Hypothyroidism and pregnancy

[Scubes]

Hi all

I am 8.5 weeks pregnant with no. 2. After no.1 I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's disease (underactive thyroid).

So far I am feeling dreadfully sick and very tired, I know this is associated with 1st trimester but I am wondering how early on the hormones can affect the thyroid.

Seeing midwife on Monday so will request bloods as I know if things get worse it could affect baby???? I am anxious to ensure my thyroxine is at correct levels.

Just wondered if anyone has been through the same, what care did you receive, when did you have your first blood test done in pregnancy and how often were you monitored?

Thanks.

[merryberry]

I developed auto-immune hypothyroiditis after ds1 was born. Mostly chugged along on 100mcg thyroxine for a few years. Was referred to specialist endocrinologst for obstetrics immediately when pg with ds2. They mostly see pg ladies with diabetes, and i seemed to be a nice change for them. I saw her and her never ending barrage of med students for thyroid monitoring once every 6 weeks until 3 months post-partum. My thryoxine was put up to 125mcg from week 5 as i knew i had to bump it up immediately. GP did that, i had to ask for it mind you. Going up a bit with the prescription is the advised standard

The monitoring was a bit tedious, as had to go in week or so before for bloods, then actually go see her for results, as she also checked fetal growth and looked me over for any other thyroid related signs. All was well. Good luck.

[merryberry]

i'd say go see gp soon as possible for increased prescription, unless your MW can access prescrtiption quicker for you. print out and take the info in the link i've given.

[merryberry]

just come back again,r emembered the only thing the pregnancy endocrinology specialist was dead keen on: keeping the TSH at 1.0 or as close to as possible. She didn't so much mind about the free thyroxine being measured.

[Scubes]

This is what I feared, posted on pregnancy topic as well and lady has said the same. My GP just said the midwife would sort it at booking in but I'll be 9 weeks by then. I'm really worried how it might affect lo as they rely on mummy for thyroid production until 12 weeks so it seems crazy that I haven't been monitored before now.

I was recently discharged from endocrine clinic as levels were all stable.

Will try and get an appt with GP tmw, if not will kick off at midwife on Monday!

Thanks for the link, will print and take with me.

It never fails to amaze me how rubbish some GPs are at monitoring thyroid disease.

[EldonAve]

I'm very interested to see the standard link
I have always been told by GPs they might test it but basically it shouldn't change

[merryberry]

when it comes to chronic disease you really have to be your own expert i'm afraid. i've also got rheumatoid arthritis, and you have to be your own expert patient on that as well, as training is minimal on most subjects. they have so much breadth to cover. do, do take the print out (it;s what they should read if not sure themselves! its by the nhs for gps!)

[Scubes]

Thanks Merry

Oddly enough I'm off to see Consultant today about rheumatoid arthritis, I had a score of 37??? Don't know what that means. My ankles are stiff in the mornings but that's about it.

May be back asking you questions about that if it turns out I have it too.

x

[Besom]

I am ttc and the consultant at the endocrine clinic told me I should tell my gp as soon as I knew I was pregnant and that thyroxine should increase by 25mg as a standard and then they would monitor me. I was also told this by a trainee GP last week so your gp has no excuse for not knowing this.

I'm sure everything will be OK, but you need to get a bit stroppy and make sure they are treating you properly. Maybe you should change GP as well.

Congratulations btw!

[Scubes]

Thanks Besom! Just wish I wasn't feeling so dreadful

She is normally a great GP but I'm concerned she felt it was ok to leave it until booking in appt. I did specifically ask her about it as well. I think she was referring me to joint endocrine clinic/obs so maybe she thought that would be ok.

I am really really concerned about how this could affect baby now and just hope that the reason I'm feeling terrible is because baby is using all my reserves.

Hope I get an appt this afternoon, just trying to get one is stressful enough!!

[Besom]

There's probably no point in saying this to you because you're pregnant and you are going to worry, but I imagine that the risk is actually extremely tiny. It isn't as if you've not been taking any thyroxine.

[Scubes]

True, I think our 'worry hormones' kick in as well!

So doc has given me extra 25mcg no arguments and he agreed the last doc should have done it. He has also signed me off work for a month as the sickness is making my job too difficult to carry out. All in all looking more positive and I can relax a bit now and not have to worry about work and where I'm going to vomit!

Merry if you check back.. just to let you know Consultant agrees there is some evidence of rheumatoid factor but he feels its a tip over from thyroid condition and antibodies associated with that as I'm not showing any other symptoms, he'll check again once this baby has arrived x

[merryberry]

oh hi scubes glad you got the thyroxine sorted. i hope the rest of PG goes well. sorry to hear about any posible rheumatoid factor lurking. 37 not's too high, don't worry, i was told the same thing between 1st and 2nd child as well. typically, joint pain is present inloads of people with thyroid underactivity and again in post partum women!

if you get it majorly though post-partum, and are worried about RA just ask for an anti-CCP test as it is far more specific and sensitive for RA than the older tests. and get onto it quick, as early treatment gives best longer term prognosis.

i blog about RA at synovialsyntax.wordpress.com/. i'm trying to pull together a series of posts about being a mum with RA, but the summer holiday has got me too busy!

enjoy your pg, x