Underactive thyroid and pregnancy

[cumbria81]

I was diagnosd with an underactive thyroid last year and have been taking thyroxine. I have never had any of the usual symptoms (I don't have a weight problem and rarely feel tired) so the diagnosis was a bit of a surprise.

However, I am now thinking about ttc and know that hypothyroidism can cause problems in pregnancy. I've been doing some googling (always dangerous!) and it's quite scary - miscarriage, birth defects etc.

Has anyone with an underactive thyroid been pregnant and what were your experiences?

many thanks!

Hi Piesey - make sure when the bloods are done the results are either seen you you or by a specialist - if the TSH is above 2 or the T4 lower than 16 worth pushing to see an endocrinologist to discuss a change of dose.

Normal TSH (ie if you are not pregnant) is up to around 4.5 and normal T4 is I think above 12, so if you are in the normal range your GP might not register that its a problem, but low-borderline results not ideal in early pregnancy.

Also you might have seen earlier posts - best to get blood tests done as early in morning as possible as TSH falls over the course of the day.

Yes hard to say whether tiredness is pregnancy or thyroid - the difference I think is that thyroid tiredness hits you all day from the minute you wake up, pregnancy tiredness worst in afternoon / evening. Also other thyroid symptoms like cold hands/feet - and tender thyroid gland?

I have to admit I'm tired all the time, but I know what you mean, it's hard to distinguish when you're pregnant. Most GPs or MWs will just say 'oh it's normal to be tired when you're pregnant' so you aren't ever taken seriously anyway because no one can tell the difference.

Yes I am tired all day but it'ds definitely worse in teh afternoon - it also feels a bit differen to how I felt when I was diagnosed.

Thank you for the advice - I will get my bloods done asap. I hope that it'll be fine and my mind will be put at rest.

I have an underactive thyroid and am 8 weeks pregnant. I have been told as long as I keep taking my thyroxin (which was increased by 25mg to 150mg immediately I told dr I was pregnant) then everything should be ok and I will have regular blood tests to check the level is ok throughout.

My experience of pregnancy so far, speaking as someone who always fears the worst is that there are approximately half a dozen things a day that you can freak yourself out with if you are so inclined. The only answer is to be really strict with yourself and not even go there, which I am finding hard so i understand what you are saying but I don't think the thyroid thing is a huge concern to the drs anyway. You have to put your trust in what they say really.

I hope this has given you a little bit of reassurance...my only other advice is DON'T GOOGLE THINGS. If you are a bit of an anxious person it does nothing but provide excellent fuel for it. Take care and good luck x

I've had an underactive thyroid for about 6 years now.... I have an 18 month old son and had no problems with that pregnancy.

I'm pregnant again (9 weeks) and have already had my bloods checked and my thyroid levels are fine so far.

Both times I fell pregnant very quickly (first month first time round and second month second time round!) so I don't think my thyroid issues have had any negative effect on ability to conceive - and I hope that reassures some of you!

However, both pregnancies I've had pretty horrific morning sickness for the first 12 weeks, in fact this time round it has been worse than ever.

I read online that pregnancy hormones are very similar to the thyroxine medication, so I started to wonder if it was in fact my thyroxine medication that was making me feel so very very sick by effectively doubling the pesky pregnancy hormones flying around my body... It certainly felt that way! So I started taking my thyroxine at night so as not to interfere with my ante-natal vitamins and so that I could hopefully sleep through the wretched sickness. SO FAR SO GOOD, I'm feeling SO much better ever since I made this switch so I highly recommend this approach if morning sickness is getting to you.

I am convinced that my very important thyroxine meds were in some way making me feel so sick...... of course I would NEVER suggest skipping them, they are vital to your own and your babies health, but by taking them before bedtime I have improved the nausea hugely!

Oh, and the good news is, that last time the sickness stopped bang on 12 weeks - and then I glowed (partly because I was feeling so much better). So hurry up 12 weeks....

Good Luck everyone.....

Ive just miscarried at 12 weeks and wasnt aware, until the lady doing the scan mentioned, that an underactive thyroid was a common attribute. Im really cross now because i saw my doctor before trying to conceive to check that all would be ok with my condition and medication (50mcg). at no point during the 12 weeks were my levels checked or my condition given any concern, even though i brought it up at every appoinment and on every form.

Rachelle, sorry to hear about your loss. Your doctor was not well informed. According to my consultant, your thyroid levels should be checked when TTC, optimum is for TSH between 1 and 2. Thyroid levels should then again be checked monthly during pregnancy, although if stable at 28 weeks mayb be no need for further checks.

Further due to my past history I have been advised to immediately increase my dose by 25mcg on getting a BFP. In my first pregnancy taking 50mcg TSH was 0.89 on week I got BFP and then 13.8 just three weeks later. I went to GP and asked for thyroid test as I was tired, she said it was normal pregnancy and I'd only just had test but luckily I pushed for another test. She said "I didn't know it could move that fast"

Thank you. i will definately take this info to my doctor because i am going to TTC again asap. I felt so ill and tired throughtout the 12 weeks but i didnt even consider it being my thyroid. I was literally sleeping at any opportunity i got.

I've been hypo for years. When I was ttc I had my bloods done every couple of months to monitor levels. After 3 months of not getting pregnant I had a chat with doc and because I was always at lowest of the normal range no harm in upping by 25mg, got pregnant straight away. Am now monitoried every month with bloods. As long as you are monitored every month then there shouldn't be any adverse affects, it is only if it is left undiagnosed you need to be concerned. One thing I would say is be your own doctor, if the NHS maternity systems dont kick in then take yourself to docs for bloods and check results (someone forgot to ring me for 6 weeks to say my TSH wasn't right. Akways ask for the figures too so you know how you doing. x

Yes, I agree with Emmie, always actually ask for the results don't let them just say "its normal" because "normal" is a TSH up to 4.5 which is too high if you are pregnant or TTC. In my last pregnancy my dose was increased by consultant when my TSH crept above 2 even though GP said "its normal and fine".

re: tiredness IME - pregnancy tiredness - you feel ok all morning, a bit tired after lunch and exhausted in the evening.

thyroid tiredness - you feel totally and utterly exhausted from the minute you get up until you go to bed.

I have Hashimotos disease which was undiagnosed during my second pregnancy. They think now that it started following my first pregnancy.

My second pregnancy went to full term and the result is now a happy and healthy 19 month old.

I know from friends who had diagnosed underactive thyroids during pregnancy that they were watched carefully by doctors and their thyroxine doses often increased.

Good luck!

I am hypothyroid. It took me 4 and a half years of TTC for my DD. I had my TF checked during pregnancy as although I was not diagnosed at the time my sister had had a thyroidectomy during her 1st pg for being dangerously overactive. My results came back normal and that was that.....or so I thought.

When DD was about a year old I had some bloods done at work (I am a nurse) and the doc who took them requested TFT's, which I knew nothing about until they came back deranged. My hair had been falling out since I had DD and I waqs permanently shattered but had no other symptoms, I just put it down to being a new mum.

I am currently 35 weeks pg, this time round I concieved unexpectedly 2 weeks after stopping the pill (which was totally unintentional, I went away and forgot to take new pack). I am currently under shared care, have not had any extra scans, have my bloods done 4 weekly and have had thyroxine increased twice. Interestingly, I really struggled to BF last time due to lack of supply, will be curious to see how it pans out now I'm on thyroxine.

Last saw consulatant yesterday, bloods were fine, have been told to just see CMW now until birth. I have been told to drop dose of thyroxine immediately post birth and have bloods rechecked 6 weeks later. After reading this thread I may just reconsider the immediate drop to pre-preg dose and have a word with gp/ consultant in hospital should I have any probs BF this time.

Hindsight is an amazing thing......I never thought about the possible relationship between being hypo and struggling to concieve last time, nor did I relate it to probs BF. In this pg I was devastatingly exhausted for first 16 weeks, all day, every day, again I put it down to pg and not thyroid, but looking back that was prob when I had my dose increased. No morning sickness at all in either pg.

I feel a bit bloody stupid actually looking back, after all I am a nurse! Should have done my research! Never mind!

Meant also to say that it also took me a lot longer to concieve second time around, after my thyroid had gone underactive.

First time around it happened within a few months, second time it took a year. I know there are other factors that can influence conception but I did think it was relevant.

so if i see the doctor asap and explain im trying to conceive again, i must insist he checks my levels. Then see him again once i get a positive pregnancy result. Then how often? And when should i be referred to a consultant? Sorry, so many questions but i want to get it right this time

It's really complicated - I still get confused a year on from diagnosis! Best thing to do is to insist on a print out of your results and then come on here or google them. Some GP's won't treat you with border line results but that doesn't mean you don't need treatment..sceptics say it's because you get all your presc. free once you go on thryoxine as you are classed as having a chronic longterm condition - ie you have to take thyroxine for the rest of your life.

My results were borderline, but it wasn't until they tested for antibodies and I got a sympathetic GP that they agreed to treat me.

I found within 2 weeks my weight had dropped from 72 to 65 kg, my skin cleared up completely from being quite congested and prone to breakouts and my energy levels soared - plus I concieved DD3 so obviously they did need to treat me!

I am 5+6 preg and had dose increased by 25mg at 4 weeks, to 200. Am now wondering whether I should take a bit more, as that was 2 weeks ago.. Have had one mc at 5 weeks, had not increased dose that time.

This is all really interesting useful info. Ttc at the moment and I'm hypothyroid, had bloods done and that was all ok but forgot to ask whether I had to get to docs ASAP after getting a bfp. Looking at this info it seems the answer is yes, so will make sure I go sit in morning surgery rather than booking an appointment (2 week wait) if I get a bfp.

rachelle - when you start to ttc get levels checked. if TSH is towards top of range (above 2) or T4 towards bottom of range (under 16) then discuss increasing dose with GP and get checked again 6 weeks later.

when you get BFP go to GP and either:
a) discuss immediately increasing dose by 25mcg followed by blood test 5-6 weeks later
b) or no adjustment to dose BUT blood test 3-4 weeks later with a few to increasing dose then if TSH is high

Either way then get monthly tests.

BTW always best to get bloods done first thing in morning. ALso i always wait and take that days dose AFTER the test so it doesn't affect results. the reason for this is that TSH is generally lower in the afternoon so more change of a problem being picked up in the morning. taking the meds that morning should not affect tsh but might affect t4

ALSO NEVER EVER adjust your medication without discussing and agreeing with your doctor.

Hattyyellow - my sister went to see my consultant after I was diagnosed as she was also always exhausted. Her levels were borderline so consultant said no need to treat, unless she was TTC (as being borderline, or even TSH towards upper end of normal range reduces fertility) but she was very annoyed as she felt so tired all the tine. So she went back a couple of months later and said she was TTC! Within 2 weeks of starting on the medication she felt great. And after her DD was born she has continued to take the medication.

If you are TTC ask for actual results not just if its "normal"

After reading this thread I am shitting it. Didn't get levels checked til booking in at 13 weeks - they came back 16.4 T4 and 0.4 TSH.

I am supposed to see a consultant but won't get an appointment until 21 weeks - seems awfully late - also GP said it's up to the consultant to change dose?!

What should I do, do you think?

How come my GP was able to tell me to instantly go up by 25mg?
I remember going with the NHS clinical guidance thing printed out to see her, ready for a fight! - but didn't need to.
Your TSH level seems pretty good though Ibiza isn't it - don't think you should get yourself worried, but I'd go to see a different GP at the practice.

Ibizadreams From those figures it looks to me like you are slightly overmedicated rather than undermedicated. I'm pretty sure in pregnancy that they prefer to have you slightly over than slightly under so I don't think you have anything to panic about.

Ibiza - levels are fine, and would not be changed at those levels, perhaps v slightly over medicated based on TSH but T4 just right (should be above 16).

My consultant did not up my dose until TSH was over 2 (it had been creeping up) - pre-pregnancy dose was 100mcg, after BFP was 125mcg and when it was increased it was only by 3 extra 25mcg tabs a week.

hi, im currently 12 weeks with my second, im taking 250mcg daily, this was my before preg. dose and i had no problems with my first. I know they say it can lead to low birth weight but my first was 9lb half ounce! I often forgot to take my daily tablets, as i never suffered any symptons so hope this hasnt affected my unborn

marking this as want to read Leonie Delt info

My thyroid has been f**ked for 10 years, I have had 3 dcs, dd1 I know my thyroid was going down hill before I even had her but it wasn't picked up until after she was born,

ds & dd2 both fine, hospital kept close eye on me and sometimes more appointments than I would have liked, but were very good rining me to tell me when to increase thyroxine