Hyperthyroid Help

[HyperJessi]

Seeking diet and general advice. I was diagnosed with Graves Desease after my first child st 36. Blood tests showed I had a high T4 24 or so and low TSI 0.01after my first child. Didn't seem right as I had gained 43 kilos. Gone from a size 8/10 to a size 20.

Hoped it would normalise after pregnancy and it did, the symptoms (hot flushes, sweats, weight gain, heart palpitations, itchy skin, mild tremor and mood swings) seemed to go away.

Got pregnant again with no2 and the pregnancy was fine, normal weight gain, great pregnancy and birth. Two months later do my bloods again T4 is higher at around 31 TSI remained the same, symptoms are back and now include very sore tongue, fatigue and hive like rash on my chest. Got tested again T4 even higher at around 51 TSI sti 0.01.

Should I be worried?

Ps Have put off taking the medication prescribed as I am still breastfeeding baby, however my symptoms have worsened so I have started taking propylthiouacil tonight. 50mg

[Happybunny100]

Hi Hyperjessi

Gosh your T4 is high compared to my 21 and TSH 0.05 - although I'm yet to produce something of the norm as yourself too. I am trying something different with my food, just to see if this helps my next result in August and cannot proclaim any of these will help until such new blood test. However the diet changes I am now taking if you want to do some research too, is Aloe Vera gel drink everyday, Flaxseed oil, Bugelweed tea and tablets, alongside Lemon Balm and Motherwort - I've swapped milk for organic almond, milled flaxseed with cereal and soyaflazones and trying gluten free. There are other changes, like using coconut oil for butter but have no idea but hope this helps. I'm hoping some of these will help. The issue started for me alongside the menopause which is why I'm also doing Motherwort tea. Like I said, I am no expert on the food side, only what I have looked into, so they may not work for everyone - nor I - but I'll try and let you know after my next result. Take care.

[Cat4health]

As I understand it it is quite common for graves to combine with thyroiditis post pregnancy which can send your t4 quite high. Although in positive news if that is the case it usually comes down again within a few months. Mine was up to 50 after I came off the pill and then settled. However as you've seen the symptoms are not fun at that level. As happy bunny points out, there are natural anti-thyroids such as bungleweed and also an added cup of goitrogens (broccoli, kale, etc) is apparently equivalent to a low dose of carbimazole. It may also be helpful to look at your iodine intake - avoid seaweed like the plague(which includes spiraling and caarageen), avoid sea salt, sea fish, supplements (post-pregnancy) that contain iodine, jojoba oil beauty products or creams with seaweed extract etc and that way you reduce the available iodine to make thyroid hormone. Almond milk is also goitrogenic and normal milk can contain high iodine so that's a good swap although be careful as most companies use seasalt. If you do decide to go on medication I would make your doctor promise to test you monthly and reduce as soon as you hit the top end of normal because if this time is anything like the last I imagine that might happen quite quickly and you don't want to be pushed hypo with two little ones to care for. I always recommend elainemoore.com as she's an expert and looks at food and other natural treatments. Best of luck, Cat