Hi, I had postpartum thyroiditis which kicked off three months after birth of my little girl Oct 2017. I was fully clear Nov 2018, after experiencing both the hyper and hypo phases. I have been well for a couple of months and then had return symptoms that are pretty debilitating. Doc keeps checking my TSH which is running low 1/1.2/1.4 (my normal is about 2.5). I recognise all the return symptoms, which are full on enough to prevent me from working but because it's in range just keep getting sent on my way - I KNOW it's my thyroid. I wanted to see if anyone else had similar experiences maybe after having had postpartum thyroiditis? fluctations? return symptoms? Or if anyone has symptoms and a TSH that just sits in range? I can't acept my current health as the norm! Thanks in advance.
I had a pretty trying time with it all and so shared my story here to help others:
Post-partum thyroiditis is not temporary in every case, some go on to develop permanent hypothyroidism. Additionally, post-partum thyroid dysfunction is not cut and dried, as this chart describing the various clinical courses of thyroid dysfunction after delivery, explains ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2...
It's also entirely possible that you had post-partum thyroiditis then, and separately you have say, Hashimoto's or whatever, now. But whatever your condition, it cannot be monitored or managed by testing the TSH alone - it is of course, a pituitary hormone and you need to know what are your thyroid hormone and antibody levels, as a minimum, in order to know what treatment if any, is required. You may therefore have to do what many of us do, and have a more comprehensive set of tests carried out privately, to get a fuller picture/understanding. If you are in the UK you can find more info about commonly used private labs here, and if you decide to go down that route, look at tests that include TSH, FT4, FT3, TPO & TG antibodies, vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin. thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised due to Hashimoto's
Can see from your wonderful blog you already know you have vitamin D deficiency and low ferritin/iron
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's.
Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .
I realize this is an older post, but I've been searching for answers for years now. I had postpartum thyroiditis after the birth of my daughter in February 2017. I was dx four month PPT in June 2017 with severe hypothyroidism. I went through a mild hyper phase that was barely noticeable but the hypo phase was utterly debilitating and it's been two years and I haven't have a single day without some bothersome symptoms. Upon diagnosis my TSH was over 100, I had a burning throat, burning tongue, severe body aches and joint pain, irritable bowel, and fatigue. 10 weeks later, even as my TSH went down to 7, I got this issue with my eyes where they felt gritty, light sensitive and the eyelids we're puffy. I also felt like I was losing my mind. I was constantly feeling like I was going to die and my Outlook on life was very horrible. I started going to therapy, because I was worried that I had had severe postpartum depression. Eventually in October 2017, I all but begged my doctor for medication ...my tsh was around 4. She wanted me to remain unmedicated through the whole ordeal to see if my levels return to normal. In hindsight, this was a mistake. I could barely function. I was on 50 mcg Synthroid for about 6 months and I wasn't well still - my eyes bothered me, I had body aches and joint pain and on and off depression still. I struggled to keep weight on. My anxiety was much better and my digestion seemed improved. I added a small dose of cytomel (2.25 mcg) and my eyes got better and my body aches started to cease. J
I increased the t3 to 5 mcg and i felt okay, but I started having massive energy crashes in the afternoon. By November 2018, my labs showed I was over medicated so I stopped the t3 and was just on 50 mcg syntnroid for 5 days a week. I swung very hypo with a TSH of about 14 in January 2019. I have had a few medication tweaks and now I'm on 15 armour in the am and 15 armour in the pm with 50 Synthroid at night. K honestly don't feel too great -- interesting that you described pins and needles pain because Ive got that too. I haven't been truly happy since my diagnosis of postpartum thyroiditis. I probably had Hashimotos for some time before even becoming pregnant. I sympathize with your story.
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