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 .

Hi Guys

Just an update. Latest levels T4:14.3 and TSH:11.0. These levels are 7 weeks after increasing my dose from 75ug to 100ug. So been put on 125 ug Thyroxine to try and get the TSH level down, and some Cabergoline, a drug to decrease the level of Prolactin in my system which was also on the high side.

So a bit more hopeful for the future. Fingers crossed.

Hi there, good they are treating you, those levels do look very high!

Mine seem to have come done dramatically without any treatment yet, very strange indeed! Seeing the consultant next week.

Hi
I'm very pleased to find this thread. I am 38 and have Hashimotos.

My last blood test was 2 weeks ago, tsh 1.86 and Ft4 17, t has been fairly stable for around 6 months. My antibody level was 1150 so massive;y off the chart in March, and since then I have been self medicating with 200mcg of selenium and vit e, zinc and vit to try to reduce the anitbody level and help my immune system.

I had a miscarriage in April when my tsh was 2.64. I put this down to my thyroid and age and the fact that I had a baby in sept 2010, so I was basically too knackered! After reading all the horrible links of hypothyroidism and antibodies to miscarriage, still birth etc, I decided not to try for another baby. However, after one mishap this month, I have just tested positive so I'm now 4 weeks plus4! But very very worried about the impact of the antibodies to the point where I don't have much hope on the outcome and I'm just expecting the worse to happen.

I have contacted my endo today re increasing the thyroxine. Sorry for the long post, but what I'd like to know is, have any of you had a successful pregnancy with high levels of antibodies ie over 1000?

Many thanks

Wombletor

Hi temping I have been here but this thread doesn't always show up for me so didn't see your post. can't believe your ds is 3 months already! I am now nearly 25 weeks and all seems to be ok so far. It is a worrying time though! I have a question, can you breastfeed on thyroxine (realise its probably a stupid question but wanted to check)
womble I have high antibodies but think they were round 200 so not as high as yours. Most people with underactive thyroids have high antibodies though and lots have normal pregnancies. One thing I have read is that low dose aspirin can help reduce the effect of the antibodies. Are you on that?

Hi Ciwi, no, I'm not on aspirin, do you think it may be worth getting some baby aspirin and self medicating?

Incidentally, I have breastfed on levothyroxine and my baby was fine, although I did only feed for a few weeks, but it is safe.

Breastfeeding on levo should be fine, as you're just replacing a hormone your body should be producing anyway, if that makes sense. It's not some foreign toxin :)

womble I wouldn't self medicate but it could be worth asking your doc if you should start it. They usually say to take it after 12 weeks anyway so you have time to ask.
popcorn that's what I thought but wanted to check, thanks for the advice.

womble my antibodies came back well over a thousand, didn't say how much by, so am not sure of exact figure. I am currently 21 wks and so far have had a healthy pregnancy, despite my TSH being all over the place and having had to keep upping my replacement. I know you've had one mc and that must have been awful, but your thyroid may have had nothing to do with, it is sadly common even in healthy women who have everything going for them. As ciwi said, you've only got to look around this board to see that plenty of women with this condition can and do have healthy pregnancies. Having said this I spent my first 14 weeks in a spiral of anxiety being convinced I would miscarry, so I know how hard it is to stay positive. Good luck.

Thank you ladies for your responses. I have heard from my Endo and he has referred me to antenatal next week for a joint appointment with obs consultant and a senior endo. I am very happy with this!

Unipsychie, congratulations on your pregnancy, it does give me hope!

Sorry, just found this thread and it's rather long, so I'm sorry if this has been asked before.

I'm TTC (and waiting to do a test so may be pregnant). I have been on 150mg Levothyroxine since shortly after I was diagnosed several years ago. Although I have had annual checks, my levels haven't been altered, though I don't know the actual numbers, like others I haven't really questioned it.

I am overdue an annual check up (had transport problems at the time) so should book in for a blood test. What should I ask this time to become more informed about my condition. Will TTC/Pregnancy affect the dosage I'm offered?

As an aside, my thyroid symptoms were really bad over the summer (except I was able to lose weight). I was on a diet (just eating smaller portions, healthier food etc, nothing drastic) and I was losing weight fine, but feeling really tired, cold and fussy. When I fell back into bad habits a couple of months ago and stopped losing weight, I noticed my thyroid-related symptoms seemed better.

I'm wondering if it's not so much that hypothyroidism stops you physiologically from losing weight, but whether people with an under-active thyroid feel better when they are eating more (and therefore diets make them feel lousier than other people and are more difficult to stick to). Should I get back to eating more healthily before having my bloods done?

hi spirited wolf

before you ttc you need to get your tsh and ft4 checked to ascertain the levels. ideally your tsh needs to be under 2 for conception, and if it is high if you do conceive it may cause mc. Once you are pregnant you need to get your tsh checked every month either via your gp or the endo/obs at the antenatal clinic and your thyroxine dose will more than likely be increased during pregnancy.

In my experience of being hyperthyroid, it speeds up your metabolism so losing weight is very eay, and your appetite increases. When you are hypo, everything slows down, even though you eat less, you cannot lose weight.
Hope this helps.

Hi

I'm new to this thread and have been ttc my first for 6 months. I've had an under-active thyroid for 7 years.

Spiritedwolf - Weight issues are not the same for everyone. I've never put on weight, even before I was diagnosed and my TSH levels were sky high. At the time I was so tired that I used to want to lie down on the floor on the tube to work. Londoners will know why that is definitely not a normal thing to wish for! But I've always stayed slim.

I went to see an Endo a few weeks back as my TSH has gone wrong. I have always had trouble getting it right, as when I take 150mg its too much, but 125mg does not seem to be enough. Even alternating does not help. When my TSH is low, my T4 is too high.

Anyway, I had a TSH reading of 3.4 (normal 0.5 to 4.3) and then 4.2 a few months later. Increased my dose to 150mg (as TTC and attempting to get it below 2) and my next TSH reading was 15.5! I had it re-done a few days later (to check for lab errors) and it was 8.7. It took six weeks to see an endo, and during that time I was taking 150mg and suffering night sweats / sleepless nights. Really odd to increase thyroxine and see an increase in TSH. Has anyone else had this?

The endo I saw was very good. She said that ideally a TSH level would ideally be below 2 when TTC and pregnant, but research shows its not everything. She did lots of tests, including antibodies and I'm going back in 2 weeks to find out the results. She reduced my dose back to 125mg and also said too much thyroxine can make it hard to get pregnant.

Sorry for the long post, but its nice to find people going to through the same challenges and worries.

Thanks for reading.

nappymaestro thanks for your message, useful to know - Its funny how the advice on TSH is changed, depending on our situations?!

I've been back to see my endo again today, and my latest results (taken on 17 Nov) were:

• TSH was 1.43 (ref 0.27 - 4.2)
• T4 too high at 23.9 (ref 12 - 22).
• T3 was low at 3.7, despite having a high T4 (ref 4-6.8).

They were done at a reference lab to make sure they were super accurate.

The problem is the test was done after 6 weeks of taking 150mg. 150mg dose makes me have night sweats and I can't sleep. My dose was reduced to 125mg on 17 Nov (due to all the adverse symptoms). I have been asked to re-test at the end of Dec to find out if my TSH is still normal on a 125mg dose. Generally my TSH is only normal if I take a high dose of thyroxine, but then that makes my T4 too high and gives me night sweats / no sleep. Its all very frustrating! And the endo doesn't have the answers. They don't plan to do anything to help...

Anyone else still TTC with hypothyroidism problems?

Hi specky - I'm still ttc with an underactive thyroid - 10 months and counting, not a whisper of a bfp. Do you know how T4 levels affect ttc? Just curious (mine have never been an issue)

Final endo appt next week (I expect to be discharged) - anyone have any idea if/what I should be asking them? GP refuses to refer or do bloods til I've been ttc 18 months.

maestro I had to do that for a while (it was a pain, I almost had to buy a dosset box :o ). My thyroid needs a high dose - 150mcg - to suppress it, otherwise it tries to work and I go hyper - it took 3 years to work that one out, sigh.

Yes that's a sensible idea, I will do that - thanks :)

I'm 27; I was diagnosed when I was 24 iirc and fought tooth and nail to be referred to a specialist for about 2 years - GPs were happy just moving my dose up and down and up and down, while I felt like shite.

No PCOS diagnoses - no extra hair, periods relatively normal and relatively regular (though not clockwork - GP was satisfied though), and I temped for 4 months and got an ovulation each time.

hi everyone,

I am also hypothyroid. I have read many of the posts in this thread but not all! (sorry!)
I am 25 and have been diagnosed since I was 18 but never really understood it, nor did I have a good doctor to explain about it. All he said to me was 'if you want to have kids, do it in the next 2 years!' needless to say, I didnt.
after years of having a rubbish doc, I did my own research, found new docs, etc and to cut a long story short, have finally for the first time reached to a 1.86 - tsh!! after years of weight gain - without overeating, etc, I have finally lost 6 pounds! it may not seem much but to me it is a breakthrough! :)
however, i do have a 100 pounds to lose ideally, and 80 to reach a weight im comfortable with.

my question is, approximately how long does it take to conceive once youve reached good levels of tsh?

p.s good luck to every ttc!!! xxx

Hi Fluttz ! I'm still ttc, but with a TSH below 2 your thyroid shouldn't cause any problems ttc at all. Well done on your weight loss :)

nappy thanks so much for your help earlier. I went to my appointment and my TSH was 1.7, so great for ttc :)

hi PopcornMouse, thank you! im really excited as its the first time. in terms of weight loss, all ive done is INCREASED my food intake as crazy as it sounds! and instead of drivin to uni, i walk. and go for walks with hubi in the evening. nothing drastic as im too embarassed to go to a gym, even though my new doc has offered me free sessions with a health trainer.

thats brilliant with 1.7, im excited for you! :) if you dont mind me asking, are you at your ideal weight? i wonder if that makes a difference.

Although i want to have a baby, if I was to be realistic, I know I should lose weight first and finish uni (im in first yr), we're not financially stable n are living in a flat where we will have to move out once baby is born, but i just cant help wishing and hoping that i am pregnant. im 3 weeks late but negative pregnancy tests. however i am occasionally irregular with periods so most likely is nothing.

i am confused, excited, hopeful.. lol

My BMI is 23.5 so it's medically ideal, but I'd like to lose another 9lbs for vanity :o I've lost 16lbs since my heaviest, though it's taken a while.
I find diets are helpful (i've tried WeightWatchers and SlimmingWorld) but don't get the weight losses that non-hypos seem to get - I'm lucky if I get 1lb a fortnight - I find exercise is what does the trick for me.

haha, well good luck with the last 9 pounds popcornmouse! :)

yeh it does seem to take alot longer than most people. im hoping to get more active and gradually be brave enough to join a gym.

well done again... i'd be so proud..x