Heat intolerance, feeling tired, hands trembling... maybe you have:

[krysalyss]

Hi Bath,
Just wanted to send you my thoughts and wishes. I am so glad you and your dr are on top of this. Sending you lots of recovery dust to help you on your way.
Enjoy the fatty food over xmas! Me and my weight watchers buddies will be thinking of you! LOL

[AmandaJ]

Bath I'm so glad that the test showed that it wasn't cancerous and you have done so well in feeding Niall to 18mths, you have given him a wonderful start to life. Now it's time to look after you, I hope that you have a wonderful christmas and new year and enjoy eating all the naughty food.

hugs xoxo

[Bathsheba]

Thanks again girls I went to the doctor AGAIN today. Feels like I've been there every 2nd day for the past fortnight. Most of the consultations are long too. My 13yo is getting increasingly impatient. I don't think she understand the magnitude of the situation. I don't want to scare her but at the same time it's hard when she moans and groans about looking after the boys again in the surgery (which has it's own enclosed playroom full of toys and a cubby house ie the boys are fully occupied). I'm tempted to just tell her I could keel over and die but that's not right. It's ok for her to say "OMG at every minor event in life eg her hair won't sit properly... she's going through her second toddlerhood... centre of the universe... she needs a good dose of reality... *vent*)

Anyhow today i have been prescribed the Beta blockers which slow down my heart rate. I think they are already working. I'm not as aware of the beating today. I had a hard job convincing the doctor to let me try the natural remedies before going onto the anti-thyroid tablets. He kept going on about death. Apparently 1/3 of people who experience a thyroid storm die. Ok... so what are the symptoms leading up to one: vomitting, racing heart, diarrhea, profuse sweating... ok if that happens i'll go to one of Melbourne's biggest hospitals which is only a few blocks away. I have read about the side affects and I don't want a bar of them. Also i will have to stop BF immediately as they are not compatible with BF... he says that technically BF and beta blockers isn't recommended but he has known of many women to BF while taking them. There have been no known side affects for BFing babies... the drug companies say no simply because no studies have been done. He says the science (in his trained mind) would indicate that it would be safe. Anyhow... I'm waiting for my Thyro-Soothe to arrive... start taking that... see how I feel and try to string out another visit to the doctors because it's costing me fortune. The doctor said though that he could start bulk billing me if it got too tight... that was a relief!

Tracey: LOL I'm not so positive about it all today, but thanks for your support. Likewise Amanda and Krys, i really value it... i don't feel so alone. DH is in the bad books ATM because he went to hi s work Xmas party last night (even though I said he could) but drank too much (wasn't p!ssed) and wasn't able to help with the boys last night... lucky my youngest slept right through to 7.30am if he had had a restless night I would have been livid. I told my DH that yes, seeing as though he had paid for the night he might as well go.... I just didn't expect he would have a late one

[rolymogs]

.....

[jaspen]

bath - glad to hear the scan itself went ok. try to keep the positive thoughts going and try and take one day at a time. you are in my thoughts and prayers even if I don't get a chance to respond and i'll keep coming in to check on how you are going. I can fully understand why you don't wnt the side affects of the meds (as I currently spend half the day in the loo and four weeks seems like an eternity let alone 6 months).

And I hope I write this right but remember Niall would be better off with a happy healthy mum as soon as possible rather than a mum getting sicker whilst trying to keep feeding him if the BF is going to make such a difference inyour wellbeing. :hugs:

[~kaos~]

Timely topic - I've been identified through pregnancy blood tests that hyperthroidism is something that we need to monitor. At the moment, I don't need medication, just monitoring.

At the moment, it is the hormone from my brain is not being produced to regulate thyroid release, but my thyroid is actually releasing a normal amount anyway, but we need to make sure it stays that way.

Because it was only identified after I fell pregnant, it is hard to determine whether the symptoms are related to hyperthyroidism or pregnancy! (breathlessness, tiredness etc)

Blood tests every 4 weeks for me is the current course of action.

I have been having some accunpuncture to help balance hormones....
Will be watching this thread with interest.

[tracey*]

bath, how are you doing these days?

[Bathsheba]

Hi Tracey, thanks for asking Just briefly because it's school hols, a rainy day and I have 3 kids running amok!

I went to the doctor's this morning to get some more beta blockers (tablets that slow your heart) and a quick check up. I can't remember if I wrote in this thread whether I had commenced a anti-thyroid tablet course? I saw an endocrinologist and he said that there was a brand you could take and still BF! That was excellent news! My GP was saying that I would probably have to wean. So I'm taking a lower then normal dose (because my body usually reacts strongly to any form of medication) and it already seems to be working... the specialist said it could take up to 8 months to "cure" the condition. I don't know whether it's because the cooler weather has arrived but I seem to have really perked up energy-wise. My hand tremor is barely noticiable and I don't feel as tired.... or agitated. So all's going nicely.

As I said, it's chaos here, better go, will update after I see my specialist in a few weeks.... unless there are developments.

Oh one other thing, my skin is crappy and I have a feeling it is a side effect of my body purging/readjusting. One day i had all these tiny little pimples, like milia that a newborn gets on its nose, on my neck right over where my thyroid sits... weird... as i said, purging of toxins i think.

Oh and I also had accupuncture for the first time last Saturday. Just an overall rebalance. I mentioned it to my GP expecting him to be sceptical but No! He said that he rates it as highly effective... told me he was involved in a recent study and the results clearly demonstrated a positive effect. So that's very inspiring!

[dusty]

hey bath, glad to hear you have a (BF friendly) plan of action happening and you are getting some better responses. also good luck with the AP, i find it a wonderful complementary treatment and also makes me feel really good.
xx

[~kaos~]

It's good to hear your update....

I had acupuncture too for an overall hormone rebalance and my GP was pretty supportive of it too Dr Oz on Oprah is a fan of acupuncture too - I think he said he recommends it for patients post-surgery to help the recovery process.

Good to hear that a med that was BF friendly was found.

I'm still being monitored. Another blood test this week to see where I am at with my TSH and T3 and T4's.

[Bathsheba]

Update: I'm continuing to improve... hand tremors gone, irritability much less frequent, weight loss has plateaued out (am happy with my weight), feeling more energised.

Taking 3-5 beta blockers a day (2 more if I'm having a very busy/physically active day) and 3 anti-thyroid. Looking forward to my 3rd session of acupuncture this weekend

ETA: forgot to add: still BFing!

[Smoke Jaguar]

That's cos you're a legend

[suse]

Yay Bath, I'm so pleased to hear that things are looking up for you!!

[Bathsheba]

Thanks chickies

[Astrid]

thats great news Bath!!

[jaspen]

Its great to see such an improvement for you Bath!!!! Hope things continue to hold well and you are feeling more like your old self everyday!!

[Bathsheba]

thought I would bump this thread as my doctor said that sooo many women have hyperthyroid disease and don't know it... up to 1 in 10 in the year post birth.

[Bathsheba]

Update:

Had a blood test recently to monitor my Graves Disease... after about 4 month of being in remission my T4 has risen to 24 (should be between 10 - 19 apparently)... so my GP says I am slightly hyperthyroid again

This time my only symptom was feeling a bit warmer than usual... no noticible tiredness... no fast heart rate... no loss of weight.

Oh well... back on my anti-thyroid tabelts (PTU) yipee