Hypothyroid

[sweetpea]

I've been gluten-free for 3 years. I also have a pituitary microadenoma and bloodwork shows me to be hyperthyroid. However,I've been either pregnant or nursing since July '08, and the endo says he's going to wait to look further into the hyperthyroid until I'm done nursing my 2nd daughter. My symptoms have gotten really bad though: tired, weak, easily winded, heat intolerant, losing my hair. The only symptom I don't have is weight loss, even though I'm overweight! Anyone else have a similar issue that can offer some advice? Thanks!

[rosetapper23]

Why is your doctor waiting to treat you? I'm sorry....but your health is very important, and being hyperthyroid is very serious. If it means weaning your daughter immediately, I think you should consider doing so. PLEASE, get the medical help you need NOW! I can't believe your doctor is waiting--this can very quickly become a very serious situation.

[GFinDC]

Hmm, which one is it, hypo-thyroid (low thyroid hormone levels) or hyper-thyroid (high thyroid hormone levels) ?

Weight gain can be a symptom of hypo-thyroid, but weight loss is more typical of hyper-thyroid.

With hyper-thyroid people can also have racing heart rates, nervousness, shakiness, high blood-pressure, excitability, anger, hot etc etc.

Hypo-thyroid symptoms include lethargy, low blood pressure, weight gain, mental confusion, tiredness, cold, insomnia (with both actually), etc, etc.

They are both serious conditions and you should get some treatment or adjust your diet if needed.

[sweetpea]

I haven't had any symptoms until the last two months, which is why he has been waiting - he doesn't even know that I've been having symptoms. (I plan to call him tomorrow.) Weaning isn't a simple thing when my daughter doesn't tolerate formula - even the $50 a can hypoallergenic kind. When we give her formula she vomits and gets dehydrated. My milk supply is a little low so we were giving her one bottle a day - which we had to switch to using donated breastmilk. But there's no way I could get enough donated breastmilk to feed her if I weaned. I'm hoping he can treat the thyroid while I breastfeed.

[sweetpea]

My hormone levels would indicate hyperthyroid. I believe my last TSH level was .27 but it's been as low as .07

I know weight loss is usually typical w/ it, but it's also usually typical w/ untreated celiac. I had weight gain before I knew I had celiac, so I have a history of having opposite symptoms.

[rosetapper23]

Thyroid symptoms can be really strange. I get exactly the same symptoms whether I'm hyper- or hypothyroid, so I've always had to get tests to determine what was actually going on. Because I have Hashimoto's, it took about two years for the up-and-down thyroid situation to clear up. However, you are very brave to tolerate such horrible symptoms (been there!) and a good mother to place your baby's health above your own. Hopefully, your doctor will work with you to resolve your thyroid issues very soon. Good luck! And please let us know how things turn out, okay?

[sweetpea]

I'll let you know what the endo says.

Do you know how they test for Hashimoto's or Grave's disease. Is it a blood test?

[rosetapper23]

Yes, it's a simple blood test. Good luck!

Laura

[beachbirdie]

I'll let you know what the endo says.

Do you know how they test for Hashimoto's or Grave's disease. Is it a blood test?

Yes, simple blood test, looking for antibodies. Hopefully they will also check your levels of free thyroid hormone, or else they are only getting part of the picture.

Are you currently on any thyroid meds?

You really need a good going over for this. A low TSH, by itself, does not necessarily indicate hyperthyroid. You have something going on with your pituitary, and in that case a low TSH could be unrelated to a thyroid condition. In Central Hypothyroidism, for example, your pituitary will produce very little TSH, which will cause the thyroid to produce very little hormone. But it is the pituitary that is off, not the thyroid.

In that case, you could be hypothyroid even with a low TSH.

Thyroid can be complicated. Both hyper- and hypothyroid have many crossover symptoms. For example, I had horrible anxiety and panic attacks, elevated heart rate, insomnia when I first started having problems. Turned out I was hypothyroid, NOT hyper.

Good luck to you.