THS levels too high for IVF

[Papoy]

Hi,

My TSH is around 4.5 which is too high for my clinic so we have to wait until it is below 2.5 ....

Anyone used Thyroxine (Levithyroxine) to reduce their TSH levels? How long did it take you bring it down to a reasonable level.

Feels like this is one more hoop to jump before the big roller coaster ride of IVF.

The GP said it will take 2 months even before having another blood test .... is that really that long?

[Saski87]

Hi @papoy
My tsh was 8 and it halved in about 4 weeks after taking levothyroxine. Although it’s taken quite a while to get the dosage right as it wasn’t quite low enough according to the fertility clinic but then ended up being too low with increased dose!
Seems to be quite variable as my gp has usually given it 3 weeks to a month to test me after medication changes (but equally that might be the reason it’s taken a while to get my dosage right as it wasn’t enough time for it to settle down)
Possibly not the most helpful answer, but you might start to feel a difference fairly soon at least!

[Papoy]

@saski87 What dosage did they put you on first?

Right now I see this situation as something which distrupted my IVF plans (and wasting my very little time left) so I am really annoyed. But sometimes there is a silver lining? Did you feel any different after your levels got better - like in general health?

[JeNeBaguetteRien]

@papoy some research suggests a higher risk of miscarriage with high TSH so it might help mentally to turn it around to getting your body in the best state before going through IVF.

Perhaps push your GP for a blood test a bit sooner, or would your clinic do it?

Waiting is rubbish, I do empathise.

[Papoy]

@jenebaguetteRien Yeah, I know the doctors are doing this for a reason and I am gratefull they are looking at the end game while I am being so obsessed with starting.

I think I will ask the clinic to do a test in 3 weeks time ... Just to see if there are any changes.. Anything is a progress and I think that would make me feel better ... even if I had to wait for 2 months for things to settle down - I can feel like I am doing something. Waiting is soooo difficult.

[duckhouse]

My TSH is 3.8 and have been under treatment at an IVF clinic.. my clinic did mention that having it below 2.5 is good but not must.. however my 2 cycles have failed so far so i am using this lockdown break to reduce my TSH to below 2.5 with my GP's help... i dont know if high TSH has been responsible for my failures but thats probably the only thing i am aware which is not correct with my body as otherwise we have unexplained infertility. If your clinic is so strict about TSH, i am sure they have a strong reason (unlike my clinic 🙁) so pls follow it and focus on end game. I do understand your frustration as i am also badly waiting for my ivf to resume. My GP also prefers to test in 6 weeks.

[Saski87]

Hi @Papoy I initially was put on 25mcg which reduced my tsh to around 4. I then went onto 50mcg and ended up with levels of 0.01 (I think it should be 0.1 minimum) so now I take 25mcg during the week and double dose at weekends. Last time I was tested my levels were 0.99 which I think is about right.
The only real change I noticed was my metabolism speeding up as before I was on the medication I was a fairly infrequent visitor to the bathroom shall we say! I was hoping it’d also have an impact on weight (I’m not overweight but would happily shed a few pounds), dry hair and always feeling cold but sadly not 🙁

[Papoy]

I am sorry @duckhouse about those 2 cycles.
I am such a fool to worry about couple of months, isnt it... last week had so many ups and downs, I think I am loosing perspective. Reading the comments are helping to re set.

You are right, lets use the time to fix this THS stuff. It is hard to know what impact it has in each case but it is at least "one less thing to worry about".

Let me know how you get on with the blood test. I will keep my fingers cross for us all x

[Papoy]

@Saski87 I am starting with 100mcg. I am sooo tired (who isn't) and always always cold... I will report back if there is any improvement.

[Saski87]

@papoy hope it lowers your levels quickly so you can get things moving. Best of luck!

[seven201]

I'd push for a re-test sooner. I'm private ivf and paid for an extra tsh test 6 days after a high result one. You can buy them online - you collect blood drops from a finger prick into a little tube. Glad I did as my levels had come down enough to start treatment. Mine may have been mucked up by fertility drugs though, I don't think levothyroxine (I do take that) kicks in quickly.

[physicskate]

Whoa 100 micograms is a large starting dose!!

I would also push for a re-test in about 4 weeks' time.

Before ivf my tsh was 3.98 and I was on 25 micrograms. They didn't even bother retesting, just increased the dose to 50 micrograms when I became pregnant. I'd started my cycle a month after being put on levothyroxine. At 12 weeks, levels were 1.1.

But everyone reacts differently. It is important your tsh doesn't go too low and you become hyper.

[duckhouse]

@Papoy you will feel tired for few days and then your body will be used to the medicine dose. When i upgraded to 50 from 25, i felt very tired and my TSH didnt change in 4 weeks. I have now upgraded to 75 and will go for test in june second week.. hoping my TSH lowers this time 🤞

[Papoy]

@physicskate @seven201 thank you both. I think it is best I had regular tests with the clinic and avoid going too low with my dose and allow them to adjust it if needed.

@duckhouse second week of june sounds ok to me as well, it will be 3 weeks for me. I will book a blood test with the clinic. 🤞