Ok so who can tell me about the thyroid? What does it do?
My mum has found out hers is totally non functioning as well as some other issues which lead to me having some tests done last week. I got the results back today saying that my thyroid results were low, so my GP wants to put me on meds for it.
My issue is that I'm on IVF meds already & I think that might have made a difference to the results. Christy mentioned in my journal that the thyroid is responsible for FSH production so the IVF meds would definitely have affected it because at the time I was on the ones that supress FSH production.
I have to call my GP in the morning to see what's going on, but in the meantime if anyone can help that would be great
check with your doctor re the IVF stuff first, since if the drugs have caused an abnormal result, then its not something you'd necessarily want to act on.
There are two main types of thyroid condition, over active and underactive.
DH has hypothyriodism with is underactive, and symptoms include hairloss, weight gain (and can include thrush)
this is from the Thyroid Australia website:
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) is the most common thyroid disorder and usually strikes after age 40. It is more common on women than in men, and affects 6% to 10% of women over the age of 65. The signs and symptoms of an underactive thyroid are:
low energy
depression
slow heart rate
weight gain
cold intolerance
muscle fatigue
dry skin
hair loss
constipation
goitre
Hypothyroidism is diagnosed through a simple blood test. Synthetic thyroxine is a safe, effective and low-cost hormone replacement therapy. Dosing must be carefully monitored and the therapy must continue for life.
Synthetic thyroxine is one of the top three most commonly prescribed drugs in North America.
The most common cause of Hypothyroidism is an autoimmune condition called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in which antibodies and white blood cells attack the thyroid. (Information based on the Thyroid Foundation of Canada Thyrobulletin, Summer 1998, Vol 19, No. 2)
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) affects approximately 2% of women and 0.2% of men. The signs and symptoms of an overactive thyroid are:
irritability
rapid heart rate
weight loss
sleeplessness
heat intolerance
diarrhoea
Hyperthyroidism is diagnosed through a simple blood test. There are three main treatments for overactive thyroid - anti-thyroid drugs, radioiodine therapy and surgery. All are effective, though no treatment ever results in a complete cure.
Thanks Ray I'm checking with my GP in the morning what he thinks. I suspect he'll wait until I'm off the IVF meds & then test again to make sure. He's not one to medicate for nothing, so he'll probably just retest.
ah I was wrong!!! Sorry Sarah I thought that the FSH production was the thyroid... damn. I feel silly... I must have gotten that wrong on my exam. The exam was 5 years ago, but still.... strong in my head for some reason that FSH was thyroid.
So the IVF meds probably wouldn't be making a difference to my thyroid then? Who knows! I ave to ring at 9.15 tomorrow morning to talk to my GP and see what he thinks. As long as whatever he does doesn't mess with IVF I'm cool.
I'll try and write a little summary for you. It is all part of a self regulating feedback system.
The function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine, and convert it into thyroid hormones: T3 and T4. These control metabolism of all the cells in your body, hence all the side effects rayray mentioned.
The thyroid gland is under the control of the pituitary gland, When the level of thyroid hormones (T3 & T4) drops too low, the pituitary gland produces Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which stimulates the thyroid gland to produce more hormones. Similarly, if the levels are too high, then the pituarty stops secreting TSH. (FSH is also produced by pituatry, but i am unsure of its mechanisms. The pituitry secrets many of hormones)
All hormone secretions from the pituitary gland are regulated by the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is part of the brain and releases a hormone (TRH) which tells the pituitary gland to stimulate the thyroid gland (ie release TSH). (Similarly, the hypothalamus releases a different hormone to tell the pituitary to release FSH)
Summary: HYPOTHALAMUS-(TRH)---------->PITUITARY-(TSH)--->THYROID-(T3 & T4)--------> feeds back to regulate secretions.
I know i havn't really answered your qns about FSH, it would seem to me that it is part of a separate system but using the same pathways. But that is me making assumptions, sorry i cant give you a more definative answer.
Let me know if i can explain it better?! I cut and paste a bit from an old assignment, hope is makes some sense!
Sarah, I've heard that thyroid problems can affect fertility. Is it possible that with treatment for your thyroid problem (if indeed there is a problem), that you might not actually need the IVF at all? Just a thought.
Wow - what a coincidence that this thread has popped up. I am going through all this atm. I have had all the tests, including that horrible test where you are injected witjh radioactive stuff. Turns out that there is a small chance that I may have thyroid cancer. I see the specialist on Friday and I also am having a fine needle aspiration.
So thanks to all that have added posts about the function of the thyroid. It has helped me heaps.
Doh! I knew that too, I'm following your journal!! Must have been a blonde moment! But you never know, treating it might make you so fertile that it overcomes all the other issues LOL!!!! All the best with it anyway.
I'm medicated for underactive thyroid Sarah. If your thyroid is slow you have MORE TSH not less, so if your TSH was elevated it would not be related to the IVF drugs, but if your TSH was normal/low and your thyroxine (T4, they often don't test for T3 because only something like 5% of total thyroxine is in T3 form) is low it might be related to the IVF drugs. Your GP will know how to interpret the results.
As others have said, it's very important for bubs neural development and brain growth that thyroxing levels are normal and stable throughout pregnancy. Unmedicated hypothyroidism in pregnancy can result in microcephaly/severe mental retardment/learning difficulties as well as physical problems with their own thyroid glands. Most hospitals/midwives have thyroid levels checked at the first bloods taken during antenatal care, so that shouldn't be a worry.
Another thing to be aware of is that thyroid problems are often hereditary (mine were) and can be worsened by pregnancy. My thyroid was a little slow before but packed up and left town after DD was born - so even if you turn out not to be hypothyroid just now, and it's the IVF drugs skewing your blood results, keep an eye on yourself after bubs is born JIC.
If you ever want to talk abut all this you know where i am
meg-mum-of-1 i hope your aspiration goes ok. I think only about 1% of thyroid tumours are cancerous and most of those can be removed with no further treatment needed. Mine was found to be benign and has in fact almost gone without treatment beyond thyroxine supplemention. I hope your journey is as short and hassle free.
Bx
Last edited by paradise lost; August 8th, 2007 at 10:10 PM.
Thyroid??
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I thought that the FSH production was the thyroid... damn. I feel silly... I must have gotten that wrong on my exam. The exam was 5 years ago, but still.... strong in my head for some reason that FSH was thyroid.
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