[soontob6]

With all the blood tests you have when your pregnant, do they test your thyroids too?
I have a 10 mo and went to the drs yesterday and I have some symptoms of over active thyroid. I'm just wondering if it would have shown up when I had more bloods done when I was pregnant or if it's something thats happened since then.
Does any one here have an over active thyroid, it's all new to me and I'm stressing over it.

[KRT]

It's often checked, especially around 12 weeks, but it's also not uncommon for your thyroid to start misbehaving after giving birth.

Please don't stress. Thyroid problems are usually pretty easily treated and managed, so once the problem is pinned down you will feel better soon. I have an underactive thyroid so I can't provide any specific advice, but there are others who should be able to chime in.

[soontob6]

Thankyou, the first thing I noticed was on Saturday arvo, I looked in the mirror and noticed one eye was slightly bigger than the other, as in, could see more white on one than the other, and I didnt' know if one eye was slightly bulging or one was drooping as i was very tired from not having much sleep as I had tonsilitis all week and my baby was up alot teething, as well as having 3 other kids to look after.
Anyway, when I went to the dr about it yesterday, she asked if my family had thyroid problems as she said she could see my thyroid as I walked in her office. She did a few tests and I have a couple of other symtoms of over active thyriod and she couldn't see anything wrong in my eyes.
Once she pointed out my thyroid (I was clueless and didn't even know where it was) I can't believe I never noticed it, it really stands out and moves when I swallow.
KRT- my friend told me that pregnancy and childbirth can cause the thyroid to play up, I hope that's all it is, I'm breastfeeding still too, it won't do anything to my milk will it?

[Mum_of_five]

I have a goiter on my thyriod and have had ultrasounds done and seen a surgeon that specialises in Thryriod problems, regularly during pregnancy.... They have kept close observation on my functions, which are normal....

When bubs is born and is no longer breastfeeding, they will remove the goiter, but it is only on my right side, so i should be able to keep hald of my thyriod, which means i wont have to be on medication every day fro the rest of my life, which is great...

Mine was caused through previous pregnancy and has something to do with the hormones of pregnancy/breastfeeding.... I am 37 weeks pregnant and my next app is after i have the baby so they can measure the goiter... Pregnancy does make the goiter bigger because of the hormones ect... But they are not concerned about the thyriod at the moment and are happy to wait to do surgery... I hope that you recieve good news from your doctor... Post again and let us know how your results went..hugs

[Koobie83]

Hi there! Well I've had Hashimoto's thyroiditis for about 2 years and have been on thyroxine for a long long time. Mine is under active because of the immune system response. I have blood tests done every 4 weeks to keep a close eye on my levels. My endocrinologist said that as long as your levels are stable and monitored everything will be we'll with bub. The baby will be tested after its born to check their thyroid functioning too.
I would say that if your levels were abnormal when you were pregnant you would know it. What I would recommend is keep track of your health and ask your doctor to check for Graves' disease which is the opposite of Hashis - this is the autoimmune disease response relating to Overactive thyroids. Often doctors don't request the full lab checks for this - not only do you need the TSH levels checked but your T3 and T4. In saying that, graves and hashis runs in families. Bug it was only after my diagnosis that my 2 of my auntys were diagnosed with hashis (they had thyroid issues but were never properly diagnosed for the auto immune problem).
Also - if you have hashis it can often swing between over and under active.
Hope this helps!

[Koobie83]

BTW - I would definitely press your doctor to get it all checked out properly and get your bloods done. I don't know if it can affect your breast milk if you are not medicated and you DO have issues with your thyroid, but breast feeding can make your symptoms worse and you often have to bump up your dosage when you do breast feed. I know once I have my baby my levels will be checked constantly still making sure my dose is correct.

Basically any extra hormonal activity in your body can upset your thyroid - so because breast feeding and pregnancy puts extra strain on your metabolism, this affects your thyroid and can bring out underlying problems etc.

Once you are on medication it doesn't affect the breast milk and makes you feel so much better.

[soontob6]

the Drs rang this morning and has asked me to come in this arvo because the dr wants to discuss my blood test results .
I really shouldn't be worried should I? I mean, what is the worst outcome, that yes I do have a form of hyperthyroidism and need to do more tests and treatments? if this is the case, it doesn't sound scary to me, more a pain until we find the right treatment.
So why do I ALWAYS automatically think its something really bad and I'll worry myself sick until I see the dr. Aarghh I wish I could calm myself down instead of being so overdramatic all the time when it comes to my health.
hah, maybe it will be good if I'm diagnosed with hyperthyroidism as a symtom of it is anxiety, and maybe if its treated I wouldn't stress so much about things.

[Koobie83]

Haha sounds like me! I was freaking out too.
Seriously don't worry about it. Thyroid issues are completely manageable. If it is your thyroid and your doctor sorts the correct dose for you then it's smooth sailing and you'll feel better than ever. You may get referred to an endocrinologist but they will mostly be checking you for your overall health. When I went he wasn't concerned with me at all. I was convinced I had a goiter but he reassured me that I was fine.

If you DO get put onto thyroxine or the equivalent for an overactive thyroid you may feel worse for a week or so. I seriously thought I had to be hospitalised a few times given how awful I felt - but this was just my thyroid and body going into a bit of shock and going hyperthyroid thanks to all this brand new thyroxine being pumped into my system for the first time in god knows how long.

Good luck. I'm sure you will be fine

P.S. Anxiety is a symptom of thyroid issues... Often anxiety can be diagnosed and the doctors completely miss underlying thyroid issues.

This post has been edited by Koobie83: 29/11/2012, 11:20 AM

[soontob6]

Hi guys, so, after a very anxious wait at the drs this arvo, I have beem diagnosed with Graves Disease, which sounds bloody horrible, my dh freaked out a little when the dr said that, until she explained that the name is just after the guy who discovered it . So i guess now its the beginning of the journey of tests and meds until we get sorted.
I'm relieved that I know what it is and that it isn't as scary as I thought. I am sad that I have a month to wean my now 10 mo as I'll be on a very low dosage for a month to give me time to wean and then the dosage will go up

[Koobie83]

Hi there!
So you have Graves - that's the opposite of mine - Hashimotos. Welcome to the thyroid club!
Don't stress - like I said before once your doctor gets you on the right dose you will feel better than you have in ages. I didn't even know how bad I felt until I started my medication.

I would definitely recommend checking out some of the Graves support groups on Facebook. They are a wealth of information as you can talk to other people with Graves and ask each other questions.

http://www.thyroid.org.au/
This is a thyroid support group you can join. I haven't, but their website helped me a lot in the beginning to understand my condition. You should check that out too.

Don't stress. I know it sounds bad now but you will get used to it. The only annoying thing now is when you get asked whether you have any medical conditions you get to say "Yes.. Graves.. on thyroxine.. last dose this morning..." etc.

Good luck and welcome to the club!