TTC or Pregnant with an under-active Thyroid.

Hi Besom. I turned 40 in the summer. So don't feel I've all that much time left. Am heartened by the help you're getting from the GP, will definitely go to mine and ask. Have been trying to lose some weight to show I'm doing my best to be healthier too, so to speak. Rather than consoling self with chocolate, which would be my first instinct!
Seeing accupuncturist tomorrow. Let's hope we all have good news this month [hopefulemoticon]

mummysleepy - fantastic news!

iggi Hi, so sorry about your mc's. You've a very similar story to my own. How old are you if you don't mind me asking?

bessie I've been thinking about getting that book, given my general ignorance on the subject I'm dtermined to educate myself a bit more.

bessie
I see what you mean - I think it does make sense assuming that the blood results are equally accurate - I read somewhere that TSH level can vary depending on time of day, not sure if same applies to T4.

Anyway I am glad my T4 is higher than it was as like you I just want to be sure baby is getting enough. Usually your body will provide everything for baby even if you are left short so I hope its all ok

it still feels weird to be thinking about this baby- I am still in shock I think but its nice to be able to share my news without actually telling anyone in RL (except DH of course who was equally shocked but now very happy)

Morning everyone! Hope you're all feeling more awake than me today... I was so knackered yesterday I napped for 2hrs in the afternoon (I was relying on DD to wake me, but she is a lazy-bones too ) but the I couldn't get to sleep for ages last night... and then I woke up at 5am!

Anyway, I just had a thought & wondered if you could tell me if it makes sense?
TSH tells us how hard our thyroid is having to work right? And the free T4 says how much thyroxin(?) is in our system?
So... Surely we should be paying more attention to our free T4 levels? (everything seems to be centred around the TSH number)
From my pg POV my main concern is that the baby is able to get enough of my thyroxin, and although having a high TSH means my thyroid is overworked, at least my normal-ish Free T4 means baby should be getting what she needs?
Did any of that make sense??!

Congratulations, how wonderful! Best of luck.
This temping stuff new to me, will look into that.
We're just entering into first ttc cycle since mc. I take 175mg Mummysleepy, and put that up to 200 when pregnant. I think I really must get back to the gp, even if she tells me to get lost at least I'll have tried. [Smile]

Oh mummysleepy that's fab news! I am now 9wks pg and still temping as I find it very reassuring... am not sure if I will ever be able to stop!!

Great news, Mummysleepy!

Bessie forgot to say congrats on the heartbeat too. It's a special moment, isn't it. When is your 12 week scan?

hi iggi
sorry to hear about your mcs, its really hard. Do you know if your antibodies have been checked? I read something about them being important in outcome of pregnancy. What dose of thyroxine are you on?

well my news is....OMG
BFP!!! I REALLY wasn't expecting that this month esp as we haven't really been trying (much) this month

I am trying not to be too excited as its so early on and with the thyroid business I am a bit nervous about it all.

test was really strongly positive though, line showed up really quickly. I think I am only 15DPO ( i did a test last night too and it was BFP but it was more sensitive one off internet)
I think I will keep charting my temp for a wee while as my mc was very early mmc and I only found out at 12 week scan which was horrible as I had no idea anything was wrong

Has EVERYONE on here had a miscarriage? Hmm, coincidence?

Welcome Iggi by the way.

Hello, mind if I jump on?
I developed an underactive thyroid about 6 months after ds was born - health visitor put my symptoms down to PND so was really underactive before I finally found out what was wrong! Started ttc #2 last November, unfortunately have had two mc since then. Each time I've been pregnant I've had my dose of thyroxine increased.
I used to think the thyroid problem was connected to the miscarriages, but everything I've read seems to say that as long as you're having treatment for the thyroid issue, it shouldn't be a problem.
I've really taken heart from people saying their GP has been willing to do some tests, I haven't even asked mine as just assumed they had to stick to the 3 mc rule.
Sorry for long post!

oooh mummysleepy I have my fingers crossed for you!

now I've calmed down a bit I will report on what I found out from quizzing the consultant about TSH today....

He said that I should aim to get my TSH down to within the "normal range" - preferably 2-3, but anything under 6 was fine! I waved my printout of the NHS Guidance at him, but he thought that getting it to be under 2 was unnecessary.

the British Thyroid Foundation have a pregnancy section on their website, but I can't find anything on there saying what your levels should be when TTC or pg. Is anyone a member? Only members can ask medical questions...

Has anyone read this? Living well with hypothyroidism - while googling I've seen lots of people say it's good, although some of the amazon reviews are mixed - I might see if it's available in my local library

Great news bessie!

mummysleepy - I don't remember feeling nauseous particularly. Let's hope it's something else!

bessie thanks for the links I didn't know I had to wait an hour before eating, putting it beside my thermometer is a good idea, might remind me to take temp! I did remember this morning though and temp still high so fingers crossed it will stay like that! Lovely to hear the scan went well, there's nothing quite like seeing the heartbeat for the first time

hippy have a good holiday, looks like you've timed it just right

supersunny I don't have PCOS but my sister does so I am sure there must be a link somewhere

did anyone else feel a bit nauseous when they started thyroxine? I am definitely feeling a bit green and can't decide if its throxine or maybe a tiny baby making its mark!

hippy - hope you've packed plenty of skimpy tops to lure Mr H into your grasp

just got back from scan - saw heartbeat

Have a lovely time.

Thanks!

I don't think so then because I've always had regular periods. They scanned me after dd born because of bleeding during the pregnancy and saw fibroids but I think they would have picked pcos up as well had it been apparent.

Hi supersunnyday, sorry to hear about your mc - hopefully then you'll be fine the next time and it sounds as if you're getting the right medical support. Good luck with the appointment!

I don't think I have PCOS - what are the symptoms of that if you don't mind me asking?

Right bessie, maybe I should try it for my terrible pms? Giving up the coffee would probably help with that as well, mind you. I'm an ex smoker too though, I need some sort of vice!

What is a kinesologist?

I have acupuncture a couple of times a month and love it. I started before I got pg with DD & credit it (and Agnus Castus) with sorting my irregular periods out.

My lady acu couldn't fix my thyroid, but did suggest I saw a Kinesologist (sp?) who she had heard sorted out people's thyroid problems. I did feel much less tired a few days after my session & was quite hopeful, but it obviously didn't work!

have put my pills on my bedside table next to my thermometer!

besom I gave up coffee a few years ago now & was amazed at how much better I felt. I drank it all day to feel awake, and yet when I gave it up I discovered I didn't feel tired in the first place! It's like fags (which I also gave up a few years later) - I only felt I needed it because the last "hit" was wearing off, oh and because it's nice