I am posting on behalf of sil in who has been told to stop bfing today, due to some results coming back revealing that she has an over active thyroid

[Overrun]

She is upset about this on lots of different levels. Firstly she was rung up at 11.30am yesterday evening by a dr from the hospital who said a routine blood test (she has diabetes) had come back as being very high 47? And they wanted her to go on mediation instantly (don't know name sorry).
She has now been told she has to start medication today. She has many issues with this, she doesn't feel ill and is querying the result. And is not sure what the risks are of delaying treatment, and obviously doesn't want to run into problems...

But my question is in this topic, as I am wondering if a bf expert or some one who has an over active thyroid problem can advise on whether she will need to give up bf today?

She really really doesn't want to

But

[luvaduck]

i think prob her t4 level is 47 and her tsh is low??? that means she has an overactive thyroid. i imagine they are goint to put her on carbimazole to suppress the thyroid, and its not advised to take that when breastfeeding. she can be put on propylthiouracil which is less harmful but not used as commonly.

has she lost weight? get palpitations etc? a bit manic??
i wonder what her TSH level is. that would give a better indication of how active the thryoid is. it is possible to become very sick and go into thyrotoxic crisis but this is unlikely if she doesn't have any symptoms.

it sounds like she needs to go in and be assessed by a dcotor today rather than just putting her on meds, repeating the test if she has no signs and her pulse rate is ok, and thrn having a discussion abotu starting the alternative drug if she needs to.

HTh (am a doc not a bf expert)

ps sorry about typos am one finger typing while expressing and haven't got my contacts in so can see diddly squat

[Overrun]

Come on people, she is really worried and I said reassured her the mumsnet would have some one who could advice or had some experience of this

[Overrun]

Thanks luvaduck I will let her know that. She has posted in the past, maybe I will see if she wants to read your post herself

[Monkeybird]

No direct experience but suggest you/she get on the breastfeeding network website and look at their 'drugline' phone number or page. There is info there about medications and BF.

And ask for a second opinion in the hosp, doctors unfortunately say this ROUTINELY without actually knowing whether there is any research actually, since they either don't want to take the risk or know nothing about BF.

Tell her to get on the phone immediately to one of the BF helplines - will find numbers and post them shortly if you haven't already got them, and ask one of them. Someone will be available on one of the lines on a saturday lunchtime I would htink...

[Lulumama]

howbreastfeedingworks.com/tag/breastfeeding/

the numbers are on the above site

[Monkeybird]

National Breastfeeding Helpline 0844 20 909 20
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers helpline 08444 122 949
Breastfeeding Network Supporterline: 0844 412 4664 Breastfeeding Network Drugline: 0844 412 4665
La Leche League Telephone Helpline: 0845 120 2918
National Childbirth Trust Breastfeeding line: 0870 444 8708
cut and pasted from the how BF works site to make it even easier!

[Overrun]

Thanks very much. She is out at the moment with my brother, so can't come on line. I'm sure she will ring those number for further advice though so thats great.

My mum is friends with a Consultant who specialises with this, and he concured with you luvaduck that tsh levels and lack of symptoms are important. She has now spoken to a local dr, who says because of lack of symptoms she doesn't need to go on the medication today. She is going to ask to be re tested.

But I will let her know that different types of medication are better than others.

[BumperliciousIsStillNotDressed]

I had an overactive thyroid initially but the dr's waited a while as they expected it to swing to underactive, and it did, which is more easily treatable and doesn't interfere with bfing. it's common for this to happen and it's common for thyroid problems to be triggered by having a baby.

she should ask to be referred to an endocrinologist, that's what my dr's were going to do.

this site (kindly linked to me in the past by tiktok has more objective info about medication and bfing.

[Overrun]

thanks for that Bumperliscious

[luvaduck]

its true bymper it could be postpartum thyroiditis - and then she probably doesn't need to be treated in the initial stages - all the more reason to see someone who knows what he/shes talking about.
great that you have a friend who is a specialist - make sure she agress with the treatment
good luck to her

soem info
www.thyroid.org/patients/brochures/Postpartum_Thyroiditis_brochure.pdf

[Kbear]

If she is seriously over active she would be feeling shaky, sleepless, have insomnia, voracious appetite, rapid heart rate, hysterical behaviour, easily upset and tearful, unreasonably angry sometimes, lots of symptoms for it. Bit like PMT but worse with the moods.

I would get them to check the results but also she should take their advice - it can be serious. She should have an ECG to check heart rate. Mine was all over the place when mine was diagnosed and I was admitted to hospital the same day and put on complete bedrest for three weeks. I was a child when first diagnosed and it had been ignored for ages before final diagnosis so I was quite bad before I started treatment.

[pituca]

Dear all,
I am the sister in law with the hyperactive tyroid since last night!
Thank you very much for your wise advise and thanks to you sister as well for caring for me.
I am feeling very down about it all. I do not mind medicating, injecting, dieting, etc... but I cannot think about stopping breastfeeding before I have tears in my eyes.
I went through a lot at the beginning and I did everything to get where I am now.
I have rang the helpline and got good advise. I have also read a few articles online.
I have emailed my diabetic consultant who I am sure will give me her support to get the right drug. I am going to refuse taking anything that would stop me breastfeeding.
It is such a shock once again finding out that I have something else. I have already been diagnosed with diabetes type1 all of the sudden, then infertility and polycistic syndrom, 2 years later I was happily pregnant and I was then diagnosed with coeliac disease, a few months later with a cornea syndrom and now with hiperactive tyroid! What is next?
anyway, I will stop now feeling sorry for myself and start another battle.
Thanks again

[Kbear]

Good luck!

Do you have any other symptoms I described?

[Kbear]

any of the NOT any other....

[pituca]

thanks Kbear
I have not got any symptoms at all.

[Kbear]

Strange then that they are rushing you to stop bfing and onto the meds. Ask them to check your bloods again before you stop. You would definitely feel some PMT-like symptoms, stressed, teary, even shaky (if you hold your hands up and straight out in front of you they would shake slightly if you were bad - my docs made me do this every appointment).

[Overrun]

Hi pituca, how are you this morning?

[pituca]

hi all,
I am not feeling very happy at all this morning and I won't be fine until I have my doctor on the phone tomorrow an we can agree on something sensible.
My hands do not shake and I have no PMT symptoms at all. I feel very anxious now becuase I know they might tell me to stop BF but that would have happened to me anyway, it is my weakest point.

[Overrun]

Hello, sorry to hear you are feeling anxious. I think with all the advice that you have got from here and other places, you will be able to go and see the Doctors tomorrow and be strong