TSH receptor blocking antibodies and pregnant

[Cyrli]

I really hope someone who understands thyroid problems will read this.

I'm seven weeks pregnant and saw an endocrinologist for the first time last week. My GP diagnosed an underactive thyroid two years ago after I had my second child. Since then I have had two missed miscarriages, both babies stopped growing at 9 weeks.

Last week I was expecting the endocrinologist to adjust my levothyroxine dosage, but he suspects TSH receptor blocking antibodies. I tried to ask him what this would mean for the pregnancy and he made a strange face and refused to discuss it further. This left me in tears with no answers. They took a blood test which should be back this week or next but I won't see the endocrinologist for 2 or 3 weeks after the results are back.

Thanks if your still reading!

So I don't know what to do with myself. If the test comes back positive for these antibodies will this pregnancy end in miscarriage too? Is there anything the endocrinologist could do to help me stay pregnant? Should I insist on seeing the endocrinologist sooner? Can my GP help?

Any advice welcome!

I am so sorry to hear about your 2 miscarriages .
I don't understand how the endo can suspect TSH receptor antibodies as they can be only diagnosed with a blood test result.
I have not been in your position, as I just didn't manage to get pregnant at all after my diagnosis of an infection of the Thyroid. Was treated with 6 weeks of cortisone and told I was OK. But I was 41 by then.

In your case you should see the endo again before your 9th week of pregnancy. I really do hope they can help you this time. Keeping my fingers crossed you.

for you

Thanks for replying digerd. I'm sorry to hear about your thyroid problems, I'm so lucky that I had my two before my thyroid problems began.

The endo thought it was these antibodies as something must be causing my thyroid to be underactive and other tests have come back negative. I really hope it's not these but I feel I need to understand what they should be doing before I see him.

But taking Thyroxine tablets replaces the lack of it produced by your Thyroid and is not affected by Thyroid antibodies.
People have their Thyroid totally removed for various reasons and live perfectly well on Thyroxine tablets.

With Thyroid problems they do not know what causes underactive or overactive. They just treat the problem.

My sis also became underactive after having her DS2, but never wanted any more DC . Decades later she is still on the Thyroxine.

What were the other tests that came back negative?

I have no idea what these antibodies can do, but I keep finding extracts like this:

"One rare form of severe hypothyroidism is caused by TSH receptor-blocking antibodies, which can cross from the mother to the baby during pregnancy and cause hypothyroidism in the baby. Some pregnant women with newly detected severe hypothyroidism have expressed a desire to terminate their pregnancies due to fears of brain abnormalities in their unborn child." Thyroid.org

So I'm sure you can see why I'm worried. I also thought keeping my thyroid levels as they should be was enough :(