[Anonymous October 26, 1998 at 6:01 am Post count: 93172]

#1049633

I am on Propylthiour @300mg a day.
I read that is is better for the baby not to take the meds, but my doctor says it is better to take the meds. I’m very confused. Does anyone know??? Please email me Mdkr2 Thank you.

[Anonymous October 26, 1998 at 10:55 am Post count: 93172]

#1147377

Hi, Melanie:

I don’t think your email address there is the complete one, so I’m answering this on the board.

Right now, there is no “perfect” choice for you and your baby. You must be treated because for you to go untreated is not only a risk for you, but a risk for your baby as well. Your elevated levels of thyroid hormone are just as bad for your baby as they are for you. From YOUR THYROID: A Home Reference, written by Drs. Ridgway, Cooper and Wood, pp. 165-166: “However, if you do have an overactive thyroid that remains markedly overactive throughout your pregnancy, there are increased health risks for you as well as your baby. You may experience heart complications including heart-rhythm problems and heart failure, and your baby is more likely to be premature and small than if your thyroid were normal….Most physicians prefer to use PTU in pregnancy. Far less PTU than methimazole crosses your placenta to the baby, so there is less chance of the baby becoming hypothyroid or developing a goiter during pregnancy. Since both of these drugs can cross from your system into your baby’s blood stream and may affect your baby’s thyroid function, your treatment dosage must be kept to a minimum.” So, you need to be well-monitored on this drug, but you DO need to take it.

I wish you and your baby good health,
Bobbi

Bobbi

[Anonymous December 28, 1998 at 7:05 pm Post count: 93172]

#1147378

About 5 years ago my girlfriend was treated for Graves’ Disease. The
radiation treatment killed her Thyroid gland and she now takes
medication (synthroid 0.15 mg). She just discovered that she is
pregnant. Is this a safe situation? She is 44 years old and this would
be her first child. We are very concerned about her health and that of
the baby. Should we abort the pregnancy?

Would appreciate any feedback. Thank you very much.

[Anonymous December 28, 1998 at 7:36 pm Post count: 93172]

#1147379

No one but you and your girlfriend can make the decision about abortion but I suggest that you quickly “interview” the OBs in your area. Ask them if they have treated any pregnant women with Grave’s. Or, perhaps someone on our board, Nancy P. or Jake or Jan could recommend someone in your area if you send them an e-mail.

I wish you good luck and God Speed. This need not be a bad situation. But, you also need to make your decision before she is too far along to safely abort if that is your decision.

I have seen plenty of women on here who have been pregnant with Grave’s, some of them more than once. I don’t know if any of them are in her age group, which in and of itself being a first pregnancy makes her what they consider “high risk” but I was considered high risk each time and have 3 healthy adult sons. Don’t know exactly when I came down with Grave’s, but it could have been before one of my pregnancies!

We will all pray for you and will be here if you need us!

Mitakuye Oyasin
Val

[Anonymous December 29, 1998 at 2:25 pm Post count: 93172]

#1147380

I was diagnosed with Graves February 1995, had rai June 1995 and began taking synthroid hormone replacement in September 1995. I had a healthy baby boy in August 1997. I saw my endo first and he communicated with my ob/gyn and told him to check my levels throughout my pregnancy. I was classified as a high risk pregnancy but thank God everything went very well. I did try to take care of myself. Good nutrition, taking prenatal vitamins, and resting when I needed to. I am certain this had a lot to do with it.

Please think this over and communicate all of your concerns with the doctor. I had tons of ?’s and concerns and my endo patiently answered them for me. When I first found out I was pregnant, I felt very overwhelmed and worried. i just did not know if my body could take the pregnancy. I knew how sick Grave’s had made me and hated the thought of it doing something to my unborn child. Luckily, everything went well. I thank God for my son every day.

Also, this bb is an excellent resource. I do not check it as often as I should but it has really helped me in the past.

[Anonymous December 29, 1998 at 8:28 pm Post count: 93172]

#1147381

Whether the pregnancy is safe or not is up to a doctor to tell you. But generally, the radioactive iodine treatment doesn’t present a problem, and neither does being on synthetic thyroid hormone. If you would like to read up on this yourself, there is good information in both THE THYROID SOURCEBOOK by Sara Rosenthal, and in YOUR THYROID A HOME REFERENCE by Drs. Ridgway, Cooper and Wood.

Wishing you both good luck,
Bobbi

[Author]

Posts