[Anonymous November 29, 1996 at 3:14 pm Post count: 93172]

#1167488

Christine-

Wow, what a story you have about the pregnancy. Bummer to say the least.

Your symptoms don;t sound all that unusual for Graves’, One concern I would have is your vision being blurry. Have you seen a Ophthalmologist? The eye problems must be treated separately from the thyroid.

I know what you mean about the insurance. I had just gotten insurance when I was diagnosed with the eye disease and they called it a pre existing condition. The med bills eventually piled up to around $20, 000 that I had to end up just blowing off since I couldn’t work at the time.

All the best, Bruce

[Anonymous November 29, 1996 at 4:17 pm Post count: 93172]

#1167489

I got this disease AFTER I gave birth and had to stop breastfeeding to go
on PTU. The drug books said it was ok to nurse IF the baby got checked regularly, but
my pediatrician said just stop nursing…she chose the most cautious route. I can certainly understand your fear
about this!! The PTU is helping you not to have another thyroid storm, and
you can’t have RAI when pregnant… I’m sure they would tell you up front if it would be
any danger at all to your unborn child. The way a pregnant body works is amazing.
I bet your baby will be just fine and absolutely gorgeous. I can’t offer you
much except encouragement and a guarantee that I will pray for you daily and
will be trusting God with all my heart for you to have a healthy, strong baby and
to get well yourself. God bless! Glynis

[Anonymous November 29, 1996 at 4:49 pm Post count: 93172]

#1167490

Christine, my heart goes out to you! I can’t think of anything more difficult to endure than losing a child. Then, having your own GD difficulties, a pregnancy, worries about your unborn child, AND lost health insurance. . .quite a bit for one person to endure. It gives me a reality check on my own whiney-ness about GD. Be assured that many healthy babies are born to mothers who take PTU. As for heredity and GD. . .there is a tendency for susceptibility to certain auto-immune diseases to run in families. Nobody in my family had GD that I can find, but there are several instances of prematurely grey hair, one diabetes, and one pernicious anemia. The exact causes of GD aren’t well understood yet. You’ve come to the right place for support! Dianne N

[Anonymous November 29, 1996 at 6:52 pm Post count: 93172]

#1058000

My doctors discovered I had GD in my second trimester of pregnancy, by way of
throid storm (I lost 45lbs. during my pregnancy, now I quickly climbing
back up the scales.) My first child was born prematurely in my eight month
ofpregnancy 3lbs. 1oz. She died 11 days after delivery, she was born with
an enlarge thyroid, and av canal defect (a hole in her heart).
She died from an obstructed airway, (the heart was stable and surgery was
predicted for around the age of two.) I am terrified, I am afraid this may
repeat. The doctors assured us that although PTU crosses the placenta it
would not effect the baby. WRONG.
Does any one know anything about GD and heredity?
This was five months ago. I am still taking 100mg.x day of PTU.
I have the sweats, numbness in my left leg,anxiety, blurred vision,
depression, and to top every thing off….. I lost my health insurance.

So, I could use a little support. No one in my family, has GD, so they
don’t really understand.

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