New Moms: Overwhelmed by Fatigue or Emotion?—Get Your Thyroid Checked
Over time as the thyroid is affected further, activity is reduced and low levels of thyroid hormones (hypothyroidism) can linger for many months in some women.
The two opposing phases of postpartum thyroiditis have contrasting symptoms. An over active thyroid speeds up a woman’s metabolism to the point where she may lose weight very quickly; some women report a loss of ten to twenty pounds in just a few weeks. This may be accompanied by additional hyperthyroid symptoms including rapid pulse, racing heart rate, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, hot flashes, shaking hands (tremors) and diarrhea.
During hypothyroidism, metabolism slows leading to the inability to lose weight even when eating carefully and exercising. Other typical symptoms of an under active thyroid may include extreme fatigue despite long hours of sleep or rest, unexplained prolonged depression, hair loss, dry or brittle skin and nails and constipation.
Symptoms of postpartum thyroiditis sometimes resolve on their own after a few months, but for some women long-term thyroid problems can develop that require ongoing treatment and careful monitoring by a physician.
