A Reintroduction: I'm a Mama Now :)
Hi Everyone!
I left here last June when I found out I was expecting. At the time I was around 250 lbs and was being treated for hypothyroidism.
During pregnancy I gained 28 lbs. Within 3 weeks of giving birth I was down to 245lbs and was happily fitting back into my regular pants. At my 6 week postpartum appointment I weighed 234, and my thyroid tests showed that I had gone from hypothyroid to hyperthyroid, which was why I was loosing so much weight. I was referred to an endocrinologist and an appointment was made for a month later.
By the time I made it to that appointment I had gained 40 lbs in water weight (my whole body was swollen). When the tests came back for my thyroid this time, it showed an extremely HYPOthyroid (for those who are familiar with thyroid numbers, my TSH was 45). The endocrinologist informed me that i had gained the weight (the 40 lbs in one month) from being sedentary and over-eating (despite the fact that i had returned to work caring for my own child as well as a 2 year old and 4 year old) and that they wouldn't treat my thyroid until I reached 6 months postpartum as they were sure it was just my bodies response to giving birth that caused my thyroid levels to be so messed up.
At 5 months postpartum I was up to 315, which was 35 lbs more than I weighed when I went to the hospital to give birth at 38 weeks pregnant! I started making phone calls to different endocrinologists, practically begging for help. Many agreed with the previous endocrinologist, that I was gaining weight due to lifestyle and that my thyroid would revert to normal by 6 months postpartum. But one endocrinologist actually took me seriously and called me back personally (rather than having a nurse relay the message). When I informed him that I had gained in excess of 70 lbs in 3 months, he wanted to see me immediately.
This time my TSH was even higher (it was 96) and I was diagnosed with hashimato's thyroiditis (an autoimmune disease). I was put on levothyroxine (which I had taken prior to pregnancy and all throughout pregnancy) and cytomel.
That was 6 weeks ago. We are still trying to figure out dosages and get my thyroid to a normal level. I am getting some of my energy back and my joints aren't hurting as much as before so I am going to start working out again.
I am looking forward to the support I found here before and getting down to a healthy weight!
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