TTC and subclinical hypothyroidism

@Owl86 Thank you for linking the article! Looked all over the net and couldn't find anything. I never did have free androgens checked, wonder if I should do that for peace of mind. My lining was 18mm at CD17, I ovulated CD14. I think I'll ask some follow up questions as far as normal range, everything I'm seeing is like 14mm to 16mm max.

@Owl86 not really, the GP just said that because my TSH and T4 are both within normal range it isn't something they are worried about, if one was out then they would be. It really is fighting a loosing battle with GPs and thyroid issues

Hi, read your post and was hoping to chat! I also had blood work done and an ultrasound revealed that my right ovary is polycystic. Which blood tests did you have to rule out PCOS? My doctor said as long as I'm having regular periods it's not a problem but I would really like to know the significance. It wasn't exactly a reassuring finding after she essentially just said "yeah its fine". I am the type that wants to know why this happens!

We have also been TTC since January after a MC. No luck yet. My ultrasound did reveal that I have a nice thick lining, I was Googling this and it might actually be too thick. Like 18mm.

My TSH also came back at 3.1 and I read the same thing you did about how it should be under 2.5.

Hi everyone! I just found this thread, which is great. I am a fellow Hashimoto's-haver (don't want to say sufferer!) who is TTC (cycle 1, just got a BFN on 11 DPO).
I was diagnosed with Hashi's about 3-4 years ago (can't quite remember). I had a ton of weird symptoms but my thyroid levels were clinically normal for about 1.5 years, though my antibodies went through the roof.
I've been on levo (50mg) for about a year and a half now. After about 6 months of starting meds I fell pregnant (aged 37) with my first baby (last year). The pregnancy turned out not to be OK and we lost her to TFMR last summer, which has obviously been devastating. The chromosomal abnormality was not hereditary and apparently nothing to do with my thyroid so I don't want to scare you! It does mean I'm back to square 1 though with TTC.
At one point prior to going on meds my TPO was >1300 (the point at which they stop counting!). I've never encountered an endocrinologist that I didn't think was a waste of space to be honest (one even told me that despite my antibody levels he thought I didn't have Hashimotos and just needed a good sleep!), If have any struggles getting pregnant this year I will certainly seek out a fertility or functional health practitioner instead. I have a similar experience that I know far more about thyroids and Hashimoto's now than my GPs do. There are very powerful online communities that are brimming with a wealth of knowledge that can be very powerful.
I just wanted to offer something that I read for the first time last week. Apparently if you are supplementing with biotin (quite likely if you're taking loads of supplements to TTC?), these can influence the results of thyroid tests and it's best to have a week off before testing. Apparently there are patients that end up over or under medicated as a result. Might be worth looking into? www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients/december-2018/vol-11-issue-12-p-3-4/#:~:text=Most%20commonly%2C%20biotin%20use%20can,hormone%20dose%20is%20too%20high.
If you're already on meds, you should also have your bloods taken first thing in the morning before taking your meds (so you have 24 hours since your last dose) and just take your meds straight afterwards.
The other thing is that (if you are determined enough), Dr Isabella Wentz has a lot of good advice on lifestyle changes that calm Hashimoto's down. Her books the Root Cause and the Hashimoto's Protocol are worth a read. I went gluten free for six months before I fell pregnant last time and I think it helped. Not quite summoned the courage to make any major changes again yet as it's been a really hard year and that all went out of the window when I got pregnant and massively started craving bread!
Anyway, just a few thoughts that might help!

Thanks @Owl86 keep us updated on Thursday!

@FlyingGiraffe so sorry to hear about your chemical! Id prefer af didnt show up but i took a frer this morning as its due and bfn. Cant really say its late though as i am not sure of my cycles yet. I came off pill im December and my cycles so far have been 42, 42 and 34. Today is cd34 so going by my last 3 cycles, it should be today/tomorrow but literally too early too tell what length my cycles actually are!

@CTMcG yes, if you can prevent a miscarriage that would save a lot of heart ache and worry. I had a chemical back in January and cant help but think that if I do fall again that it's not going to stick without sorting my thyroid out beforehand 😣 hope AF turns up for you soon 🤞

@PrimeraVez Whoa 181!! No wonder you felt awful! I'm so glad they sorted it and you've been looked after since! It gives me hope though so thanks for sharing your story! I feel fired up ready to go to the GP now 😂

@FlyingGiraffe preventing not pretending!

@FlyingGiraffe thank you! Now i am home from work and have looked through a few threads about it i am feeling more positive. The fact my doctor offered to start me on a small dose asap seems great considering quite a few people have had to push the matter!

Being on medication going into the 2nd month of ttc is great - it could potentially be pretending me from the heartache of MC's etc so have to see this as a positive thing!! Now if af would hurry up and show her ugly head! Cd34 today so expecting her this week. Cycles are pretty irregular! X

It’s great that you are onto the issue and pushing for it to be ‘fixed’ - it is usually pretty quick to improve once you are on the right dosage!

Just to share my experience, it took me nearly a year to conceive DC1. 4 months after he was born, I felt like I was dying and a blood test showed my TSH was 181. In hindsight I believe I was hypothyroid before I got pregnant, which meant it took a little while, and then pregnancy exacerbated it further.

I was referred to an endocrinologist and I very quickly (within maybe 6 weeks?) felt back to my usual self again. I then got a bit complacent with taking my thyroxine and I think my thyroid went out of whack again as I suffered two early miscarriages (I wasn’t actively TTC but wasn’t preventing either)

I then started to take it all a bit more seriously, had regular check ups with my endocrinologist etc and went on to get pregnant with DC2 in the first or second month of trying. I am now pregnant with DC3.

My endocrinologist likes my TSH to be under 2 when I fall pregnant and once I get my BFP, I see her straightaway and then every 4-6 weeks for follow ups and a blood test. For the first few times, my medication needed to increase but at 26 weeks, it now seems to be pretty stable at 250mg daily.

Wishing you the best of luck. I get the impression that in the Uk, it’s not something GPs are necessarily massively clued up on. But I wanted to offer some reassurance that it can be easily fixed and you will notice a difference almost instantly and most importantly, it is possible to go on to fall pregnant and have an uneventful pregnancy.

Hi @Owl86 - Sorry I didn't reply til now! Had family staying but it was so nice to feel like someone else understood, so thank you! I hope the appointment goes well on Thursday! Let me know what your GP says :) I'm definitely going to go back to mine and push like @bumphope2020 and @Talkwhilstyouwalk have suggested.

@Cheburashka Thank you also, it was so helpful. We're on the waiting list for fertility referral now but I think it's going to be a long wait! I do know my GP pretty well and she is really nice so I think I'm going to go back to her with the NICE and British Thyroid association guidance. I wish I could take a folder in but i'll just have to send the links and hope she reads them! Haha!

@CTMcG Sorry it wasn't the news you wanted to hear. Although I think it's good that you have a GP that seems to know the guidance! So many of them don't realise and it could be something that means you conceive faster so that's brilliant!

@ChinChilly Let us know how you get on with the GP appointment tomorrow. I hope they listen! I imagine it would put your mind at rest somewhat. x

@Owl86 yes, he did! Im home and just took my first dose. 25mg of levothroxine and she wants me to get my bloods checked again in 6 weeks! Its so weird that she said first option was to take no medication and see how i get on ttc, surely if the level is preferably 2.5 and under and i am at 6 and ttc, medication should be a no brainer but what do i know! X

@Owl86 thank you, af is due this week so think i am extra emotional.

Yes 25mg she said. So DH collecting for me today as i am in work to 5pm and he is working from home so can nip out for me. God love him, hes trying to keep my spirits up and said sure you could even be pregnant now but i just feel it in my waters that i am not but yes, im doing something about it now rather than wait a year and then doing it x

@Owl86 i should mention, the other part was within normal range hence why subclinical. Im very technical lol

At least she give me the option to start on small dose now instead of fobbing me off

@Owl86 had a missed call from docs surgery first thing this morning so knew it wasnt great news😭

I am subclinical hypo. The thing that they prefer to be 2 for trying for a baby, mine is at 6.

She said i had 2 options. Continue without medication and see if i fall pregnant or start on a small dose of medication to lower that number. I said at 31 i dont want to waste time so i went with starting medication. Im a bit gutted tbh, in work and just want to go home and cry even tho i know that is silly, i am going into cycle 2 so not been trying long but feel that news has confirmed this isnt going to he an easy ride, pardon the pun x

You are right, it should be under 2.5. I'd go back to the GP and see if they could have a chat with a fertility specialist for you if they are unwilling to prescribe it themselves (although I had no problems getting my GP to do this for me during IVF treatment. You'll need a low level dose of levothyroxine for conception and pregnancy (probably not after you have given birth) and my bet is that you'll be pregnant shortly after you start taking it.

I had tests 12 months ago privately and TSH was 3. Gynaecologist said all good. Last week I finally had my first appointment with NHS after GP referral and they have asked for a retest and asked GP to prescribe thyroxine if over 2.5.
My advice would be to keep pushing your GP and if you do get pregnant try to get an appointment with a midwife ASAP to discuss medication