Hashimoto's Pregnancy -

[ceebee21]

Hello,

Just wondered if anyone wanted to join who has either been through or going through a pregnancy with hashimotos.

I have just found out I am pregnant; had 1 MMC and 2 cp since July 19, so really hoping this one sticks.

I had bloods done just before BFP, TSH was 0.6, then re done yesterday and has gone up to 2.6.

I am assuming GP will increase my thyroxine, but not heard back yet.

Thanks

Hi @ceebee

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I'm pregnant with my second atm and have had hashinotos for both.

For my first my TSH was checked just before I got pregnant (ivf pregnancy) and it was 0.54, i went to see the GP as soon as I got my bfp as I knew the thyroxine needed increasing (so I was only 4 weeks pregnant) GP said hold off for blood test result as my TSH was quite low - however blood test showed it had already jumped to 2.4 even though I was only 4 weeks! So I went up on my dose (pre pregnancy 75/100 and once pregnant 125mcg)

I then had my TSH checked every 4 weeks until I saw the endocrinologist at about 18 weeks who said I could have blood tests less often.

After pregnancy went back to my pre pregnancy dose.

This pregnancy my TSH was again fine before hand and as soon as I got bfp went back up to 125mcg. I'm 20 weeks now TSH has been fine and specialist said I only need it checking once in second and third trimester.

I hope my personal experience helps / you def need to increase your dose ASAP - if the GP seems unsure press them on it and ask them to call an endocrinologist for advice!

Let us know how you get on!

@hoping2018 you give so much hope x 😊 so great to hear positive news .

@ACatCalledLola I feel like in the Uk all they care about is the tsh level of the see it under 4 they are like it’s normal. But all we want is some support for all of our levels we want our t4 to be at a normal level too :( wish they understood - I’m 16 week pregnant and due in October they gave me an endocrinologist appointment for August what good does that do?

@Zaalfruit I think it’s very poorly understood and there’s very little research. I saw an endocrinologist at the beginning of the year and was told not to ttc because it would end in miscarriage. I got the distinct impression that it would just be too much bother for him. I saw another privately who was of the view that it can be managed in pregnancy if monitored closely.
When I registered with a midwife I called up and asked about seeing a specialist for thyroid issues and was told that they couldn’t do anything until after booking in. At booking in they gave me an appointment for 28 weeks which is August too. Luckily I had already gone straight to the endocrinology department at the hospital and got onto the thyroid pregnancy clinic so I see someone monthly. They have been excellent. Is this an option for you?

@hoping2018 thank you for this. Sounds just like me, creeped up to 2.6 from 0.6 in 2 weeks, so think mine needs increasing. I am going to speak to my GP tomorrow morning as I now have a telephone appointment. I do have an endocrinology appt (set up after MCs) but that's not until July...so if GP doesn't do anything I am going to ring them. I did take 25mcg extra today as just not happy with their response.

X

@ACatCalledLola yes sounds like a good option.

I have an appt in July, so may ring the hospital and ask about seeing / speaking to them now due to pregnancy.

@ceebee21 sorry if I missed it - when are you due?

Does anyone cut out any Specific food due to thyroid function - my doctor told me to limit my milk intake and go for alternatives like almond or coconut milk .

@ceebee21 I also had an appointment booked for a couple of months later. I emailed them and said I needed to change it to an appointment ASAP as I was pregnant and was aware that it needed to be closely monitored during pregnancy. I got an appointment 5 days later. My last appointment was a telephone one. I think they’re doing them as much as possible now.

@Zaalfruit I am only 4+5, but obviously want to get it under control now.

@ACatCalledLola that is a good idea, I just don't know who to email?!

Guess I could call the number on the letter and see If I can get one!

More then happy with a telephone call, just want to discuss with someone.

Still haven't had a call from the GP - was meant to be between 8.30 and 9.30

x

@ceebee21 my appointment letter had a phone number and an email address. I spent ages trying to get through on the phone so gave up and emailed and they got back to me a few minutes later. I would call first if there’s a chance they’ll answer.

If anyone has any problems just send your GP this:

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

Has great advice and is uk based. Very clear.

I didn't see (this pregnancy telephone call for obvious reasons) until 16-18 weeks. The GP should refer you straight away though and I got a letter from my local hospital saying similar advice to the link above. As long as you have regular blood tests and in the ranges stated above and gone up on dose there's really not much to do.

I also got an extra scan in my first pregnancy but that was because it was ivf and my thyroid, combination of both.

Hashimotos is the same as positive thyroid antibodies so the bottom one on the list in the guidance

Sorry should have said "I didn't see the endocrinologist"

Also drinking milk has absolutely nothing to do with thyroid function! Where did they get this advice from?!

Thanks all,

spoke with GP and she won't increase my dosage until i have spoken with the consultant next Thursday, as thinks I should seek specialist guidance.

Very frustrated, ended up crying and putting the phone down lol.

The baby stopped growing at 5.5 weeks last time which is next week, so very anxious.

x

@ceebee21 so have you increased your dose yourself? The advice is to take an extra 25mg as soon as you get a positive test, so just do that. If you’ve only got 50s you can take one every other day.

The thing to remember is that it takes at least 3 weeks for a new dose to show an effect in your bloods, so you shouldn’t be tested more regularly than this as it won’t be accurate - e.g. it could show a high TSH that is actually on its way down.

@Zaalfruit never heard of cutting out milk?! The only one I know is that soy is bad for thyroid so I don’t drink soya milk and avoid other soy products (do still have soy sauce occasionally though!).

@HarrietM87

Well, I have taken an extra 25mcg every other day, but yes could increase to every day.

It is really frustrating, obviously I don't want to go against doctors advice, but at the same time, also don't want to under medicate.

Guess I could increase by 25mcg each day, then re evaluate with the consultant next week and see what he says.

my worry is running out of medication now that I only have one month supply of my normal dose etc.

Also re diet... I have read in lots of places that gluten free can help with the antibodies, so i have done that since January (don't think it has actually helped)

Did anyone of you with thyroid issues have troubles ttc? My friend has this and has been trying to conceive with years with no joy. She had one child in her early 20s and they put her on levothyroxiene but then was told to come off it when the pregnancy ended. I wondered if she's ttc should she go back on it?

@ceebee21 sorry you’ve probably said this but when was your last blood test and had you already increased your dose by then? And what dose of thyroxine were you on before you conceived?

@Gratitudeiseverything she needs to have her thyroid levels checked. Hypothyroidism can lead to troubles conceiving so she should ask her GP to check.

@Gratitudeiseverything I was told due to my age and conditions I would be unlikely to conceive by one doctor however another one said I would fine once my thyroid issues were under control. I had only been trying around 10/11 months so we very surprised. My last tsh level check (months before finding out i was pregnant) was 1.9 so was doing well at that point. I assume it improves your chances once your levels are stable.

I would like to say to everyone on this thread and to OP that it's so nice to know others with similar issues on here as I think the friends I have told so far dont understand a lot of my problems or why I'm more super careful than perhaps I would have been if I was perfectly healthy. So thank you all

Hi ceebee,

Sorry you had such a bad experience with the GP - download the guidance I have put below and then call GP surgery back and ask if you can email over some guidelines which state you should be going up on your dose ASAP.

Ask to speak to a different GP for second opinion too?

I had issues with my GP not knowing guidance when I needed referring for infertility and I emailed then guidance I found - had a referral by end of the day and an apology letter! I do feel for them they can't know everything and must be very busy at the moment.

Good luck

@HarrietM87

Hiya, it's ok.

So, Feb 20 I was on 125mcg / 100mcg alternating each day and my bloods showed TSH 6miu/L no T4 tested.
My dosage was increased to 125mcg every day from then

6 weeks later - Mon 6th April (1 day after OV) I had follow up bloods done - TSH 0.6miu/L dosage remained the same

Tuesday 21st April - couple days after BFP, bloods done and TSH 2.6miu/L dosage not increased myself at this point, as was waiting until GP discussed etc.

And now obviously she thinks 2.6 is ok and that I should wait until next week.

Thanks

@graditudeiseverything

I struggled to conceive - diagnosed with hasmitotos just as I started trying. I had my thyroid checked every 2 months whilst trying - ended up having ivf for several reasons and conceived 2 years later. Interestingly my second pregnancy was natural.

I have read somewhere that when you first get hashimotos can make it hard to conceive. If TSH is

@ceebee21 so you’ve increased your dose by 25mg on alternate days since getting a TSH result of 2.6?

There’s no point in doing another blood test until 4 weeks from your last one, as it won’t reflect the increase, so you should be tested again until w/c 18 May I’d say. 2.6 is only just outside the normal range in pregnancy so don’t worry about it doing any harm to your baby. Also it may well have come down since then as you’ve increased your dose.

It’s up to you whether to stick with what you’re doing or to go up to an extra 25 every day. The latter is what’s recommended so I’d be surprised if your endocrinologist disagrees. It’s great that you’ve been so on it and I really don’t think you need to panic.