Thyroid and pregnancy

[Whoisdis]

So I'm now just over 6 weeks pregnant and only just managed to get my thyroid checked after keep bothering my gp - they kept telling me it wasn't necessary to be checked! In the end they requested the blood test as I was adamant it was needed.

Pre pregnancy I was at 0.32 tsh level, I'm currently at 3.2 tsh level and that's after an increase in levothyroxine advised by a private gp. The worst part is on my gp notes it states anything over 2.0 means the thyroid replacement is too low, however no further action needed??

Now I need to wait until Monday to contact my gp to make it known I have seen the results via the nhs app and they will be increasing my dosage.

Anyone have any words of advice? I'm so frustrated with them. This isn't the first time I've had trouble with them, I've preciously been for thyroid blood test where they tested everything but 🤷‍♀️

Stop. NICE guidelines are specific on this and you need to find them, quote them and PUSH for an immediate dose increase plus MONTHLY monitoring.

My local hospital has a monthly endocrinology clinic that I would go to monthly. If they’re not doing that you need to be proactive and push, and be prepared to change GP if they don’t take it seriously.

@LividHouse thank you, I've googled loads but NICE guidelines are very wordy so haven't understood much but I will check them out before I contact. Do you think this is something needing to be looked at before Tuesday? So like private consult or 111 or wait for my regular gp?

They're notes state patient informed which I've not been I've sought my results on the app myself. Will definitely be bringing that up too!

After several losses I got to the stage of adjusting my dose myself if I knew I was under.

Doctors do not recommend.

If you have a private GP, get them to approve it.

I’m having similar. I am 10 weeks pregnant and don’t have a thyroid so take levothyroxine. When I was about 5 weeks my levels were 2.5 and I asked my GP if I should up it and she said my pregnancy consultant will do it. Had my levels re checked it’s gone Il t0 3.88 and I don’t have an appointment until 26th June. So I’m similar and not really sure what to do.

sorry not much advice but I share your frustrations

@LividHouse thank you will see what I can do over weekend before I rip my gp a new one!

@Star2023 sorry to hear you're having issues too! It's ridiculous so many women have this issue but no one seems to know how to manage it 🤯
I only pushed for gp blood test as I had a private online consult through husbands work benefits and they told me it was an immediate need to get it checked, she also recommended the increase.

I have attached the NICE guidelines for hypo/hyperthyroidism in pregnancy that are relevant to you and highlighted the main points for you to concisely say to the GP regarding management.
Mainly that they need to urgently contact an endocrinologist to advise on dosage of medication and arrange frequent monitoring. When you get your booking appointment with your midwife they will flag the thyroid issue and you will receive an appointment with an obstetrician also.
Hope you can get somewhere, services are so stretched at the moment and it really saddens me to see how they are letting patients down.

I wouldn't worry too much. I'm 22 weeks and had my thyroid checked 2 weeks ago and tsh was 6.8. The GP upped my thyroxine to 200mg and hopefully it should come down. This is my third pregnancy and it's always been up and down with no complications.

I wouldn't worry too much. I'm 22 weeks and had my thyroid checked 2 weeks ago and tsh was 6.8. The GP upped my thyroxine to 200mg and hopefully it should come down. This is my third pregnancy and it's always been up and down with no complications.

@Nursemumma92 thanks for that, I will use that when I speak with them. Thankfully my booking appointment is in 2 weeks so not too long. I was surprised they didn't flag the thyroid issue when I noted it on my registration form.

@Tryandtryagain02 I'm just concerned as everything you read talks about higher risk of miscarriage and with this being first pregnancy I'm already anxious.

Now I'm not sure which are pregnancy and which are thyroid symptoms! When my levels are too high I have constant hunger and extreme tiredness and I'm experiencing this with slight nausea and sore boots currently.

Hi @Whoisdis / everyone!

So sorry to jump onto your post to ask a question, but I'm really struggling to find information.

My partner and I are doing IVF, my thyroid levels in March were 0.33 (down from 0.63 in Sept) I've been asking the clinic since March 'should we be taking anything for this as its too low' and only today have they come back to say 'actually yeah maybe'

We're about to have another embryo transfer and I'm worried we'll need to push it back another few months as we've been told up till now it's fine at 0.33. @Whoisdis can I ask if your TSH level was an issue with conception or with your pregnancy?

Again so sorry to jump onto your post, I hope your pregnancy is progressing well x

I’m so sorry this has been your experience OP! I’m 11 weeks now. As soon as I told my GP I was pregnant they automatically increased my levothyroxine dose by 25mcg. I then got my levels checked at my booking in appt at 8 weeks and the midwife suggested I have monthly bloods and to sort that through my GP. Could your midwife help you make your case? Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy too 😊