[Anonymous April 26, 2004 at 7:36 pm Post count: 93172]

#1086157

No, stress cannot make you “appear” to be hyperthyroid. But it can trigger the onset of autoimmune disease, one of which is Graves which causes hyperthyroidism.

Postpartum is one of the times when Graves’ diagnoses are commonly made.

Losing weight is not a definitive symptom: some people even gain weight while hyperthyroid. What matters is the results of blood tests. If the blood tests come back hyperthyroid, then you are hyperthyroid, with all of the negative possible side effects: rapid pulse, losing bone, losing muscle, and getting increasingly sicker.

If your doctor put you on a medication, you need to take it. A doctor would not put you on antithyroid meds unless you needed them. Getting a second opinion is fine, but take the meds while you are waiting to see the second doctor. Do double check, if you are breast feeding, that the dose of medication you are on is safe for your baby.

Many of us go on to have successful pregnancies after having been treated for Graves/hyperthyroidism.

Please get a book, like The Thyroid Sourcebook, by Sara Rosenthal, and read up on the issues. You need to get treated. Being “a little” hyperthyroid is like being “a little pregnant”. You either are, or you are not. And if you are, it is a health hazard to allow it to continue.

Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[Anonymous April 26, 2004 at 10:05 pm Post count: 93172]

#1086158

Thanks Bobbi for your response. I will look into getting that book you mentioned.

[Anonymous April 26, 2004 at 10:33 pm Post count: 93172]

#1023577

I am 28 and recently diagnosed as being hyperthyroid. I really would like to get a second opinion but don’t where to seek out a good endocrinologist. I have a 6 month old and have been very emotional since giving birth…but that’s part of being a new mom, right? My hair fell out in clumps only one day but it was still scary so I went to the Dr. I had blood test to check my thyroid levels again and was told to see an endocrinologist. I’ve had my blood checked once before I was pregnant and twice since giving birth and apparently they indicate a possible hyperthyroid. I have not been losing weight as one of the symptoms would indicate. In fact it is hard to lose weight! I had a fairly normal pregnancy but had some high blood pressure towards the end which I contribute to other stressers in my life. I’ve always been sort of emotional but thought that was due to outside influences (job, family, etc.) not a physical problem!

I am very confused about this hyperthyroid diagnosis and feel that while my blood tests may indicate I have thyroid problem, I would like to see someone else who would talk to me about options other than medication or radioactive treatments. Can STRESS make you appear hyperthyroid??? I don’t have very strong symptoms and the doctor did say I had a “mild” case but we don’t want it to flare up so he put me on PTU for 3 months and a low iodine diet. I go back in July and he will talk about doing the “scan” to see if I have graves disease or anything else. I am very hesitant to take medication and don’t like the thought of being on it for the rest of my life.

Any recommendations on where to look for another doctor? Also, I wanted to have another baby but am scared how all of this will affect my system. I had no problems getting pregnant the first time. Any other comments about thyroid disease and pregnancy…can you breastfeed?

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