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TTC or Pregnant with an under-active Thyroid.

729 replies

hippychick66 · 14/09/2010 11:06

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 Grin.

OP posts:
bessie26 · 18/09/2010 09:33

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 Grin) 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??!

mummysleepy · 18/09/2010 21:20

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)

Besom · 19/09/2010 07:56

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.

Iggi999 · 19/09/2010 13:21

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]

ColleenEatsVeg · 19/09/2010 18:16

Hi, glad I found this thread. October of last year I was hit really hard with hypothyroid. Terrible blurry vision, tiredness, chills, anxiety and found out that I was going years without treatment and should have. Finally after months of building up my Levo I am on 100mcg and starting to feel normal again.

My husband and I want to try for a baby next year but I am so scared seeing how terrible my health has Bern the last year. Did any of you ladies ask to see an endo or your GP before TTC?

LadyGoneGaga · 19/09/2010 18:35

Hi Colleen. I never asked to be checked before but I think it would be a good idea to see your GP, explain you would like ttc and ask them to check your levels. I found once I was properly medicated it didn't affect my pregnancy with DS at all, they treat you as a bit higher risk and keep a closer eye on the baby but was absolutely fine.

I just mc'ed my second pg sadly and asked my GP to increase my dosage in prep for my next pregnancy which she did.

ColleenEatsVeg · 19/09/2010 20:00

Thanks for the reply, I think I am just so nervous about what could go wrong that I keep pushing back TTC. Thank you so much for the advice.

Besom · 19/09/2010 21:00

Hi Colleen, I did get referred to an endocrinologist but I'm not actually sure that I needed to be. It was useful to ask him about ttc but all he said was the same as the gp, that there should not in theory be a problem if treated properly and dose increased accordingly asap into the pregnancy.

Iggi, hope you can get referred. Chocolate, yes, also my downfall. I did manage to shift some of the weight but seems to be slowly piling on again!

Does anybody have this in their family? When I was diagnosed I found out that my aunt also has it.

supersunnyday · 19/09/2010 21:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Iggi999 · 19/09/2010 22:46

Hi SSD, just to say I was on alternate 200/175mg doses when pregnant. I think its just about how easy the dose is to take (eg, I have 100mg and 25mg tablets, so can only take combinations of these unless they changed the prescription!)
My mum and her two sisters all had underactive thyroid. My mums also came on after having children.
Well I'm supposed to be ttc tonight (tmi I know!) So had better go!

Iggi999 · 19/09/2010 22:46

Hi SSD, just to say I was on alternate 200/175mg doses when pregnant. I think its just about how easy the dose is to take (eg, I have 100mg and 25mg tablets, so can only take combinations of these unless they changed the prescription!)
My mum and her two sisters all had underactive thyroid. My mums also came on after having children.
Well I'm supposed to be ttc tonight (tmi I know!) So had better go!

bessie26 · 19/09/2010 22:50

Hi sunny, thanks for the info from the endocrinologist (I had to look up what one wasBlush) - how did you manage to go see one of those?

colleen sounds like you've had an awful time of it, glad you're feeling better now. I only just started on the pills last week, so am no expert, but I would say defn go see your GP if you have any concerns & get your levels re-checked.

iggy so sorry to hear about your MC. I've been temping for ages (first heard about it when trying to get pg with DD) & find it really useful. It's all very well POAS to find out that you might soon O, but only temping tells you that you've actually pushed an egg out!

bessie26 · 19/09/2010 22:56

Arghh, stupid phone won't let me write novel-length posts!

ladyggg it does seem like everyone one on here has had MC, but perhaps it's more because people who MC are more likely to have blood tests done which then reveal a thyroid problem? That was the only reason I found out anyway (I had been complaining of being tired for months, but my previous GP just told me that's what happens when you have a child!). How did you all find out?

LadyGoneGaga · 19/09/2010 23:00

I'd been very tired and symptomatic in early 20's, had bloods checked (for Thyroid and other things), TSH borderline and they wouldn't treat. Kept eye on it though and started me on Thyroxine in my late 20's.

There is a history of other autoimmune disorders in my family which put me at greater risk of developing.

mummysleepy · 20/09/2010 13:41

hi
I found out as I was being investigated for weird achey joints esp my feet and hands!! not typical I think but v glad they did that test or I could still be none the wiser!

I was also knackered but thought it was just being a mum, up during night to feed baby etc

I have telephone appt with my GP later on to tell her I am pregnant and see if she wants to increase my dose

ColleenEatsVeg · 20/09/2010 22:30

In the reference guide it mentions .4 - 2 being the ideal range. Did many of you have a TSH at that level before ttc? Mine has been a steady 4 the last 6 months but wonder if I should consider another increase

I know this might be a lot of what ifs, personally I am waiting til may/june to ttc again (year since my health started to pick back up) and hopefully lose the weight I gained.

supersunnyday · 21/09/2010 08:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tinky19 · 21/09/2010 23:21

Hello
I have just found out I have an underactive thyroid. Quicte pleased to know that feeling exhausted is not just symptom of laziness.
Have been piling on the pounds too despite dieting so hoping that meds might help that.
I have no ovulation (I also have PCOS) so hoping to lose weight to get ovulation going.
DS took 18months+ to conceive but really want DC2 before too much longer.

Iggi999 · 22/09/2010 19:20

Hi Tinky. Hope the tablets start to have an impact on you quickly. I found they did re the tiredness, though the weight was another matter!

Iggi999 · 22/09/2010 19:20

Hi Tinky. Hope the tablets start to have an impact on you quickly. I found they did re the tiredness, though the weight was another matter!

mummysleepy · 22/09/2010 20:22

hi tinky
when did you start your meds? I started mine a week ago and think its making a difference in some ways already (though being about 5 weeks pregnant means I am still knackered but maybe in a slightly different way. The main change I have noticed is my mood- I have been pretty tetchy for the last few months (just ask DH!) and this seems to be much improved

hope you start to feel better soon

bessie26 · 23/09/2010 09:36

Hi guys, hope you are all well?

tinky I started my meds about 2 weeks ago & can defn tell the difference WRT tiredness, I haven't needed an afternoon nap since Friday! I am 10wks pg, so am quite frankly amazed I feel less knackered!

tinky19 · 23/09/2010 14:09

Only started two days ago so no difference yet. Fingers crossed though. It's my weight which really worries me as I'm piling on the pounds despite eating sensibly and with PCOS that means no ovulation. Sad

pointsmakeprizes · 24/09/2010 09:52

Hello, I am wondering if you could help me interpret my results, I just had a TSH and T4 test done, my TSH was 2.341 and my T4 is 14.1.

We are TTC No. 2 for about 15 months now and have been diagnosed with unexplained fertility - do you think my thyroid levels are ok - the GP has stated these are normal so would like any opinions on if I can go back to them on these.

Many thanks

LadyGoneGaga · 24/09/2010 11:55

Hi,

They are pretty normal - are you on thyroxine currently? They say TSH of under 2 ideally if ttc but this is so close I wouldn't worry if I were you. Do you feel symptomatic at all?