TTC with Thyroid Issues

Hi Everyone, I just found this thread - thankyou so much for starting it, what great and informative reading.

I have had a thyroid problem since I was 15 (so about 28 years), it was first overactive, so after they couldn't control it with medication I had 80% of both sides removed when I was 17. It was OK for a couple of years, but at approx. 21, it become overactive again, so I had radiation treatment and they gave me too much and totally destroyed it. So I am now basically underactive as I don't have any thyroid activity at all. In 2005 before I conceived our DD, I was on thryoxine - 200mcgms, our FS dropped the dosage to 150 and we conceived on our first IUI attempt. We are now struggling to conceive #2 and my latest blood test just a couple of weeks ago revealed by TSH level was at 7.5 , so this is obviously not helping us to conceive. MY GP has increased my dosage to 175mcgms, so fingers crossed that my TSH level will drop eventually. Have another blood test mid March.

Good luck everyone and I hope you don't mind me joining in :doh:

Hey everyone,

Saw a lovely endo in Brisbane today - he was worth the travel. :p
He started to read the referral from my Gyno/Obs (partly out aloud) and it was so condesending towards me and my opinion that he stopped and said he would just summerise! God my Dr's an ass!

Anyway the endo confirmed what we all know that TSH 1-2 is necessary for someone trying to conceive and that he would be happy with me in the range of 0.2-2.0. He discussed need to raise level once pregnant as well. :thumbsup:

I asked about my antibodies to which he confirmed there is no way of lowering these and its is not these that may contribute to miscarriage etc (as these antibodies soley attack the thryroid only) but something else in the immune system perhaps which is found in ppl with thyroid antibodies.

He said that it normally takes a while for ppl with Hasimoto's to conceive but that it will happen.........easy for him to say....

After ordering more bloods tests for me he stopped and went through the letter that he would be forwarding to my lil team of Dr's - GP and Gyno/Obs - very thorough and professional - no one will be able to argue with it - and if they want to - they can take it up with him!

Moral of my day: Always get a professional opinion from someone actually qualified in your specific problem - not just somewhat related to it.

Ok im trying to keep this thread going.....don't want it to die off just yet.....

Have any fellow Hashimoto sufferers been tested for celiac desease and or being anemic?
Is there a common link there?

Hi MWB - yes and yes
Had the Gene test for Coeliacs, no gene so no Coeliacs, it is a blood test. Don't bother with the normal blodd test if you don't eat wheat as it won't show anything.
Am still v sensitive to wheat and there is such and thing as Non-coeliacs Gluten Seistive NCGS (I think) so I hardly eat any wheat.
Yes have v low iron and take tablets every now and then to get it up. The iron that is. have had best success with 100mg iron per day for 2 months. A friend's GP said that irritation to gut caused by sensitivity to wheat can prevent iron being absorbed properly.
so there you go!

ahhh, i think that's what my DH has (the non-coeliac wheat thing)

I've been feeling very tired the last few days. Think I'll go see doc to get another blood test. Hope it's not my iron levels again - just got them sorted out.

MWB - glad to hear about your good doc visit.

Thanks S&P and Marcellus. Got my bloods back and negative to both celiac and anemia which is good. My TSH was 0.5 which endo was happy with and advised to stay on current doesage. Loved it how the endo was the one that actually called back with the results as well, it wasn't left to the receptionist to just read out the figures.
Endo wants my prolactin level tested again as he finally got my bloods from the last 12mths and could see a raised level when i was tested in March 08. He advised that if the levels are raised again i will need a scan of the pitutary gland.......(so im off to google all that....urgh)

Hope everyones going ok with there TTC journey.......my DH and i are starting AIH/IUI procedures this week........lil bit scary

Hi guys,

MummaW - what is AIH/IUI? I keep seeing it, but not sure.
great you have found an endo you like!! Esp after the arrogant GP. What a dumb bum.

sam

Hi Everyone,

My next blood test is in two weeks time, but I can tell that my increased dosage of thyroxine is definately working - I am not nearly as tired and am not falling asleep (whilst sitting upright) watching TV. He he that's a bonus in itself, coz at least not to tired to do the old BD.... Will let you know what my TSH level comes back at.

Samandpoppy - I know that you asked MummaW, but hope don't mind be answering, AIH/IUI is insemination (artificial insemination husband and inter-uterine insemination). That's how our DD was conceived...

MummaW - good luck with everything and the starting of the IUI procedure - it will all go really well. Thinking of you.

My sister has Coeliacs and also has an underactive thryoid, but let me tell you she has no problems with conceiving - 5 children over 23 years (I think).... 18 when she had her first and then 41 with the last.....

Big hello to everyone else, hope you are all well.

Hi JodieC65 - thanks for that I thought it might be. Jealous of your sister!! Wow 5 kids, was hoping that the underactive thyroid might be the problem, rather than age, or something unknown!
Great that you are feeling better, it really is a revelation when you get the dose just right, feel like self again. I see you are a bit of a cradle snatcher! yeah you, good one. My DH is from Perth but is older than me and a bit of grumpy old bloke on occasion.

Hi everyone, sorry I've been guilty of being a big, fat lurker lately! :redface: Just wanted to say :hello: will try to do better at keeping in touch! :grouphug:

Sorry i haven't checked in with my fellow thyroid challenged buddies for a lil while - been consumed with the dreaded TTW and over analysing every little pain or niggle or sign that is probably not even a sign........you all know how it is!!!
S&P: So yeah i had AIH/IUI (artificial insemination with husband sperm). I think it was more IUI as i think AIH can cover insemination into various depths of the female - not necessarily all the way into the uterus. Someone correct me if im wrong.
It was really all fine - just had cramps all day after the insemination and had to come home from work. Can easily see myself doing it another couple of times before the dreaded IVF.

Hi Everyone, hope you are all doing OK today and had a lovely weekend.

Samandpoppy - I too am jealous of my sister, man I don't know how she does it and I always like to blame the whole having troubles TTC on my thryoid, rather than my age, it is much easier :lol: I sure am a cradle snatcher and loving it :redface: But in our relationship I am the grumpy one.

Mummawannabe - I know what you mean about the IUI/AIH, I could do that again no problems at all (have done 5 IUI cycles in total), it is a lot less involved than an IVF cycle. When is your TWW wait finished? Wishing you lots of luck.

A big hello to everyone else, Jen805, marcellus and anyone else lurking.

Just popped in to say hi everyone - my thyroid is behaving atm....so no complaining from me

JodieC65: TWW is over.....day 4 of next IUI now...a lot less nervous about it this time round

Goodluck Mummawannabe, have my fingers crossed for you for this IUI Cycle and it is great when the old thyroid is actually behaving.

Hope everyone else is doing well - have a great day guys.

Hope this is the one for you MWB.
Hi everyone else

HI everyone!

Fingers crossed for you this month mwb :)

I am still not ttc, but a few steps closer. I'm taking my folic acid every day now (along with a whole lot of oter stuff - multivitamin, supplemental calcium and vit D, EPO...and my thyroxine of course, not at the same time though!) and just bought a OPK to check i'm still on top of my signs (i used NFP for 2.5 years and used to be able to tell within 3 or 4 hours of when i O'd) because i still O wth the Mirena anyway.

I'm thinking i'll have it taken out in June. After that we'll see when we feel ready to ttc (i am ready NOW! lol) and use NFP in the meantime.

The thyroid is feeling much better sice i had my dose increased (6 weeks on the higher dose now) and my legs are less dead when running etc. Roll on June!

Bx

Hi I am having my thyroid function tested later this week as I suspect it may be underactive.

Just wondering if any of you "underactive" ladies had trouble getting your doctor to prescribe you thyroxine? I heard from a friend that doctors will not treat if it's underactive unless the number is over 5.

Hi SallyJ,

This is a very interesting question and one that poses lots of problems and probably different interpretations from our Doctors. From what I have been reading the normal range for TSH is 0.5 to 5.0. So levels below 0.5 are considered possible evidence of hyperthyroidism (overactive), and levels above 5.0 would be considered possible evidence of hypothyroidism (underactive). Also some professionals and endocrinologists believe that the range should be narrowed significantly, to 0.3 to 3.0 and I am not sure if this is actually being put into practice yet and if it is what Doctors follow this range.
When your Doctor arranges the BT form, make sure that your T3 and T4 plus your free
T3 and free T4 levels get checked also along with antibodies. Perhaps you could ask your Doctor what is the normal range at the lab where your test results were/are processed and also what normal range does he/she follow in diagnosing and managing thyroid disease?

HTH Sally

Hope you are well and everyone else also.