Magnesium deficiency?!?!?!

[welshintirol]

Hi there mumsnetters!

So I had my 8 week Scan here yesterday (considered normal not early where I live) but before that I was advised to go and get my thyroid checked as my tsh was high (5.37).... the result of this was that the thyroid consultant said my thyroid is functioning normally but my magnesium was v low. Have been prescribed magnesium 6 times a day for the next month.

I'm a little reassured as he said to come back in a month but also cannot find out why I would have low magnesium or if it's something else I should be paranoid about (all you preggers ladies know what I mean by this)

Also of note should be that I'm weighing healthy weight range, and that my blood pressure is on the low side. Any of you had experience with this??

Any info welcome, like they say "knowledge is power"

Thanks.

Low(er) blood pressure in pregnancy is really common.

Its very easy to have low magnesium, you use it for loads of things and its quite tricky to eat enough of magnesium rich foods to keep your levels up. Many people are defficient and just dont know it. Probably building a baby is running your levels down!
Also check you multivitamins have a good amount of vitamin A (retinol not beta carotene) and selenium. Both of those help with thyroid function

Erm - the guidelines say tsh must be under 2.5 in the first trimester.

Are you on thyroxine?

Are you in the uk?

And, IODINE is very important for developing baby and you esp of tsh is raised. It's In dairy and white fish, and pregnacare, boots own too.

Thanks all
For your input.

No currently not on any thyroid meds. I have never had an issue with it until now. That's why my gynae referred me to the consultant but he was happy with my thyroid.

I have low blood pressure anyway. Always have had. Yesterday I was 100/60.... but I've read that magnesium supplement can make throw worse which obviously in my case wouldn't be ideal

I'm just a bit concerned because I've now been prescribed 400mg magnesium 6 TIMES A DAY. Yes I'm taking pregnacare. I also have a good varied diet with lots of magnesium rich foods....

Scan yesterday showed a foetus on track sizewise and a good heartbeat

Seems like a lot of magnesium, but I am assuming they are going to have you back in, in a couple of weeks to re check your levels. They might be hitting it hard because low thyroxine levels in pregnancy arent great and if there is another cause, they will want to get on it and resolve it. If you are not scheduled to go back in for a recheck in about 2 weeks, i would be pushing for it, and repeat bloodwork on your magnesium and TSH. It also is worth pushing for a T3 and free T4 test which give you the fullest picture on your thyroid status.

You need to get on thyroxine urgently. Overactive thyroid can be dangerous to the child. Please call your gp first thing on Monday.

Antihop means Underactive.

It's not great - but for reassurance due to various unforeseen issues my tsh was 13 at that point and I was in thyroxine (manufacturing issue). Baby was very low birth weight as my placenta was small but a very bright and happy child now. During the second trimester the baby starts to develop its own thyroid top. However, it's not great for you and I do think monitoring would be useful, after birth as well.

Tsh ranges are lower in pregnancy. I'm not aware of low magnesium affecting thyroid - usually low iodine and selenium and iron. If you're on pregnacare that's great as that's got the right amount of iodine.

Skin is supposed to absorb magnesium really well. I don't know if a magnesium spray or Epsom salt baths might help?

Just seen you're 8 weeks - it's usually between 8-14 you need the most thyroxine. I'd call gp again on Monday and ask them to speak to a consultant endocrinologist at the hospital, which I believe is in the nice guidelines.

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroidism#!scenario:3