Postpartum Thyroidism

You should start noticing improvements sometime after about 6 weeks to 3 months, depending on how low you were and if you're on the correct dose. After a while, you'll be able to tell by how you feel if you need to adjust your medicine. I'm never wrong about when my dose needs to change, or how badly it needs to be adjusted. Just be faithful with your medicine, and do take it on an empty stomach. The body does not readily accept thyroid medicine orally, so the empty stomach is a biggy. Some studies show that as much as 80% of the medicine can pass through your body unabsorbed. Something that makes a difference for me, is I cannot take the generic. I know what they say, but I'm not the only one I know who says their numbers get off on the generic. If generic works for you, then go ahead and save the money. It works for my mom. You can't switch back and forth, though. They really work differently in the body. Any doctor or pharmacist should tell you that you can't switch on this one. (If they don't, I'd think about whether or not you want them taking care of your thyroid. This is pretty basic information). Having hypothroidism isn't too bad, once you're used to it. The medicine does a pretty good job for me. If you get pregnant again, it will be a roller coaster of med changes during and after for a few months. I usually have at least 2 if not 3 or 4 doses on hand to switch around. GL! Let me know I can help with any other questions. I've dealt with this for over 10 years now (and several pregnancies).

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after baby #2 which was 10 years ago. I have 3 kids and after baby #3 my meds needed increased have been increased several times between then and now. I never noticed any side effects from the medicine except it made me feel soooooo much better. I now am a pro at telling when I need my dosage changed. One thing you need to be prepared about is usually people who get diagnosed with this stay on the meds. for the rest of their life. Idk if you had the weight gain, dry skin, falling out hair, etc. but that all gets better as soon as the dosage is regulated. One good thing about the meds. is that they are very affordable. If you want to know more webmd is a wonderful site to get more info. I wish you the best of luck and hope you feel better soon.

HI K.,
My first bit of advice is make sure you are on a natural form of thyroid. I am on Armour thyroid. I started out on Synthroid & it is just that "synthetic thyroid", I felt jittery, hyper & all around cruddy. If you take a synthetic thyroid it will not absorb correctly. I would go to your Dr. & tell them you would like to be on a NATURAL form. You do not have side effects, as you do with a sythetic form.

You will start to feel better almost instantly. No more cloudy brain, lethargicness, clear thinking comes on almost instantly over a few days & your body gets back into the groove. Remember the thyroid is the real "brain" of the body. So if it is off it throws your whole body off. It also regulates your weight & is key to help maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Besides making sure that you choose a natural form of thyriod, my next bit of advice is:
Once you start the medication remember that your body changes, therefore throughout your life your dose will change. If I start to feel "off" I get my thyroid levels checked, and they adjust my thyroid dose & i'm back on track.

I have been on thyroid for over 8 years & had 3 healthy babies since then! Yea!!!

I hope this helps & please feel free to pm me with any other questions. G

Make sure you read all you can about it. You will need to be your own advocate at the doctor's. I completely agree with the person who said to use armour. I took synthroid for 8 years and although I got better than when I didn't take anything, I never really felt good. I thought I would never be the same person I had been before. Then a friend told me about another doctor who prescribed armour and I tried it. I felt fantastic within a few months. It has made a huge difference in my life.

I just found out in November that I have it. I can't say I have noticed a ton of difference since I have been on the medication. I had my 4th child in March. I had to have an ultrasound and a biopsy, but, I don't think you will need to have those. I need to go at the end of this month to have my bloodwork done and see if my medication needs to be changed.

I have a 7 year old, 5 year old, 2 1/2 year old and an almost 1 year old.

K. M,
I am by no means a doctor however thyroid medicine prescribed by doctors can damage other parts of your body, plus your babies if you are breastfeeding, please read very carefully what is in the meds that are prescribed. If you can not find them in the info packet from the pharmasist, please google the name and read what the ingredients and side effects are, you will need to read the whole thing because much of the important part is near the bottom of the active and inacitve ingredients. You can most of the time change your fiber intake, eating certain foods and such to get good results.

hi, congrat on the third! don't worry about a thing...first, until the meds kick in, you'll be tired, but you would be any ways having just had a baby. as long as you remember to take you meds every day, you'll be fine. skip a few days and you'll feel exhausted. not that that wouldn't happen already with three kids. I have three as well, 4yr, 2yr, and 1yr, and a thyroid issue too. just remember the meds every day and all will be well. good luck

Just a quick note. You will feel better in about 4 to 6 months if you are having any of the iratic mood swings and weight gain. Mine went undiagnosed for 3 and a half years. =0) If you have any questions you can email me back then just found mine in August.

Hi, K.!
As others have said, I would recommend Armour Thyroid. It's what I'm taking and it's made all the difference. The body recognizes it whereas the body doesn't recognize the synthetic versions. The other lady that mentioned the studies that show the grand majority not being absorbed is correct and those studies refer to the synthetics. It will likely take a couple of months and blood tests to get the dosage right, but it is so worth it! Armour is (thyroid hormone) T4. Once the correct level is reached, your thyroid is supposed to convert the remainder to T3. If that doesn't happen, there are also supplemental T3 medications (which I also take and are helping).
Best of luck!