TTC or Pregnant with an under-active Thyroid.

[hippychick66]

Hi,

We were talking about this a lot on the charting thread and thought it would be good to start a separate thread.

There's about 3 of us at the moment but please do join us too if you are TTC with this added probem.

My results were 9.07 and then a few weeks later 5.5. I'm due another blood test in 5 weeks and hopefully my GP should be starting me on Thyroxin soon.

Quite worried cos the NHS guidelines say your numbers should be a lot lower when pregnant. still i haven't got that BFP yet so I guess I'll worry then.

ladygonegaga and Bessie26 - hurry up and join me here .

good news. my level was 2.9. Just slightly above the recommended levels for TTC. Seeing as it's been as high as 9 in the last few months - I'm happy with that level.

Love to all.

Hello! Thought it was about time I popped by to see how you all were... So sorry to hear about your crappy NY iggi hope you are ok?

hippy I read somewhere (don't ask me where!) that the main problems to do with TTC with a dodgy thyroid were to do with it giving you irregular cycles. Dunno how true that is though. Hope you levels have stopped fluctuating as much as they used to?

I'm almost 30 weeks now, had bloods retested last week & my TSH is 3.2, up slightly from the previous test at 2.8 (my lowest ever!), but still fine. They are re-testing me every 6-8 weeks atm.

xx

bessie fab news that you are nearly 30 weeks. All bodes well for other underactive girlies. Other people's pregnancies go so bloody fast don't they! Take care of yourself. ladyG pop in and tell me how you're doing too please

Just quickly popping back to point out this thread
and goes to bed!

Well my thyroid is not right again. was on 200mcg/daily and TSH < 0.1 and T4 23. Consultant told me to cut down to 150mcg/daily which I thought was too much of a step down. 1 month later (at 14 weeks pregnant) TSH 7.5 and T4 15.

Worried as obviously been under-replaced in 1st trimester. Waiting to hear back about what to do now.

Hope everyone elses thyroids are behaving! :)

hhg try not to worry - your T4 level is still good, so you have enough Thyroxine going round your system for you & the baby

I think there are less demands on your thyroid during the second trimester, so perhaps they'll put you on 175mcg & see how you get on?

I got my dose increased to 50mcg at 14wks & it's been fairly stable since (last tested at 28wks) - I think it's supposed to get worse again as you get towards the end, so will be interesting to see what it's like next time they test!

Hello, bessie and hippychick thank you for the messages. I have had bloods done now to check for clotting etc. No results of course!
I haven't reduced my thyroxine from the 200mg I was on when pg, I don't feel remotely over-active symptom wise so am reluctant to drop down. But back on ttc bandwagon so better get levels checked I suppose.
This thread had vanished from my active list, glad to find it again!

Hello, bessie and hippychick thank you for the messages. I have had bloods done now to check for clotting etc. No results of course!
I haven't reduced my thyroxine from the 200mg I was on when pg, I don't feel remotely over-active symptom wise so am reluctant to drop down. But back on ttc bandwagon so better get levels checked I suppose.
This thread had vanished from my active list, glad to find it again!

Hi all I was reading this thread a few months ago but my hypothyroid took a turn for the worse adn we stopped TTC and focused on my health First blood test (pre talking with my gp about TTC) and it's TSH 1.58 and Free T4 18.5. I am over the moon my TSH is down (was 4.5 four months ago) not by upping my levo but just good old fashion exercise and dieting.

My DH and I are back on the TTC wagon and feeling great!!!

Hi everyone. Can I pop in here?

I have had an underactive thyroid, and have been taking 100mg thyroxine for about 6 years now (diagnosed shortly after DS was born). I split with DS's father, but my lovely DP and I want a child of our own together. We have been TTC for about 2.5 yrs now, and always hoped it would happen naturally and didn't want to involve doctors.

This thread has started me thinking if maybe my thyroid condition is to blame, but could somebody please tell me what TSH and T4 etc is? I have never actually seen my blood test results! I just get one every year, and if they don't contact me then I have to assume everything is fine. Should I maybe go and tell my doctor I am TTC, to see if that's affecting things?

I am in Fife BTW, as I know health boards in different places do things differently.

Underactive thyroid can effect your ovulation and increase the chance of miscarrying. Its important to ask for your blood test results because sometimes you can feel fine but if your TSH is at the high end of the "normal range" it can very hard when you are TTC.

www.cks.nhs.uk/hypothyroidism/management/scenario_diagnosis/view_full_scenario#-482792

TSH and Free T4 is the basic test they do normally. You can have full range tests which is what I am aiming for when we TTC.

Thanks colleen. That's really helpful. I hadn't realised it could impact so much on TTC, and I'm a bit annoyed that my GP never told me. Each year they take my blood sample and then just don't tell me anything about it, but from what you are all saying here, I could be within the normal ranges, but not at suitable levels for TTC. I think I may make an appointment, although our surgery isn't the best.

I would definitely go to your GP (whats what I am doing) with that information and speak to him about your levels and also what you want to achieve in the first month of pregnancy seeing that its the most important time to get your levels right. Recommend upping your dose to help you as you TTC, I want to get mind down to .5 -1 while trying.

bambam I agree with what the others have said too

super my consultant told I need to get re-tested 3 months after giving birth, but then I only started my meds when I was 8wks pg, so I don't have a pre-preg dosage anyway! (DD2 4 weeks old today )

Hi everyone, I have just been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid tsh 11.4 t4 normal. been started on thyroxine 25mcg - was hoping for 50 as i dont think 25 is enough. waiting to get down to 1-2 so i can start ttc. I am mummy to a beautiful angel, Ciaran who we lost at 24 weeks due to pre eclampsia. my thyroid was a bit out of whack then but nobody told me and we were given the ok to try again. I lost my second at 10 weeks (baby was 6-7) and i totally blame that on my thyroid. I feel like i have had a battle to get treatment and i still think i will have a battle to get them to treat me properly for ttc. has anyone else had problems gettting the right treatment? Also, how long did it take for you all to get your thyroid sorted for ttc?

I have a underactive thyroid and I am 9 weeks pregnant I didnt think it was a problem if it was undercontrol? Im on 200mcg so quite underactive but I never hand any problem with weight tiredness or getting pregnant once it was treated. Is there a higher case of mc with it? Going to research it and come backxx

pregnant I think it's only a (potential) problem if you have UNTREATED thyroid probs, don't start googling at this tine on a Friday night!!

Do make sure they re-test your bloods throughout your pg though (baby is reliant on you for thyroxine for the first 12 weeks) I had mine done every 6-8 weeks, but that might be because I only started the meds when 8wks pg?

Thanks sunnyday, i think i will ask my GP to refer me to an endo. Ever since losing my little boy i have found the health service a nightmare. I feel like I have practically diagnosed myself as I had to ask to get my levels rechecked and then ask to start treatment even though my tsh was 11. It's so exausting sometimes to feel like you need to push for things you should get anyway. It's always good to hear success stories, I am determined to get there in the end and I know it will all be worth it when i do! Are you pg now?
mimi - I have been in contact with the british thyroid foundation and their thyroid in pregnancy expert said that untreated is associated with miscarriage but treatment can prevent it. it says on their website that you need to be a member to ask questions but i am not and they answered me anyway - just worth knowing if you have any worries. They are currently campaigning for better awareness of thyroid problems in pregnancy.

congrats sunnyday!
can I just ask everyone what you got your levels to before ttc? I have read between 1 and 3. I am desperate to ttc again but i know I need to get this sorted first. Just feeling really impatient!

A month after my mc (the first time I had any blood tests done) TSH 6.61, T4 11.5
2 months later (when I was 8 wks pg with DD2) TSH 10.8 T4 9.4 I then started on 25mcg thyroxine, increased to 50mcg when I was tested again 6 weeks later