Underactive Thyroid - Professional BB help!??

Hi,

I've had some weird issues this pregnancy (this is my third bub) and have just had some results back that have indicated I have an underactive Thyroid. The Dr said that it won't effect the pregnancy but I need these tests repeated in 6 - 8 weeks. TSH 0.33 (normal is apparently 0.35)

I also have low iron and low Haemoglobin, tests done in September, repeated last week, show that they are still low so have to keep taking iron + C for at least 3 months after bubs in born.

I am concerned this could deteriorate further and effect bubs, even though Dr said it won't, Internet says it can. I see my midwife clinic this Sat so hoping to ask more qu's then.

Anyone able to give advise on this issue, I would really appreciate it.

I have had problems with hypothyroidism for years. I get my levels checked every 6 weeks atm.

My levels have been really odd during pg, my endocrinologist said that my levels will not affect the baby as babies start producing their own thyroid at the end of the first trimester.

I'm sorry I can't offer any better advice, all I can say is the endocrinologist I see is highly recommended and I trust what he recommends.

I have also got problems with underactive thyroid, but have also been told that the baby starts making its own thyroid after the first trimester so after this the mothers level is less critical. This is why as we haven't got my thyroid replacement levels quite right yet I have a blood test every three weeks but she indicated that once out of first trimester can have BT's 6-8 weeks apart.

The range for TSH I get from my doctor is 0.3 to 5.00 so you would actually be within the normal range according to that.

Is also can get a bit confusing because I thought low TSH means overactive thyroid, as Thyroid Stimulating Hormone gets higher when you have low thyroid e.g. at one point mine was 90 because my T4 was only 5 (should be 9-19), whereas now it is 1.53 and T4 is now right at 14.5. (Often they only check T4 if your TSH is out of range).

I found researching on internet totally confused me and there seems to be so much conflicting info, so like previous poster just trust the endocrinoligist now and fingers crossed scans etc show all ok so far.

A lot of Doctors/labs still use the old normal range of 4mlU/L as the upper limit for normal TSH. However it is easy to find reasearch in the last 5 years that indicates that if TSH is above 2mlU/L, the thyroid gland is in the early stages of disease.

In pregnancy TSH should be:
First Trimester: 0.24-2.99mlU/L
Second Trimester: 0.46-2.95mlU/L
Third Trimester: 0.43-2.78mlU/L

If its above normal ranges there can be all sorts of probs with premature delivery.

Thanks Mummawanabe,

I saw my Dr on Thurs and she explained it really well to me. I'm just below their normal at the moment, which means that I might actually have an over active thyroid issue developing (not under active as I thought from what I read on the net). She said that the pituritory gland is the boss, and has slowed down the messages to the thryroid as it's probably working a bit harder to produce the T3/4.

So she'll keep an eye on it, hence the 6 - 8 week blood test. If it keeps going down or is still low, they will then look at the other hormones. Could just be a preggo thing. She said as we have 25% more blood, it could be slightly "watered" down, or it could be the start of something more. But a lot of these abnormalities can just fix themselves once bubs is out.

Made me feel a bit better about it, and will have my next test the week be xmas. Fingers crossed things are looking a bit better. See the obs at the hosp on 27th, so will see if he can check all the 3 hormones this time to give us a better idea on what's possibly going on.

I've been really sick with a cold last week and now have spots, so have more blood tests tomorrow to check for chicken pox etc and see what's going with that!

It never rains, it pours!!:o

Can I ask... if you have an undetected thyroid problem what does that mean for the bub before it makes its own thyroid ... stuff....?

Myson, it would depend on whether the thyroid levels were low (hyperthyroid) or high (hypothyroid). If hypothyroidism is not treated it can result in very premature delivery. Apparently the baby starts making its own thyroid hormone after 12wks, however the mum still needs to maintain an adequate level.

Anyone out there know what there TSH level was when they fell pregnant and either maintained the pregnancy or miscarried? Much appreciated.....

ok um. i think its 'low' not sure exactly. dont get actual results til monday. trouble is i think that its not working enough... like slowing down as i get older or something?

Inadequate thyroxine in the first trimester can result in retarded development of the baby, and miscarriage. My endocrinologist told me that women who can fall pregnant are "usually" ok because lack of thyroxine causes, among many other things, infertility. If your periods were absent or very very spaced out before falling PG that's more of a concern than if they were ok. I have had 2 losses and was advised they were probably unrelated because even when i was still breastfeeding and my TSH was 16.7mlU/L i had a 28 day cycle.

The problems caused are usually detectable on later scans (microcephaly etc.).

Bx

Hi Girls,
Hopefully replying to this thread will get it going again as there are a couple of us who want to talk thyroid!!
Well done MummaW for finding it!

I was just moaning on another thread about weightloss being tough with my stupid broken thryoid... It's partly my own fault for not taking my meds properly (keep eating or drinking too soon after taking it) but it's still depressing watching DP do 3 hours a week in the gym while i do 90mins of weights and walk or run 34km in a week and still GAIN weight....*sigh*

Bx

Hey girls!
Do any of you get your thyroid level tested regularly?
I get mine tested each month with my Day 21 Progesterone (this has happened for around 9 months). I am noticing that when i start a new dose of Oroxine that my TSH drops and then comes up slightly and pretty much maintains at that level. Does anyone esle find this?

Hey I started this thread, but I think that my problem will be a hyperactive thyroid not a hypoactive.

My last bloods showed my TSH at 0.23, so they had dropped again, but T4 was normal. As it was at the very end of my pregnancy, they weren't worried. I have to have another blood test soon and if they have dropped again, I suppose that will comfirm this is a medical problem and not a pregnancy thing.

Will let you know how I go.

Tashie D - hi! sounds like you were a hyper last test, but very hypo before. hopefully it will settle down. Sorry for hyjacking your thread, there are a couple of us who are TTC and want to talk thyroid and I don't know how to start a new one under Conception.

Hoobley - I ahve solved my problem of when to take thyroixine by taking it consistently ie always with breakfast. i probably take a little bit more, but much easier. If you need to take iron tablets, they really interfere w absorbtion of thyroxine and thyroid extract, so take them 4 hours apart (you don't have to worry about the iron in multivitamins, so little eg 5mg, doesn't make any difference). I finally got my ferritin levels up when my new endo recommended 100mg elemental iron each day.

MummaW - I haven't been taking thryoxine long enough to compare what happens. Why are they testing progesterone at D21, what are they looking for?

Me again! Lost it all the first time I typed htis so have done in installements!!

My hypo story:
Diagnosed with Hypothyroid w hashimotos (meaning thyroid antiobodies that destroy thryroid tissue and more likely to be permanent if have hashis) when DD was about 1. Had no energy and could not think clearly.
Took Thyroid extract for a while, felt so much better. But actually feel back to myself now am on Thyroxine and I didn't think it would make any diff but it did.
Changed to new endo, v serios but v good, and started taking Thyroxine as was easier as better know with TTC. Started on 100micrograms at night in Nov. TSH = 2, endo said he wanted it around 1, so increase to 150mcg in Dec. Took that in morning w breakfast as hated taking it at night!
TSH now = .88 (perfect) Free T4 =16 in high part of range (good), Free T3 = 4 (lower part of range but OK).

I have been worried about my antibody levels as I have had 5 biochemical pregnacies last year and thought that might be the problem. My levels were in high 3-400s untreated,and 40 and 130 before Thyroxine and now 18 and 43. Endo is not worried about these levels, as he says it is like getting measels, you have high levels when get disease to get rid of it, and then when disease is gone you still have a level of antibodies, so he says antibodies at this level not a problem. Still my body, so I am still taking a herbal prep to decrease the antibodies.

If anyone has seen a reproductive endo, would be very interested in what they say.
over and out!

Samandpoppy: So when you said 'when have high levels when get disease to get rid of it, and then when disease is gone you still have a level of antibodies.'
Do you mean that when you still had some thyroid function ie. your thyroid hadn't completely died off but was well on the way when your levels of antibodies would be high, and then when your thryroid completely died off the antibodies went down?

Man i am so confused! I am totally concerned about my antibodies (perioxidase) being consistantly over 1000 when from my understanding under 100 is acceptable.

I think i would be so wasting my time and money and emotions and body trauma going through IVF with antibodies so high..........

Oh and they are testing progesterone for levels that indicate that i have ovulated - cos im on letrozole to try and ensure that happens each cycle.

Hi MummaW

Oh darlin' it is confusing, and frustrating, thats why they do so many years of uni to try to work it out!!!

"Do you mean that when you still had some thyroid function ie. your thyroid hadn't completely died off but was well on the way when your levels of antibodies would be high, and then when your thryroid completely died off the antibodies went down?"

I don't know if it works that way. I was trying to explain that I would expect to have an elevated level of antibodies once the medication was right, as I had had the disease. eg If you have had measles, you will always have measles antibodies.

Some questions for you:
- what is you TSH now? are you on Thyroxine?
- when are you going to see the endo? (suggest you take list of questions and write notes, mine doesn't think my level of ATAs are a problem, but I take a herbal preparation from np anyway)
- maybe you should see the reproductive endo as well? more info = peace of mind for me

I would want the answers to your antibody questions before starting the IVF, just in case.

From research I have done on the internet (which is not as good as a good endo), the ATA's caused a problem where the Thyroid problem was not treated, but they didn't make any difference to fertility where the thyroid problem was treated.

Not sure if it is the ATAs (I suspect probably not now) or just being over 40 that is my problem. Could be something else, eg NK cells. Easier to focus on the ATAs, as I can't do anything about being over 40 except lie about my age!!!