Postpartum thyroid problems

abundancenow

I've been reading about thyroid issues that can come up after baby is born. Sounds like it would be easy to attribute symptoms to normal post partum changes like hair loss, feeling exhausted, weight changes, depression. Seems to be linked with PPD. Often there is hyper period that includes racing heart rate and weight loss, followed by a hypo period with exhaustion and weight gain. Anyone dealing with this?

ariel8200

Yes I've been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. I don't have an appointment with an Endo until February though. I'm kinda hoping it will just go back to normal, but it runs in my family, so it's not likely.

abundancenow

It sounds like it often goes away after about a year if it was postpartum and not a pre existing condition. How were you diagnosed? I know a blood test, but did your symptoms lead to going to the dr, or was it at your 6 week pp appointment?

ariel8200

I was feeling off but I'm pretty sure it was due to low iron. They ran a blood test and included the thyroid test. I don't feel like I have any symptoms. I have lost 10 pounds since they told me (about a month ago) and I'm losing tons of hair but I could chalk that up to nursing and postpartum hairloss. Honestly, the only reason I'm following up with an Endo is because members of my family developed it and then got thyroid cancer. I'm hoping when I go in in February that they will run more tests before medicating me. Have you had any tests?

abundancenow

I haven't been tested. I read that sometimes it is not caught in the testing, but symptoms are obvious thyroid related. My concern mostly is my weight and that despite cutting calories and exercise, I'm not losing anything. I lost about ten pounds in birth, and have about 40 extra pounds since pre pregnancy. I've never been this heavy and it's puzzling me that I'm not losing anything.

SuperTinkerham

I had Graves Disease (hyperthyroid) and had 90% of my thyroid removed 10+ years ago. So now I am hypothyroid. I need to get mine checked and make sure I'm all accounted for.

abundancenow

@AnotherDreamer , I stopped bf about two months ago. While the majority of women seem to lose weight b fing, I did not with both of my children. I have considered my body could be in survival mode holding on to the weight.
I have had an issue with my pituitary gland producing too much prolactin in the past, this contributed to fertility problems. This has been monitored through blood work. Prolactin is naturally elevated during pregnancy and when bf. Since I stopped bf, I've been waiting to allow my body to adjust prior to getting blood work to see where I'm at with the prolactin, ideally 3 months. Thyroid and pituitary glands are connected, so maybe there's a link.

@Supertinkerham , I think I'm hypo vs hyper. I guess you take medication to keep things balanced?

@Luckynumbers81 , were you medicated for this?
I just wonder if I should get tested now, or if I would be ok to wait another month for blood work. How serious is it? Is it always treated or just monitored and self corrected. Curious about medication and side effects.

Big+Lil

When I delivered, they noticed my swollen neck and did an ultrasound after delivery. I have a multinodular goiter and a negative biopsy was done a few weeks later. I think mine isn't going away and have a followup this month.

Erin0303

Im about t go into my doctor to get mine checked... I know we are all tired new mommies but with the hair loss, skin changes... I need to know. My mom also has a history of thyroid issues.

TurtleMonsters

Funny, I'm seeing a lot of docs for health stuff and one mentioned mine was swollen, though another did a basic test and nothing was wrong. I have high bp post partum and furious migraines (had those forever).