Overactive thyroid levels after having a baby - Thyroid UK

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Overactive thyroid levels after having a baby

Giri88888 profile image
20 Replies

I have just been diagnosed with an overactive thyroid. It was at level 30- is 10-20 normal?

Anyway they said it will probably settle when baby is 6 months.

As I only got to spk to doc briefly last thing yesterday I don't really want to take the medication as I feel ok and it may settle its self.

Do any women have experience of this after having their baby?

Thanks

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Giri88888 profile image
Giri88888
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20 Replies
humanbean profile image
humanbean

You'll have to tell us what level was 30. We could try and make a guess - but the risk of getting it wrong would be huge.

What medication have you been prescribed?

Giri88888 profile image
Giri88888 in reply to humanbean

Hi, I'm not 100% sure as was thing yesterday on the phone and just told to get prescription. Been prescribed Carbmazole?

Got antibody bloods next week and appt at hospital in a month

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to Giri88888

In that case it was probably your Free T4 which was 30, but I am only guessing.

Having thyroid problems (overactive or underactive) most often happens to women at certain times in their lives - puberty, pregnancy (during, or soon after the birth), and menopause.

There is a possibility that your thyroid will return to normal fairly quickly and you won't have to stay on the Carbi for very long. Good luck. :)

Giri88888 profile image
Giri88888

Thanks, I want to spk to the doctor Monday before I take the medication as I want more info. As I feel ok i don't really want to take the medication and let it settle by itself.

Or is that not wise? I'm sure waiting until Monday will be ok?

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to Giri88888

Yes, waiting until Monday will be o.k. You do want reassurance. When we post results of tests it is better to also provide the ranges. The ranges are in brackets after the results. Always get a print-out of your results and the ranges should be on them.

Labs use different machines and therefore different ranges, so that's we we always have to request them too.

Giri88888 profile image
Giri88888 in reply to shaws

Thanks, yes I am going to get my full results all she said was 30 :/ but as don't know much about that condition I wasn't sure if it was a lot over what it should be.

Feel better about leaving it til Monday

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to Giri88888

It is a big learning curve but the more we ask questions the more we understand and finally recover with relief of all clinical symptoms.

humanbean profile image
humanbean

As I feel ok i don't really want to take the medication and let it settle by itself.

Or is that not wise? I'm sure waiting until Monday will be ok?

Waiting until Monday won't cause a problem.

I don't think your doctor will be happy about you delaying treatment of an overactive thyroid. They worry about long-term damage to the heart and the bones.

I think the usual practice with overactive thyroid is to test regularly, and when your results start to look a bit underactive they will reduce the dose of Carbi. Eventually, with luck, the dose can be tailed off altogether and your thyroid may be fine.

If your thyroid won't stay "normal" without the Carbi and you have to stay on Carbi long-term you could find that you start getting told you must have radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) to kill off your thyroid. If that happens, don't agree to anything immediately, and come back here and ask questions about it. You have more options than they will tell you about. Do not agree to what they suggest without checking with people here first. Some people do brilliantly after RAI, but some people regret agreeing to it for ever.

Giri88888 profile image
Giri88888

Thanks, hoping leaving it til Monday will be ok. If they say on Monday I should really take it I will start it then. Just bit in shock as I feel ok. Really hoping it sorts itself out in a month or so.

Is there anything I can do naturally to bring it down?

I'm walking a few miles a day and I am naturally slim anyway. Should I try and put some weight on?

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to Giri88888

Hyperthyroidism can be caused by several things. What self-help options you have (if any) really depend on the cause of your thyroid problem.

For example, you might have TPO or TG Antibodies, or you might not. You might have antibodies that cause Graves' Disease, or you might not.

For info on thyroid antibodies :

labtestsonline.org.uk/under...

For info on thyroid disease and Graves' :

labtestsonline.org.uk/under...

labtestsonline.org.uk/under...

For info on hyperthyroidism :

elaine-moore.com/

Which antibodies you have (if any) may dictate the likely future of your thyroid and how it functions. Sorry I can't be more precise.

There are some tests that your GP might not be able to do. For example, I don't think he can request a test for Graves' antibodies to be done, it will be up to the endo. The same might be true of Tg antibodies.

Ask your endo when you see him/her whether they can test you for TPO, TG and Graves's antibodies. It would be very useful info indeed.

Be aware that endocrinologists are not known for a) their patience b) their manners, and c) their general level of knowledge of thyroid disease - many of them are diabetes specialists. They also treat people strictly according to their test numbers, not their symptoms.

I strongly suggest taking a partner, husband, friend or parent with you when you see an endo. Doctors everywhere tend to be more polite when there are witnesses.

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle in reply to humanbean

Ha yes i had my first endoc app tuesday gone and he wasnt the slightest bit interested in my symptons, only interested in the sound of his own voice, alrhough i did manage to make him angry a couple of times by him saying to me " i surpose you know very little about the thyroid then" i did reel it off whatvi learnt from this site and mananged to get it info from TUK., at this point he looked like he was chewing on a wasp! Ha i think he relised he wont be pulling the wool over my eyes, he even implied all this info was far to techinical for me. Ha. Full of self importance he was.😆

Giri88888 profile image
Giri88888

Thanks :/ there is so much to it isn't there. Bit worried now I may have this forever :(

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle in reply to Giri88888

Not a quick fix! But light at the end of the tunnel! Im still waiting though.😊

Giri88888 profile image
Giri88888

Also is it ok to drink on Carbmazole? . I have organised a party for my partner next week, typical!

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to Giri88888

Look at the Patient Information Leaflet that came with the Carbi. It should say if avoiding alcohol is necessary. I haven't heard about people being forced to give up booze though.

Giri88888 profile image
Giri88888

Just noticed my postnatL citMin supplement has iodine in- should I stop this?

Argie1 profile image
Argie1

You can drink alcohol with Carbimazole but I don’t as it makes my heart race more than normal!

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle in reply to Argie1

Same here, not worth it. Feels like i have run for a bus all the time. Cup of tea for me!!☺

Giri88888 profile image
Giri88888

Another question- does carbmazole put weight on?

Rmichelle profile image
Rmichelle in reply to Giri88888

Nobody on here wants to scaremonger but thyroid conditions are not something that puts itself right in a month. I was diagnosed 2 months back and have been off work since, i have hashimotos now aswell and being tested for another immune disease graves. With being hyper your body is under alot of pressure particulary your heart as it needs to slow down, you are very fiortunate not to have experienced any symptons? I have breathlessness, heart palps, trembling, panic attacks but glad to say the last sympton has eased, i have been on carbimazole for 8 weeks and at the start put on beta blockers aswell to slow the heart down and relax you more, but the carbimazole only starts to work around 6th week, endoc wants to increase meds now and try different meds, you would be ok till monday but you do need medication to help your thyroid as there are complications if not but like you i didnt have a clue about thyroid conditions and i was scared at the start that i was going to die but im still here though but still poorly but i have learnt so much from this forum, however it is not a quick fix having hyper or hypo thyroid and especially if you have hashis or graves alongside- please get your antibodies tested as that is the mistake docs made with me. You will hear alot of people complaining what a waste of time docs are and endocrinologists as they dont know enough and thyroid patients are very poorly managed i have gained more info and care from this site than doctors and so called specialists.

I had my first appointment at hospital on tuesday with a 3 month wait and my endo was useless so thinking off going private. Take it easy on yourself and rest as much as possible.

Before carbimazole i lost alot of weight i looked awful, unfortunatley i have found i have now put on weight as i find it makes you starving hungry, i believe it is a common complaint of thyroid and meds, but i would rather carry some weight and try to get better wirh the meds.xx☺

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