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| Wed, 04-19-2006 - 8:33pm |
I never knew that stress could have such an impact on our bodies.
I became engaged in November of 2004 and have been planning our July 4, 2006 wedding since then. Of course, everything got very busy since this past summer. A few months ago I went to my doctor thinking I was just "sick" or had some sort of virus. Blood tests indicated that I had a hypertyroid. Between being a teacher, yes, it IS stressful, and planning and paying for a wedding, I was not surprised to hear that stress was playing a big part in my health, but impacting my thyroid!? I was shocked! I went back two weeks ago to see if there was an improvement, and now blood test revealed my levels were higher! Oy! I am now taking medicaiton as directed by my Doctor, and have begun taking Zanex as well (at night only) to see if I can get myself back to normal. I am so upset about this, but not sure I have any control over the matter. I don't ever "seem" stressed and really feelt quite organized and take things as they come at me, so I must be suffering subconciously! I worry about the future, and hope that this can go away. I am curious about women with stress disorders, and hyperthyrodism are dealing. I am concerned for the future. I want to have children and hope that this isn't permanent and if it is something I have to deal with, that I know the facts, and know that I can get pregnant as according to my OBGYN I am very fertile! I have to go get an ultrasound on my thyroid to make sure there are no "nodules" or anything making it react this way. I'm trying to take the mind over matter and tell myself when all this stress is gone, it will go away. Hope to hear some more encouragement soon....

Hi Orange, thanks for posting your story...
Hi and thanks for replying!
I'm awaiting a copy of the bloodwork in the mail, so not sure what the levels are...yet. In the meantime, they put me on Methimazole (5 MG). I don't believe it's a beta blocker. Apparently, according to my Doctor, my levels aren't high enough where I'll start experiencing some of the symptoms like weight loss, however, I do know what you mean with the sweating! I had NO idea that was a symptom till I told my doctor that I was feeling shakey occassionally, somewhat frazzled at times, having heart palpatations and the perspiration was ridiculous! Still is! Can't wait for these meds to kick in - I assume once I find a day when I'm not feeling "icky" an "wet" in my underarm area, I'll know something is working! Thankfully, I'm without a lot of the more severe, and somewhat scarier, symptoms as this was caught early. From what I understand, once the stress recedes and life doesn't seem as crazy, this might all go away - I pray for that day and hope it's once I start my Honeymoon!
I wouldn't be able to say if you are wrong or right or what the future holds. I did find some helpful info about the medication I'm on on webmd.com and it did say that symptoms disappear and levels return to normal within six months. This means, if your body is back to normal, conceiving should be easier/normal as well. You might want to check it out and talk to your doctor: http://www.webmd.com/hw/thyroid_disorders/hw148275.asp
Thankfully, I have more than a year before "baby" thoughts become serious actions, so I also think it takes time and the right medicine. Don't be discouraged, I'm not. I've heard great things from friends and coworkers who have hyperthyroidism and know that it can be "cured." Thankfully, for me, I have no family history of this and the timeline for my symtpoms coincide with life changing events and stress, so all in all, I'm hoping mine does go away and I don't have to worry so much in the future. But who is to tell?
hey good to hear. i saw the doctor this morning and they took blood tests. I will get the results monday. I wish i would have taken care of this sooner but you know how it is. You have a baby and you just keep thinking your hormones will get under control until the hair loss comes. that's where i draw the line! Also my baby is 14 months old so if i was going to get better I should've already leveled out by now, i would think...
but it's great that it's not in your genetics. my twin sister has graves, aunts, mother, grandmothers all of them have thyroid problems.
I want my hair back!!
I would like to give you some hope! I too was on Methimazole for about 1 year and my Graves Disease is now in remission. Your endo will do tests to figure out if you have Graves disease which is the most common form of hyperthyroidism. I too had an ultra sound of my thyroid and they found no nodules, so that is how they concluded that it was Graves. I think that if you have nodules that could cause hyperthyroidism also. As far as having children, I actually was pregnant when they discovered my hyperthyroidism after routine pregnancy bloodwork. My levels were elevated during my pregnancy, but not enough to put me on meds until after my daughter was born, then my levels went up a lot and I felt a lot of symptoms. She is a healthy, happy 2 year old. My endo believes that my pregnancy may have triggered my Graves episode and now after being on the meds a year and also that I am not currently pregnant I am back to normal and on no meds for the past 6 months. My endo indicated that Methimazole can work with your immune system and thus making you go into remission like me so there is hope! If you ever do become pregnant, you will want to get in to your docs right away so they can monitor your levels and also you will have to change meds to I think PTU or PKU, I'm not sure as I was never on it as it is safe during pregnancy. Does anyone in your family have hyperthyroidism or Graves? It is very genetic, my dad had it. Also stress can trigger it so all your planning for the wedding and future can bring it out, as mine with being pregnant. I too am a fellow teacher, 1st grade so I know what you mean about the stress, however summer is coming soon.
Good Luck! I hope this helps.
: ) Julia