Hello everyone.

I've got an appt. with my ob/gyn next month and I suspect I might have a thyroid problem. I'd like to ask him if we could do some testing, but first I feel like I need to know more myself, before I see him.

Back in Sept. 2003, which was seven months after giving birth to my 3rd child, I started getting hives. They progressed and got worse and eventually took over my life. I saw nine different doctors and none of them helped me.

Last August my sister began getting hives too. We both made some extreme diet changes which helped us enough that we didn't need drugs, but we were still breaking out. Finally, after a ton of research on the web, I concluded that our hives were appearing due to hormone imbalances, possibly caused by perimenopause.

My sister took a product containing wild yam and her hives are now gone. I can't do that because dh and I are ttc #4 and wild yam shouldn't be taken during pregnancy.

Well, after ttc for 1 cycle where everything lined up just right and I didn't get my bfp, I decided to research infertility at Dr. Mercola's website. Low and behold, thyroid popped up and I have several of the symptoms....difficulty losing weight, family history, greying hair (since my 20's...a stripe in the middle), and my hair doesnt grow much although it didn't grow at all until I changed my diet.

Anyone here experience hives? Anyone have any advice or comments on tests I should ask my doctor for? Anyone try the home saliva tests? I'm considering it, but I don't know if I want to self treat.

Oh, also, I'm charting and I do O and my temps look pretty good, but my cycles have been getting shorter. My last cycle was only 25 days. That's the shortest one I've ever had. Could a thyroid problem affect the cycles in that way or is it just my age do you think?

Thanks!

Kim (39)
Wife to Tim (39)
mom to Travis, 13
Kayley, 9
and Kira, 2.
TTC #4
Cycle #2

Hi Kim.

I was diagnosed with Hypothyroinism (underactive thyroid) about 5 years ago. I haven't heard of hives as being a symptom but here are a few I know of: weight gain, hair falling out, moodyness, hot flashes, feeling cold, dry skin, long cycles w/o O, tiredness, as well as others I can't seem to think of. A few months after getting put on synthroid my other hormones started kicking in better. Your Dr can do a blood test to check your hormones. You may want to specifically ask for a thyroid function test as so Dr don't automatically do one. Now on the other hand there is hyperthyroidism which can also affect your cycles--usually making them shorter. Some symptoms are hot flashes, unexplained weightloss, short cycles, feeling hungry, etc.

I hope this helps. You can look on the net & find some really good info.

__________________

TTC#4 since August 2005

Hmmmm...Maybe I should just continue ttc'ing for a little bit and see what happens since I know I am ovulating. I was just concerned because my cycles have gotten so much shorter.

By the way, hives are a sign of a thyroid problem. I am on another list with other people who suffer with hives and many of them have been helped by taking either natural or synth thyroid products.

Thanks for the advice and I will check out the links too!