Graves' Disease and Pregnancy

[ImmortalOne]

How many Graves' woman out there that are or have been pregnant while having Graves' Disease and what were your experiences/outcomes?   I am 6 1/2 weeks pregnant and have had Graves' Disease for the last 3+ years.

[4savages]

Hi,

I believe that I had Graves' for my whole life, but it was misdiagnosed.  I am pretty positive that I had it badly during my twin pregnancy.  The symptoms were all there, but nobody listened.  I carried to 38 weeks and then had a planned C-Section.  All of the ultrasounds showed the twins to be of equal weight.  My son was 3 pounds, 5 ounces.  My daughter was 5 pounds, 5 ounces.  They appear to be healthy, although my son moves his body at night while sleeping.   This is something that I suffer from and I plan to have his thyroid and hers checked at next appointment.

I have mixed feelings about what a person who has Graves' should do during pregnancy.  I have read ATDs aren't good, but I am not sure of this.  I know RAI is not good.  That leaves thyroidectomy if it becomes necessary.  Does your doctor know about the Graves' and is he/she monitoring your TSH and Free T4 and Free T3 to make sure the baby is getting everything the baby needs.  I know careful monitoring is usually done.  If you haven't told your doctor or they don't appear to care, tell the doctor or find a new one.  After pregnancy and pregnancy itself can bring on Graves'.  I don't know how you handled it before, but you might have to deal with it afterward.  I don't want to tell anyone how to proceed, because I have mixed feelings about my own treatment.  But keep an eye on it, because it is debilitating.

I wouldn't get overly stressed.  I think the body has a way of protecting the unborn baby.  That said, you need close monitoring.

I hope this helped.

[eldondo1]

Hi,
I am a sufferer of Graves Disease (big bug eyes) and am 31 weeks pregnant.
I just wanted to say - you can get through your pregnancy but make sure you are closely monitored.
At 31 weeks pregnant, I have a blood test every 3 weeks to check my levels.  When I first became pregnant, my doctor took me off carbimazole and put me on PTU (better for the baby).  In the last month, my dosage has been dropped down and apart from feeling lethargic and tired I am quite good (felt like that before I was pregnant).
I have to rest more than my last pregnancy (no thyroid problem then) but baby is doing well and my levels are quite constant.  Saw my Endocrinologist today and he advised I will have to be closely monitored for 6-10 weeks after the birth and the baby will also have to be tested at birth and every couple of weeks if levels aren't normal (can develop thyroid problem from the drugs we take).  This can happen, but the baby will be fine.  Levels will return to normal so they say.

A bit of background: My thyroid problem stems from my Mum, who had thyroid cancer.  I was finally diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 3 years ago (had symptoms for 2 years prior to that).  Dec 05, I went thyrotoxic and was then diagnosed hyperthyroidism. After trying to deal with thyrotoxicosis for 4 months - it finally settled down and now just have Graves Disease and medication is working well.
Also have 10 more weeks before I am due and everything going fine.

???? While I am actually on the subject of babies.  I was reading that although i am being treated for Graves Disease, does anyone know is there still a chance the baby maybe born prematurely.  I know this happens with the condition untreated, but what are the chances if I am being treated and levels are within the normal range?????

kind regards and good luck with your pregnancy

[4savages]

I couldn't agree more with the monitoring during pregnancy.  I was untreated and no one would listen about my symptoms.  And with no treatment, I carried to 38 weeks and then a c-section was planned.  I have no proof, but I somehow think you have a good chance of carrying to term with your doctor paying attention.  You are tired at 31 weeks.  Now I know why I could barely hold my head up.

I haven't heard about the risk of prematurely, but I have read that low birth weight is possible.  In my case, as I said, my son was 3 pounds 5 ounces, and my daughter was 5 pounds, 5 ounces.  He was in  an isolate in the neonatal unit to keep his weight up and had difficulty in sucking as did my daughter.  But you wouldn't know it now.

I am glad that you pointed out monitoring of the baby after birth,   if I read right.  I have always thought my kids should have it, but I am having it done at the next visit.  I will buy the kit and do it at home if they won't.  Thanks for that info.

Cheryl

[eldondo1]

Hi Cheryl,
Im glad the kids are doing well.
The monitoring of children born to thyroid patients is only for a few months.  The child should be able to "grow out of it".
Depending on your thyroid levels or medication during pregnancy.
Apparently, As I am on Thyroid "reduces", my child has the chance of being born hypothyroid.  Tested at birth, then at 7 to 10 days.  If there is anything wrong with the babies levels, they will monitor for a few months and see if the baby works its own levels out.  If they are "bad" levels, they will intervene with medication.  My Endocrinologist has told me that most babies are quite tough and do work it out themselves.
It is all still very daunting - as nobody wants there little tiny baby just born to be treated for anything (Poked and proded).
As for undiagnosed issue you had.  I went over 2 years undiagnosed (for hypothyroid - although I am did a flip and now have GD).  Out of the 17 symptoms listed, I had 14 of them and was being treated for 7 individually.  I told my doctor it is thyroid as I new from history with my mum.  So we just kept testing and testing.  I think the range of "normal level" are so wide that so many people have a thyroid problem but because they fall within this range their symptoms are dismissed.
My mum went (what we think) about 5 years undiagnosed until her thyroid actually ruptured.  She woke up one morning with her neck completely black.  She had cancer of the thyroid and has had it completely removed.  Recovered well.

hope this lets you know, your not alone.
PS: congrats on carrying twins to 38 weeks.  That is a good term for twins even without considering your thyroid.

[4savages]

My doctors missed so much with me that I am not convinced they would have caught something in my children.  My son is having some of the symptoms that I had, but I am sure he tested within range.  I think those ranges hurt a lot of us.  I agree with you.  I am going to have him and her tested, and I appreciate your response.  Did you say as your thyroid levels go down, the baby could have hypo?  I had thyroid dysfunction throughout my pregnancy, but it wasn't detected.  Even after.  I also was being treated for all of the symptoms masking the disease.  I still feel crappy and am considering using Thyrolar.  It seems like it would be easier than adding Cytomel.  I am waiting for feedback where I posted somewhere else.  I hope you are well.

Thanks,
Cheryl