I'm not a mystery anymore LOL (updated 27/11/08)

[{sarah}]

My doctor has decided this morning that I am a medical mystery for him LOL!! A year ago I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism & was put on medication to control it. The next two blood tests came up as normal whilst on the medication. Then a few weeks ago my blood tests said my thyroid was extremely overactive. I went off the meds to see if they were causing it but now this morning I have been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. My doctor hs never seen it happen before & is baffled so now I have to go see an endocrinoogist to figure out what on earth is going on.

Has anyone else had this happen?? I know it's common to go from overactive to underactive but I can't find anything to explain why I would go the other way. The medication wasn't helping the situation, but it wasn't causing it either....

[sneakysparkle]

Can't help you with this one Sarah - but we always knew you were special

[{sarah}]

LOL thanks SS

[christy]

Wow... I haven't heard of this before at all. I have known it to happen in a cat once at work. We've also had diabetics go the other way around before...

I hope they find some rhyme and reason to this. It must be frustrating! I know with all my medical issues this year its been frustrating trying to find answers. My body has really taken a tumble since having Jovie, nothing wants to work the right way anymore!!

[Jennifer13]

Not sure if it's any help, but good ol' Wiki says:

Hypothyroidism can result from postpartum thyroiditis, a condition that affects about 5% of all women within a year after giving birth. The first phase is typically hyperthyroidism. Then, the thyroid either returns to normal or a woman develops hypothyroidism. Of those women who experience hypothyroidism associated with postpartum thyroiditis, one in five will develop permanent hypothyroidism requiring life-long treatment.

So apparently after giving birth you might have hyperthyroidism that turns into hypothyroidism, which you already know you have. Does that help? (Doesn't mean you're not still special though!)

[{sarah}]

Hmmm very interesting Jen. I googled & couldn't come up with anything, so thanks for that

[Jennifer13]

Since your google is not cooperating I tried postpartum hypothyroidism and got the Thyroid Assoc in Australia - they have an article on this: Post Partum Thyroiditis.

[{sarah}]

Yay thank you

ETA: Just looking at it, the timing is all wrong. If it was post partum thyroiditis I should either be over it or onto the hypothyroid part of it by now (being 4 months post partum). I will keep this in mind though for my specialist appointment in two weeks. My biggest concern i if they want to do the radioactive iodine test. My friend had thyroid cancer a few years ago & had to the the RAI test a few weeks ago, she wasn't allowed near anybody (incl not sleeping in the same bed as her fiance) for a week & then gradually built up contact with people over the next week. How would I be able to do that????? No BF Juliette & I wouldn't be allowed near either kids for at least 10 days minimum. Let's just hope it doesn't get to that.

[Trillian]

Bugger about it getting worse and not better for you hun

Maybe even though you're out of the typical 'window' for it, that they may not be hard and fast rules for having it kwim? Definately something there for you to ask about in the very least. I am crossing fingers that you wont have to do the test either - I couldn't imagine how hard it would be for you to not be able to feed miss J.

[diva det]

I had Thyroiditis a few years ago and would go from over-active to under-active.
Thyroiditis is caused by a virus in the thyroid. This was dx as my thyroid levels were not in the norm.
I had to have a radioactive test to check out my thyroid and all came clear so that it why it was dx as thyroiditis rather than hyper or hypo. I didnt have to stay away from my kids etc afterwards, but could see why b/f could be an issue. The dye test told be that it was a virus that caused the issues. It was either going to be a virus, graves disease or a goitter that was the culprit! As no sign of the last two- it was seen to be a virus.

Thyroiditis is a virus that attacks the thyoid. I was under a endochronoloigst for 18 months whilst i was suffering with it. Regular monitoring of levels, which fortuately didnt get bad enough to go on meds, but my levels did swing from one end of the scale, to the other.

Is it possible that your thyroid condidtion has been caused by a virus as well??
The dye test is the only way of knowing why your thyroid goes hyper or hypo unfortunately, so maybe is maintenance time until you stop b/f.

Good luck and stay well!!

odette

[{sarah}]

Thank so much Odette, I'm glad to know I'm not really such a mystery after all if someone else has had the same thing I have no idea if it would have been caused by a virus, I don't recall being sick in August last year, being poked & prodded for IVF, but not any viruses that I can recall. I'm glad to hear you were allowed to be near the kids after the RAI test, that was my biggest worry, though maybe they did a stronger version for my friend because they were checking if she was still in remission from thyroid cancer.

[katkins]

Sarah, This happened to my mum. She was on meds for years for Hypothyroidism and then we noticed she had a goitor. So she was rechecked and had developed Hyperthyroidism. She had to have the goitor removed and most of her thyroid. So she's on meds again. But the Dr said it was very unusual. But it does happen very occasionally. Her mum had the same thing many years ago. So can't be THAT uncommon. U r very special hon.....and I hope things improve for u....*hugs*

[{sarah}]

Just had my endocrinologist appointment this morning & I remain a mystery *sigh*

She thought it was highly unikely to be post partum thyroiditis because of the time frame, but didn't rule it out entirely. She said it may be Graves Disease, so we're checking that at the moment. She said she had seen in literature some people can just fluctuate for no apparent reason, but she had never seen a case of it over 20 years. That'd be right, I'll be her first case LOL! The bonus was that she flat out refuses to do the RAI test while I'm breastfeeding, she said the other diagnostic tests will give a pretty good picture of what's happening without messing with breastfeeding, so yay for that!

So now I've had a million vials of blood drawn today & I get some of the results on Tuesday. Then in five weeks I have to have another lots of bloods taken & another appointment in six weeks. Until we can figure out what's happening I'll be having blood tests every four weeks, which I am just so thrilled about as you can imagine.

[MantaRay]

Oh you poor thing with all the blood tests. But that is fantastic news about the bfing. Sounds like you have a reallly good specialist there.

I hope she is able to find some answers for you so you don't totally turn into a pin cushion.

[Antheia]

Yuck at all the blood tests! But hopfully they figure out what's happening.

[Jennifer13]

See Sarah, you are so unique there's been no one like you in 20 years!

Hope the tests come back with something definitive... Not that you shouldn't remain a woman of mystery if you so want to!

[Sequoia]

How did your resutls go Sarah?

I've just been diagnosed with postpartum thyroiditis and I'm waiting for AF to return, very odd since I haven't done a night feed in months and we are down to 1 BF a day.

Has AF returned for you?

I'm not in a hurry TTC#2 but I'd like to know what is happening with my cycle! Unfortunately I just have to wait it out and have repeat bloods in a months time.

SG

[{sarah}]

Still no firm diagnosis at this stage because my appointment last week had to be rescheduled due to an emergency. What emergency goes on for two weeks I don't know, but anyway my appointment is now next week.

It's strange to be diagnosed with Postpartum Thyroiditis at 7 months post birth Shoegal, it's usually gone or starting to go within three months. Have they said you're over or under active?

No AF here as yet either, but I am fully breastfeeding with generally one feed overnight & sometimes up to three.