postpartum thyroiditis

[GreenFlamingo1]

I was diagnosed with postpartum thyroiditis in April after going to the GP with dizzy spells, raised heart rate and weight loss despite eating more due to increased appetite. My current TSH is 0.005 and I’m just feeling so rubbish with exhaustion (my 6 month old baby isn’t helping adding to this) and insomnia despite being so tired. I get a raised heart rate just walking up or down stairs with my baby and sometimes I have to lie down as feel faint which is a worry especially when alone with him. I have been prescribed propranolol for the symptoms but don’t find it helpful. Any advice anyone has is appreciated, I’ve read it can last for 12-18months and I just can’t handle that.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

GP should have also tested Ft4, Ft3, thyroid antibodies

TPO and TG for Hashimoto’s

TSI and/or Trab antibodies for Graves’ disease

Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Hashimoto’s frequently starts with transient hyperthyroid results and symptoms before becoming increasingly hypothyroid

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Post all about what time of day to test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

[humanbean in reply to SlowDragon]

Typo alert - I think the reference to "hypertension" should actually say "hyperthyroid".

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to humanbean]

Predictive text error

Well spotted…..now corrected

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How long have you been on propranolol

How much are you taking

Please add any other results you have

[GreenFlamingo1 in reply to SlowDragon]

hi, thanks for your response, very useful info.

Propranolol 40mg up to 3 times a day. Been on it a month.

T4 21.0pmol/l

Tsh receptor abs 1.0IU/L

Thyroid antibody /tpo 0.5 U/ml

FT3 5.9pmol/L

My b12 is borderline but otherwise other bloods normal. I will get them to check vitamin D at next test

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to GreenFlamingo1]

Was test done early morning

How low was B12

What were folate and ferritin results

Tsh receptor abs 1.0IU/L

Please add range on this result ….possibly negative?

You need TG antibodies tested

As TPO are negative you will need to test privately

NHS currently only tests TG antibodies if TPO are high/positive

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to GreenFlamingo1]

Low B12

are you vegetarian or vegan?

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement

A week later add a separate vitamin B Complex 

Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week

Highly effective B12 drops

natureprovides.com/products...

Or

B12 sublingual lozenges

uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

B12 range in U.K. is too wide

Interesting that in this research B12 below 400 is considered inadequate

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Low folate

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid)

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will help improve B12 levels too

Difference between folate and folic acid

healthline.com/nutrition/fo...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid supplements

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose

Post discussing different B complex

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12

Post discussing how biotin can affect test results

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...

NICE guidelines on B12 and testing

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

hey, I hear you, I had this 20 years ago, my baby is now in her second year at Uni.

I lost weight very quickly, was constantly exhausted with awful upset stomach and jittery hands. Horrific anxiety too, just fearful of everything.

I had no medication but stuck it out and it was gone within a few months.

My advice would be to be quite explicit with your symptoms with partner, friends, family, employers, people have absolutely no idea what you are dealing with just to ‘be’. It’s really tough. Really spell it out to them. Repeat yourself, go have a lie down, need a lie in. Eat right, walk a bit, spend time in nature, try yoga.

I gave up a good job, sold a lovely house and moved across the country because I felt I couldn’t cope and managed to convince myself I’d lose my job and we would not be able to pay the mortgage, if we’d known more about the condition and symptoms and perhaps had a bit more support from those around me at the time things might have panned out differently. Remember you are doing the best you can, it will eventually settle and you may go hypo, I did another 17 years later 🙈 wishing you and your family the best 🌱

[GreenFlamingo1 in reply to Regenallotment]

Thanks for sharing your story, sorry you had to go through all that sounds very rough.

It is hard to explain to people as they don’t understand how much the thyroid controls and think I’m just a tired mum 🙄

[humanbean]

Did you lose a lot of blood or haemorrhage when giving birth?

In women this happens to there is a condition that can occur afterwards called Sheehan's Syndrome :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheeh...

If it could be relevant to you it is worth knowing about.

[GreenFlamingo1 in reply to humanbean]

It wasn’t excessive amount, 550ml

[GreenFlamingo1]

I’ve been to GP and endocrine has recommended referring in to them and to start lowest dose Carbimazole. They have said breastfeeding is ok on the lowest dose but I am a bit worried about this.