PPMD: Begining the Downward Spiral Again

I have a confession to make - I'm having postpartum issues again.  Last time, the confession that I was not well was extremely difficult.  It took months for me to admit how far down the spiral I had gone.  This time, I know that being open and honest will only help me with treatment and recovery.

So, what's going on?  My thyroid is out of sorts again.  Feel free to peruse the tab above for more details about my past journey.  Basically, I was diagnosed with Graves Disease (hyperthyroid) when I was 10.  I was treated with radioactive iodine to kill the thyroid and have been on replacement hormone since.  After delivering Buggy, we discovered that my thyroid was starting to produce hormone again (which is what caused most of my issues before). 

I have been well controlled through my pregnancy.  I figured I would need an adjustment or two after.  I have been very insistent on being tested very often - every 4-6 weeks.  Things have been great until two weeks ago.

I began noticing fatigue. Not just the new-mama fatigue, but fatigue where I get winded after just one flight of steps.  I have had insomnia for three weeks now.  On the 15th, I was checked again and my results showed that I was starting to go hyperthyroid again.  We decided to drop the dose of replacement hormone a bit.  Now, two weeks later, I am doing worse.  I called the doc today with a list of symptoms:

• fatigue (I get winded just walking room to room now)
• increasing anxiety
• shaky hands
• hot
• continued insomnia
• feeling like I am crawling out of my skin
• snippiness (I really haven't been very nice at all)
• extreme lack of patience

 Hopefully I will hear from the doctor soon.  I have a feeling we will decrease the hormone even more.  So far, I have not had the depression symptoms and I do NOT want them!  My milk supply is terrific.  I still laugh and have fun, just not as much as before.

Looking back and seeing how gradual that downward spiral was, I know I need to get this taken care of pronto.

Why am  I posting this?  It's to keep me accountable and to bring awareness to postpartum issues.  Do you have a Postpartum Mood Disorder story?  Would you like to share it here?  Please contact me!  Awareness is the first step in prevention and early treatment!  penguinelk at yahoo dot com