Accounts of postnatal depression (PND) are common; most women know friends or family members who have suffered or have experienced it themselves. The NHS estimates that approximately 10% of all new mothers will become depressed. What is not so widely known is that there is another condition affecting roughly the same number of women after childbirth, a condition that presents symptoms so similar to those of PND that it is often misdiagnosed.
Symptoms
An estimated 5-10% - between 35,000 and 70,000 annually in the UK alone - of postnatal women will suffer from thyroid problems, which usually occur between one and six months after delivery. In this time period, new mothers are closely monitored for signs of PND by their midwives and health visitors. Symptoms such as f,atigue, anxiety, changes in appetite and excessive weight gain or loss are all warning signs to health care professionals of the onset of depression. These symptoms are also typical of someone suffering from a thyroid disorder. The correlation between symptoms of depression and of thyroid disorders is not the only problem that may lead to an incorrect diagnosis. Tiredness, anxiety, weight issues and irregular periods are common to most new mothers, as are changes in appearance of skin and hair. It is easy to see how these signals of altered thyroid activity could be overlooked in this busy and hormonally erratic time in a new parent’s life.
Types of Thyroid Disorder
The thyroid gland is a small organ which is situated at the front of the neck. It produces hormones which regulate energy use and heat production in the body. Postnatal women are naturally at risk of altered thyroid activity due to increased hormonal activity.
Problems arise from the thyroid gland being either over-active (hyperthyroidism) or under-active (hypothyroidism). In cases of hyperthyroidism, the gland is producing too many hormones, resulting in increased metabolism. In this case, weight loss, anxiety, feeling hot, a racing heart and increased appetite are common symptoms. In hypothyroidism, the opposite happens and a ‘slowing down’ of the metabolism occurs. Symptoms include extreme tiredness, feeling cold, feeling generally low, hoarseness of the voice, poor hair growth and dry skin. Women with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, vitiligo (lightening of patches of skin and premature greying of the hair) or a family history of thyroid conditions are at an increased risk of developing either condition.
Treatment
Hypo and hyperthyroidism are easily treated, either by drugs which alter the amount of hormone produced by the thyroid gland or, in more extreme cases, surgery to remove part of the organ. The good news for women suffering from a thyroid condition after pregnancy is that it will usually resolve itself completely naturally. This means that treatment is often not required, as hormone levels will eventually return to normal.
Risks of Misdiagnosis
Misdiagnosis of a thyroid problem as PND potentially causes far more health risks than the condition itself. A woman who has had a thyroid disorder misdiagnosed as PND may be encouraged by her GP to start a course of antidepressants. In doing so she puts herself at risk from various common side effects. These include nausea, diarrhoea, headaches, drowsiness and loss of sex drive to name a few. Whilst antidepressants have been proven to help those suffering from a genuine case of depression, they have no positive effect for those suffering from thyroid issues. There are rarer and more serious side effects to antidepressants, such as heart conditions and suicide. In a case of misdiagnosis, women are running these risks for no reason at all.
PND is, of course, a genuine and devastating illness that affects tens of thousands of women each year. It is commendable that healthcare professionals are vigilant in spotting the warning signs and offering support to women and their families. But due to the recent heightening of awareness of postnatal depression, it is a danger that all depression-like symptoms are automatically attributed to PND. If a new mother has concerns that she may be suffering from thyroid problems rather than depression – perhaps stemming from a family history of problems or a specific, worrying symptom – she should raise these concerns with her health visitor or GP, who will carry out a blood test to either confirm or rule out the condition.
The decision of whether or not to pursue treatment is, of course, entirely personal and depends on the severity of the illness. It is by knowing the warning signs and by making their health care provider aware of their concerns that new mothers can ensure they receive the appropriate care for thyroid disorders. Most importantly, armed with the knowledge of these conditions, they can avoid treatment for what could be the entirely wrong condition.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sources:
NHS: www.nhs.uk
Parenting Magazine: www.parenting.com
Thyroid UK: www.thyroiduk.org.uk
Amanda John - Amanda John is an award-winning fiction writer who also contributes factual articles to writing, parenting, and food/lifestyle ...
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