Update on my situation

[elmomommyto2]

Well, I'm sorry that I haven't been around a whole lot lately. I've been crazy busy with appointments, etc. :o

The latest news is a mixed bag.

The great news is that I've had another level II ultrasound, which shows that the baby is doing terrific in every way . Her cyst is gone and she's growing right according to schedule . They're about 95% sure that she is a she considering she was folding her legs up behind her to be difficult .

The more unfortunate news is that I continue to be very sick with the PTU they are giving me for my hyperthyroid problem. I get sick within 30-60 minutes of taking it...over and over again. A week and a half ago I also started developing hives every single day. Put that in combination with the itching, dizziness, nausea, anxiety, shakiness, and recent panic attacks, things haven't exactly been easy around here lately. Also at my last visits, my blood pressure and pulse were back on the rise (I'm not sure yet if this means that the PTU isn't working or not). And for the last week or so I've had pretty bad depression over feeling so horrible and not knowing where to go from here. Basically my options now are to continue taking the PTU, discontinue the PTU and live with the possible consequences of that, or surgery to remove part of my thyroid (which I'm not willing to do just yet considering all of the hormonal changes that happen in pregnancy anyway). As of now, my plan is to wait for blood tests and see if it's even working. If it is, they should be able to lower my dose (which is tricky since that varies according to what I think I'm able to handle). If it's not, then more than likely I'll be deciding to discontinue the PTU and take my chances with the risks of uncontrolled hyperthyroidism.

So if you all could continue to keep myself and our baby in your thoughts and prayers, that would be great. Thankfully 22 weeks down, only approximately 18 weeks to go!

[TheCollector]

Hi Lisa

On the whole, that is fantastic news!!!!!

I know the sickness is getting you down, but hopefully they can sort that out for you. The good news is that the baby is fine

Thyroid surgery sounds a little extreme at the moment considering the baby is doing so well

I know how fanatical doctors can be about raised blood pressure. My mum had pre-eclampsia (ultra high BP) when she was carrying me, and I was born at 7.5 months. Although I had jaundice when I was born, (common with pre-term babies) we were discharged after only a week or so once this had cleared up. You are well on your way, and the most worrying bit is now over.

The only advice I can give you (if I am in a position to advise you ) is that you need to do what feels right for you. Depression stems from a perceived "lack of control". You are already a mother of one and only YOU knows the right thing to do for you and your baby.

Sure, take advice. But at the same time take back the control. You will feel better for it!!!!

Best of luck, and it goes without saying that this "old trooper" is praying for you all

Ian

[nowandagain]

Hi Lisa

Time goes by faster than what it can seem, so before you know it you'll have a lovely daughter before you know it

I know these are difficult times for you, but it's great news to hear that your Level II ultrasound is OK

As for the PTU issue and associated symptoms, it sounds like there's a big question mark over whether it's working or not (given the sickness you've been feeling, it could be a not). However, everything will turn out OK, so you should only look on the bright side

Take care

nowandagain [rockon]

[starreyes]

Since I don't really understand a lot of what is going on with the thyroid and everything all I can say is I'm glad your baby is doing so well, and I hope everything continues to go well with her. I really hope the whole situation with the hyper thyroid turns out ok, and that if you do turn out to need surgery, which hopefully you won't, it will be able to wait until after you have your baby to help lower risks and everything.

[Joey]

I'm glad the baby is doing well, Lisa

I will definitely continue to keep you and your baby in my thoughts. Good luck!

[stacey]

Hey Lisa!!

Good to hear that the baby is doing well!!I will keep you and your baby in my thoughts as well!!Good luck to you!!

Stacey

[elmomommyto2]

Well, the plot now thickens . I went Friday to my midwife's appointment and my blood pressure was way high again (163/90) and my pulse was 120. The news that I found out yesterday from the blood draw on Friday was that the PTU is working very unexpectedly well. The level they go by has reduced from 3.5 down to 2.2 in a matter of 3 1/2 weeks on the PTU. Basically the midwife was humoring me in doing the blood tests because she kept insisting that the full effect isn't until 6-8 weeks after. The meaning of the numbers are somewhat complicated, but basically the "normal" range for this thyroid hormon is .7-1.9. My endocrinologist told me that he would keep me at the very top of normal or possibly even mildly hyperthyroid to reduce the chances of the baby having thyroid problems. The really bad problem is that I haven't been taking a consistant dosage of the PTU. Some days I'll take 2 doses (200 mg) and some I'll take 1 dose (100 mg). So I'm very confused because supposedly PTU tends to work in a substandard way if I wasn't to take it every 8 hours spot on, which I haven't. So now I'm left to pray until I see my regular OB on Friday to find out what the heck I should be doing. The other side effects continue and the depression seems to get worse as the level of thyroid hormone drops. So hopefully he'll have some answers for me at that appointment. Thank you everyone for the advice and for keeping us in your thoughts.

[TheCollector]

Hi Lisa

I would have thought all the stress would be having a detrimental effect on your BP and pulse rate I am what they call "white coat hypertensive", meaning that my BP is always way up high when I have it measure at the Doctor's surgery, or hospital, but when I am at home it is fine

What I am trying to say I guess is that because you have been messed around by the hospital, and are tense and worried, then that could very well be showing the raised readings.

I know it is really easy for me to say, but try to relax a bit if you can, and take your meds on a more level dose. Then when you go back on Friday you can ask to get properly sorted out!!!

Also, if you are feeling increasingly depressed, you really need to be letting your doctor know. There are definately things they can do to help with that, even during pregnancy.

Keep you chin up, and good luck on Friday
Ian

[elmomommyto2]

Ian,

Thanks again for the advice . I'm sure most of the blood pressure problems are from going to so many appointments, etc., since I tend toward not really trusting doctors anyway. This is especially true when all this doctor does is seem to deliver bad news and continue to be very hard on me. The last two visits I've mentioned that the depression seems to be increasing (this is more than likely due to my falling levels), and she never seems to have anything to say about it. Since I found out about the results I've been consistantly only taking 100 mg since that is the maximum dose that I feel like I can take. Even then I have nightly panic attacks about this whole thing as well as getting really poor sleep (waking up every hour at least once) since I've been on the PTU. That's why I've mentioned that I'm very much at the end of my rope with taking it. I'm still not too sure of what's going to happen, but I may very well need to get off of the PTU in order to get the depression gone (which I've never had a problem with before). At least I know I have my husband's support no matter what I decide. Of course I wouldn't have a hesitation to get back on the PTU if something were happening with the baby, but right now I have so many doubts that I may very well be doing harm to the baby. I continue to re-evaluate the PTU every day, which is very difficult on me, emotionally, but I can't help it. Every day is harder than the last and I pray for the strength to get through this.