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Congratulations!! I'm looking forward to making it past the 12 week mark. . Still paranoid about pregnancy loss because of a past one. I can imagine how happy you must feel right now and you should be! A baby girl--how awesome!!

Hey, I've been waiting to hear form you! Awsome! Girl! You sure are going to be a mommy! YES! How often do they check your thyroid (blood tests) now, and what are they testing - free Ts? Antibodies, too? I was told both ways - that antibodies count is THE best predictor of remission, but others (doctors) are content to just have the free Ts within norm. Congrats!

Thanks, Perl. Yes, we re pretty excited to have made it to this mark! In the woods - endocrinologist is checking Free T4 and TSH every 4 weeks, OB decided this past month to look at 2 week interval because she was afraid my FT4 was dropping too low. It is still in the normal range, but low .8, so they are reducing me to 50 mg PTU 1x daily instead of 2 and going to monitor again in 4 weeks. I have had headaches daily since about week 12 so he did order an ANA blood test, but as far as I know that is the first one done since last summer (if one was done then). How are you?

PTU is a good thing as it lets you to manage levels of free Ts easily and is not harmful to the baby. When I was diagnosed, I was taking PTU 50mg x 3 times a day (150mg/day), up until RAI. Everything up to 300mg aday is not much, is called a maintenance dose I believe. It seems that with a growing baby your thyroid is producing enough for both of you (not too much, as before), and if FT4 falls too low, your docs may take you off PTU completely, or even supplement with thyroid hormone - which is not harmful for both of you either way. You took Graves' antibodies test, TrAB - remember? - that's what I was asking about, but apparently they don't test it regularly - again, the value of the test is a point of controversy, it seems that your docs are looking at the straightforward way of thyroid testing, which is the mainstream way anyways. I am Okay so far, everything is the same, that is, I am not taking any meds/supplements, feel normal, my thyroid seems to be working at my normal level. It's been 4 months since RAI, but nothing is happening (I am not falling either hypo or hyper). Wow! A very little percentage of people do become euthyroid, so maybe (fingers crossed) I could be this way, too.

Gotcha on the TrAB - too many tests to remember! Am I remembering right that that would be the one they said that if those antibodies showed positive (mine were really high) then it was definitely graves causing the other odd thyroid readings? SO...are you saying you had RAI and do not have to take meds? Did you get sick when you did that? Do you swallow radioactive iodine?

Yes, yes, that was the test - they couldn't do the other test on you that involves a trace of radiation (a thyroid uptake scan), so they did it through the blood test (Graves antibodies), in order to diagnose. I think it's great that they caught your GD before it had a chance to develop. The matter is, some people carry these antibodies but never develop GD. Some carry elevated antibodies but it still takes time for the disease to develop to the clinical stage - the best would be to catch it in this period. That's what happened to you and it's great. Though one piece of advise I would give you is to watch the post-partum period. It will be the time of upheaval of hormones, everything will be upside down, and GD may flare up. Watch your free Ts (FT3 and FT4) levels in that period as close as possible, and the antibodies level. The antibodies will give you a fuller picture, as free Ts are just the thyroid's reaction to the doings of antibodies. TSH always lags behind by months so its level is not a reliable indicator to go by. Two main things to do for the post-partum period: 1. Avoid stress - GD is shown to flare up with stresses. 2. Go with the flow, rely on Nature - don't try to stop b___stfeeding or interrupt any other your bodily process if it is not ready, that is, don't mess up hormones. I did have RAI last December (that's a separate issue - there's so many heated opinions on RAI, it's really opening a can of worms - but I did what I felt comfortable with). I swallowed a tiny amount of liquid (not a pill in this part of the country), only 10 millicurie (an average dose is 8 - 15 mci). Felt no different, it didn't cause any visible effects on me. Certainly, tried to stay away from my family members for few days as the docs advised, and that's about it. Now, what happens after RAI, is different with everybody. It depends on so many factors - how big the goiter was, how severe hyperthyroidism was, how much radioactive iodine was given, etc, etc. It is not an exact science. If only they knew how much to give to make people euthyroid. For 90% of people it ends up with hypothyroid state and they have to take thyroid supplements - which docs consider to be better, because supplements are not meds with their side effects. I, too, lean to this point of view, though there is again a heated body of opinion out there (the internet could be a bless and a curse at the same time). For some the fall to the hypo side happens too sudden - within 1 -2 months after RAI, and it's not a pleasant experience. I was told by my doc that on average it takes 4 - 6 months. So I am waiting and seeing, it's been 4 months so far, and as I said, nothing happens to me yet. I, personally, feel better with the idea that I can supplement my slow thyroid, than be on the mercy of my volatile thyroid with meds. But it is different for everyone - the best thing you could do for yourself is to educate yourself on the treatment options, while you have time and you are not pressed like people in the midst of their hyper symptoms.

Wow...you have done your research. Yeah, avoid stress. I always like that one! :-) We are supposed to be getting an endocrinologist in my area soon, right now I am driving 3 hours to see one. I hope this guy is good and knows his stuff. I will stick with same dr. right now through this though. Yes, he said to be aware that post-partum and GD sometimes can cause havoc. I hope that is not the case for me! My hormones are already giving me fits and I don't have an infant to care for! On my first visit, I asked him what treatment options I would have after pg and he said we would talk about them at that time...maybe as my pg gets further along he will talk about that.

I do understand about stress hehehe but once people get thyroid disease they start taking it seriously. They become sensitive to the fact that their eyes are protruding furhter with every fit of stress etc etc... Not funny. Right now, as your hormones are adjusting to the state of pregnancy, it's normal to have mood swings. It's not affecting GD much because the immune system is suppressed. After delivery, really, just give it all up and give in - flow with what happens with you and the infant, try not to be an adult with responsibilities. Don't worry about finances, etc, etc, it won't be in your power for a few months anyways, so why bother depleting your immune system. It's better not to get a full b__wn GD, believe me. Then THE focus of your life will be stress elimination, to just keep it from progressing. To get relaxed, I am taking epsom salt baths and really work on meditating. Trying to enjoy life the way it is, without trying to change etc. etc. Anyway, don't want to scare you long before the need be. Your doc will talk to you in time. Good luck!

A good endocrinologist, well versed in thyroid and respectful to your opinions and feelings, are hard to find. Hopefully, your new endo will be up to par, but some people are glad to drive for 5 hours if they can find a thyroid specialist who listens to them, instead of going just by numbers. There is a constant serch and reference net in the thyroid community on the internet, it's a painful topic. Especially since thyroid people are more moody, irritable, sensitive. Don't just drop your current one before you get a feel with the new one. Okay?

Thanks for all of your advice. Yes, I worry the new guy will be a quack. :-) I am going to try to put feelers out when the new guy starts. I work in the same building his office will be in.

tryingx3, it's so great that you answered. I thought I came across too harsh. Probably I just try too hard to warn you. Let me know what your endo will say when he breaks the GD subject. And having an endo in the same building - wouldn't that be nice!

Also, what came to my mind is - maybe you don't necessarily have GD. The fact that the level of FT4 is dropping so drastically - would that happen with GD? I don't know, because I don't know anyone who'd have GD during pregnancy. I would think that if the hormone levels are very high at the onset of the pregnancy, they would be lower, but still high. Is your endo SURE that you have GD and is the behavior of your FT4 levels consistent with GD?

Endo and High-risk OB both seem sure it is GD...one told me I would not have the elevated TrAB if it were not (I think I am remembering that right). I am guessing I will undergo radioactive scan after baby is born just to check for anything else going on...but that is just my own guess. My placenta is lying low so my husband is on "restrictions"...my local ob suggested I buy maternity belt said that they have seen this help "encourage" the placenta to go higher. Placenta previa being the concern. My high-risk OB says it is NOT uncommon for it to be low at this stage of the game, but something we will monitor. I have not had any bleeding or anything of concern. Don't especially like anything that low on my belly, but figured that was normal too.

At 16 weeks, your uterus is still has ways to go - it'll increase, maybe 3-5 times yet. So the placenta has yet lot of room to move to. Let's hope for the best.

tryingx3, could you ask for the reference ranges next time you see the doctors? Different labs have different ranges for their tests. Mine, for example, has normal ranges for FT4 (11.5 - 23.2) and FT3 (3.5 - 6.5) Without that, it's hard to understand your numbers. Thank you!

Wow...that does make things confusing...I'll try to find that out next time I get blood drawn.