Taking PTU While Nursing 3 yr old and 11 wks Pregnant

[TigerEyes4]

To: Dogdancing


Hi Everyone,

I originally posted this question to Dogdancing after reading several of her posts about nursing while on PTU and then found the Thryoid Community and decided to post here too. I am new to the community and was eager to get started.

I am stressing about being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in my fourth pregnancy. My Endo gave me a call on Monday morning to tell me that I need to start on PTU immediately (3 50 mg tablets, 3x a day). During my initial visit I failed to tell him that I am still nursing my 3 year old 3x a day, no night time. I have not started the meds yet b/c I'm scared and still haven't rec'd a copy of my test results or heard back from my OBGYN's office. I have read through some of the discussions and see that you have been on PTU and nursing. I was just wondering if you have any info regarding being on it and nursing a 3 year old. I have been nursing non-stop for 7 1/2 years. I nurse even while in labor. My eldest stopped 2 months shy of his 4th b-day and my second stopped 2 weeks shy of his 4th b-day. Can you and others please share some advise. I just can't stand the thought of having to take meds during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, I just want to ensure the safety of my unborn and my 3 year old. Please Help!

[TigerEyes4]

Paja,

Thank you for all the info. you have put me at ease. Thank you, thank you!

I had to laugh when I read the line about ammending my statement. You are so very right. I do need to take care of myself first in order to be there for my 3 kids and my unborn. I did start taking PTU this morning and will be going to my Endo today to get a copy of my test results b/c they still haven't sent them to my Ob-Gyn.

My mother also suffers from hyperthyroidism and had her goiter removed in 1998. She is taking Synthroid. I laso have another concern, during the thyroid ultrasound he found a mass, less than a centimeter, on my right side. I go back to the Endo on 12/1 and will have another ultrasound in 3 months.

Something that I find weird is that I haven't been hyper. Instead I've been extremely tired and very, very moody. It's like I have no patience at all. The silliest thing sets me off and I find myself having to apologize to my children very often for flying off the handle and raising my voice. I actually take most of it out on my husband though. I feel that for the past several months all I have done is yell for foolish reasons. Once I found out that my behavior might me medically related vs. loosing my mind I sat with my kids and told them how sorry I was and that I would be going to the doctor very often to make sure that I get better. My eldest (7) now tells me, "Mommy, you promised, no more yelling, how about you go to your room and rest for a little bit". I am one lucky lady, all 3 kids have been great and really look after me and are very excited about the addition to the family.

Again, thanks for the info.

[Dogdancing]

I totally understand the not wanting to take meds while while preg/nursing.

You said: " just want to ensure the safety of my unborn and my 3 year old."

You should amend your thinking to this statement...." just want to ensure the safety of MYSELF, my unborn and my 3 year old."

You are the the foundation that first needs repaired so that you can be there for the others. HyperT is serious in pregnancy hence the urgency to get you on meds. They will hit you with a big dose to knock it down asap, then they will scale it back as needed during your pregnancy.

The amount of PTU that crosses in breast milk is minimal. (about 0.025% of the dose).
The American Academy of Pediatrics considers PTU compatable with breast feeding.

With my first child I stopped the PTU abruptly the am of delivery. I thought I was doing the right thing. The damage I did to myself running hyper is unreparable. (isnt that us mamas do? play the dedicated martyer and put everyone else first?)

I nursed 1 1/2 years before he stopped ....I was not ready to stop so soon :(

Next pregnacy as soon as I got that positive I was back on the PTU and again stopped day of delivery. Within a very short time frame the heart palpatations got to scary porportions and I was back on the PTU. I drilled my doctors and the pediatrition before I consented to nursing while on it. Satisfied with the research I then nursed a year+ while taking it.

Your baby will be tested for hypothyroid on delivery and again to follow up. I choose to have my child tested once while nursing also to make sure things were okay (just to satify my worries as hypo-ness can cause mental retardation)

PTU use while pregnant can cause the baby to develop a goiter. All the studies I have seen indicate that the condition is temp and resolves after birth. You will get lots of ultrasosunds to monitor for this and the babies growth (hyperT babies sometimes just stop growing)  I was told c-section for a goiter or delivery early depending on how fast/large it develops.

WIth my son they thought he had a goiter and induced me two weeks early (cord around his neck no goiter). All his labs were normal from the get go, no indication of any thyroid suppression from the PTU usage. He gets tested yearly as Graves runs in my family.

Bottom line your untreated hyperthyoidism can be fatal to your unborn. With PTU useage the benifits out weigh the risks. Initially as they pull your TSH to the normal range you will feel like &%$#. Hang in there and once stable you will feel better.

Hopefully your hyperness is pregnancy induced and will resolve itself postpartum.

peace be the journey

Paja 43, Son 6, daughter 2...both healthy with no lasting effects from exsposed to PTU