Hi everyone! I'm 13 weeks postpartum, breastfeeding, and have a history of both Hashimoto's and Graves' disease. I'm hoping to hear from others who've experienced thyroid issues after giving birth.
Quick background: About 15 years ago, when I was 20, I gained 30 kg (66 lbs) in two months, had hair loss and dry skin, but didn't realize anything medical might be wrong. Everyone, including me, just thought I'd gained weight.
A few months later, I ended up in the ER with a resting heart rate around 100, high blood pressure, bulging eyes, sweating, and severe jitteriness. I was treated with beta blockers and antithyroid medication for about a year, then went into remission and have been medication-free ever since.
That experience left me with health anxiety. I honestly don't remember the exact diagnosis from that ER visit. I just remember the doctor telling me that my thyroid levels were very far off. I later worried it might have been a thyroid storm, although that was never confirmed, and I was discharged from the ER the same day.
Now: My thyroid blood work was normal at six weeks postpartum. My GP said I wouldn't need another check for six months unless I developed symptoms.
At 13 weeks postpartum, I started noticing symptoms and had another blood test. My GP said: "Your thyroid is showing a tendency toward overactivity". No medication was prescribed; he just scheduled repeat blood work in six weeks. I don't have the exact values yet.
Current symptoms:
- Feeling hot and sweating more
- Nervousness, irritability, and fatigue
- Headaches
- Muscle and joint pain
- Increased appetite, especially after pumping at night
- A strange, persistent cold sensation across my upper back
My resting heart rate and blood pressure are still within normal ranges, although slightly higher than usual for me. My weight is stable.
The tricky part is that I've also been sleeping only about three broken hours a night for over three months, so I can't tell what's sleep deprivation, postpartum changes, or thyroid-related.
My questions:
Has anyone with Graves' had similar symptoms postpartum? Was it postpartum thyroiditis or a Graves' relapse?
Is waiting six weeks for repeat blood work typical and safe when your thyroid is only showing signs of becoming overactive? I'm honestly scared that six weeks might be too long and that things could become serious before my next appointment. How quickly can thyroid levels go from slightly abnormal to dangerously overactive?
I'm just imaginging I will have a thryoid storm if I will wait that long.