I went to my OBGYN a few weeks ago because for the last 2+months, I was starting my period every 10- 14 days (UGHH) and I was determined to get on a regular cycle. I had my first child about 15 months ago and just stopped breastfeeding this month. I was/am also on the breastfeeding birthcontrol pill (I think it is called Errin). I know those 2 items were not helping my cause with the constant bleeding cycles and we are about to start trying for our second child, so I wanted to get everything sorted out before we started up next month.
While at the doctor's, I took a blood test and just today I found out I have a hypothyroid (underactive). Both of my parents have this and so when I first was pregnant, I made sure they checked this and my levels were normal at that time. Now, after having the baby more than a year ago, things have changed and I will have to go on medication. My OBGYN told me that not getting on medication will likely make me less fertile and will increase my chances of miscarriage.
Does anyone know why this happened and if it will go away in a few year? I am hearing more and more that you have this the rest of your life! I know this is not a big deal, but I am still a bit upset about this. I noticed that I am tired a lot, but I associated it with be a first time mom. Does anyone else have this issue and did they notice any changes once they were on medication?
Hello! My mom has the same condition and has done a lot of research on the subject. I know she has some information she can share with you. You can e-mail her at ____@____.com (her name is Kathy) and I will share your request with her so she can expect to hear from you if you chose to e-mail her. Best regards.
I have hypothyroidism and have been taking medication since 1997 when I was 27...
It's fairly common among women and pregnancy (during and after) can definitely affect your thyroid.
I would go to a good (reputable) endochronologist. Not that your obgyn can't 'handle' it but I always like to go to a specialist- one who is top in her/his field. In fact, I live in Miami & travel to Boca Raton for my endo appts. bcse my dr. is that good! Dr. Marc Levenson on Palmetto Park Rd.
I was diagnosed when I was 25 yrs old. I am now 30. I had my first daughter when I was 21 and had my 2nd this past February. When I first found out I had it, it bothered me, too. I had to be put on medication right away. Mine is underactive, too.
It gets progressivly higher as the years go on. It could get high quick, or it could creep and hardly get worse.
When I got pregnant with my 2nd child, I was referred to an endocrynologist. I was told that children who's mother's were on the proper medication while pregnant had smarter children than those children who's mother's didn't take medication. Sounds like you maybe didn't have to be on medication when you were pregnant the first time, but you may want to watch it if you plan to have more.
Another thing.. when I was pregnant, my thyroid levels increased so the doctor had to increase my medication. It's because your body produces more blood when you are pregnant. Then, when you have the baby, you can go back to your previous dose.
I hope this helps.
D.,
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism a little over two months ago. I was having problems with mesntrual ycles and hot flashes etc. Mine came from an autoimmune response and my body starting attacking my thyroid gland. my thyroi gland became severely enlarged as well. I had an ultrasound of it to measure the nodules that had formed and they found it to be twice the size as normal. I was alsways tired etc. I have been taking synthroid and I felt a big difference within a couple weeks. My period was irregular, heavy and 7 days + long. I've had the synthroid for 2 periods now and it is lighter, less painful, and only 3-4 days long. I know another responder claimed that there were other options besides synthroid, such as nutrition and natural methods, and she's right. If you chose to use natural things, please consult the doctor. My endocrinologist has a nutritionist in his office, and I can schedule with her if I want. I will be on the pill for the rest of my life as my thyroid tissue has been shut down, but the dosing can change. Good luck to you and God Bless.
Don't worry yourself. Everyone is different. I had a thyroid problme after my first child and my doctor told me it was common after a pregancy for your body to go out of wack! You may not need meds forever, mine only took 6-8 months. After my second child I was checked regularly because I was affraid it would happen again and it didn't. Take each day and know that now that you are on meds you'll be feeling better.
You do not have to go on thyroid medication for the rest of your life but it is a good idea to see a competent nutritionist who can help you support your thyroid function and your overall health. I am on Armour thyroid, it is a natural thyroid. I strongly recommend you read about thyroid medications and the thyroid in general. Many main stream doctors will tell you that synthroid is the only way to go and armour does not work (because it is a natural desiccated thyroid) but I can promise you that it DOES and there are many doctors who will only use it today. You may want to check out Dr. Hotze's book (look on Amazon.com) and there are many others. The natural thyroid does not mess up your system and you are not as dependent on it for the rest of your life.
Good luck
I was diagnosed with the same thing when i was 14... i didnt have a child at that point and it came out of the blue.. it is different for everybody. sometimes it gets better and sometimes it doesnt. i was on meds for about a year and a half and i havent had to take any pills for the condition since. since that point i have had three kids and am healthy as a horse. no sign of my hypothyroidism since i was was taken off the meds when i was almost 16. just eat healthy and exercise and hope for the best but its not something to be upset over. as for the pills making you less fertilwe and increase your chances of medication.... thats what almost all meds on the market will do anyways. just do some research on it. take the meds for awhile and continue to get it checked. and besides if you are trying to get pregnant again talk to your doc about taking this med and if you absolutely have to have it since you are trying to concieve. one thing everyone in this day and age forgets is that humans have lived on this planet for a long time with out all the medication that is on the market today. and without being diagnosed with all the new diseases that are around as well. talk everything over with your doc. let him know your concerns about things and find out everything about hypothyroidism first before youget upset about it. its not the end of the world just a bump in the road. and remember this is something that may or may not last a lifetime. it didnt last for meand according to my docs its like i never had it in the first place. good luck with everything.
I developed Hypothyroidism after my first child but It took my 6wk check up to discover this with a blood test. I kept assoc. all of my fatigue, dry/frizzy hair and inability to lose baby weight to being a first time mother. At first I kinda thought it was no big deal but once everything settle in and I realized I would be on medication for the rest of my life I was and still am somewhat upset about having to pop a pill daily to feel like the old me again. I still struggle with a huge amount of memory loss and fatigue but I also have 3 children 4 and under. I have been trying to take natural supplements/vitamins to help with my symptoms, because I keep hearing more information about how taking Synthroid over a long period of time can be harmful to your body long term. It is very difficult to find a doctor that will help with any alternatives b/c as I'm told there is none at this time and it will be more detremental to not take your thyroid meds. I did take synthroid while nursing my oldest and pregnant/nursing with my 2 youngest children w/ no issues if that makes you feel anymore at ease, and really I've had no problems with my medication except for when i forget to take it...I am just overwhelmed with exhaustion and bad hair...you name it and I have every symptom when I get off my meds...I hope this has helped in anyway. I wish I had more info when I first was diagnosed to help me cope a little better! Good Luck!
Hello D. O:
Welcome to the club. I have had a hypothyroid for about 7 years now. I have been on many different doses, until I went to a specialist. After that I have been fine as long as I have been on medication. Yes, this does not go away. Your doctor is right about getting pregnant. I tried with my first husband and never got pregnant and when I remarried and we started to try I went to fertility doctor to get me to be the super fertility goddess. LOL My thyroid was never under control with my regular physician. My OBgyn yelled at me for not seeing a specialist and sent me to Dr. Wendy Huhn in Orlando. After one month with her I was pregnant.
You will feel tired and your hair will never be the same if you don’t get this fixed. The thyroid gland controls almost everything in your body. Once you get it fix you will start to feel a lot better and not so tired. Now am I going to tell you, you will be doing flips and have all the energy that you child has, NO!!!! But you will start to feel a lot better. You are lucky that you could breast feed that long. I did it for a year with my Son (who is 3 ½) but with my Daughter I could barely make it to 6 months. My thyroid went into hyper mod which was good to get rid of those unwanted baby pounds but not good to produce milk. I will tell you it will take a lot to lose weight because you are hypo but hang in there. It has not changed my life, I take a pill first thing in the morning, wait an hour to eat and that is all the heartache I have for the day. Hey if you are willing to take the pill everyday, this is no different.
Good luck!!!!
K. P
D.,
Not to worry! This is a very common problem and is easily controlled with a small pill once a day. I have had this since I was 11, along with my mom, sister, and now my daughter as well. This is something you will have to monitor for the rest of your life. However it is only a blood test every 6 or 12 months. Chin up!!! You will feel much better once your medicine (probably synthroid) takes effect. Good luck on your growing family!!
D. -
The only thing I can tell you is that I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism several years ago & it never gets better. Once your thyroid becomes "underactive" it will continue to be that way. I take medication every day & will for the rest of my life. It's not a big deal though. When I was pregnant they had to monitor this every 6 weeks to make sure that they didn't need to increase my dosage. I wouldn't worry too much about this. It's very common. Hope this helps. T. C
