Just before getting pregnant with Ellie in 2009, my psychiatrist suggested I have my thyroid levels checked. She said that some times abnormal thyroid levels can cause psychiatric symptoms such as depression and fatigue, so it was worth a look. No one had ever suggested checking my thyroid before, so I went ahead and got tested.
My results were normal.
And what do you know … my thyroid was level was NOT normal. I had hypothyroidism.
Pregnancy-induced hypothyroidism.
I had no idea this even existed. With my first pregnancy, no one suggested I have my thyroid checked or monitored. It was not a part of the typical tests. And I didn’t know my pre-pregnancy levels anyway.
What I CAN tell you is that with my first pregnancy I gained over 70 lbs. I felt horrible. I was M I S E R A B L E. The only thing that helped my nausia was eating. Yes, I know counterintuitive. But it really did make sense at the time.
Flash forward a few couple of years and I’d lost 50 lbs of my baby weight. A few months later and I’m pregnant for a second time, this time on meds for hypothyroid.
I gained 12 pounds. T W E L V E. (Since I was overweight when I got pregnant this small number was healthy for me and Ellie.)
I felt so much better. I still don’t love the way my body feels when pregnant, but gone was the terrible back and sciatic pain, the need to eat constantly, and I’d say my mood was a lot better. (Although John might have a thing or two to say about that. In general, I am not a happy glowing pregnant person.) But it WAS better.
The New York Times reported that for some, psychiatric trouble my start with the thyroid. Its a somewhat controversial link between mental and physical. But I say its very much worth a check. And its definitely worth checking if you are actively trying to become pregnant, are pregnant, or have had a baby and show symptoms of postpartum mood disorder.
Treating a thyroid condition, even if its not the cause of psychiatric trouble, could still potentially lessen your symptoms. And THAT is worth its weight in gold.
This is so important to know.
So so so important.
Some women did get affected. Thyroid problem is really stressing. I have a friend who have been diagnosed with cancer and hers have been taken out just to save her.
🙁
Wonderful post however , I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject?
I’d be very thankful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Thank you!
You just wrote my story almost word for word, except that eating most definitely did NOT help my nausea. And sadly, they hadn’t checked my thyroid levels beforehand nor did they catch my thyroid problems until 8 months and 2 hospitalizations postpartum. But almost everything else was exactly what I went through, to include the amount of weight I gained.
Once my thyroid was under control again, the PPMD cleared up almost instantly.
Wow Esther, that is incredible, that it took so long to catch and that it eliminated your symptoms of PPMD. So interesting!
I had no idea that pregnancy could affect thyroid levels, but it sounds like it really affect mood disorders and mental health! It seems like with this knowledge, there is no reason not to get your thyroid checked out when you get pregnant. After all, there is nothing to lose, but if you don’t check, you could suffer unnecessarily with mood disorders.