postpartum thyroiditis and labs

[malmom]

My problem started almost 2 yr ago when I was pregnant, I started with low TSH levels, OB did nothing during pregnancy.  my pregnancy was unremarkable, not much wt gain.  About 6 months after I noticed sweating, anxiety, heart racing, feeling choked when laying down.  I went to ER, US showed slightly enlarged thyroid,  diagnosis: postpartum thyroiditis.  TSH approx 0.3, neg graves dx w/antibody tests. Re-check labs 3 months later TSH 0.47 T4 6.8, Dr sid all fine stay the course.  Feeling better but still tired, leg pains, etc. Anyway, now 8 months later I have various symptoms, very heavy menstral flow, tired, anxiety, depression, hair falling out, aches, wt gain.  My body is just not the same!!! I tell this to my Dr, and she thinks I should try birth control pills, and zoloft.  Neither are helping after 2.5 months.  Still same feelings, ask again to recheck, levels are TSH 0.8, T4 12.1. Dr states these are better not to do anything. "Maybe you are premenapausal"  What do I do?  I know my body and this is not normal.  Starting again to have thick feeling in throat only with certain positioning etc.  I feel racing one day and can't get going the next.  What should I do???

[skoob]

I was diagnosed 4 years ago after I had my baby and she was 9 months old when I found out that I also had Postpartim Thyroiditus.  I also had all of the symptoms that you are experiencing and some weight gain but caught it quicker.  I was placed on Synthroid and it took almost a year of testing before they got my levels accurate but I also never felt good and could never lose the weight even thou my levels showed in the normal range.  I finally went and saw another Internal Medicine doctor whom was from India, loved him!!! he put me on Armour Thyroid medicine and that medicine made a huge difference and my levels have not had to be adjusted until now which is only because I had a baby 4 months ago.  I did not even once have to have the medicine adjusted while I was pregnant which is rare.  This medicine has helped me feel more normal then the synthroid.  I have to admit I have never felt quite as good as I did before I was diagnosed with thyroid disease but this medicine has made a difference for me.  I knew right away that my medicine needed to be adjusted again as I am starting to feel all of the symtoms come back but I know once I get my higher dose of the armour I will quickly feel better.  I also dont have all the swelling look to me on this medicine that I had when I was on synthroid, even thou my levels showed in the normal range.  I would ask your doctor about it.  Some are very willing and open to the armour and some have a deal worked out on synthroid and will often not pescribe anything but.  Best of luck to you.  Just to let you know the armour thyroid has a horrible smell as it is made from pigs thyroid but who cares it works!!!!

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Check TPO&Tg antibodies (if not already done) -- may be chronic thyroiditis (Hashimotos).  But the TSH of 0.8 is very normal and treatment usually not indicated unless US now shows an enlarged goiter.  Doubt you are perimenopausal at this point.