I'm very new here and I'm still in a little bit of shock and trying to process everything at the minute.
I am 7 months postpartum and have a beautiful 7 month old baby boy! He's wonderful, but the entire pregnancy was not! I suffered hyperemesis for 6 months with multiple hospital stays, IV fluids and anti sickness injections. I then had a placental abruption at 36 weeks and my son was born via emergency c section whilst I was under GA.
Since then, I have had health problems which prompted me to see my GP.
An ultrasound has discovered adenomyosis and polyps in my uterus and my thyroid blood tests have come back as TSH 20.5 and free T4 as 9.3
It was explained to me that I have an underactive thyroid and to take medication now everyday, most probably for life.
I'm still awaiting a hysteroscopy for the other findings and treatment. I am to have my bloods taken again in 2 months and to check for TPO antibodies.
I just wanted to see if anyone else had had a similar experience? Does anyone think that this could all be connected (including pregnancy complications) and just how are you in general since being diagnosed and having to take daily medication?
It's a lot to take in and I'm feeling a little sorry for myself (I know there are truly a million worse things that people have been diagnosed with or have to deal with daily, but I can't shift this horrible feeling).
Should I change my diet? Would going GF help at all?
Anyway, I hope you're all OK, and any advice or reassurance anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.
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AvaJude18
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Welcome to the forum AvaJude18 & congratulations on the birth of your son!
Please go easy on yourself. Getting a diagnosis of an underactive thyroid can seem daunting (it certainly did to me!) but I’m so grateful to forum members for helping and supporting me in my thyroid journey. You will learn so much from reading posts and asking questions…. but it will take time to get your head around it all.
Do add ranges for your tests (in brackets after results), as these can vary between laboratories. However, as TSH should be under 2, it is clear that your thyroid is struggling. How much Levothyroxine have you been prescribed?
Alongside TSH and FT4, ask your GP to test FT3, thyroid antibodies and key thyroid vitamins (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12).
Are you taking any supplements currently? We recommend testing first, & sharing results before supplementing key thyroid vitamins.
If your GP is unable to complete all the above (eg if TSH is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT4 and FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:
Many members ask their GP for a coeliac test prior to starting a Gluten Free trial. I didn’t do this, but 10O% felt better for eliminating gluten for 3 months (& would never have it again). I personally wouldn’t make more than one dietary change at a time, as I got myself in a terrible muddle cutting out gluten, dairy & sugar in one go in a bid to improve my symptoms. If you make too many changes, it’s hard to work out which is beneficial.
Keep posting & asking questions. We are a friendly & supportive forum & are here to help one another. 🦋
Thank you so much for your reply! It's so reassuring knowing there are people out there who truly understand what it is I'm going through! Now I've got christmas and New Year out of the way, given my head a wobble and taken a bit of 'me' time, I'm feeling a little better about it all! I've not cut anything out of my diet just yet but I have opted for healthier choices (drinking more water over cans of coke zero 🙈, snacking on fruit rather than chocolates etc) I'm not taking any supplements at the moment but will ask my GP to test for for deficiencies in thyroid vitamins at my next blood test - thank you so much!
Hi there, its highly likely that this is all pregnancy related. Our bodies are in a delicate chemical balance and then a stressful period knocks everything out of whack and can trigger the immune system to attack the wrong things, ie, your thyroid. The levothyroxine that you'll be taking is the synthetic version of your natural thyroxine hormone. Its very important to take this on an empty stomach with just water. No food or caffeine for at least 30 minutes. You need to absorb as much levo as you can. Make sure to take it at roughly the same time each day. Personally, I would not eliminate things from your diet yet (just eat 'healthy') unless you know certain foods don't agree with you. Reduce your stress (stress affects thyroid hormones) as much as you can. Make small, gradual changes to your levo dose as big changes can 'shock' the system and lead to hair loss and feeling worse. Gradually increase your dosage, then re test in 6-8 weeks. When you're feeling a little better on a stable levo dose, then start eliminating things from your diet if you think it might help.
Thank you so much for this! All sounds very knowledgeable! I've managed to get a good routine going and even though it's been less than 2 weeks, I'm good at taking levo each day! Even remembered to take it away with me on our New Year's Eve mini break haha! I've not cut anything out of my diet just yet but have defo started to make healthier choices - thank you so much!
Welcome AvaJude18 ! Congratulations on your little one!
I’m popping in here just to tell you that you are not alone and there are so many smart people on this forum who will help you as you figure things out.
I had a similar feeling when I learned I was hypo. The doctor said so matter of fact … “You know you are hypothyroid, right.” I stammered and stuttered … “No I didn’t!” Incidentally I was also told about my gestational diabetes in the same way… they drop a bomb and don’t even realize how stunned it makes you feel. It’s a horrible feeling and I’m sorry you had to feel like that.
None of us are doctors, but everyone on this board ( ESPECIALLY the Admins!) will help you make sense out of whatever is thyroid related in your health.
You may feel like you are drinking from a firehose. So take it all in, muster up a little more strength to take control of your health, and come back here as much as you need to ask all your questions.
Thank you so much for your reply! I mean just WOW! You'd think after the trauma of pregnancy and childbirth we'd be immune to conversations with the Dr's but I truly wasn't expecting this! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and I hope you're doing well
Sorry to hear about your health issues, but happy to hear you have a beautiful baby now. I was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid about 7 months after having my first baby 9 years ago. I also had a placental abruption like you.
My GP reassured me that all I would need to do was take medication for the rest of my life and I was one of the rare ones to find a cause for my tiredness. It’s only recently that I’ve discovered I have Hashimotos and feel there was a missed opportunity to manage my health better.
I’m currently working with a private GP who practices functional medicine. I’ve been recommended a mito diet for 6-8 weeks and then review. I’ve also started taking my Levo with hot water and lemon in the morning, as well as taking supplements. Blood work shows I’m already over treated.
This is the start of my journey to manage my Hashimotos and I’m still learning about it through various books written by affected people. I know stress is a big trigger for me so I’ve introduced daily restorative yoga and this is probably the best choice I’ve made for my health so far.
I keep nearing that the road back to health is marathon not a sprint. Take care and I hope you start to feel some positive improvements in your health soon.
Thank you so much! I've requested an anti bodies test to check for hashimotos but that was because I'd read about it! It wasn't offered to me as standard!
I guess this is just part of me now and making healthier life choices definitely won't do me any harm
Welcome to our forum, sorry to hear of your complications but big congrats on baby 😊.
Hashi is the most common cause of hypothyroidism and many years ago I struggled with each of my own pregnancies but thankfully had normal births and healthy babies. I have since investigated the how's and why's of Hashi and pregnancy which demands adequate thyroid hormone levels and a healthy functioning immune system.
'Subclinical hypothyroidism has also been associated with placental abruption and preterm birth. Retrospective studies have found that obstetric risks are correlated to the extent of an individual’s thyroid dysfunction and the gestational age by which euthyroidism is achieved.'
An excellent overview in layman's language is 'Your Healthy Pregnancy With Thyroid Disease' written by Dana Trentini and Mary Shomon. Their general consensus is to keep thyroid antibodies low through means of eliminating cross-reactive foods, avoiding sugar spikes, supplementing selenium, fish oils, Vit D etc, that helps calm an over active immune response and reduces the chance of attacks on thyroid peroxidase (TPO) & thyroglobulin (TG).
You should be having more bloods taken six weeks after starting Levo and be insistent quoting your troubles if they try to delay to 3 months. It is imperative you regain adequate FT4 and FT3 asap.
Thank you for you reply! The whole pregnancy was such hard work! I was so ill for the first 6 months and survived on haribo and sips of lucozade! The rest of the time I was hooked up to an IV drip to replace lost fluids due to hyperemesis gravidarum. I have to say, once the HG settled, I did feel great! I went back to work, I even went to Spain (I did catch COVID and my eldest daughters sickness bug) but other than that was fine! The placental abruption was completely unexpected! Every scan and midwife appointment was "textbook" despite having such an awful start to the pregnancy! I was reassured that baby would take everything it needed.
I am now wondering about my thyroid during pregnancy and whether that caused the abruption or not - or whether the abruption was a coincidence and I've developed hypothyroidism later! I guess I'll never actually know and should just be grateful that my miracle baby is here healthy and happy and that luckily I can manage this condition with medication and lifestyle changes!
Welcome and congratulations on your baby boy, but gosh what a scary experience for you both. Do you have any history of autoimmune conditions or a family history of autoimmune or thyroid problems. Have your thyroid antibodies been tested?
The reason I ask is that very heavy bleeding during childbirth can sometimes cause damage to the pituitary gland. Its known as Sheehan's syndrome and becoming hypothyroid can be a result.
As maternity care has improved its not common but cases like yours, with sudden placental abruption and presumably heavy blood loss can still occur. Around 90% of cases of hypothyroid are autoimmune and can run in families, hence I wondered about your genes. However not all hypos are autoimmune.
I had several haemorrhages after I had my children and I've never had positive antibodies so I suspect my hypothyroid might be pituitary damage. Ultimately the treatment is the same, lifelong thyroid replacement therapy, so the cause is neither here or there.
It is possible to have Hashi with an absence of elevated thyroid antibody lab results. In this instance a scan showing fibrosis or atrophy of the gland would be evidence.
With pituitary failure (as in the case of Sheehans Syndrome) you would need all eight pituitary hormones testing. Even with partial anterior pituitary cell necrosis there are possible specific symptoms such as lack of breast milk, high BP, low sodium, heart issues, on going hypoglycemia as well as central hypothyroidism. This means treatment would need to consist of Levo, HC for cortisol replacement, and O & P for gonadotropin deficiency, and always growth hormone. Complications are enormous and diabetic insidious is prevalent in sufferers of Sheehans Syndrome.
I had severe pre eclampsia in my first pregnancy and sadly had a stillbirth so was on low dose aspirin tbroughout my second. The birth was long, complicated, my son was large for dates due to gestational diabetes and I had a massive haemorrhage after he was born then another 4 weeks later due to retained placenta. I never was able to breastfeed as I had no milk.
I've had some odd anomalies like coming off the pill and going straight into menopause at 47 with periods that just stopped, high BP, hence coming off the pill, I had an echo scan in July that showed moderate heart valve regurgitation. Both mitral, bicuspid and mild aortic valve.
As for central hypo I dont know, my TSH only got to 7 but my FT4 was below range and dropping on diagnosis. I dont know enough about CH in all honesty. I do know my antibodies, both NHS and private testing are always negative. It was just something I wondered about.
Jeez, I’m so sorry to hear all that as it sounds just awful. With pituitary failure TSH becomes irrelevant and it certainly sounds as if pituitary hormones were off.
I have read of hypopituitarism cases being diagnosed only years later as the pituitary assault may effect different hormones on various levels. This might be something to be mindful of incase other deficiencies were to eventually disclose.
Oh gosh bless you! Thank you so much for your reply and sharing your experience!
I don't have a history of thyroid issues in the family! Both my Mum and sister do not suffer with hypothyroidism nor did they have HG during their pregnancies!
I did suffer heavy blood loss and was also put to sleep which would have lowered blood pressure! I am now very interested in sheehan's so it's something I will definitely be mindful of. Thank you so much for your reply!
I just wanted to say welcome to the forum and congratulations on the birth of your baby, even though you must have felt at times that you were living minute by minute and felt like your were drowning in despair and fatigue. I do hope you have managed to find some joy in his birth.
I can imagine that the last few months have been a rollercoaster of emotions for you and with the TSH level and diagnosis of adenomyosis your head is probably all over the place but don't worry there is a way through it all but it may take a little time. As others have commented, the way through it to your previous health is a marathon, not a sprint. Take each day as it comes and if you don't feel well one day then focus on the positives that the next day you may have.
Yes, I have heard of and sadly suffered with adenomyosis. In the dim and distant past I suffered with 'womans' and period issues. It went on for years and years. I now understand that it was linked to my failing thyroid. Whilst I did not have a baby to complicate matters (thankfully) I did end up having an early hysterectomy as the problems ended up being quite bad but that was 30 years ago and treatment options were very limited. I understand now doctors can offer more sophisticated treatment options now but they MUST sort out the thyroid issues first. It is well known that there is a link between Thyroid and womens gynae issues and I think it would be a good idea to also investigate the possibility of Sheehans Syndrome, as others have suggested.
Wishing you the best of luck to get yourself back on a even keel and to be able to enjoy your lovely baby boy.
Thank you so much! It's all such a shock! I feel like I keep getting slapped with something new! I said to my husband, I'm not sure I can hear any more bad news at the minute! However, my baby boy is an absolute delight! He is thriving and I'm totally obsessed with him! I've had a bit of a rough ride, but I'd do it all again in a heartbeat! Thank you so much for replying to my desperate message
Did you Hv any illness symptoms during pregnancy or only at the end when you had placental abruption, an emergency cs and gross blood loss? I’m just wondering if you had undiagnosed hypothyroidism during pregnancy or only at the end, possibly due to blood loss damaging the pituitary gland. Once on thyroxine you usually need to stay on medication for life. Your needs will increase with any future pregnancies tho will reduce again after the birth.
Having started thyroxine, levels often hv to be adjusted (usually by 12.5 or 25 mcg each time) until you start to feel well. Bloods should be rechecked 6w after any change.
The body converts T4 which is inactive hormone into T3 which is the active hormone so it’s worth asking th gp to test T3 too. Some labs won’t do it in which case you can test privately at home with a pin prick blood test. Others on here will give you details.some people are not good at doing the conversion so end u with low levels of T3 and hypothyroidism.
For now, know that you’ll almost certainly be on thyroid meds for life and that it will take a little time to feel normal again. Incidentally, how long ago did you start taking thyroxine?
My TSH at diagnosis was 79 and I’m someone who has to take T3 as well as thyroxine. I’m well now but it took longer than it should Hv because I didn’t get t3 tested until 18m ago!
Thank you for your reply! Yes I too am wondering about undiagnosed hypothyroidism during pregnancy too! The placental abruption was completely unexpected! I did suffer with HG for the first 6 months which made me really ill! I was admitted to hospital many times and hooked up to an IV drip to replace lost fluids! But once that settled, I started to feel much better! It is quite difficult because you're naturally very tired being pregnant and having another young child at home and working full time anyway. I have an antibodies test booked in in 5 weeks time so will know more then, but will then be interested in sheehan's syndrome should they come back negative. Thank you so much
If you’re antibodies are positive you have Hashimoto’s disease, but you can Hv negative antibodies like I have and still Hv primary hypothyroid disease. It doesn’t change the management. But it would make me wonder if you had hypothyroidism throughout pregnancy. They do check the thyroid status at the first antenatal visit but only thereafter if you’re symptomatic. But I agree with you, how can you tell if you’re also working full time and Hv another small child? Secondary hypothyroid disease is a problem within the pituitary gland like with Sheehans syndrome. Tertiary hypothyroid disease is a problem within the hypothalamus. Primary hypothyroidism is associated with preterm deliveries and placental abruption. What a terrifyingly traumatic experience for you and your baby! The new born check includes bloods for thyroid disease so it sounds as if your baby does not hv a thyroid problem. But undiagnosed / untreated thyroid disease in pregnancy can cause problems such as gestational diabetes and intrauterine growth retardation. What was your baby’s weight at birth? Normally, with secondary and tertiary hypothyroidism the TSH is low and thyroid hormones T4 and T3 are also low because the message of ACTH from the pituitary or TH thyrotrophic hormone from the hypothalamus are not getting thro to the thyroid gland. With your TSH at 20 I would guess that you Hv primary hypothyroid disease and your antibodies will be positive (I only say this because less than 5% of primary hypothyroid patients are negative for antibodies and even so some of them do Hv Hashimoto’s disease). Please know that Hashimoto’s can include periods of thyroiditis where your levels can swing high for a few days or weeks, then they swing back down again. So it’s worth knowing the symptoms of high activity (typically palpitations, hot sweats, breathlessness, restlessness, unexplained weight loss, feelings of being unable to settle and anxiety plus bigger appetite) because you’ll need help managing these periods.
It's so interesting you say that, because I had all the symptoms of this too - extremely anxious, heart palpitations, hot sweats, big appetite - this was all explained by "just having had a baby" and having a traumatic birth! Therapy and sertreline was the course of action set out by my health visitor!
I didn't experience any symptoms like this after having my daughter 5 years ago! Can hashimotos just be "triggered" later on in life or is it something you've always had.
He was born at 36 weeks and weighed 5lb 4oz so was classed as low birth weight but also pre-term so naturally would be smaller. I think 5lb 4oz is pretty average for a baby at 36 weeks. My daughter was exactly 7lb born at 42 weeks.
Thank you so much for all of your help! No doubt I'll be back with more questions once the results of my next blood tests come back! I'm honestly so grateful!
It sounds as if you had a hyperthyroid swing. You probably did Hv thyroid disease during pregnancy since he was born early and was small for dates whereas your daughter was not only not prem she was actually late! At the beginning of everyone’s thyroid journey there is so much to learn. You’ll find you pick it up quickly just by reading other people’s posts and asking any questions as you go along. Medical students are taught very little about the thyroid which is why so many drs know so little. They all swear by the TSH but just as an example patients like me or take T3 always hv a v low TSH and drs often thinks this means we are over treated. They seem to Hv no idea that T3 overly suppresses TSH! So go ahead and ask any questions you like as often as you like and people here are always more than happy to help.
Popscicle ”But undiagnosed / untreated thyroid disease in pregnancy can cause problems such as gestational diabetes”
Do you have any links/back up sources for this. I would love to jump down that rabbit hole! I was diagnosed hashis last year and as with most of us ALL the dots started connecting with all my basket of maladies in the past.
Would love to know/read more on the relationship and mechanism between my hashis and my gestational diabetes!
This is info I know from medicine but I’ll try and find an article for you. Forgive me but how do I send web details to you once I’ve found an article?
I’ve had a Quick Look but can’t find a good article. I think tho it’s due to autoantibodies to the pancreas which produces less insulin or less effective insulin if the Hashimoto’s is not adequately treated during pregnancy. I did try to forward an interesting article to you via FB but the choice was to share it to everyone or to my album???? If I do find an appropriate article and press the forward button do you know how people get to send it to you on this site?
Ps - I suggest you Google “Hashimoto’s in pregnancy”. There are loads of studies and a few simple explanations which I think you would enjoy. Rabbit holes for you!
the link is inconclusive - but if there is one it essentially is related to how low thyroid leads to insulin resistance and increased blood glucose levels.
I’m surprised I don’t read more on this forum about diabetes - if low thyroid creates disruption in blood sugar.
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