Hypothyroid - Zachary,LA

Hello, my best friend had thyroid cancer as a child and is also on synthroid and has been for years. She has 2 teenage sons that are both VERY VERY smart. If you want you can ask me and I will as her you can private message me at ____@____.com if you would like.

I found out after the birth of my first daughter that I had hypothyroidism and I have been on Synthroid ever since. I have had three more children and no problems. My second daugther is actually advanced for her age. I had infertility problems with my first(took us a year and a half to get pg). I was later told it could have been problem with my thyroid. With my last three we got pg as soon as we started thinking about it and with the last one, I was on birth control pills. All of my kids are adorable(I may be a bit biased :), and while they have the regular problems with attitudes, there is nothing wrong with any of them. I don't like taking any medicine if it's not needed and with this one you don't have a choice. Take it and don't worry. HTH

J.,

You might want to try a natural thyroid med. http://www.healthychoicenaturals.com/p-74-thyroid+essenti... Is a web site I found also the herb maca helps with your throid also. The web site for that is http://store.wholeworldbotanicals.com
H.

I have a friend who has had hypothyroidism for years. She will be having her 4th child in Dec., and the only thing she does differently when pregnant is keep those thyroid levels in check and change medication dosages as needed.

We will end up talking lots...
But start here:

www.stopthethyroidmadness.com

I have FIVE VERY smart kids!
BUT...like their mother, they are highly emotional.
THIS is what I see with Hypo moms, not the mental slowness thing. everyone I know with it has kids that are the same way. Hypothyroid can run in families...
Also, thyroid is not always THE thing...
Low cortisol (adrenals)can keep you from absorbing your thyroid hormone--whether it's your own or ingested.
Low testosterone can ALSO keep you from absorbing your thyroid hormone...
so you need a full hormone panel run--saliva, not blood.
I ahve been through the gamut, and am don't take no for an answer kind of person. If you have the question, that site has the answer.

Love and peace!
--H.

J. - I have been taking synthroid for hypothyroidism for 5 years - since my 1st was 22 months. My TSH levels were normal, my T4 level was not. Two pregnancies later (with precious, SMART kiddos) it is just part of my daily routine. Keep on top of your levels - at least yearly. During my pregnancies, I would ask at every visit if they needed to check my thyroid levels, and remind them to test T4 as well as TSH, b/c TSH was normal! I was paranoid about it, wanting the best for the baby! They did check several times during pregnancy. If you keep the levels right, baby IQ is not an issue. Also, since synthroid is a maintenance med, get it through a 3-month mail-order place for savings! I wish you the best!

I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism after the birth of my first child, my son who is now 7. I have been on a low dose of Synthroid since then and understand that this is a forever thing because the thyroid will not ever magically start working on its own. I did get preg. again while on the med and of course continued to take the med. during my pregnancy.My pregnancy was uncomplicated, the labor and delivery were easy and uncomplicated. I now have an almost-5-year-old daughter. She is smart, sassy, and beautiful. No health problems, no IQ or learning problems....completely healthy and wonderful. Please don't worry too much about what you read...I think they have to tell you those things just to cover their behinds "in case". Good luck!

I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is the auto immune low thyroid. Basically my thyroid is being eaten by my own body and so I cant' make any natural thyroid hormone myself. I have been taking artificial thyroid since I was 23, I am 39 now. They always worried about me becoming pregnant so I didn't think I would ever have a baby, but last year she decided to come on her own!! January 24th I gave birth to a beautiful, extremely healthy baby girl. In fact, during my pregnancy I was the healthiest I have ever been! My synthetic thyroid dose was actually lowered have 275 mcg per day to 250 mcg per day and for the first time since I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's I had thyroid levels in range on my lab tests!

I wouldn't worry about having another baby, our bodies seem to adapt and adjust to pregnancy in wonderful ways. I am so glad I become pregnant and now have the best thing in the world a healthy, beautiful baby girl. She is off the charts on her growth and devolopment, no mental issues or IQ problems if anything she is advanced for her age. At just 6 months she is standing and has 2 teeth.

Just make sure to take good care of yourself and be patience and don't let all the internet buzz get to you.

I was diagnosed with a goiter that caused hypothyroidism when I was only 17. Dont tell my kids they are not suppose to be smart =) My daughter is 14 now, and straight A's and a few B's. My son is 6 and reading everything he can get his hands on. I did have trouble getting pregnant the second time, but I also had endometriosis, which I think was the main culprit. Just make sure you take your medication daily, and keep your levels checked. Your doctor will watch it so all you have to do is concentrate on being healthy.

I would guess that your thyroid problem came after your pregnancy. In general people can do well with thyroid problems and pregnancy but need to be follwed closely by their endocrinologist during the pregnancy. Ideally you will be on a stable dose of the synthroid before you get pregnant and then be followed closely. I have a close friend that was hypothyroid before her last pregnancy and they felt that once she was on a stable dose of synthroid that she was ok to get pregnant. Good luck!

I would look into taking Armour. All of the reading I have done on the topic leads me to believe that is the best medication available for hypothyroid. I know some women also have to supplement progesterone as well. This may or may not be your case. Ask your doctor to test your hormone levels (saliva testing is best) like estrogen, testosterone, progesterone to see if that may be a factor as well.

Hypothyroidism in the child can cause a lower IQ -- not because you're the one with the underactive thyroid. Your IQ is already "set". Some states test for hypothyroidism along with genetic testing (PKU, etc) as part of their battery.

Besides, if your thyroid levels are "on the mark" you'll be fine. Your doctor seems to be doing great with the the three-month visit. He'll adjust the meds up or down, or leave them alone.

I have NO thyroid due to cancer and take synthroid. Aren't we lucky there's a medication that is easy to take, easy to test for? Remains pretty stable once the dosage is figured out.... (I will say, if you are pregnant, body chemistry changes. You can get your doctor to do a quick thyroid test every couple of months and ajust the meds if necessary.)

Yes, you'll have to take thyroid meds the rest of your life. I had to be off of them for six weeks after my thyroid was removed and it was not a pretty sight (before treatment). The thyroid, for such a small gland, does a heck of a lot of work!

You're best bet for combatting hypothyroidism AND fetal development problems is eating and drinking as healthy as possible. Cut out all processed foods (store bought and restaurant) as these contain additives can exaggerate or even create these problems. Doctors have too much of a habit of treating the symptoms and not the cause (most people dont wanna hear from their doc that simply eating better will make them healthier, and reverse the maladies they're suffering from) - the medications you're taking will probly do more harm to the baby than the hypothyroidism. Here is also a website that may have addressed this issue as well, look it over to see if any of these symptoms might apply to you - it was a lifesaver for me and my youngest girl :}
www.yeastinfectionadvisor.com

I have it also! I have 2 healthy babies 2.5yrs and 2.5 months no problems they just check levels and get u correct meds no issues

I was diagnosed and started Synthroid before I got pregnant with my now 12 1/2 year old daughter. I did not even now it might be a concern. They tested my thyroid at some point in the pregnancy to make sure I was still on the right dose and the pregnancy had not changed what I needed. It had not. She is now one of the most beautiful and smartest girls in her class. I also now have a 9 1/2 year old son. Again, they checked my levels during the pregnancy and things were fine. He is just as health and smart. I am on real high doses as well 200mcg's 6 days a week and 400mcg's on Sunday. You will notice a difference in the way you feel and your energy levels. The Best of luck to you and don't let the little things worry you. GOd will take care of you and your babies. They will be perfect!

I have hypothryoidism also, was on synthoid and had no problems with my pregnancy 8 years ago (I was 38). My daughter is amazingly healthy, happy and very smart. Please don't take too seriously everything that you read on the internet. I have found from personal experience that if you don't know alot or know nothing at all about medical issues that what you read can be very misleading and scary because you tend to blow the issue up in your own mind. Just make sure that when you do get pregnant that you tell your doctor about all medications, including vitamins and the dosage amount of each one that you are taking. Best of luck to you...
G.

Hi!

I just wanted to tell you that your hypothyroidism MIGHT be temporary. It can be triggered by the pregnancy. I was hyper for about a year (postpartum thyroiditis) and it can trigger hypo or hyper. That's not to say that you won't have thyroid issues in the future, and I do have Hashimoto's, which is a lovely condition that causes you to oscillate between hyper AND hypo and you don't know until you're at wits end that it's your hormone levels! But SOME people completely recover. There is a test that can be done to see how much antibodies your body is producing that are attacking your thyroid....ask for it!

As far as pregnancy....for my second, My OB knew a good endocrinologist, and that way they were in contact when they needed to be, actually it was her idea to have someone she could just call up on board for the pregnancy. I was hypo for the whole pregnancy and on Synthroid, with my levels closely monitored. My 2 year old is following in big sis's footsteps with the gifted personality...she just made 2 1/2, can hold a moderate conversation, knows all her colors, shapes, letters by sight, ABC order AND mastered a puzzle of the United States designed for 4 yr olds in 3 days, her motor skills surpass my oldest's (which is the only thing she was ever lacking in...but she's what's called profoundly gifted and lacking SOMEWHERE is expected... BTW, I had unusual thyroid levels with my first too). I'm not trying to toot my kid's horn here, my point is...SHE IS NOT SLOW!

The weird thing is, since your thyroid is like the "timeclock" for your whole body, it's difficult to even get pregnant if your thyroid is out of whack (ovulation is screwed up). Low levels can affect a growing baby's mental development, if not treated. Your doctor can get you through this, you can have a completely normal child as long as you are properly cared for. I also avoid medicine at almost all costs, but synthroid is a necessary hormone that regulates the rest of your body, and can get you to "normal", you'll just have a few more blood tests this time around.

Good luck, and I hope this helped
~K.

I found out 2 years after I had my 1st child that my Thyroid was not working. I have been on Synthroid for 12 1/2 yrs. My 1st PG was great, not problems getting PG and a drug free delivery. After that we had 2 miscarriages before another baby. 5 years 9 months later. Then It took us another 5 years to get PG another. We have a 15 yr old, 9 year old and a 3 year old. You can get on other drugs that will boost the Synthroid Meds. After 11 years, I had to add Cytomel with my synthroid. Your thyroid works all your hormones. So, just stay healthy, eat right and take your meds. You will be just fine.Our children are very smart. Straight A's for the 9 year old and our 3 year old . Knows his letter and numbers. So, no health problems. GOod luck.

Hi J..

I have hypothyroidism, too. I was diagnosed 5 years ago, when I was 50. Be sure you have given the medication at LEAST six weeks to work before getting your thyroid levels tested again. It takes that long to work.

I wouldn't worry too much about the gestational diabetes, unless you have a severe case. I had a mild case with my third (and last) pregnancy. The only thing they did was put me on a low calerie diet. The baby was big (9 pounds, 1 ounce), so I can imagine how big she would have been without the diet!! I breezed right through the pregnancy and had a healthy baby girl. Be sure your OB/GYN or other doctor knows about the thyroid problem BEFORE you get pregnant. Your doctor should know your medical history, and whether or not you SHOULD get pregant again. Do your research, through your doctor, and any other means available to you (library, internet, etc.). Good luch, dear.

I have same condition. what you read on internet is crock. I have had 2 smart and beautiful children with no health problems after i started taking synthroid. it is just necessary medication for you and has no effect on the children

Hi J.,

I have been hypothyroid for many years and have 2 very smart children and pregnant with #3. I took Armour thyroid during my pregnancies b/c it is natural and snythetic like synthroid so it is much safer. Plus synthroid I believe is just a t3 medication and so your body has to convert the t3 to t4 (or visa versa). But Armour supplies both t3 and t4 so it is much better and has been around for a very long time. You get it by prescription.

Theres nothing to worry about. I took synthroid with my first pregnancy and now with my second. I have my levels checked more now that I'm pregnant and everthings fine and you will be too.

Hi J.,
I have had hypothyroidism for about 10 years when I married my husband. We didn't think think we could have kids so we didn't try NOT to. 5 months after we married I went to have a procedure and found out I was pregnant!! :-)
In spite of the fact that I was over 35, had hypothyroidism And I discovered during pregnancy that I had a Genetic Clotting disorder and had to take blood thinners-our little girl was born healthy and is now a Beautiful, happy, slightly wild and VERY SMART girl.
She is 28 months old and regularly makes 6-8 word sentences using correct Verb tenses no less :-). She also knows most of her alphabet and the sounds the letters make. She knows all her body parts and can count to 5! The other night she grabbed my cell phone and dialed it-her Daddy found her and said "she's got your cell phone" She said "I Calling NeNe (her Grandmother)" when Daddy got the phone he hit the end call button and my Mom called a few minutes later-she Really WAS Calling "NeNe"!!
Don't worry about things you can't control. If you decide to have another baby-take as good care of yourself as you CAN and TAKE YOUR MEDS IF THE DR TELLS YOU TO Even during Pregnancy.
Keeping yourself healthy (including taking meds your Dr reccommends) during pregnancy is your best bet for making sure your new baby is healthy and You are healthy too :-).
Good Luck in whatever you decide!
Hope this helps.
:-) C.

I just wanted to put my little two cents in, I am currently 24 years old have been married for about 4 years and we have 2 chidlren together a little girl who is 3 and a boy who is 10 months....Other than having hypothyroidism I am in perfect health, With my daughter i was diagnosed with low thyroid levels during pregnancy but they didnt put me on meds til after she was born. She came out gorgeous and smart, qiuck to pick up on things such as the potty(she was potty traied in 2 weeks) and counting and reading some word already! so I can tell you from personal experience that the low Iq thing is bull!! My thyroid levels evened out after about a year and a half of taking meds and taking extra virgin coconut oil pills(a homeopathic remedy) and I was taken off the meds after that! I got pregnant with my son and had an issue with weight gain(i gained a good 70 pounds) and with being very very tired..... They checked the levels again after i gave birth and Like before i was low! I am now back on synthroid and the coconut oil pills and hopefully i will level out soon! For some woman its the pregnancy that throws ur body out of wack and for others its just life that does that fortunatly for me its just pregnancies that throw off my thyroid and then after about a year it gets better! as far as the fertility issues that come with this condition i have herad people say its harder to get preggo when you have an under active thyroid but i have ALWAYS been very fertile thyroid low or not! I hope this helped you and I hope that things work out well for you. Try doing so research on the internet about natural remedies for this condition there are lots of other options besides synthroid(which i heard if taken too much can make ur body dependant on it) Good luck hun

J.,

I have Hypothyroidism and have been on medication for several years. I did not develop it until after the birth of my first child and did have secondary infertility problems because of the untreated thyroid for several years, but was blessed with more once the specialist was on track with what was going on with my thyroid. That said, I will tell you that I also am very pleased to tell you that my daughter is a straight A student, a son who is an honor student and one who could be if he'd actually turned his assignments in all the time (on time). :-) Seriously though, I think if you'll talk with your doctor you'll find that the risk would be if hypothryroidism was something let untreated or possibly that in a child with some disabilities there may be a tendency toward a higher rate of having hypothyroidism.
I'm sure talking with your doctor or even your pediatrician will make you feel much better. I hope your test come back level and the amount your on is the right dose for you.

Kathryn

Hey J.,
I have Hypothyroid and am on Armour which comes from deceased pigs. All natural, The reason my doctor and I choose this is because it is the safest for when PG. I did not have Hypothyroidism with my first child and or a complicated pregnancy. we did get PD last year and had a MC. MY system is finally talking nice again so we are hoping to get PG again soon. I have had several friends near 40 have brilliant children with hypothyroid. My advice is just what your doing, check levels reg. Best to you and your husband.

Hi J.,
I know you have gotten some great responses already but just wanted to let you know that soon after I had my first baby I was diagnosed with Hashimotos and also found out i was pregnant again. I started on synthriod and after a few months my levels were normal. My pregnancy was fine and my second daughter was born 12 1/2 months after my first! I am now pregnant with my third who will be 14 months younger than my second so obviosly have the thyroid condition hasn't affected my fertility! Both of my girls are smart and actually advanced for their ages even though they are still pretty young to tell exactly how smart they will be! :o)
Just though this might encourage you!
Ashley