THYROID DISEASE

Read and learn more about postpartum thyroiditis. For more, visit the Thyroid Disease website ThyroidDiseaseWiki.com.

Q: Does anyone know anything about postpartum thyroiditis?
My dr says my thyroid is overactive, possibly from having a baby 8 months ago, does anyone have any similar esperiences with this. I’m also TTC baby no.3 but I read thyroid problems can make you infertile. Any personal accounts and advice would be very valuble. thanks

A: I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid, like you) 3 mths postpartum and hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) by 5 mths postpartum. You should really consult with your doctor before ttc #3. From everything I’ve read you should have your overactive thyroid condition under control before you try to conceive for two reasons. First the condition, when uncontrolled during pregnancy, may result in higher incidences of:

Spontaneous abortion (miscarriage)
Preterm labor
Low birth-weight babies
Stillbirths
Complications of pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia (a condition associated with hypertension, low blood platelet count, protein in the urine and mental changes) and heart failure.

Second, the treatment for hyperthyroidism can not be administered to pregnant mothers.

You should also note that overactive thyroid brought on by pregnancy will 75% of the time correct itself after a year or so, so you may want to wait and see if it goes away first. There are good articles about this at these wedsite:

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=19366

http://www.thyroid.ca/Articles/EngE11A.html

Q: postpartum thyroiditis anyone??
My daughter is 11 months old and I am having a lot of symptoms that are similar to thyroid disease. I am waiting for my lab results which are due next week. I just read about postpartum thyroiditis and learned that it usually corrects itself after a year plus…. Has anyone had this and can you describe your situation, treatment and outcome?
Thank you in advance!!
Oh yeah, I’m 41 years old…

A: I have not had this but I read about it, did you see the treatment that is suggested on several sites?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-US&cx=disease_for_patients&q=+Postpartum+thyroiditis++treatment

I hope it helps.

Q: Question about postpartum thyroiditis ?
does obgyn’s do blood testing to check your hormone level and thyroids? Where u ever diagnosed with this problem? what were your symptoms.

A: Mine did the testing and monitored if for six months afterward. I had thyroid issues but not this particular one – look here for some good basic info:

http://www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Thyroiditis.pdf

Q: Has anyone ever had Postpartum Thyroiditis…..?
I am in the middle of seeing a doctor now, but am going to make an appt. with an Endocrinologist tomorrow. I am just trying to figure out what’s wrong with me!

It started out just tingling in my feet upon getting out of bed in the morning (this was 5 months ago) and over the months, especially the last month or two, it’s gotten progressively worse and now it’s off and on all day in my hands and feet.

I had a full Thyroid Panel done and everything was normal except my Free T4. The normal range is 6-9.6 and mine was .16! I am really freaking out about this =*(…..

I won’t be surprised if I don’t get any answers, as I know this isn’t very common! But thanks to anyone who does answer!
I have a few of those symptoms as well, and I read that about BF’ing too- I also lost my milk supply, no matter WHAT I did (pumping, oatmeal, herbs, you name it)..I think this could be a secondary culprit to that problem along with my previous breast surgery (on one side to remove a cyst)…ugh..I hope I figure this out soon…thanks to everyone!

IF you answer, did you have any of the tingling symptoms???
AWW Thanks Mama Mia!!! =)

A: You mean it has a name?! I have a follow-up after some tests coming up soon. No I don’t have tingling. I have fatigue, rapid heartbeat, some dizziness, can’t lose the rest of the baby weight, I feel hot all the time, I have a jittery feeling in my upper body and if I let my teeth get too close they chatter, I lost my milk supply after about a month (I guess that came first), headaches, I’m constantly thirsty, and nausea (no vomiting) to the point that I don’t want to eat sometimes. I’m glad to know this could actually be something and not all in my head!

Q: Women with/had postpartum depression?
I have postpartum depression and postpartum thyroiditis (an autoimmune thyroid condition that occurs after pregnancy and usually eventually goes away)…so I’m hit from two sides on the low mood part. I’m in treatment for both…but as anyone who has had depression knows it doesn’t get better overnight. My son is almost 4 months old and I feel so awful. I am a stay at home mother – and my husband is so helpful when he’s home – but I’m alone most of the day. I want to be the best I can do my son but I always feel like I’m going to crumble. I just want to go into a room by myself and not deal with anything. How did you make it through the depression?
I should add…I have bipolar and I’ve been through depression many many times…but now with a child I feel so bad feeling bad. I want to be a happy cheery mommy….and while I’m trying to do that I ache so bad inside.
Ditya7 ! – I gave you thumbs up because I’m sorry you have to deal with all of that. And you know what…I have many of life’s issues to deal with as well…my hateful mother-in-law lives next door. BUT I have two medical conditions that cause my mood to be terrible AND then have some bad situations to deal with on top of all of it. Depression is an illness like any other – with an organic origin…you’d never tell a woman to “just not succum to breast cancer”.

A: It’s such a tough place to be in. You’re very fortunate that you have a supportive hubby and you’re seeking help. Even though you’re a stay at home mom, some moms find it very beneficial to find a “mom’s morning out” group or babysitter once a week or so. It’s gives you a little time to relax and mellow out. You could take a nap, get your nails done, do some laundry, watch trash tv, whatever. Or join a group like Gymboree or Kindermusik and meet other moms. The meds will help. Know that you’re not alone.

Q: Does anybody else know ALOT about thyroid troubles?
I have postpartum thyroiditis and it has been awful, first hyper- and now it is becoming hypo-. I work in a hospital and know alot about it but would like to talk to someone who does as well for another opinion.

A: well i’m 23 and i’ve been having thyroid problems since 2007. i had a terrible case of hyperthyroiditis and could have gone into thyroid storm had i not started on beta blockers to slow my heart rate. then i was fine for quite a while and then in spet 2009 i found out i have hypothyroidism and i’ve been taking meds for it since november. the meds have brought my thyroid levels back into the normal ranges but my symptoms are all still here. i also have a thyroid nodule thats about 3mm in size.

Q: I have come to conclusion that I have hypothyroidism but I can’t get a doctor to diagnose me?
I have been struggling with problems since I became pregnant with my daughter.I thought I had postpartum depression so I couldn’t deal with the problems anymore and I went to a doctor I was diagnosed with hypothyroid about a year and a half after my daughter was born . My doctor put me on medication for three months and a year later my tsh levels were normal. They told me that I was suffering from depression and put me on effexor. It has been over 4 years since I got pregnant and I am still suffering with many symptoms. Fatigue, migraines, severe acne, mild memory loss, lack of concentration, gained 15lbs in two months, uncontrollable irritability, depression from dealing with these issues for so long, constant fullness in throat, excessive perspiration, and the list goes on. My tsh levels are 3.29 which has increased since the last testing and my symptoms are getting worse. I need help because I cant even get out of bed in the morning when my daughter tells me she is hungry no matter what time I go to sleep. I have read that there is such thing as postpartum thyroiditis that can lead to hypothyroid and I really believe that this is what happened to me.I decided to go to another doctor and she basically told me I have depression. I am so mad I think I would know if I was just depressed.If I am depressed it is because all these doctors wont listen to me and it is very difficult dealing with these symptoms. My life is going well so I am not just depressed. Any help I would appreciate.

A: then see another Dr…if one doesn’t help you, shop till you find one that does.

Q: Why don’t Dr.s listen to you??
I was diagnosed with postpatum depression 9 months ago when my baby was born, but i believe my hormones are out of whack or I’m having problems with my thyroids, I looked up postpartum thyroiditis and all symptoms from PPT I have. I went to a Dr, and explained what was going on with me, anxiety, palpitations, unexplained wheight loss and weight gain, my eyes are sensitive to sunlight, tightness around my neck, tremors, ringing in my ears, ect. All Dr, said common Postpartum depression, she just gave me antidepressives, anti anxiety pills. the pills are hardly working, what do think what should I do? I know my body, i was thinking of leaving to my country and have my thyroids and hormones checked over there cause Dr, are not realy helping me here.

P.S SORRY SO LONG
My Phsyciatrist recomended me in the first place to see an endocrinologist, but they won’t see me without a Dr.s refferal
NO BLOOD WORK HAVE BEEN MADE.

A: 1st thing they should have done is a blood test for thyroid and hormonal imbalances. From there if it shows no indication of that..THEN they should consider antidepressants. Youre smart to look up your symptoms ..doctors are not gods and its always a good thing to be involved in your health. This is shoddy care youre getting. USA docters are trained solely in western medicine. Western medicine treats symptoms not the underlying causes. Its backwards from everyother culture.. Our docs make money prescribing drug after drugs and using you as a guinnea pig..its hit and miss and pretty irresponsible in ethics

Q: Female Problems..And I need help, please?!?
HISTORY
I’m 18. I have a 10 month old child. I have postpartum thyroiditis, and acid reflux. I take 1 levothyroxine (20mg) a day and 1 omeprazole (20mg) 2 times a day.

PROBLEM
Since the day I found out I was pregnant I’ve had a whiteish discharge. Sometimes it’s thick and mocusy, but sometimes it’s runny. Sometimes it’s just a little at a time, but sometimes it seems like it will never stop. At times, I can wipe and wipe, but it still covers the toilet paper. It burns and itches sometimes. But maybe that’s due to wear a pad everyday for the past 18 months. Here lately, though, it smells horrible- even though I shower regularly. And there’s this white stuff on the outside, around my vagina and stuff. It sorta looks like toilet paper rolled up, but it’s there a lot. I’ve even noticed it at the top, in that little “A” thing. If it pull it back a little it’s there.

I’d like some help… and if I can add anything else, that would help, let me know.. My doctor is a long drive, but I have been putting it off for a while..
Any help will do.. Thanks in advance.
Thanks for all the answers. I’m definitely making me an appointment tomorrow, but I thought it would ease my mind getting a few maybes and could be’s.

A: Discharge is quite normal, especially the way you described the appearance of it. Unfortunately for some, they can come in excess as well. It totally depends on a woman’s vagina. However, you’ve mention it causing irritation and burning. Those are partial signs of an infection. The discharge would also be an abnormal color (brown or something) or smell bad (like you mentioned). Either way, it’s definitely worth getting checked out. I honestly don’t know what you should do aside from seeing a doctor to make sure of what it is – most infections however can be remedied by the use of over the counter medication, depending on what it is. Also, you could use thin pantyliners instead of full pads (if you’re not doing so already).

Q: Should I look into getting my thyroid condition fixed?
I have Hoshimoto’s and postpartum thyroiditis. My thyroid has been overactive for 9 months.

When I went to my endocrinologist about it he said that we would just keep checking the levels every few weeks to see if it has gone down. I haven’t had it checked in while because they won’t do anything about even though it is still high.

I know it is still overactive because I am rapidly losing weight, my hair is falling out in clumps, I am tired yet anxious, and my joints ache (it’s an autoimmune disorder so it is attacking my joints).

My question is, should I push getting the condition treated now, let it run its own course, or get it treated after I am done nursing my baby?

A: I would find a new endocrinologist. Obviously you are uncomfortable and concerned and he isn’t taking you seriously. Second opinions are always useful. The healthier you are, the healthier your baby will be, don’t wait.