Anyone hypothyroid and pregnant?

[Ekphrasis]

I’m a little worried but I appreciate no one has a crystal ball.

My tsh pre conception was almost over replaced (0.2) and at 5 weeks it was 1.5 so I raised my thyroxine only slightly by taking an extra 25 every other day.

However my latest test was 1.24 - which is fine, it could be nearer 1 but it’s ok. But, now I’m worried the pregnancy isn’t progressing despite lots of symptoms - nausea, sore boobs etc.

When I had my son 5 years ago I had to raise my thyroxine hugely, I ended up needing and extra 100 by 13 weeks. I was on a batch that was going to be faulty, and switched at 14 weeks, so I can’t really compare, but at the same time I still think surely I must need more?

My thyroid hasn’t worked since 1997 so there’s no chance it’s recovered surely?!

Did anyone else not really have to raise it by much?

[RavingRoo]

Can you get a second medical opinion? Nobody here will be able to give you proper medical advice even if they experienced similar.

[Ekphrasis]

No, I just wondered what others had experienced. I’ll chat to the gp on Friday. Just have a worry moment.

You usually need 30-50% extra thyroxine by around the start of the second trimester. I’m almost 10 weeks.

I can’t really measure against my previous pregnancy. It was so hard to keep tsh down then, it was a huge strain. Ironically things are ‘ok’ now and yet I find it worrying I don’t need more invade the pregnancy isn’t progressing.

I have a scan in about 10 days.

[Amber0685]

I was told by a endocrinologist to double thyroxine as soon as you find out you are pregnant and then get gp referal to the endocrine unit at your hospital which will have a programme for pregnant women it is called silver star at the JR in Oxford.

[Ratbagratty]

My first pregnancy I went down by 25 in second semester to 100. This pregnancy I've stayed on 100 and just entering third trimester. I have struggled to get an endocrine appointment, but the midwives have been testing blood every now and then and including the thyroid test into them. Talk to doctor and your midwife, if you feel you need a function test ask for one.

[Ekphrasis]

Thanks - my gp is bring good, to clarify I’ve had tsh tests.

This last one was 1.24 at 9 weeks. I’m just puzzled and worried as by 9 weeks last time, tsh was 6 even after a raise by 25. I’ve hardly raised it this time.

However, I do know then that the batch of thyroxine I was on was faulty and later withdrawn.

I’ll be seen by the consultant at my 12 (13-14!) week scan.

I’m just worried I haven’t needed more thyroxine!


@Amber0685 it is individual to each person. You normally end up going up by 30-50% by 20 weeks. So maybe I’m the slow and steady 30% and will need more later on.

I’m trying to reassure myself that I did start off very low indeed at 0.2.

[Ekphrasis]

Ok feel a total fool, but not really my fault, they’ve given me the result that I had in sept not the latest one. That’s not back yet!

Sorry!

[Hannabee123]

I've never had to raise or lower my dose once since I've become pregnant. I'm now 30 weeks and still on my original dose. I think as long as regular blood tests are done and adjusted accordingly I'd just listen to doctors advice

[Ekphrasis]

(Brain thought last one was 1.5, it was 1.24)

[Ekphrasis]

Ok hanna that’s also reassuring incase I get the same result back!

It was a night mare with my son and I became both very worried and quite unwell as my tsh went to 13 despite taking an extra 75. But that was because the thyroxine was faulty, we later found out.

Thyroids are weird.

[PinkHippo1]

I'm hypothyroid following radio iodine treatment three years ago. Now 36 weeks pregnant and I haven't had to change my dose of thyroxine at all. It has stayed at 150mcg throughout. My levels have been tested about every 6 weeks and although there has been some fluctuation there's never been enough of a change to warrant a dose increase.

[Ekphrasis]

Thanks pink that’s interesting. I know hormones and antibodies can come into play and do weird things where one woman needs way more and another is fine. Previous experience leaves me twitchy.

[sarahlwebb26]

Hi. I've had 4 children and luckily have never had my disease changed while pregnant. Only with my last 2 children after pregnancy I've had to change but 6 months on my levels are normal again x

[Emz01]

Hi OP

I don’t have a thyroid and normally take 125mg/150mg alternating daily. First pregnancy I put it up by 25mg a day which was fine for the whole way through. I’m currently 6 weeks pregnant and again up by 25mg a day straight away which is what the endo suggested when we discussed pre pregnancy.

As long as your levels are checked regularly you should be fine, 1.24 doesn’t seem too bad. You can always ask if not sure or are unhappy.

[sarahlwebb26]

Dose

[MummyMrsMe]

I am currently 36+4 and pre pregnancy was on 100mg thyroxine per day. Had a visit to OB Consultant at 12 weeks who advised me to increase my thyroxine despite my bloods being normal.

She said usual advice was to double thyroxine but because my levels were ok despite only having been taking 100mg to only increase to 175mg daily. Been getting bloods taken every 4 weeks and levels always been ok.

Hope your next set of blood tests put your mind at rest x

[Coughingchildren5]

I've had zero thyroid function since birth
My dose remains 150mcg per day through pregnancy.

[Ekphrasis]

Thanks for experiences, really helpful. As I said, I cannot compared to my first pregnancy where I went from 125 to 225 before it was under control!

It’s 1.36, from 1.24 (0.2 pre preg) which is fine, but I’m going to ask to go up to a straight 150 daily rather than the alternate day 125/150 so that I’m ‘covered’ for the next few weeks if that makes sense.

[harrietm87]

I was on 150mcg pre-conception and went up to 175mcg at 6 weeks when my TSH was 2.9. At 12 weeks it was 2.1 so I've gone up to 200mcg. I'm now 15 weeks and will have it checked again next week at my 16week midwife appt. I was advised that anything under 2 is fine and not to stress out between say 1.8 and 1.5 - makes no difference and depends on the individual.

[KatharinaRosalie]

With DC1 I went up by 50 and with DC2 just 25, for the entire pregnancy.So it's entirely possible that the 25 that you already increased is sufficient.
The need does not increase that much after 1st trimester, as then baby's own thyroid starts functioning.

[Alexandra07]

Don't try to increase it just to be covered! I have hypothyroidism and my levels stayed below 2 (the recommended levels for pregnant women) up to the 3rd trimester. My dose was increased only when I was 34 weeks. I haven't seen the baby yet! I hope she is well! But I had growth scans and there was no indication of a problem.

[Ekphrasis]

Thanks. I’ll have a chat with gp.

Baby’s thyroid starts making thyroxine around 16 wks and gradually takes over till 20-24 weeks. I’m only suggesting to go up 25 alternate days. Which I feel is fine. I feel quite crap quite easily when my levels start creeping up. In the first trimester normal women experience quite a big tsh suppression too so a tad lower will be ok.

[Ekphrasis]

To clarify, I haven’t gone up by 25 yet, only 12.5. So if I take the extra 12.5 it will be a full 25 which is likely to be enough - hence why I say then I’ll be covered