Underactive thyroid in pregnancy -- anyone know anything?

[DonnyLass]

Hi

I am 12 weeks pregnant with second child ... after 1st I developed an underactive thyroid - well it kind've gave up for a while then righted itself.

Doc said I need to keep an eye out for symptoms during this pregnancy as thyroid can play up again ... and sure enough I've had a really sore throat for a couple of weeks, have got tired (although fatigue in first trimester high anyway) and muscles aching.

Not had any pregnancy-type /miscarriage pains at all but a little worried.

Anyone had experience of this?

Also -- I read that there is some evidence (allbeit very few studies) that maternal thyroxine levels are important at certain stages of pregnancy for development of the baby. Anyone know anything more about this?

Thanks in advance if you can help.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. I have had an under active thyroid for about 7 years. During my pregnancy they kept an eye on this by doing a blood test every 3 months from memory. They had to increase the dose of thyroxine during pregnancy after blood tests showed it needed to be put up.

My sister was the same as yourself and developed the problem late in pregnancy and it righted itself after.

Personally if i was in your shoes, i would ask for thyroid blood test from your midwife/ doctor. The result will be back within 5-7 days and this will put your mind at rest. I would then request another test in 3 months time and this will reassure you. Just tell them that you had a thyroid problem with your first pregnancy.

My little girl was fine and my sisters little boy too. Best of luck

Under active thyroid symptoms are really wishy washy and hard to spot, you generally feel knackered, which sums up early pregnancy anyway! So ask for the blood test

That's really helpful thank you.

My doctor did say I should get tested regularly through the pregnancy and I requested that test as part of routine blood screening at my booking-in visit around 6 weeks. I haven't seen the midwife again yet, and I've developed thyroid symptoms in the past couple of weeks so I think I'll call to toady and request a test.

Fortunately I've been taking a pregnancy nutritional supplement since I was about 4 weeks and just checked the ingredients -- 140 micrograms of iodine is included whih I've read is the recommended daily dose ... so even if I have develeped a defiiency again then there has been some supplementation.

I'm watching with interest as my underactive thyroid was only diagnosed during tests just before I got pregnant again! I'm so so tired, but also find it hard to distinguish from normal pregnancy tiredness!

Hi I am 31 wks with number 6. I have an under active thyroid for about 7 years and through 3 pg's. I agree that you should be having regular blood tests to monitor levels and not rely on symptoms which can be misleading when pg. Good luck xx

You need to get it checked as it sometimes leads to problems for the baby - they'll need to check that the baby doesn't have low thyroid levels after birth (far more serious for a developing child than for an adult) I developed hypothroidism after having DS2 (have a family history of it) and I was closely monitored during my pg and labour with DD. She had to go for weekly bloodtests until they were sure her thyroid was working correctly.

I developed underactive thyroid during pg1, wasn't diagnosed until 6 mths post-partum ( i thought being that tired was normal, doh). gradually settled on 100mcg thyroxine. got pg2 and was straight away referred to endocrine consultant, thyroxine up by 25mcg (standard practice at UCH) and levels then stayed normal during pg2. 4 weeks after pg2, levels were getting too high, back down to 100mcg now, due for review next week. congrats, and good luck!

was tested every month during pg2. we also have a family history - maternal grandfather had inactive thyroid, very unusual in men.

So -- an update

My dodgy thyroid playing up again
Can lead to late miscarriage
Can lead to impaired cognitive development
Obviously its important to get the levels right

Right?

So I call the gp ...
My doc is away
Receptionist wont book me in for blood tests.
Different doctor called me to discuss.
As I had tests 6 weeks ago lab wont do again.
Even tho I have developed symptoms in the last 2 weeks
Had to remind him that the consultant said tests every 68 week if I felt ill again and especially in pregnancy
Doctor then asked ME to correspond with consultant

Hillarious

So what does the average Jo without medical knowledge and confidence to keep pushing doors open do ...

Have you been booked in with a midwife yet? Maybe they could help you if you are concerned.

I have had under active thryoid for the last 7 years and am currently 19 weeks preg. I had a blood test once I found out I was preg, about 7 weeks, and my levels were fine. I'm under a consultant endocrinologist as I am a high risk preg but I am not scheduled for another blood test until this week, I am on thyroxine however.

Can you wait until your own doctor is back? Maybe they will be more considerate to your worries?

I've emailed the consultant as the replacement doc asked me too ... hopefully he'll have the authority to cut through the red-tape!

Failing that, yup, I'll wait until my regular doc is back!

Crikey! just logged on to check your responses. Your poor thing, what a nightmare you are having trying to get your thyroid monitored. I would definately ring your midwife and tell her how worried you are and , these people of so righteous sometimes. It makes me really annoyed when doctors and receptionists wont listen.
The other option is to lie! Just say that you have spoken to a consultant who said it would be best to check you regularly. There are so many consultants who often have second and third in commands, they wont know. In the meantime speak to your midwife who hopefully will recommend that you see a consultant and book you an appointment soon.

Just remembered after reading the other comments, My dd1 had a blood test at the hospital a week or so after she was born to check her thyroid too. This is really important and again i had to push to remind them of this.

Other symptoms are dry skin on the body, but generally you feel about 80 years old and dont have the energy for anything. You can also feel a little depressed with it. Mornings are generally the worst as you find you cannot get going, and then mid afternoon you are shattered again! What fun!

If you had a test about 6 weeks ago, try not to worry too much, if anything drastic was happening it would have shown up then. But keep pushing for regular blood tests/ check ups, Best of Luck

Blimey, it shouldn't be such a struggle to get a medication that is sooooooo important your and your baby's health and wellbeing. It makes me sooooooooooo mad.

I've had an underactive thyroid for 8 years. This my first pg and I'm really lucky that my GP is great. My MW however didn't really know anything about it.
I've seen an Endocrine Consultant since I was 12wks pg every 4 to 6 weeks. I'm, now 26wks pregnant and all is okay so far.

One trick I've learnt along the way is when you do get to see consultant get him to sign a few blood forms (the ones with the plastic bag attached to the bag) so that no one at your GP Practice has to sign anything, you then don't have to see a Dr etc. The practice nurse can simply take your blood, put it in the form/bag and get it sent off. A whole lot less hassle than trying to explain to a stubborn receptionist that you need to see a Dr for a blood test.

Also, it's really important to agree how it will be managed after your pregnancy if you're intending to BF as your thyroid levels can affect your milk production. Agree who'll be responsible for checking your levels.

And finally.....if you are stil underactive after your pregnancy you can apply for a Medical Exemption certificate (which works similar to your Maternity Exemption certificate) for prescription charges.

Hope this helps and good luck xx

Good Point jonandluc, thats a really good idea. My Mw did not know a great deal re thyroid problems, so its best to be as assertive as you can in this situation.

Hi Donnylass, just wanted to add that I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) just before I got pregnant and when I put it on my forms at my first midwife appt last week she referred me straight to a consultant. So could be worth going through your antenatal unit/midwife. I think that the risks are greatest in 1st trimester (mc) then 3rd (cognitive development) - I could be wrong but if this is the case you may ahave a bit of time. But basically a consultant will need to get you on teh right level of thyroxine ASAP.

This is all great thanks so much.

I heard back from the consultant (who's great) who basically told the surgery to get me booked in for tests and said every 6-8 weeks was fine. Apparently he also runs a thyroid-pregnancy clinic at the local hospital every week to that I can go to.

Also .. just had my 12 week scan this morning and baby looks great so that has reassured me no end ... was a private appt and sonographer very thorough.

It will be ok I'm sure, but I suspect it'll be the same silly battle via the receptionist every 6 weeks to just get the bloods taken!