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A Condition that Affects Over 10 Million Americans

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Image courtesy of adamr / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

by Stacey Thureen | @StaceyThureen

A year ago it was confirmed through post partial thyroidectomy pathology and blood work that I have Hashimoto’s Thyroidisits. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common thyroid disease in the United States. It is an inherited condition that affects over 10 million Americans and is about seven times more common in women than in men.

Hashimoto’s is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the thyroid tissue thus causing the thyroid gland to not produce enough thyroid hormones; inflicting the condition most commonly known as hypothyroidism.

Since my diagnosis I’ve been taking the synthetic thyroid hormone, Levoxyl, daily to supplement the lack of hormones not being produced by my thyroid.

Hashimoto’s and Pregnancy
I’m now nine months pregnant, and thankfully my thyroid levels have been stable for the past 18 weeks.

The first 18 weeks my thyroid levels were extremely volatile. According to the American Thyroid Association, the normal range for non-pregnant women is .5 to 4.5, and prior to pregnancy I was at a .83 with the assistance of the daily medication. But by week eight gestation my TSH was at a 9.34. The American Thyroid Association guidelines recommend pregnant women to be between 2.5 to 3.0. So this required a significant increase in my medication and put me on a strict bi-weekly blood work regimen.

By March my TSH went from a 4.68 to 2.1. It then picked back up to a 3.0 by early April. And once again my thyroid medication was adjusted for the third time in a two and a half month period.

So why did my thyroid levels sea-saw so much? For one, my nurse practitioner mentioned this is not uncommon for patients who have Hashimoto’s.

During the first trimester a women’s body is going through major hormonal shifts because her body is laying down a foundation for the placenta, as well as the baby’s organs and other vital body parts that we get to start hearing and seeing by 12 to 18 weeks gestation. The thyroid hormone is one of the many hormones that help aid in this process.

A lot of the same symptoms of hypothyroidism are also experienced during the first trimester of pregnancy, regardless of whether a woman had a thyroid problem prior to pregnancy. As a matter of fact, pregnancy is when a lot of women discover they actually have thyroid problems. (Click here to read a great article about this courtesy of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.)

As I continue this pregnancy journey, I will soon enter the postpartum phase. That is when I’ll begin working with my Endocrinologist to figure out the best daily dose of Levoxyl I’ll need to take. It will require some doctor visits and routine blood work again. Most of all it is important for me to be on the correct dose since the thyroid plays a huge role in the lactation process.

Did you know that the thyroid plays a huge role in women’s health? As I’ve shared my story with other women, I’m surprised that many of them didn’t know the important role the thyroid plays especially during seasons of pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause. If you’re comfortable, please feel free to share your thyroid related health story here and what you’ve learned a long the way.

Blogger note: In case you missed it, two months I had the privilege of sharing about my thyroid journey through I am Second. Please read ‘A New Voice’ and feel free to share it with those you know who need encouragement for what they are walking through.

 

What a difference a year makes

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by Stacey Thureen | @StaceyThureen

Blogger note: Before I get to this month’s blog post, I’d like to share with you that I’m now a regular contributor to Examiner.com. After going through my thyroid journey last year and this year as I’m pregnant, my writing focus for Examiner is on thyroid health and autoimmune disorders as it relates to the thyroid. It is my hope that readers will be educated and informed about this important part of their health. Please check it out and feel free to subscribe or follow me on Twitter to stay up to date when articles are published. (And please feel free to contact me if you have any article ideas.)

Also this month, I was a guest blogger on Joan Parcewski’s blog “Green Joan Real Estate.” I know Joan through a Toastmasters speaking group I joined earlier this year. Please check out the post and feel free to check out the group.

What a difference a year makes
In a couple of days I will get an ultrasound of my bump. And for all of you out there wondering if we will find out if it’s a boy or a girl, we are going to let baby Thureen be a surprise.

Interestingly, it will also be one year since I went through a thyroid scan of the bump I had on my thyroid. That test last year was what gave my specialist information that I did need to undergo thyroid surgery. What a difference 12 months can make – I’m thankful to be dealing with more positive doctor visits this year versus last, and a much different ‘scan’ of my body.

The thyroid and pregnancy
I can remember in the days leading up to my first OB appointment several weeks ago, I felt very tired and not myself. I started losing weight due to the food aversions, and I was experiencing other symptoms most commonly associated with hypothyroidism. (A lot of the same symptoms of hypothyroidism are experienced during the first trimester of pregnancy for women, regardless of whether they had a thyroid problem prior to pregnancy or not. As a matter of fact, pregnancy is when a lot of women discover they have thyroid problems.)

It was a bit shocking to get a 9.34 TSH test result. But it confirmed that what I was dealing with was directly linked to my thyroid dysfunction, and my body trying to compensate during early pregnancy.

Last month and this month, bi-weekly blood tests have continued. I started feeling an improvement by mid-March when my TSH went from a 4.68 to a 2.1. My TSH then picked back up to a 3.0 by early April. And once again my thyroid medication was adjusted for the third time in over two months. My endocrinologist believes that I should be between a 2.0 and a 2.5. Last October the American Thyroid Association released new guidelines that suggest pregnant women need to have their TSH around this level.

Proactive steps
I’ve been staying as active as I possibly can throughout the pregnancy, which has been good. One, because my doctors have told me to keep doing what I was doing all along prior to pregnancy – walking, running, and swimming – as long as I don’t experience any pain or lower abdominal issues. Secondly, according to this BabyCenter.com article, staying active during pregnancy has some major benefits to the mom and baby pre and postpartum. And third, exercise in general is just really good for the body, especially the thyroid.