Re: PTU Questions - breastfeeding

June 8, 2003

Hi ,

I was diagnosed with Graves while breastfeeding my second child too. She was

eight months old.

On PTU: My pediatrician and endo felt it was safe and they too wanted me to get

my daughter's thyroid levels checked every four weeks.

HOwever, PTU is classified as a 'probable carcinogen' by the department of

Health and Human Services. It shares the same classification as estrogen,

meaning that it is not in itself a dangerous drug or hormone or substance, but

large (I mean enormous) amounts have caused cancer in lab rats. In addition,

one study found that four out of 350 patients taking PTU developed thyroid

cancer, a number that had some significance for the people doing the study. I

don't have the link in front of me but have published it on this list numerous

times.

THere have been NO studies done on the effects of PTU on breastfeeding babies

(their longterm health) as far as I can ascertain.

I was quite concerned about taking PTU while nursing and didn't feel it was

entirely safe because of the classification of PTU. I felt that the babies are

so tiny and their system so fragile and developing still, who knows what effect

the drug is really having.

THen, I heard from a couple of other women who had had Graves that some women go

into sponatneous remission once they quit nursing. Something about an end to

the pregnancy and lactation hormonal cycle that kicks a thyroid back down.

Indeed, a friend of mine recently found out that she was mildly hyperthyroid

(without graves antibodies) and then went eurothyroid after she weaned her son a

few weeks later.

I weaned my daughter at one year and within a few weeks was in remission. I

also did homeoapthy and a number of alternative health things, acupuncture too

and a macrobiotic diet. All said, I am confident that weaning was the key to my

remission.

I'm now nursing my third child, who is 3 /12/ months old. IF I become

hyperthyroid, I would wean him sooner rather than later and would not take PTU

-- I'd give the natural path a shot again.

Please feel free to email me privately if you've more questions -- or on the

list, too!

Best,

B

petri017@...

PTU Questions

I was diagnosed in April with Graves when my second child was 6 months

old (I was having the symptoms when he was 3-4 months old).

On my first visit with the endo, he put me on PTU 100 mg in the

morning and 50mg in the evening (low dose because I am breastfeeding).

The doctors office called after with my bloodwork and said that the

levels were high and that the 150 mg might not have any visible

effect. So, I have to go in again in 2 weeks for more blood work. My

worry is that they will have to significantly up my dose. I am

currently breastfeeding and am wondering if there are other moms out

there breastfeeding while on PTU. What dosage are you taking? I am

so worried that by taking the PTU and breastfeeding I'm unnecessarily

putting by baby boy at risk. (my endo did make sure to tell me to have

his thryoid levels checked every 4 weeks) My son is almost 8 months

old and I want to go a full year as I had with my daughter.

Thanks,

June 8, 2003

My son is almost 8

> months

> old and I want to go a full year as I had with my daughter.

Hi . My mail from yahoo groups is bouncing but I did get to read

's response and your original post.

This is not an easy decision and either choice is perfectly valid,

particularly for a nursing mother who's able to get by on a lower dose.

That being said, I'm one of those whose remission may be linked to

weaning. I think my developing GD was definitely due to post-partum

hormones - no family history of thyroid disorder, no goiter prior to

this, as well as literally years of being pregnant and/or breastfeeding.

If you decide to wean (I had no choice with my 10 month old as I took

Tapazole), realize that 8 months is marvelous, as far as the health

benefits to both of you not to mention the nurturing for your son. This

is also a good time as he's ready for solids to be a greater part of his

diet. The La Leche League Handbook (at least my 18 year old edition ;-)

has a great section on what it calls " other-mothering, " essentially

continuing that special bond even when reducing or no longer nursing.

Make sure to cuddle your son a lot; if you nursed him to sleep let him

lay down next to you as he drifts off, etc. It will be a lot harder on

you than on him - not just the initial physical discomfort but

emotionally too as your hormones, which thanks to the GD got a real

post-partum roller-coaster ride, settle down into some stasis too.

Good luck and take care, Fay

________________________________________________________________

The best thing to hit the internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!

Surf the web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!

Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!

June 8, 2003