Hormones, Thyroid and Immune System

Hi Sisters!

Unfortunately, I have a cold again and I've been focusing on balancing my hormones with the compounding pharmacist, that got me to wondering....

Since my hysterectomy, it seems like I get a cold/flu about 6 times a year. Until now, I've never been balanced (though I feel great on my new regimen.) Does hormonal imbalance weaken our immune system?

Also, the compounding pharmacist thinks I have all the signs of being hypothyroid, although we're waiting to test until I have a month or two on the new hormone regimen. Would hypothyroidism weaken my immune system?

Do any of you notice you are getting sick more frequently since your hyst?

Hi Geekgirl,

It is so frustrating when you do a nice reply and then loose it, so here I go again. I am leaving the smilies alone this time.

I am hypothryoid, I have Hashimotos Disease. That is when your immune system gets confused and decides that your thryoid gland does not belong in your body. It then goes about destroying the gland. As your hormone levels fall you replace it with medication. From my personal experience, no I do not get colds and flu more frequently. I do have a histamine problem since I was diagnosed with Hashimotos. My nose is over sensitive and it wants to run all the time (post nasal drip) and I have excess phlem in my throat which makes me cough and it drives me and everyone around me crazy.

When you have Hashimotos you whole immune system can go in to overdrive pumping out antibodies like there is going to be no tomorrow, it just gets so busy (with me anyway). Maybe you don't have a weakened immune system, it could be the opposite.

Many of your hyster sisters have a hypo thryoid, I will be watching this post with interest to see what other opinions are given. Maybe I am not alone with all the strange things that happen to me.

Carol are you actually getting colds or is it allergies. I know for me before I got my thyroid meds straightened out I did notice that my allergies were aliitle worse than normal but that could just be from us having high pollen levels before all of this rain we have been getting. I know there is a nasty bug going around right now. My DS has it and neighbors do too. Actually I would normally catch everything in the air and since hyst it has been the opposite. My immune system seems to be alittle better as far as colds go. Not that I know for sure but I would think that if your hormones and thyroid are not working right and balanced that it would effect your immune system. Maybe one of the other gals who know more about this will be along shortly.

I was just thinking the other day that I don't seem to be getting sick as often since I had my hyst. I'm 6 months post op (TAH/BSO 1/5/01 for fibroids, cyst, endo, adeno) and I used to get sinus infections (everybody else gets a cold, I'd get a sinus infection) every other month or so it seemed. I had one about a month after my hyst and I haven't had anything since. And that last one, I really wasn't sure what I had, but we were getting ready to fly somewhere and I called dd who called in a prescription of antibiotics just in case. But I definitely do not get sick as often. I thought it was maybe because they pumped me full of antibiotics in the hospital and then made me take more for a week after I got home.

Carol,
Pre-hyst I had serious allergy problems. I was constantly at the doctor's office, as I also have asthma and when the drainage gets into my lungs look out! Since my hyst, my allergies have calmed down and even my asthma has gotten much better. My inhalers last me twice as long as they ever did before.

I can't remember the last time I had a cold or the flu. But don't say that too loud

I just thought I'd bump this back up, it's very interesting as we know that hormones and immune responses have a LOT to do with each other. I'm not going to comment too much now until I get some more info on my situation but I have been doing a lot of research on this. From what I've gathered, balance is the key as we know. A lot of women seemed to get worse asthma when their estrogen is too high, however in a normal endocrine system you will adjust. This seems to be slowly happening to me. My asthma was not good when I had high levels, prior to hyst. After hyst and the start of ovarian failure, it cleared up. More recently when I raised the dose I started getting it back, but now after 3 months it's settling.
If your immune system is battling with colds and flu then it can skew the hormone balance. When I was starting the ov. failure I had a constant stream of colds, flu, chest infections, skin infections as my body tried to adjust. I was on antibiotics constantly, until they got some estrogen into me. The adrenals were battling to take over - almost impossible after major surgery, so my general health suffered, and I also got hives and some other allergic reaction which I hadn't had for a long time.
for each individual we have our own profile, what ailments we may or may not get once we are menopausal. The potential is there and sometimes menopause brings it to light, or taxes our system enough that we fall prey to whatever is lurking. They suspect I have some kind of auto-immune thing going on but the jury is still out. I would be a prime candidate for something like this with my family history, but it wasn't until now, in menopause that it became more obvious. Much more obvious. So we'll keep this thread around to see what other responses come forward.