In lymphocytic thyroiditis, the thyroid glands becomes inflamed caused by the infiltration of a white blood cell referred to as lymphocyte. It is thought to be a consequence of the modification of the immune system necessary for having a baby. It has an initial hyperthyroid phase wherein the thyroid glands creates too much quantities of thyroid hormones, resulting in a radical surge in the metabolism rate. This will result in diarrhea, rapid pulse, feeling overheated, rapid weight loss, difficulty in sleeping, and anxiety.
Following the preliminary hyperthyroid stage, the thyroid either comes back to its normal status or it goes into hypothyroid phase. In this status, the thyroid glands become underactive, making inadequate thyroid hormones that causes an abnormal decrease in the metabolism rate. It leads to low energy among new mothers, wherein they’ll be sleeping a minimum of 14 hours and awaken unrefreshed. This also makes the new mother acquire more pounds even though she is following a thorough diet and workout plan.
This is because her body cannot correctly process the excessive calories a result of the changes in metabolic process. These symptoms can seriously affect the psyche of the new mother, possibly causing a postpartum depressed state characterized by anxiety, feelings of sadness, a sense of hopelessness, mood swings, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, disturbance in appetite, and lack of interest in the baby.
Pregnant women who tested positive for antithyroid antibodies have between 33% to 50% probability of acquiring lymphocytic thyroiditis after giving birth to the baby. Additionally, some researchers have found that the presence of these antibodies makes a pregnant woman three times more likely to acquire postpartum depression. This thyroid issue following maternity can be short-term, lasting for up to six months to a year. However, about one in five of women will acquire long term hypothyroidism that needs lifetime hormone remedy. The reason being the thyroid glands were too impaired as a result of hormonal imbalance or because the maternity set off an underlying condition of autoimmune disease.
