Postpartum thyroiditis
In postpartum thyroiditis, the previously normal thyroid gland is inflamed The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the lower part of the neck Postpartum thyroiditis causes its inflammation within 1 year after the birth of the child
Postpartum thyroiditis often lasts several weeks or months However, postpartum thyroiditis can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms often overlap with newborn stress or postpartum depression.
In patients with postpartum thyroiditis, thyroid function returns to normal within 12-18 months of symptom onset. However, in some women, postpartum thyroiditis also causes complications
The exact cause of postpartum thyroiditis is unknown Despite this, patients who develop postpartum thyroiditis often have antithyroid antibodies early in and after pregnancy. As a result, it is likely that these women have an autoimmune reaction to the thyroid gland that causes symptoms after delivery. This condition, postpartum thyroiditis, is very similar to Hashimoto's disease, in which the immune system attacks the normal thyroid gland.
In postpartum thyroiditis, the patient goes through two phases Inflammation and excess thyroid hormone release initially cause mild symptoms similar to those of an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), including:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Rapid heart rate or fluttering
- Unexplained weight gain
Later, when the thyroid cells are damaged, symptoms of an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) develop, for example:
- Lack of energy
- Lower cold tolerance
- Constipation
- Dry skin
Remember that some patients with postpartum thyroiditis have only symptoms of hypo or hyperthyroidism, not both, in two phases.
