Question:
> Just a note to you new mothers out there- > There is something called Postpartum Thyroiditis, 10% of ALL women > experience this after the birth of a child. The symptoms are chronic > fatigue, headaches, depression, anxiety, coldness, failure to lose weight > no matter how much you exercise, constipation, brittle nails, thinning > hair, and infections.
<balance of this horrible disease snipped> Between my wife and I, we probably have all these symptoms and haven’t even had a baby…. My God, where are these support groups for whiners when you need them 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Bill — What does anatomically correct mean? Posting by WebTVer – July 97
Response:
Just a note to you new mothers out there- There is something called Postpartum Thyroiditis, 10% of ALL women experience this after the birth of a child. The symptoms are chronic fatigue, headaches, depression, anxiety, coldness, failure to lose weight no matter how much you exercise, constipation, brittle nails, thinning hair, and infections. Of course, many women manifest only a few of the symptoms mentioned above. Most women’s immune systems rebound within 2-10 months. This is one reason very few are ever diagnosed. Unfortunaely, some women take longer and few will remain like this for the rest of their lives. Search out the web for more info. Contact a specialist (endocrinoligist, or internist) in your area. Your general practioner and sometimes gyno may be unfamiliar with this disorder. As in my case. Pretty frightening. Other sources of info : "Screaming to be Heard"- Elizabeth Lee Vliet ,MD "Listening to your Hormones"- Gillian Ford Most new mothers, to some degree, suffer from postpartum depression. When it strikes it can be very scary! Remember a close family member or friend is there to support you. Most feelings of postpartum depression alleviate themselves in time. But, severe depression can lead to feelings of alienation. Please seek help from a support-group or member of the medical community. You need not suffer or be embarrassed, it can happen to any of us. Many people are unaware of this very treatable condition. It pains me to know others have suffered as I have. You are not lazy, a hypochondriac, or nuts. The symptoms are real and there is not alot of support for women inflicted with this. Please feel free to contact me by email – I am in the process of trying to start a postpartum support group, anyone with info on who I should contact please email me with the info. Thanks……. Jomma — "He who laughs last thinks slowest."