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Symptoms and Treatment of Postpartum Thyroiditis

What is Postpartum Thyroiditis?

Postpartum Thyroiditis is a condition known as inflammation of the thyroid gland which becomes inflamed due to injury of the gland, which results in temporary hyperthyroidism, an over active thyroid glands, which is quite common, painful thyroid does not usually occur during this condition. The cause of this condition is unknown. You may be at a predisposition to developing this disease if a family history with the disease, or postpartum thyroiditis after previous pregnancies, blood that contains ant thyroid antibodies that attack the thyroid in response to your thyroid injury. Antibodies increase with age sometimes leading to hypothyroidism. As your thyroid becomes inflamed it sends large amounts of thyroid hormone into your blood stream, symptoms are mild to unnoticeable, and as the first phase passes you either recover or have permanent damage to your thyroid glands, which causes a lower level of thyroid hormones which can also cause hypothyroidism.

Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism

Sensations of feeling warm, muscle weakness, tremors, anxiety, panic attacks, rapid heartbeat, loss of concentration, weight loss. Symptoms of postpartum thyroiditis may not be present until up to eight months after you deliver your baby. Occasionally symptoms can be mistaken for the baby blue’s although usually will not develop into major depression according to one study, while another study by Ob/gyn suggests that testing for thyroid antibodies in maternal blood can help to predict which women will develop postpartum depression.

In the second stages of this disease you have symptoms of hypothyroidism meaning under active thyroid, which could last as long as six months, You may be given a blood test called TSH which measures thyroid stimulating hormones which effect your which effect your thyroid and your bodies over all function, If your test comes back positive then your doctor will treat you with hormone replacement therapy.

Symptoms of hypothyroid are opposite of hyperthyroidism, these symptoms include hot and cold sensitivity, hoarseness in your voice, constipation, dry skin, pale skin, absent menses, infertility or difficulties trying to conceive, decreased sex drive, fatigue, weight gain, inability to lose weight, no appetite, muscle aches and pains, migraines, irritability, depression. Hormone replacement medication has shown no effect on depression studies suggests that that both conditions aren’t directly related.

How does Postpartum Thyroiditis effect your menstrual cycle?

When your not pregnant hyperthyroid can because you to have irregular menses, lighter, shorter, even nonexistent altogether making it terribly hard to become pregnant, even causing miscarriages, if you are able to become pregnant and you have a hyperthyroid is important that you be closely monitored to prevent miscarriage or birth defects. During pregnancy propylithiouracil can be used to treat your over active thyroid unless you have an allergic reaction to this medication then the only other option is to surgically remove your thyroid.

Diagnosis of Postpartum thyroiditis

A blood test to measure levels of thyroid hormones T4 verses TSH can usually give your doctor an accurate picture as to weather you have postpartum thyroiditis or Graves disease which is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.

Treatment of Postpartum Thyroiditis

Treatment of hyperthyroidism will be based on a number of factors which include your overall health including medical history, the extent of your disease, expectation for the course of your disease, you tolerance level for medications and procedures, and your opinion on such treatments and procedures will all be taken into account to determine your specific treatment. If your disease in the early onset stage treatment is not usually necessary. Treatment through the duration of pregnancy is treated with a medication called levothyroxine which almost exactly like the hormones made by a normal thyroid. There are also no side effects to worry about for you or your baby as long as you take the proper dosage. I you have ever been diagnosed with hyperthyroid in the past your medication may need to be increased during pregnancy to handle rising levels of hormone so that you and your baby have thyroid balance. Blood tests to check your thyroid function should be performed at least every three months so that your dosage remains right for your body. When your pregnancy is over your medication will be decreased back to your original dosage providing your blood work checks out.

Hope this article will provide you information about postpartum thyroiditis.

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