Overactive Thyroid during Pregnancy...

[spikejack]

Hi,
I just wondered if someone could please help me (although Im very worried about the answers!)
This morning I've been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid and I am also 6 weeks pregnant.
I've got to have an 'thyroid antibody' blood test and am seeing a Professor/ consultant next week.

I've been prescribed medication to take which (I'm told) is suitable for me as I'm pregnant and the Doctor said, when I asked about pregnancy, that this problem HAS to be treated and so the medication has been chosen, taking pregnancy into account.

I am very worried. I have a little boy of 1 year and 10 months and my pregnancy with him was absolutely fine.

My symptoms are; quite rapid heart beat, slightly breathless and weight loss (although I'm only 5ft 2" and weigh around 7.5 stone normally). I'm now 7 stone, but never sit down! My symptoms, as far as I am aware, have only really happened since I've been pregnant, although I wasn't monitoring myself before I knew about it!

Please could someone give me some advice or information about how they've been affected. I have already made the mistake of looking on medical websites and `have scared myself senseless!

Just need to know if its manageable and could it affect baby.
Thanks

Poor you. It's a huge shock to hear that you have a thyroid problem and you're bound to worry. It really depends on how overactive it is and therefore how much medication you'll need to take to get it back under control. I developed an overactive thyroid after my first pg and it was really high. I went on to have a closey monitered but very safe and healthy pg and completely healthy baby. The fact that it's been caught so early in pg is a real plus and your endocrinologist will be able to answer all your questions. It's always alarming to read about what could happen to you and/or baby but as long as you're closely monitered it probably will be absolutely fine.

Thank you so much hattie. That's a huge relief. I could absolutely cry!

My Doctor said it's acute and I've got to start the medication this evening and have it every 8 hours ('on the dot!'). The apointment with the Professor / Consultant will be (I'm told) to possibly scan my thyroid and to talk the problem thorough and then be monitored.

I've been told that, unlike my 1st pregnancy, I will have to have consultant led care this time.

I know I am a worrier and I sound like a spoilt child, but I just wanted another baby - not all this!

Am such a coward too - I HATE blood tests!
I know that it will be for the baby's health as well as my own, so that's what will get me through it - and the wise and comforting words of lovely people like yourself!

I'm also keen to know (although I know all cases are different) whether it is pregnancy related or whether it will continue afterwards. I wonder if the medication will bring it down to a normal level of activity or whether I'll have to take it forever to moderate it?

I don't think they'll know that until after the pregnancy. There was no history of thyroid problems in my family but I suppose someone has to be the first. I came off the medication at 28 weeks so that I could bf and so that it wouldn't affect the baby in the last trimester although I could have stayed on a low dose until term. I had loads of scans to check the baby's thyroid growth too and was really worried about it all. Everything was fine and it's only a small proportion of foetuses that are affected if you're on medication. My symptoms didn't return until ds2 was 2 yrs old and I went back on meds then for a year. Basically there's a high chance about 60% that it'll return if you've had a relapse but yours could be completely pg related in which case temporary. Hope this reassures you. There were loads of women with the same problem when I was pg and a special antenatal clinic for thyroid problems so you won't be alone I'm sure. Good luck and look after yourself. Try not to worry (Easier said than done I know)

Thanks so much (again).
Its not a condition I'd ever been aware of (although I've heard of a few 'under-active thyroid' cases) but I've never been sure what it all entailed.

I haven't met up with my midwife yet, although I know its the same one I had with my first child, so I think I'll speak to her about the thyroid ante-natal clinic. Sounds very helpful.

Hopefully it is pregnancy related and it will all go away after the birth, but I'll just have to wait and see. I was wondering about breastfeeding though so thats something else to investigate with the Endocrinologist on Thursday.

I 'm also going to look into causes for it as I wondered if it may be stress related or something. I worry that, if it affects your heart rate, could it cause a heart attack! Sounds a bit dramatic, but it's amazing what crosses your mind when you're worried!

Thanks again for your comments. I've printed them off so I can have a read when I'm getting jittery again!
xx

My pulse was 130 bpm when I was diagnosed and that was pretty terrifying but I was put on Propananol to reduce it until the anti thyroid meds kicked in. If you're on tablets now I wouldn't worry about it because they'll keep a close eye on your levels. If you've read about thyroid storm again that's not common and more of a risk if you're unmedicated. I'm sure you'll be fine. Try not to worry too much as now you're being treated it can be reduced and controlled with in all likelihood no ill effects. Sending you a big hug of empathy.

I had an overactive thyroid (diagnosed as a child which is very rare) and in my family it is hereditary. I was on carbimazole for ten years, reducing the dose gradually, then my thyroid function became normal. After about 5 years it went overactive again and I went back on the medication for a couple of years then it levelled out again.

I wasn't pg when I first went on the meds (I was 9 !!) so I can't advise you there BUT I can help with how you are feeling physically, the breathlessness, the weight loss (dramatic in my case), I had a heart murmur and such high blood pressure and heart rate I was put on bed rest in hospital for a month! I could never sleep at night, I was hyperactive, tearful, often hysterical etc.

Rest assured that you will get the best possible care now they now you have this. It is quite common in pg I believe and there will be lots to read on the net about it (don't scare yourself) and as you are seeing a consultant you will be in safe hands.

Congrats on your pregnancy, don't this overshadow this happy time too much, it's manageable and probably will right itself after the baby is born.

Hi Spikejack,

Not sure if you are still following this thread? How is it going? I was diagnosed with Graves Disease after the birth of DS 1 and was on medication for a year. I came off medication in june this year as we wanted to try for another baby and sure enough i am pg (14 weeks). I know what you are going through as i was really worried about the baby but since seeing the gyn consultant he has really put my mind at ease. I too am having extra scans to check growth and will see my endo consultant every six weeks. I am sure you will be monitored really closely and things will be fine! Let me know how you get on.

Hi,

Sorry - I've only just seen your post!

I'm now 8 and a half months pregnant (with my second child - had never even heard of this condition before then with no probs at all in my first pregnancy) and have been on Propylthouracil since the very beginning of this pregnany.

My hormone levels have fluctuauted throughout the past 8 months so I've had periods of time when the endocrinologists have stopped my medication completely (when the levels were 'normal'), only to find that the hormone levels then went up, thus encouraging them to put me back on the meds again.

At the moment, I'm on 3 50mg tablets a day (taken at 8 hourly intervals).
I've had monthly scans (which have all been fine) and I've seen my Midwife weekly to monitor baby's heartbeat and my pulse etc.

At one point recently, it was by anti-body levels which went up, but they seem to have come down now. Baby will have to have a blood test soon after birth to check that he or she doesn't have it (via me passing my anti-bodies on through the placenta), but everything is showing that it doesn't at the moment, which is a relief!

All is well and I'm told by the consultants that there is no reason that I should expect anything other than a 'normal' labour. I don't need to go back for a consultant appointment until 6 weeks post-birth, which is nice as I was getting a bit fed up with being a pin cushion and having blood taken!

I'm also told that I should be able to be 'active' during labour, even if I need to have the monitoring straps over my bump, as I was very worried about being confined to the bed!

I don't plan to have anymore children after this one and I'm hoping that the condition was a pregnancy induced one - a friend of mine was diagnosed with the condition during her menopause, which leads me to think it may be hormonal imbalances or something? Who knows??!

I really hope your pregnancy is going ok. You must be due very soon too then, if not already had your new addition??