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!

How often are you being tested? Currently I am going for tests every 4 weeks, my GP has told me he is happy to do this for the duration of my pregnancy, he even phoned me as soon as my last results were back to say they were all fine and he had left me a copy at reception! He is an extremely good doctor and I think he was mortified that I had to point out the whole hypothyroidism during pregnancy thing.

You really want to aim for your TSH to be 2 or under, this may happen when you up again by 25mcg, I wouldn't really up it any more as you may shoot right over into hyperthyroidism so palpitations, anxiety etc., give the extra 25mcg a chance and see what your results are in 2 weeks. Obviously if you are worried then do discuss it with your GP / Consultant, the risk to baby are always stressed as being to UNTREATED hypothyroidism, but I really do understand your anxiety. (see Tumblebug's results, TSH 6 in previous pregnancy).

Hope you get it sorted Clarella. I still haven't seen a specialist and I was refered 8 weeks ago, thank goodness I know how to deal with it.

Thanks Shellybobs - It's sort of working out at every 4 weeks, Im just puzzled the results took so unusually long to come back, 10 days in total.

I'm also being investigated for slapped cheek at mo and off work () - honestly usually very fit and healthy! Just back from docs and was told I was not immune to that so spent more time discussing the work situation etc. I don't usually see that doctor - Ive begun to see her simply as she's managing the slapped cheek stuff (and been lovely about it) and she said that only TSH had been done which was just over 5 - she obviously didn't know about the below 2 TSH thing as said only a little over but as I was put up to 175mcg last week I wasnt going to push. I had been querying when to get my next blood test - before meeting the consulant in 2 weeks (so nearly 3 weeks after second upping of 25mg) so that he had blood info, or if he would do the tests - she actually said because Im getting the next slapped cheek blood test in 2 weeks why not get them done at same time... Arghh its so confusing! That could be too soon!?

I think I'll just go ahead and get it then, before I see the consultant and then discuss it all with him/her! I agree I don't want to go any higher at mo, and actually wonder if my T4 has been ok as I usually (sorry tmi) get really constipated, and haven't - apart from a day of special K binging!

Im really trying to eat foods with iodine as usual (not crazy stuff just the frequent dairy and eggs and limited fish etc plus the pregnacare which has it) so really hoping the sprout not affected by lack of T4.

I am going to a thyroid foundation meeting in July about thyroid in pregnancy and am putting posters around and about. Its being led by a consultant so will feed back any useful info.

Ah yes, Tumblebug's post is reassuring :), thanks xx

No problem Clarella :)

Yes get the blood test again in 2 weeks, I think it actually takes about 10 days to get into your system but don't quote me on that.

As for results, they are usually back within a couple of days, I know at my surgery it says on it when sent and when results are back, it's actually emailed the same day. I usually ring up 2 days after.

Lucky you with the thyroid meeting, I really don't think I'll get to see the consultant now, I'm signing myself over to Midwife led care at 28 weeks anyway. I did see a obs at my last scan, that was a complete waste of time, 'how are you feeling etc.'.

Yes feedback the info you get there, it will be interesting reading. Good luck :)

If anyone is interested it's in newcastle, on a Sat, i'll look up which date and post here.

Thanks Shelley, So I may not actually see a consultant? I have a scan and then right after (presumably if all is well) quote: "An out patient appointment with: consultant (or team member) service: obstetrics (NEW)"

The 'or team member' bit makes me wonder if its a random junior doc!

I don't know Clarella, my hospital is nationally known as crap (Tameside) so I wasn't surprised with the service I got, although the maternity used to be the only good thing about that hospital. My doctor can't even believe that I haven't seen a specialist yet, so I don't know, I'm not due back there now until the end of next month so I really doubt I'll see anyone now it's disgusting really.

Unfortunately Newcastle is a bit far for me, I'm in Manchester :)

Shelly, that is bad, good you know so much :)

If anyone else was interested this is the meeting:

Saturday 14 July 2012 9.45am ? 12 noon
The Bewick Hall, Level 2
Newcastle City Library
33 New Bridge Street West
Newcastle upon Tyne
(5 minutes walk from Monument Metro)
Programme: "Going through pregnancy when you have a thyroid problem"

Speaker: Dr Jean MacLeod, FRCP, Consultant Physician, University Hospital of North Tees and Hartlepool

For more info and to contact the group (if you want to attend) see:
here

Hi sorry to resurrect, I realise many who may have advice may not be about but any advice/ reassurance appreciated!

Basically my latest test at 13 weeks had a tsh of 11.1.

(Pre preg: tsh 1.35, on 125 mcg upped by 25 on bfp at 5 weeks.
At 8 weeks: tsh 5.5 - odd delay of nearly 2 weeks getting results possibly as mw took blood, was upper by 25mcg to 175.)

Saw consultant after lovely scan, he wacked me up to 225. He was trying to be as reassuring as possible and said there's a lot of time left in the pregnancy to support the baby re growth and development but I'm still quite upset and worried. (always get really panicky and low when hypo anyway which hasn't helped).

He did say he'd have gone up 50 at the 8 week one. He's tested for antibodies to see if there's something more going on (i went hypo at 21 when went in pill I believe, it went normal when I came off but then stayed hypo after taking it for a while again when about 23. a doc once commented on antibodies years a go but no more than that)

Does anyone have a similar experience? I'm quite small, not even 9 stone yet at 14 weeks and the massive increase in tsh had concerned me, as do the antibodies.

Thanks in advance

Hi maples, thanks for your reply. sorry I think this may become an essay! - I'm not bothered taking so much thyroxine if its going to fix me, more about the ongoing massive jump in tsh despite two increases since my bfp - how damaging etc. The consultant has reassured by pointing out what an impact can be positively done from now on but the niggle remains as always! Also what the antibody stuff entails - should I ring to find out results or just wait?

I've another blood test in 3 weeks, and then see the consultant the week after. I think I have to trust him - at least he is doing an antibody screen - throughout I've asked for t4 to be done, and the last gp even requested it but it still wasn't done by the lab - I don't get it?! The consultant said tsh is a much better guideline as more stable.

I suppose my other concern is how much of this has affected my anxiety and mood - I've been off work for 4 weeks in 'quarantine' following some slapped cheek cases (not immune and didn't feel work monitored cases accurately) and steadily the guilt, anxiety and paranoia skyrocketed. I have literally been bonkers, was suspicious of everyone including DH at one point, and then last week was just terribly depressed. Initially I was working from home but found it all too stressful - my worry now is trying to explain to work how it may have been exacerbated by thyroid - ive had a chat with the head explaining everything, touching base and planning for an early return following docs on weds despite my sicknote lasting longer,- but I didn't actually discuss how much thyroid could have impacted on my state of mind with the consultant, though I think it has, which my head asked. thing is I feel I have to show willing and as my class all have severe autism don't want want to leave it till after half term, if doc says its ok.

I have a doc appt for the slapped cheek clearance in weds and might discuss then? Does anyone have experience of 'loss of marbles' with thyroid? I've had it before when hypo but it was a gradual decline - Or is it all just pregnancy? After 5 days on the mega dose now 14 weeks, I feel calmer and more balanced, would that be the case?!

Yup, an essay! Sorry! - just hate it when I can't cope :( and usually caused by my bloody thyroid.

Hi maples, thanks for your reply. sorry I think this may become an essay! - I'm not bothered taking so much thyroxine if its going to fix me, more about the ongoing massive jump in tsh despite two increases since my bfp - how damaging etc. The consultant has reassured by pointing out what an impact can be positively done from now on but the niggle remains as always! Also what the antibody stuff entails - should I ring to find out results or just wait?

I've another blood test in 3 weeks, and then see the consultant the week after. I think I have to trust him - at least he is doing an antibody screen - throughout I've asked for t4 to be done, and the last gp even requested it but it still wasn't done by the lab - I don't get it?! The consultant said tsh is a much better guideline as more stable.

I suppose my other concern is how much of this has affected my anxiety and mood - I've been off work for 4 weeks in 'quarantine' following some slapped cheek cases (not immune and didn't feel work monitored cases accurately) and steadily the guilt, anxiety and paranoia skyrocketed. I have literally been bonkers, was suspicious of everyone including DH at one point, and then last week was just terribly depressed. Initially I was working from home but found it all too stressful - my worry now is trying to explain to work how it may have been exacerbated by thyroid - ive had a chat with the head explaining everything, touching base and planning for an early return following docs on weds despite my sicknote lasting longer,- but I didn't actually discuss how much thyroid could have impacted on my state of mind with the consultant, though I think it has, which my head asked. thing is I feel I have to show willing and as my class all have severe autism don't want want to leave it till after half term, if doc says its ok.

I have a doc appt for the slapped cheek clearance in weds and might discuss then? Does anyone have experience of 'loss of marbles' with thyroid? I've had it before when hypo but it was a gradual decline - Or is it all just pregnancy? After 5 days on the mega dose now 14 weeks, I feel calmer and more balanced, would that be the case?!

Yup, an essay! Sorry! - just hate it when I can't cope :( and usually caused by my bloody thyroid.

Oh crikey sorry you got two essays there! (blush!)

Ditto Maples posts. One christmas I actually thought I had dementia (not joking) because my mind was in that much of a state and I knew that nobody understood what the hell was going on. I was just a mess, crying, didn't want to be around anyone. I had got into such a spiral that I was forgetting to take my tablets and slowly getting worse, my hubby then made sure I had them everyday after my Christmas 'breakdown' and within a week I was back to normal.

Ah thanks so much maples! That really helps. I rang the hospital and they were great - if the antibodies come back and need treatment i'll get a letter, not back yet. Good news is that when I was tested last Thursday tsh was 9 and t4 16 (tsh was 11 just 4 days before) so it was obviously starting to coming down anyway even without the mega dose!

Yep, was wacked on antidepressants at 20 (now 35) which really disagreed with me before finally being tested for thyroid, and I sometimes wonder if half my anxiety is cos of that horrid experience which, when well, I cleverly erase from my memory! It certainly fuels my worry about all this in pregnancy but I can't knock back a beta blocker as I usually do! I always start to get anxious before I become depressed when it goes under though.

I did have a (scary) chat with my head - technically I'm not off ill, just can't be at work in case of infection so she could have asked me to work elsewhere but I did tell her last week how much the anxiety was affecting me, and today that the thyroid probably was contributing to it, but that id like to get back before half term (even though sicknote extends to Friday). I think its the sensible thing to do as I feel I need to show willing. I have not been able to relax or put 'feet up' as the deputy said at all I've been so low ( i will regret that in the future I know!) To their credit they haven't contacted me (though my manic teaching assistant wad haranging me with all the gory disasters due to me not being there not getting that I really didn't want to know!) The kids have severe autism thus my mega guilt but have to think of my baby now!

Anyway, you don't need to know all this! Thanks so much again. I definately feel brighter so bring on the energy!

Oh wow shellybobs, sorry missed post, you poor thing. Sorry to hear that.

its horrid but sort of reassuring to hear others experience it too. I once convinced my self I was bipolar. Last time was bad (tsh 13) a few years ago id look at my then very passive gorgeous bunch of nine autistic 11 year olds who all looked like they needed a nap all day long and struggled with their 'executive function' and problem solving ability and I'd think - "I know exactly how you feel." It was bliss though as they were so laid back but took ages to deal with the depression. I was doing an intensive course on autism that year and decided we definately loose our 'executive function' when hypo - in autistic kids (and adhd or other difficulties) it can lead to intense anxiety, and is like a sort of dementia so no wonder we think we are going loopy.

Oo look what I found: (sorry on HTC)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/16212680/

Ok, brain cells definately getting better!

Thanks for the advice peeps xx