Early pregnancy and advice re: appointments and underlying health issues

[Lyris]

Hi all

I'm completely new to all this and after some advice. I am 7 weeks pregnant with my first however have some underlying problems that I would have thought meant I would have been called in early for scans / appointments/ reviews etc however have just had my scan date through for the 13 weeks point.

I suffer with:
Hashimotos disease - autoimmune
Hypothyroidism
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (a neurological condition where I have too much fluid around the brain)
ME
Vitamin D deficiency
Suffer with high BP although not medicated
And am on iron tablets on and off due to fluctuating levels.

I am also 36 and overweight.

I havnt been told how much to increase my thyroid meds by even though I know it needs to happen and soon.

Would this be normal for someone with these issues? I know the NHS is absolutely got more important things going on right now and rightly so... I just dont like the thought of having been glossed over if I should have been kept an eye on more closely if that makes sense?

Thanks

Ordinarily your thyroid level would be checked asap as your dose may need adjusting. Could you get a telephone appointment with your GP to discuss perhaps? Alternatively, and not ideal and do your own research, but women are often advised to increase their dose by 25mg as soon as they find out they are pregnant, so you could explore whether that is an option for you if you can't get an appointment.

Thanks @squee123 I've rang the GP who is going to ring me back but since my last thyroid test (a week ago) came back "normal" although she wouldnt tell me what it was... doesnt look like they are going to do anything.

I've read the nice guidelines and know it should be below 2.5 but wouldn't tell me the figure. May end up going back to my private endo if this continues.

@Lyris just start taking more thyroxine now. What dose are you on? The guidance says you should normally increase by 25mg on a positive test. For reference my TSH in the month before I conceived was 1.12. I had a test at 4.5 weeks pregnant and it had gone up to 3.4, even though I had already upped my thyroxine by 25mcg. I’m now on 50mcg more than my usual dose at 8 weeks pregnant and have just had my levels checked for the second time.

PS as you probably know, “normal” is under 4 so you could still be outside the pregnancy reference range - they need to tell you the exact number.

Hopefully she will give me the number when she rings back. I dont know why it's so difficult, usually they give me my numbers no issues because I used to see a private endo so they were happy to give me print outs and everything to take to him.

My last TSH in october was 1.95 which is the lowest I've ever been so I imagine it wont be difficult to make it jump by 0.55!

I'm on 100mg daily at the moment and only have 100mg tablets. I could try cutting them in half and taking them every other day I guess?

@HarrietM87 just had the call back from the gp. Tsh 4.5 ... she wont raise the meds and says this is normal and if the obstetrician isnt happy with it, they will raise it. I've explained I'm not seeing anyone until 13 weeks for my scan and she said that it can wait until then. I'm livid. I know that's all wrong and told her so she said she will ask someones advice

@Lyris yes she is completely wrong and it could be dangerous for the baby. I think you should up your dose yourself. See here for info to show your GP if needed:

www.btf-thyroid.org/pregnancy-and-thyroid-disorders-guidance-for-patients

I really would not be happy with that level at all. Can you email your private endo?

Thanks both. For the time being I've just upped my meds myself cos im not risking it. Luckily I have enough to last me for a bit.

I have phone appointment with antenatal nurse on thursday so im going to raise hell with them to get a grip of it. If not, I will go to the endo.