The build up to Christmas 1997 was dreadful. In spite of the joy a new baby can bring, I was still reeling from the shock after my best friend died the previous February and on my birthday. It took some counselling to help come to terms with this, if ever. Apart from being emotional, depressed and irrational all symptoms of Thyroid disease, having a baby, the process of grieving, all three mangled together. At this time since dropping the dosage of Thyroxine, I am tired, have rashes all over my body and still going dizzy.

My sons’ first and second blood test showed up as Hypothyroidism, which left untreated, is a serious condition especially in babies. But thankfully, after the third blood test, it was normal and it was my blood that passed through to him through the Caesarean.

At the end of January 1998 and still taking 100 mcg Thyroxine. I still feel low at times, especially before a period, which is the norm, but more so now.

I was still having three monthly blood tests and have been told that having a baby has kicked started my Thyroid again! But as a result, I have gone through the effects of being Overactive and this explains why it was so easy losing that 14 lbs a few weeks ago. I will continue to have frequent blood tests until the balance of Thryoxine is found, but this could take many months.

Since reading books about Thyroid and related diseases, I have taken extra care of my diet and eat plenty of fresh and dried fruit and extra vegetables. I spent enough time being constipated and have Haemorrhoids as a result. Also to stick to a low fat diet as Thyroid sufferers could end up with Angina in later life. This information had frightened me enough to be sensible most of the time. A cholesterol test was perfect, so I must be doing something right. Both my parents died of heart related illness, especially my father, who was operated on twice for a plastic valve on his heart. He always seemed to be suffering from Bronchitis. To this day, I also seem to end up with a chest infection of some kind after a cold or flu virus, but much more so when my levels of Thyroxine are not balanced. My Mother also died of a massive heart attack and looking back, I wondered whether she might have had slight Hypothyroidism as she often suffered with indigestion and had weight problems in later life.

Mid-February, I felt so much better now than I had done for years, but I knew I was still not feeling right. I was getting mild palpatations, which I chose to ignore, because the doctor must have been sick of tired of me visiting him. My memory was still dreadful, but I put this down to ‘pregnant brain’. My periods were back as I breast fed for many months, but were now more frequent. I did not know where I was with them and they were also lighter. Due for a blood test the following April, I felt as if I needed one, just did not feel well at all and it this all happened so quickly and over a short period of days. The palpitations were getting worse and more regular throughout the day. They kept me awake at night and I was perspiring so much that the bed sheets had to be changed daily. I made a conscious effort to cut down on any drinks containing caffeine and started drinking more water, but this made no difference. I felt as if my heart was going to jump out of my chest and could not seem to sit still, I had to be up and doing something. Concentration was nigh on impossible and I cried in the frustration of it all. I also got indigestion and had pains in my chest. I knew that the medication needed to be changed.