Thanks so much to JodieC65, Marcellus, and Hoobley.
Sally, my GP was so good at listening to my concerns about my thyroid she called an endo then and there at our consult to get some answers, whereas my sister had to fight with her GP to get her tested a 2nd time after her first result TSH result was 4.9.
We have both now been referred to and seen a endo in Brisbane - hes great!
Has anyone with Hashi's or Hypo had elevated prolactin levels? Its meant to be under 500, and about 12mths ago i had an elevated reading and it was tested for another couple of mths and each reading was still elevated and my recent trip to the endo picked up on this and wants me tested again. He says that if it is still elevated i will need and MIR scan of my pitutary gland. Anyone with similar readings at all?
Hey to my fellow thyroid challenged buddies that ive missed!!
I'm wondering if you could give me some guidance. I had thyroid issues 12 years ago - I can't even remember if it was over or under active. It normalized after a year of medication - the dr slowly weaned me off and the tested me weekly, then monthly, then every other month etc. I've tested normal ever since....until now. I had a routine blood test 12 days ago and found out today that the results are "off ". Although I spoke to my endocrinologist for 30 seconds in advance of seeing her tomorrow, she said that one of my numbers was the high range of normal and for pregnancy she wants it lower, and thus will be putting me on thyroxine. I'll get all the details from her tomorrow (I think she said something about a 4. something) but am wondering what I should ask about and what I should expect. Of course, this has acted up just when I found out that we had success with an IVF cycle - I can't believe that I have another thing to worry about.
I've just read some of the earlier posts and am panicking that I could actually lose this baby because of my levels. Do you think it matters this early on if I start medication tomorrow?
Bulie, hi.
I guess the levels that are off are TSH (since you say 4.something...), indicating you are somewhat underactive (ie, high TSH and low T4 (thyroid hormone)) - obviously you'd better confirm this with your doctor
When I did IVF nobody specifically told me that the hormones etc would mean that I required a higher dose of thyroxine to increase my T4 (becuase of the higher estrogen levels - I should have realised but oh well). Anyway, I went to my endocrinologist at about 5.5 weeks and my TSH was about 35 - which is extremely high. Now, untreated hypothyroidism in pregnancy can affect fetal development, but I am happy to report that my DS seems perfectly normal so far....
Hyperthyroidism - ie, hormone levels too high - is more of an issue as far as the risk of miscarriage is concerned.
IF it is TSH and IF it is 4.something then it doesn't sound too dire. Hope that is the case and a small adjustment will fix things.
All the best with your pregnancy
Buliej: I've been advised that my Oroxine will need to be increased by 25 % to cover having enough for a growing fetus as that baby doesn't make its own until 12weeks.
The earlier in the pregnancy they get your levels between .2-2 the better for you and your bub which is why a lot of us are trying to get our levels in that range now before we fall pregnant and then its just a simple increase once we find out we're pregnant.
Thanks ladies - I'm just worried that it's too late - especially since my GP was sitting on these results for 10 days. I'll post more after I meet with my endo. I haven't even talked to my GP yet - I am going to tell her off - she knows I'm trying, and to sit on this I think is just awful. I won't be going back to her either.
Hi BulieJ, It does sound like it is just your TSH level and if that is at 4. something, then this is just a little fix and definately not too late to fix at all (perhaps this is why your GP sat on the results for 10 days as it is only slightly in the higher range). Also make sure you ask your GP (or OB) how often they are going to test your levels throughout the pregnancy. This will also help put your mind at ease.
When I first went to FS, he tested my thryoid (as I was already on thryoxine), he actually then decreased my medication, saying that if we could get my TSH levels lower to around 2 then this would help me get pregnant. My dosage was then increased once I was pregnant. My GP/OB then checked my levels about every 4 to 6 weeks in the first trimester. As MWB says this is so your baby gets enough thyroxine until they develop their own thryoid at about 12 weeks.
Please let us know how you get on today Bulie. It really don't think you should panic - it's not too late at all! I do totally understand your anxiety though and hope you can get some reassurance today. The most likely reason your GP sat on the results is becuase they weren't too bad. Also different doctors will have different ideas about what levels are appropriate. When I was pg my endo, gp and ob all had different ideas.... it's confusing and unhelpful!
Thanks everyone. Well, my TSH level was 2.8 (not 4 point whatever). My Endo put me on 75mcg of thyroxine, which I will start taking tomorrow. She did tell me that she looks for a max of TSH of 2.5 so that is what she will aim for. The plan is to get retested in 3 weeks, and then approx every 2-3 months. Please let me know if you have any comments/concerns about this plan (gee - this sounds like a work email).
The one thing that concerns me is that having antibodies as one does with a abnormal thyroid, is that they can indicate that one may have other antibody issues - some of which may result in your body attacking the baby. I guess the chances of this are pretty slim - of course, I'd like them to be 0%.
Thanks Ms Pink- Dr Google doesn't totally discount it - I've found a number of articles on the possible relationship between anti-thyroid antibodies and other auto-immune issues which may result in early miscarriage. I'm going to ask my Dr when I see her (I should really stop obsessing and googling - it is just so hard for me to leave this up to "fate").
I just googled Prednisone - that sounds like a decent idea and like it is used in the States a lot. What did your FS say about your other suggested protocol?
I got my thyroid results back - they just tested my TSH and it was only 0.74 (in a range of 0.4-3.5) so I guess that means thyroid function is not my problem.
Hi Marcellus - yes, I'm very comfortable with the treatment plan. I really like my Dr - she is extremely thorough and will explain everything until I am completely happy.
Hey everyone,
Does anyone else here have raised prolactin levels? The pituitary gland produces prolactin and is in the same system (endocrine) as the thyroid and ovaries and not only do i have hasimoto's disease, but my prolatin levels are also consistantly high.
Any fellow suffers?
Thought I'd pop in to see how everyone is coping with their thyroid issues and if we've had any successful pregnancies to date?? Have been absent for several weeks as I was also getting my TSH under control and travelling quite didn't get much of a chance to post in this thread. While travelling for work and not being home to see my regular gp, I had to see 2 different gp's in different cities to test my TSH and make sure my dosage was correct and my levels were decreasing. Having started out with a TSH of 11uml I am now down to around 1.8uml which is good news so we are now ttcing with as yet no success, which is a real bummer given last year before I had the TSH tests I fell 3 times over 4 months and miscarried all 3 due to my TSH, now that my levels are stable and in the right range Im not falling as easily, maybe its just my age and my weight/BMI which is around 37 and is high, I need to get this down as much as I can because I do know excess weight can also interfere with ttcing! unfortuantley having Hashimoto's doesn't help the weight situation either, Im sure many of you would agree with me???.
I am also attening acupunture and taking chinese herbs to help as much as possible, my acupunturist wants to keep my progesterone levels as high and as stable as possible, so she's keeping an eye on my charts and temps. Fingers crossed maybe next month we'll catch the egg if not IVF may be on the cards as both of us are not spring chickens any longer, having just turned 38 the clock is ringing very loudly in my ears.
sending you all lots of babydust and stickyvibles and hoping to hear some good news soon!!
Hi all
Bulie - So sorry about your loss. I hope you are doing ok.
How're things going with you Mammawannabe?
Good luck with everything Mannie - hope you can skip IVF.
All the best to everyone else too.
Hey Marcellus,
Well to summerise nothing but BFN's lately........I have got a 2nd opinion from a much more thorough FS in Brisbane who has ordered an MRI to check on the pituitary gland and a hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, dye insufflation, D & C and possible lasering of endometriosis if any presents itself to check for any other problems down there.
I have a couple of weeks before these, cos got to wait for this cycle to finish, but at this stage am feeling quite positive about it and that finally I'm going to be thoroughly checked over.
Anyone else had any of these procedures?
Hi,
I am also TTC with a thyroid issue which I just found out about 2 weeks ago. I am currently trying out Dr Sandra Cabots book regarding thyroid issues to see if this helps. My progesterone is also low and my oestrogen is up. I havent been eating very well over the last years and I also had a m/c in November (I guess now I know why). If I got pregnant it would be my first baby and I really want a baby... I'm 34 as well... sigh... we've been TTC for about a year... on and off though - we got so many colds last year around the "wrong times" that I really dont know if I should count it as a year or not!
I'm not on thyroxine yet, I actually asked the doctor could I try something else and she said I could try Tyrosine, however I looked it up on the net and it says you shouldnt have that if you are trying to get pregnant! so she is letting me do it through diet (she's a pretty cool doctor in that way, she's not all about handing out the meds haha). Since then I have eaten according to the book... I'm so hoping it helps. I guess it cant hurt to eat healthy anyway!
My TSH level is at 10 so pretty high, she didnt seem too worried though because my T3 and T4 levels are fine... but I am now wondering whether I should just get over my fear of meds and go on thyroxine to try to get it down faster so I can get pregnant.....?
Argghhhh..... sorry everyone, thanks for listening!
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if not IVF may be on the cards as both of us are not spring chickens any longer, having just turned 38 the clock is ringing very loudly in my ears.
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