Potential undiagnosed thyroid problem - 8 weeks pregnant - help!

[Scheriously]

I went to my Dr after I found out I was pregnant, as I have PCOS and wanted to see if I needed to do anything differently.

She said no, but did say that she was a bit worried about my thyroid as previous test results (read: BACK IN BLOODY JUNE) were borderline and that she would get me tested for it again and put me on meds if so, no big deal. I have been tested for this before and other Drs have always just gone "meh, yeah, it's okay" and nothing more done.

At the time of the conversation with the Dr about this, she wasn't particularly optimistic about the pregnancy as I was 13dpo or something. I have seen her since, and she's not mentioned the thyroid issue. It's only come back into my mind this week as my neck has felt tight and slightly swollen.

I'm now panicking like crazy and I just don't know what to do - I can't get in to see her for another 2 weeks and am a bit worried about the weird neck issue. I've googled it (WHY!) and I've seen that the neck thing is an indication of a thyroid problem, I'm also suffering with HG which can be as a result of a thyroid issue and to top if off apparently it's a mega issue if left alone.

I'm 8 weeks and now petrified! Do I need to ring somewhere now or can this wait until Monday?

Thank you in advance!

[Scheriously]

Bump!

[Bezzabelle]

Have you got under active or over active thyroid? Mine is over and as such I am under a consultant. Am only 7 weeks so so far only had a blood test to check levels. I have appt on 15th nov. hope that helps? I would ask for another blood test. I'm also suffering with hg.

[Scheriously]

Under active I think?! It's shameful how little I know. I've been tested for it lots along with other things for PCOS but never actually had it explained to me! I'm just worried about not being on meds if I need to be. Thanks for replying x

[ThenAgain]

You will need to push this. I have diagnosed and treated hypothyroidism but even so had to make a huge fuss to get retested and my dosage upped for early pregnancy. It's important but not many doctors know or understand. The ones that do will raise dosage even pre blood test in early preg.

Because you're suspecting it and not yet diagnosed I would make an almighty fuss and get an emergency appt and blood test on Monday.

You want to be tested at least for TSH and T4 levels and make sure you ask what your results are, especially I they tell you they're fine.

If you test positive then you need regular testing, especially early pregnancy. You might want to print off the NICE guidelines:

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroidism#!scenariorecommendation:6

Congratulations by the way :)

[Spellcheck]

Hi Scheriously, I understand your concerns, I've got Hashimoto's, which means I have an underactive thyroid and when I'm pregnant, as I am now, they do monitor me as I need to take more Thyroxine for baby.

I would advise you to try and see another GP if you can, they all have different opinions on thyroids. I found this out to my cost, as I had a late miscarriage two years ago owing to my condition being undiagnosed.

I did have a swollen throat, and it looks quite obvious now in photos. If you can imagine the thyroid looking like a butterfly, if it's enlarged then one or both of the 'wings' on either side of your windpipe will feel large. It's not painful and I wouldn't say my throat felt 'tight', but I did sometimes have difficulty swallowing food.

I reckon it can wait till Monday but for your peace of mind get an emergency appointment so you can be seen straight away and get that ball rolling. As you are pregnant you should have a thyroid function test straight away to make sure. Pregnancy can make it worse as your thyroid is under pressure. See if you can be referred to an endocrinologist, they monitor you during pregnancy. Good luck!

[Scheriously]

Thank you for your replies. I am going to ring for an appointment first thing Monday. I'm 8 weeks - I'm worried about how this - if I do have it, as a suspect I do - is affecting my baby.

[Scheriously]

Spellcheck - I am so sorry for your late loss. I just don't understand why all women aren't tested for this during early pregnancy straight off the bat.

[BakingEating]

I agree with you Scheriously, I live abroad and was tested as a matter of routine. It showed my thyroid was slightly under active and I was put on low dose thyroxine. I'm now tested every 4 weeks to check the dose is right. The good news is that I've had no side effects from the medication and everything's been very straightforward. I'm sure you'll be fine once you've got it sorted. I think under-active thyroid is more common in some parts of the world than others, so some health services are better at spotting it and knowing what to do.

[Julietee]

I agree too. I know the NHS can't afford a whole barrage of tests, but they should tell us: These are the tests we offer routinely. These are some other tests that may flag up potentially very important things about your pregnancy, and you can pay for them separately/ elsewhere. IT's the lack of information that really pees me off - we're not idiots. Give us the information and the option.