Wanting to get pregnant but have Grave's Disease

[grouchmama]

Hi...I was diagnosed with grave's disease in Aug. 2004.  I have been taking 100mg/3 times daily of PTU sporadically since then due to not having insurance and so forth.  When I say sporadically, I mean just that.  Well, I have since been married and desperately want to have more children.  We have been trying for 2 years now with no such luck.  My question is, should I take PTU on a regular basis and hope to get pregnant or should I take the radiation pill?  I would really like to get pregnant some time this year as I am 30 and not getting any younger!!  Thank you so much for your help...it is GREATLY appreciated!

Sincerly,
Wanting to get pregnant in Texas

[DLA]

No,no,no,no,no!  You can't get pregnant while hyper.  Well, you can, but it can cause all kinds of mental and physical retardation.  Most women can't get pregnant while hyper, but there is always the possibility and the exception to the rules.  But it can be horribly bad.

You need to be off the PTU!  You're not suppose to take them long term even sporadically.  If I was you I'd get the RAI done or surgery and then work on getting the levels correct.  If all is done correctly you should be able to get pregnant relatively soon.  Of course, it would be sooner for the surgery since you wouldn't be waiting for the thyroid to die.  Thyroids can take up to a year to die, so it could be a really long time before you would be able to get pregnant.

Good luck.  But please wait to try and get pregnant.
Dac

[grouchmama]

Hi and thanks for the reply.  Your opinion is greatly appreciated!  Ok, here's my thing.  You say I could get pregnant quicker by having the surgery done.  Well, that sounds great to me, but what are the chances that someone who doesn't have insurance can have a surgery like that done?  Even though it is a serious condition.

[DLA]

Boy, I don't know.  The only thing I would know is to check around with drs and hospitals and try to work out some kind of deal with them.  I've had a surgery without insurance and I didn't work out any deal with them first, but some of the drs really will.

Talk to friends and family and see if anybody has any leads for you.  All you can do is ask.  Tell them specifics about how long you have been hyper and on PTU's and that may get them to move things along.  Also explain to them that you want to get pregnant.

If you qualify for Medicaid, Medicare, or whatever it's called in Texas--I know, just can't remember--then they should pay for it.  I'd check into the health dept there and see if they have any leads on getting you some kind of medical assistance.

[skymax2000]

I have Graves, was hyper, and took PTU while pregnant. I have a healthy one year old. BUT I also had my levels checked every month by endo and the last month had to go in once a week to the ob for  no stress tests. You do not want to get pregnant while not being monitored b/c it could affect the baby's mental development. My doc said it was better to be slightly hyper than hypo, though.

If you get the surgery done, your thyroid levels will still have to be monitored.

I agree about looking around for help. My doc agreed to do my brother's tsh test for $30 since he had hyperthyroid symptoms too but didn't have insurance.

How are you feeling? Does the PTU help while taken sporatically?

[grouchmama]

Hi and thanks for the comment!  I feel good, except for bouts of eye pain, shortness of breath, and muscle spasms!  I propably don't take the PTU long enough when I'm able to take it to feel any different.  It's been so long now, I forgot what it feels like to feel normal!!

[DLA]

I stand corrected. :)

Before you try to get pregnant you need to have your liver and kidneys checked b/c of the long term use of the PTU's even if it is sporadic.  Just to make sure they haven't been damaged before you get pregnant.

[grouchmama]

I just wanted to let you all know that I am going to start seeing a REAL doctor about my graves' tomorrow and if he feels I need to be referred to a thyroidologist, he will do that!!  I am so excited and relieved!

[DLA]

Good for you!!  Let us know what you find out.

[grouchmama]

Well, went to see an internal medicine doc today and am FINALLY on PTU again!!!  Woo Hoo!!  He said that I am "classic textbook" of graves' disease and "showed me off" to all the other doc's in the practice.  (Could have done without that!) :)  Anyway, I met the thyroidologist that he is referring me to and I go back in 2 weeks to do the RAI (I think it's for that), well they put me on SSKI for 2 weeks and the research I have done on the internet say that that is the medicine they put you on before RAI???  (Even tho I have had graves' for 4 years now, I am still new to the treatment!!)  I asked about the surgery, but my doc said that they don't do the surgery in this area anymore.  What do you guys think?  Should I try to find someone in another city who would do the surgery?  ***Remember, I am private pay!!***  Reading all the other posts on here scares me to death!!!  i.e. the after affects, price, etc.!  I am so confused and not feeling as good as I thought I was anymore! :(  I do really want to have more kids in the NEAR future AND I am worried about my health.....my doc said he is very worried about my heart and that is his main concern right now.  Any advice would be appreciated...thanks in advance!

[Mccbabella]

Don't worry too much about the age thing. I am 41 yrs. old and have a beautiful 6 mos baby girl. I also used to have Graves disease. At age 27, I took the radiation pill (you will have to wait a year to get pregnant) and it got me close to perfect. I'm barely hypo so I take Synthroid on a daily basis. I didn't meet my until I was 38 but we both wanted children so we started trying a year after the wedding.

My concern for you is that you do not have insurance to cover the treatment nor the possibility for the meds afterwards. Also, properly monitoring the pregnancy will be highly recommended and that get be very costly.

I agree that you should see if you qualify for Medicaid assistance. If not, check to see if any medical colleges will be willing to treat you. I had an aunt who had cancer and a medical college 90 mins away agreed to treat her. She had interns attending to her but they were all supervised by skilled specialists. She was very pleased with her treatment even though the commute was difficult at times.

I wish you the best of luck!

[Nese222]

In New Jersey, not sure if this applies to where you are from too.... If your income is low, you can apply for something that is called Charity Care.  But if your income is above their standards, then you can probably work out to payment plan.  I would say before, givin up.... check your options.

[keey71]

I Have Graves Disease(since 2003) and Ulcerative Colitis(since2007) can I Still become pregnant? I've been trying for almost 2 years now without any luck. Are there any natural remedies to become pregnant?
HELP!

[dabanaba]

hi, i have had grave's disease for the last 4 yrs, i have a two yr old daughter and i had her while takin the PTU,  IT is NOT impossible for u to get pregnant , as i was told the same thing and was on birth control and still got pregnant!!!  one of the replies really offended me when the person said that having a child during this time can cause mental retardation!!!  where are you gettin ur info from???  come on!!!!  im not sayin that there are no risks, grouchmama, but it is totally possible to have a healthy baby while being hyperthyroid!!! you will have to see a perinatologist regularly, and the child runs the risk of having a temporary version of either hyper or hypothyroidism when they are first born.  my daughter was born with a temporary case, as my antibodies needed time to effectively clear her system.  she is extremely smart and healthy now, believe me.  my advice to u is to do research of ur own, lots of it and do not rush into surgery or radioactive iodine treatment. what the drs dont tell u is that there are more people who have neg reactions to these than those who remain on the anti thyroid drugs to see if it goes into remission.  the drs will try and scare u into a brash decision, but please, stay informed, as informed as u can, even in dealing with the care of ur child. always ask ques, and do ur own research cuz drs are there to help us, but they are NOT always rite.  Jesus is the answer!!!  good luck, and stay on top of the situation at all times.

[Smilerdeb]

I've had Graves since possibly 1985 and had a daughter in 1987 (2 months prem) and shes doing great.
Its a well known fact that anti-thyroid meds ARE given while pregnant and DO NOT cause any ill effect to the unborn child.
Its not being monitored that causes bad effects to the unborn child.
I see no reason why you cant have a child with Graves.
Just my personal opinion.