TTC and underactive thyroid, anyone else?

[pinkdaffodil23]

Hi everyone
How many people here have underactive thyroid?
I have underactive thyroid, I have done for many years I'm on 200mg so a high dose, I have also just come of the pill.
I have been reading that underactive thyroid can effect your fertility. I haven't had my levels checked in about 9months- 1 year so have booked an appointment for Monday to talk to my doctors about the fact that we are ttc and that I'm a bit worried as to how my thyroid will effect this.
How many of you lovely people have underactive thyroid and are trying to concieve or have concieve? How long did it take you? Did your go to your doctors prior to trying?
Any input greatly appreciated as we're not telling anyone were TTC so I have no one to talk to.

[Jellybean100]

Hi! I'm diabetic and under active thyroid only on small dose 75mg but had levels checked a month before coming off pill to check all is ok and got go ahead from docs x

[pinkdaffodil23]

Hi Thanks for the replies, no I don't know what my levels are so will be booking an appointment for a blood test so we know my up to date levels.
I'm quite nervous after finding so much on the internet about people loosing there babies at anywhere up to we weeks as there doctor didn't take their thyroid seriously and up it when needed cause they considered it a normal range.

I was nervous about being able to conceive but now I'm worried about if I do fall pregnant so many people say you should get extra care but many are saying they didn't receive it and lost their babies. Many people have also been referred to an endocrinologist but I've never even heard of that :/

[Jellybean100]

You will be under the endocrine team during your pregnancy. Once u fall pregnant you will be referred. Make sure your GP knows you are ttc and they will make sure your tsh is within the recommended range

[beckworth]

My doctor had been telling me I was borderline for a while, not bad enough to medicate. Then like you I read about it affecting pregnancy and decided to book an appointment to find out what my levels actually were, only to discover they are way higher than they should be when ttc. I'd gone armed with the NICE guidelines though and had no resistance at all when I said I'd like to start medication as I wasn't comfortable ttc with my levels as they are. Maybe print out a copy of the guidelines to take with you: cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroidism#!scenario:3

[hilzypop]

Hi pinkdaff, Just wanted to let you know I was diagnosed with under active thyroid March/ April 2012 and went on to conceive in July 2012, after getting the all clear to try in around June form docs ie get levels checked etc. As soon as I found out I was pregnant was given increased dose and had appointment with specialist at 12 week scan. levels checked at each midwife appointment and no issues and remained well during pregnancy welcomed healthy DD in May 2013. Now thinking about no 2!
One thing to watch is after you have your baby they are v keen to reduce your dose to pre pregnancy without checking levels I went along with it but ended up with mild PND, at my request I got levels tested and they upped my levels and I felt much better more like myself again.
Hope all goes well with you, recommend seeing doc before ttc

[pinkdaffodil23]

Thanks for all your messages
My levels appear to have been stable for the past year, although I'm constantly tired, but I was last time I had them tested and apparently they came back fine. I'm hoping to get an appointment tomo and hopefully they will give me a blood test to check there level.
Once pregnant did you all get referred to the endocrinologist, I've heard some people say that since they had had thyroid issues for a long time before falling pregnant they didn't get refered

I'm not sure why I'm worrying about what will happen when actually pregnant as it could take me a very long time to conceive, fingers crossed it won't, but I just can't help it :/

[pinkdaffodil23]

Does anyone have any official links to anything that says that once pregnant we need to be monitored more/refered etc. I tried looking on nhs and bupa but not found anything

[TailorMouse]

Hi Pinkdaff!
I was so stressed at the thought of ttc as i'd read so much about how hypo can affect things but first month of trying we conceived, and so far things are going well! As soon as I knew I spoke with my GP who arranged a blood test (turns out my TSH was 2.9 so shouldn't have been able to conceive apparently but oh well!) and had an appointment with an endocrinologist really quickly. Just have to have monthly blood tests and increase dosage as required (initially was on 125mcg but now on 150mcg). Think current guidelines state if TSH is between 2-5 up by 25mcg and then 50mcg over 5.
The only thing i'm really careful of is resting when I feel the need to - so lots of naps, sit downs and a slight decrease at the gym just to avoid over-stretching myself. It is a hugely scary thing, and yes there is a slightly increased chance of miscarriage but as long as your levels are stable and you take care of yourself things should be ok.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you

[TailorMouse]

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroidism#!scenario:3 Sorry - not sure how to make it clickable.
And yes - as soon as your GP knows you are pregnant they should refer you ASAP to the endo clinic, but worth mentioning when you let them know you are pregnant.

[pinkdaffodil23]

To everyone with underactive thyroid, how long did it take you to concieve?

[Junosmum]

I also have an underactive thyroid. I read upon it before TTC and scared myself sh!tl*ss that I'd never conceive. Cam off the pill, had one period and was pregnant by the next. No issues so far (I'm 10+1). They have tested me every 4 weeks and so far no changes (just had results of 2nd test). They are going to send me to an endocrinology obstetrician, though they admitted he will likely take a look at my notes and not want to see me.

My levels were well managed pre-ttc and I was in the optimal range.

[HazleNutt]

I had my thyroid completely removed in 2012, had DS in 2013 and DD is due any day now. DS was conceived at first try, took a couple of months for DD. So as long as my levels were appropriate, the absence of thyroid does not seem to be an issue.

I do agree with others though - get your levels checked, and ask for the results, doctor telling you they're 'fine' is not enough, as many of them are not aware of the guidelines for TTC women.

And yes, you will most probably need to increase your dosage when you're pregnant, some sources recommend 30% increase as soon as you know you're pregnant, for example this study here www.saegre.org.ar/biblioteca/arbol_bibliografico/diciembre2005/241_nejm_tir_emb.pdf

Oh and I had the opposite experience to a pp here - my dose was not lowered, so after having the baby, I ended up overmedicated and hyperthyroid. I do not recommend this, so make sure you get your levels checked afterwards.

[pinkdaffodil23]

Junosmum yes I have scared myself. I was already stressing about how long it would take me to concieve due to just coming of the pill after 8 years. Now I'm worried about the effect my thyroid will have on me convieving, whether it's lead to pcos as supposedly it can, and now how I'll be if I do conceive

I've seen so many people say there doc refused to send them to an endocrinology obstetrician, so what happens then?

[hilzypop]

I don't think they will refuse but I think you might need to be a bit proactive and remind! My usual doc was a bit hopeless but seeing a different doc helped and midwifes are pretty cluded up so should have a contact and refer you. Hope this helps try not to worry about what ifs!

[Junosmum]

The midwife referred me as a matter of course. I'm trying not to stress and so far so good.

Just remember- 90% of stories on the internet are posted by people that have had issues, those that didn't don't write stories about how easy it was to conceive!

I know everyone is different but I'd been on the pill for 13years, a variety of pills to be fair and an odd month off here or there but almost 13 solid years. Straight back in to a regular cycle and pregnant straight away.

[Junosmum]

And yes, I was very, very lucky. And very surprised! Fingers crossed everything stays well!

[harrietm87]

Hello. Just to say I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at 16 (so young!) and have been on 150mcg ever since (now 28). I'm a lurker - planning to TTC next year - but had no idea it affected fertility. I fell pregnant by accident aged 23 while on the pill (I was taking it properly - no idea how it happened - I terminated as was in no way ready to have a child) so my fertility didn't seem to be affected at all. Appreciate I was younger then, but my mum also has it and had all five of us without any problems. Best of luck to all of you.

[pinkdaffodil23]

Thanks for all your replies. Nice to hear of others in the same situation. Yes there must be lots of success stories you just don't always here about the good stories I suppose. I guess with me being on such a high dose already I was a bit more worried.
Of to ser the doc tonight,they only had an appointment left with a male doc but he is known for being one of the most thorough docs so fingers crossed he listens :)

[pinkdaffodil23]

Whilst looking at posts I've seen you can either have subclinical hypothyroidism or overt hypothyroidism. How do I know which one I am

[Junosmum]

Subclinical is also known as borderline and is often not treated. If you are being treated then it's overt. Overt means open or visible/noticeable.

[pinkdaffodil23]

Well my doc said my last test was 'normal' he wouldn't say what that meant, although I then mentioned to him about Normal being between 1 and 2 for women ttc and that are pregnant, he said he'd never heard that and asked where I'd read it. He has agreed I should have a blood test though as I haven't had 1 for a year, so will see what happens when the results come back

[HazleNutt]

after the test, ask for the results, not just his opinion. As said, many doctors see 5ish as normal and won't do anything, but as you know already, anything above 2 could affect your fertility.

[pinkdaffodil23]

I will do, although I'm a bit of wimp so he I'd says no I'm likely to just go oh ok then :/ lol

[pinkdaffodil23]

Well just had a call from the nurse and told to lower my dosage from 200mg to 175 mg and am a little confused. She didn't know what my levels were so couldn't say. I've decided to not lower them until I've spoke to my doctor which isn't until next Wednesday, so scared I may be doing the wrong thing.