Hashimoto's thyroiditis

[Ab62470]

Hi ive been diagnosed with hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroid peroxidase antibodies are at 1300.. due to Normal thyroid levels no medication is needed so they say but I've had 4 miscarriages and levels have been at 1300 since 2020.. has anyone had a successful pregnancy without medication for hashimoto's thyroiditis? Been told as thyroid levels are fine no reason to not try again but im a bit nervous to do so, has anyone got any advice?

I'm sorry you are going through this
Yes I developed this after my first baby. Also suffered recurrant miscarriages, partly as a result of hashis. I don't believe I would have had a successful pregnancy without medication, so my advice is to push back. When you say levels are normal, what are they? Do you have symptoms? TSH should be below 2.5 for fertility ideally closer to 1. They are not the same as general, non fertility levels. They should also test T4 (not just TSH) for actual circulating hormones in your blood.
Are you under a recurrant miscarriage clinic? I think in most areas you can get a referral after 3mc.
Once the hashis is under control, you should be fine. But I'd be very wary accepting what the doctor has told you. GPs aren't great at treating thyroid issues and there is a tenancy to fob you off. It took months and a private referral before I started treatment.
I have since had a second baby after 5 miscarriages so there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. Best of luck to you x

Thanks for the reply. My tsh is 1.15 and free T4 is 15.8 with blood taken at the same time antibodies was still 1300, yes I do have a appointment with the miscarriage clinic in July will have waited a year for the appointment wonder if they will say any difference? Do you mind if I ask what levels yours were when you started medication. X

I can't remember entirely but TSH got to around 7, so it was pretty sluggish. Toon several dose changes to get it down to 2 or so. Best of luck with your long awaited appointment x

Thank you

Can Anyone else give some advice?

I’m sorry but you have been given appalling advice off your GP!!!!

Whilst your TSH level isn’t that high the mere existence of these antibodies should have been enough for them to start you with thyroxine straight away.

I always advise those with thyroid issues to join Thyroid UK’s HealthUnlocked board. It’s an active site and I was given excellent advice and guidance when I was diagnosed. They will be able to advise you on how to go back to your GP and what to say.

@Symphony830 Do you have any links/advice on getting thyroxine for just the antibodies and no raised TSH? I’ve looked at HealthUnlocked and there’s amazing info and guidance IF you meet the NICE guidelines but I haven’t seen anything for this situation?

Thanks both for your comments i lm really so confused with it all I'm hoping the appointment with the miscarriage consultant might be able to help me further i just don't think its wise to be trying again with antibodies so high, its got to cause some complications during pregnancy!?. And thank you I will have a look on that site.

OP if you join that forum and start a new thread. People will come along and advise you. Some of the admins on there have been living with thyroid conditions for decades and it’s an active site.

With regard to thyroid antibodies, the main advice given is always to avoid gluten. Apparently ‘the structure of gluten is similar to that of the structure of thyroid’, so the antibodies go into overdrive attacking the thyroid‘ because they think it’s thyroid tissue.

Do you have any close relatives with autoimmune conditions either thyroid or related - or do you have any other autoimmune diseases?

This lady, Isabella Wentz, is worth investigating as she has Hashimotos:-

https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/pregnancy-announcement/

No family history and no other autoimmune diseases at the moment and thyroid levels have been stable the last couple of years so just antibodies that are high, I've also seen that selenium can lower antibodies but dr advised this shouldn't be taken if trying for a baby, ive never come across this before or know any one who has this to ask, and doctors seem as clueless as I am!

@Ab62470 I have thyroid antibodies not as high as yours but my thyroid levels were also out of whack too. I have taken selenium whilst TTC and throughout pregnancy. I had 4 MMC and went to see a private dr for miscarriage in the end. She prescribed me prednisolone for the thyroid antibodies I took them for the first 12 weeks. I'm currently 34 weeks so something def worked.

I am 24 weeks and have hashimotos. My antibodies have been 1300+ for as long as I can remember.

Touch wood, everything is good with pregnancy. I get blood tests every month and went from no medication to 100 mg a day. TSH around 1.

I don't eat gluten and dairy as this is associated with inflammation.

bringmearainbow, Thanks for the comment was your pregnancy only successful when taking prednisolone?... Kofifi, thanks for the feedback did you ever get a reason or explanation to why antibodies were so high also how is pregnancy going is there and higher risks or anything to be more observant about? And is it just regular blood tests you have to have also what medication did you end up needing was it for the antibodies or thyroid itself thanks again xx

@Ab62470 its high because I have hashimotos. So its just a positive test that I have an autoimmune thyroid disorder. There's different opinions on if the actual value of the antibodies matters or if you can just treat it as a positive or negative result.

My endocrinologist told me that the biggest problem with thyroid disorders is that if you are hypo (associated with high TSH) it can suppress ovulation and make your cycles longer. So getting pregnant can be harder. They weren't worried about my antibodies but that doesn't mean its not an issue. Most doctors I've met just don't really care about thyroid and you need to advocate for yourself.

I get tested every month for TSH FT4 FT4 and TPO. In my first trimester my TSH rocketed from ~1 to 4.6. Because of TSH I got put on levothyroxine and it stabilized. Antibodies are still above normal but more like 100-200.So far everything has been completely normal in my pregnancy. I have no history of miscarriage or chemicals.

My non medical and unqualified opinion is that I don't think autoimmune disease is properly understood. It might be that high TPO is an issue for you but i think you will need to find a very good endocrinologist or specialist to support you.

@Ab62470
Also wanted to mention another part of my eventual success was Professor Brosens and his miscarriage research- there is a self funded implantation clinic (NHS not private) Hashis was only a part of the issue, I got pregnant and stayed pregnant the month after the treatment that they prescribed. Thyroxine definately was part of the success but not entirely.

Thanks for all the comments hopefully my upcoming appointment will help me further and I will be waiting for this appointment before we consider TTC. Xx