indicator of whether your symptoms are part of menopause instead of the deciding factor of whether you actually are in menopause.

Usually, if you have a consistently elevated FSH level greater than 30 mIU/mL, you have reached menopause. Menopausal women can have FSH levels higher than 30 and sometimes even into the 100s though.

What kind of specific menopausal symptoms are you having?

Thnaks my PCP and cardio dr told me post menopausal; butu this new resident at Shands in Jax. told me no. He is doing his residency work at Shands at JAx. A texching hospitial in no longer spot at all nor periods since jan 1999 when i had my thermal ablation. I do still get some hot flashes or power surges as my Dh calls them . But no spotting or bleding at all since that thermal ablation. but ding ok not on any hormones at allnot even black Cosahj canot take that with my blod pressure meds it will interfere withthat.i am a vol first responder, prior Registered medical Assistant, and lecture women for Go red Campaign too. so leaarning alot abut menopause read Dr Christine Northrups new book. just wish they had a group closer to where I live in Jacksonville closet one so far is at Orange park medical which isa godo 35 miles away we live near town called baldwin next biggest town is McClenny ,fla. but thanks foir you answeres. heidi

Heidi please visit our website for menopausal women at www.redhotmamas.org .
There is a ton of information there that may help you.

thanks sent them a e-mail to get a chapter near me but none so far. but yes I have your site bookmarked. heidi