TSH 8.2 first trimester - bit worried.

[Picklesandpies]

Hi,

Second post from me today. I had my thyroid removed four years ago (hyperthyroidism.) TSH was fine when I was tested at 6 weeks (1. something) but now at 10 weeks it has jumped to 8.2. Thyroxine increasing by 25mg and GP not worried but I've read loads about how it can affect brain development and I'm panicking. Can anyone offer any reassurance or experience with this please?

I had a mc in April and I'm so wanting this to be a happy ending!

Thank you.

Hi there

Please try not to worry too much, I know it's usually easier said than done! I'm hypothyroid and the impression I get from my endo is your T4 has to get very low, and for a sustained period, for it to be a problem.

Also remember that the baby will take what it needs first, you're more likely to suffer the underactive symptoms than your LO (hence the very low and sustained bit above)

TSH levels are an indicator but not definitive of the amount of T4 roaming about your body. T4 levels matter more.

Mine hasn't moved much during the 30 weeks of my pregnancy so far but I know people who have gone both up and down in the dosage during the pregnancy, it's completely normal. All had healthy, happy babies.

Just push for very active monitoring and follow ups. Doctors take thyroid issues very seriously in pregnancy so you should get very good care.

Best of luck x

Hi @Tightforthyme

Thank you so much for your kind and reassuring reply. Honestly can't describe how much that's helped me to read that. I am waiting for my consultant appointment to come through so I haven't seen anyone yet. I don't know what the readings were but the midwife said my T4 and T3 were normal so that's good.

I had a ring back from my doctor since I posted and she's put my dose up by 25mg to 150mg and asked for repeat bloods in 6 weeks. I am tempted to pay for a private one in 3-4 weeks just in case it's not enough of an increase and my TSH is still going up. I know it usually takes 6 weeks to show accurately show the effect though.

I'm a bit concerned about the increased risk of miscarriage too but I had a scan yesterday and everything was fine then so trying not to focus too much on that.

So appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, thank you.

My brain obviously frazzled - GP had already called me!

No problem 😊 I know it’s really unnerving having a something like this when you’re going through pregnancy. In all likelihood the elevated Tsh levels was your body figuring out you were pregnant and firing off the signals to get the t4 ramped up. The feedback loop between tsh and t4 isn’t enormously efficient in people with thyroid issues, which is why they sometimes look a bit out of whack.

standard course with nhs is one test per trimester (or at least it is at my hospital), which you should take as comforting as that means on a statistical, risk based approach, the likelihood of going hypo for a bit isn’t that dangerous for your baby.

A good endo will ensure everything is safe for you and the bump but if in doubt, always voice concerns.