Im starting to question my Thyroid Function Tests. Brief History, 95 overactive thyroid confirmed, after extreme weight loss, down to 50 ks @ 5 ft 7 .. 1997 partial removal, 99 Decompression of eyes due to Graves Disease, stable till 2004, where it has reared it's head again. My TSH continues to remain at 0.01 (00.40 - 3.50) Free T3 is 7.6 (2.6 - 6.0) My thyroxine level is normal.
What is the level your Endo likes your TSH to be at to obtain and maintain a pregnancy ?
We are increasing my meds (neo-mercozole) as they are not adequate..
WLB - was at the endo this week with annual BT done.. my TSH is .02 and he has absolutely no issue with this and TTC.
He is more concerned in watching my T3 and T4.
T4 still in normal range but high end of normal. Wants to leave medication as is for now just keep an eye on it.
MWB - wow, that's a lot of procedures, but like you say, it's good to feel like all your bases are covered. I've had a laparoscopy & the dye test thingy (HSG?). Hope they all go well for you.
Newhope - hi. Is your doc a specialist? Might be worth seeing one - if your TSH is so high but T4/T3 normal could indicate some other secondary issue.
I find my endo & OB had different ideas about the ideal TSH/T4 levels. OB definitely wanted the T4 lower than endo. During pg my T4 was up to around 20 (on 10-20 normal range) after I initially increased my dosage of thyroxine and he had me lower my dose to bring it down to around 15. If your hormone levels are normal though then perhaps it doesn't matter too much if the TSH is very low. Hormones are tricky though, cause they're different for everybody
hi girls
Newhope - please don't waste a year of trying different stuff like I did, get right onto thyroxine, it makes you feel better too. I was scared of meds, but waste of precious time. Took me a while to find a good endo, but was v pleased once I did.
WLB - my endo says that TSH should be around 1 for me. my T3 and T4 are in the new ranges. I would like to take a bit more thyroxine as think I could feel a bit better. Am repeating TSH T3 and T4 tests at moment to see if it has dropped a bit. Also I am hypo so may be different if you are now hypo as result of treatment for being hyper.
Ms Pink - as always good luck. Good luck good luck.
AFM - having a break from IVF at moment, was getitng depressed. Mum in hopsital with Kidney cancer, prognosis v good she is out tomorrow. Looking after dad who has alzheimers, that is depressing and confronting, but he has been great. can understand mum's frustration a bit better now. DD has croup, so she gets some prenisolone for that. Found out more about it from various GPs and am definitely going to do Colorado next time. My Gp agrees, so now need to get FS to agree or change to Dr nick. urk, not much of a break so far!!!
Samandpoppy - I have only read some of this thread as I am supposed to be studying. From what I can tell from your first few threads, you think you might be conceiving but losing them? This is what my FS thinks is happening with me so I am now on low-dose Prednisone to stop the antibodies going beserk and potentially attaching the blastocyte. If you have active antibodies against thyroid, you may also have others, my ANA levels are really high, over 1200 and I also have some antibodies against muscle enzymes. Any antibodies produced by autoimmune diseases are not conducive to pregnancy as the body will reject the blastocyte at implantation. My FS has also put me on progesterone pessaries, which I start as soon as I O, to help suppress my immune response during the TWW. Just thought I'd mention it.
I really appreciate this thread, it has given me some hope to find some answers as to what's going on with my body at the moment.
I'm 38, have been ttc (is hard b/c dh is overseas for work), and we did in Dec 08, but miscarried at 6.5 weeks. I also have 2 ds aged 8 & 11 from a previous marriage.
I have had pcos for years, but since losing weight... about 20+ kgs, it seemed to get better.... or so I thought. After the miscarriage I had a 35 day cycle, then a 51 day cycle.
My FS did a full blood test and told me to start clomid on day 5 of my next cycle... and amazingly AF came last night after 34 days...that's great for me.
What I am concerned about is that my TSH levels were abnormally low...could be over active-(hence the huge weight loss over 18months or so), so we repeated the test, which came back the same. The new test shows my thyroid function was normal, but I have thyroid antibodies and we have to repeat it again in 3months. No mention of needing medication yet. It could 'just be the way I am, or on the verge of something else?
I am just freaking out a bit and worried that the thyroid antibodies may have caused the miscarriage... and so scared it can happen again.... yes it's still very raw for me.
Does anyone have any advice? Know of anything to help or any specialists in Melbourne?
I am hoping someone can give me a clue what might be going on with my thyroid.
In 2007 I had an RPL panel and my TSH was 2.2, which is fine. But I was also diagnosed with anti-thyroid antibodies at an elevated level and I have anti-TPO as well (within range).
Well, I was never offered any treatment for the ATA, despite it being on the RPL panel. Lately I have been seeing a naturopath who suggested TSH, T3, and T4 testing as she thought my thyroid was not working "optimally". I got the results today.
TSH was 1.85, so that is great because she says it should be 1-2 for conception.
However, my T4 is at the absolute lowest end of the ref range. T3 is also on the low side.
Having suffered RPL I am very concerned about the ATA. Does anyone know if these results are conducive with hypothyroid/Hashimoto's?
Hey Skippy,
I went to a really good endo called Dr Steven Harris, works in Mentone and around other spots in bayside area. He is no fuss but I trusted him. he wants my TSH around 1 for TTC.
Scarlet - I think having the antibodies is the first step to further thyroid problems as they can go on rampage and attack the thyroid tissue. They may not also. Best to get around for a few opinions, ie go to at least 2 endocrinologists and ask. I think it is the only way to really find out and feel satisfied.
Jodsan - thanks yes I have been thinking that is what has been happening for a while and my FS refused to do prednisolone, so I have changed FS again and will do Colorado Protocol, which is low dose Prednisolone and some other stuff. I don't have any other auto immune that shows up on testing, but am hoping that this is the problem.
Last edited by Samandpoppy; June 21st, 2009 at 09:53 PM.
Thanks BDT, I saw it there and thought, aahhhh...there it is!
I have just been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism after weight loss, rapid heart rate, shakes, tiredness etc. Previous blood tests have shown i had thryoid antibodies.
My doctor says I can't TTC while on the medication and need to have a break until things balance out and i am off the meds.
I am taking neo-mercozole. I have to have more blood tests now and seen an endocrinologist.
Possums, Neo Mercozole is what I take, I see an endo who runs the womens clinic at a major hos here in Melb, I have suffered for over 15 years with this condition. It is safe to take during pregancy and ttc, contrary to what a lot of doctors believe, my FS was surprised as well, but he said, she knows her stuff your endo, so if she says it's fine, I believe her.
Though having said that, I completly understand you needing to take it to settle your levels down before you try again/ Write down this tablet (propylthiouracil - the short name is PTU) a lot of Endo's would rather you take that whilst ttc or pregnant.
The Neo will take a couple of weeks to work, and I find I have the best BT results when I take it at the same time every day, dont miss one.
I hope I don't seem pushy, I don't want you to worry ttooo much until you have been on the meds for a few weeks, then see your Endo of choice.
Hi everyone
I am also waiting a little bit at the moment TTC because of hypothyroid. I am 35 so really don't want to wait but know it is better to as I have had two m/c, one quite recent.
From experience, how long did you guys on thyroxine have to wait until it kicked in properly? My progesterone is low as well but have heard it is all related and sometimes getting one fixed helps the other - has anyone had problems with that as well and been successful with the right medication etc?
Thanks!
WLAB- thanks so much for your advice, much appreciated. I am hoping the meds start to work soon.... I am pretty active, but have had to slow down, due to the racing heart etc. I am eating more than usual, but still weigh less. I read that the meds I am taking (and you are taking) can cross the placenta with some risks to the fetus??
I feel a bit up in the air at the moment, like I have even less control than I did before! lol... just not knowing how long things will take to settle, what the prognosis is, when we can resume TTC etc. I am trying to take it step at a time, but I am a control freak at heart, so it's hard. DH and I still planning a trip away-- more than ever now.
sunnygirl- best of luck to you...it's not an easy path at the best of times
p.s. just found out to see the endocrinologist who travels to this area I would have to wait until February!!!! A 5 month waiting list. Unless I choose to travel to sydney to see him, which would involve time and more money.
Like 'wouldloveabubba' my wonderful endo Dr Christina Jang in East Melb. put me on propylthiouracil too. What ended up happening was after more bloods and an ultrasound and a biopsy I was found to have 3 nodules on both sides of my thyroid.
I am happy to say that with her and the FS help- they knew I was TTC this year- I had a small window of opportunity- they said go for it with the clomid, and I am happy to currently be 24 weeks pg and due at the end of March
I get bloods taken every couple of months and so far all is going well, but my thyroid will have to come out after bubs is born.
I know it is not an easy road, but please hang in there and don't give up hope- my little miracle is prrof that they really can happen.
My thoughts are with you all and I pray you have lots if good news soon.
I haven't posted in this thread before (i've been TTC for 9 months) but I'm slightly hypothyroid with suspected Hashimotos (waiting on BT results to confirm). I've had 2 tests this year once it was 2.21 and four months later I got 3.6. The lab cut off was 3.5 for hypothyroid so the GP I saw when I got 2.21 said I was fine. When the FS re-tested and I got 3.6 she referred me to an Endocronologist.
The Endocronologist told me that in her view to concieve and maintain a pregnancy I needed to have TSH between 1-2. This is therefore lower than the lab cut off and the GP being a non-specialist didn't know this bit of info, she just said I was within normal range. I wish I had have known this several months ago!!!!
So based on your TSH results I would definitely ask for a referral to an Endocronoligst for further assessment.
Hi guys, I have an underactive thyroid, diagnosed late 2004. I have been taking thyroxine since then. I also see an endocrinologist who wants my TSH to be as close to 1 as possible. She said that if it is too low, you will have trouble conceiving and if it is too high you will more likely miscarry.
I am currently on my third IVF/ICSI cycle. My ET is tomorrow. For this cycle even though I tested negative to antipholisphoids and NK cells, we decided I would take low-dose aspirin/prednisone/clexane. So fingers crossed that it works!
Has anyone else with hypothyroidism been told to take prednisone even when they test negative for antipholisphoids etc? I think we are just trying something new for the sake of it ...
I have only been on clexane injections for four days, but man they hurt. The FSH needles are fine but the clexane needles are almost blunt. I have to use such force to get them through my stomach. And the bruises! Ouch.
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