Hyperactive thyroid?!

tisch1020

So my Obgyn just called and my thyroid texted high at my 12-week visit (which was at 13 weeks). Since it was also high the visit prior to that, they are sending me to a specialist. Of course I just googled what this means when pregnant and am now freaking out. Anyone dealt with this before? Tips? Comments? Help!

nah82

Did the OB use the word "hyperactive"?  Just checking because if your thyroid hormones and TSH test high, you would actually be hypothyroid (underactive).  Your numbers would be low if you are hyperactive.

nah82

There are different symptoms, treatments, and risks for hyper vs. hypo, so google might not be giving you accurate information if you are accidentally searching the opposite condition.  Did the OB's office give you the lab numbers?  It is good that you will be seeing a specialist.

tanya_erin

Yup, I think op meant hypothyroid. That's when the numbers are higher than they should be. Mine is 1 pt above normal, and dr isn't too concerned. Just told me to take kelp pills which are high in iodine, basically what helps the thyroid function well.

tisch1020

Oooo thanks guys! They said "hyper active" - does that mean low or high numbers? Good call on asking for the count - I will call back and ask for that. My dr is overly cautious too and so hoping it's not major issue. Reading all that can go wrong though freaks me out!

nah82

Hyperactive = low TSH, (probably below 1 if you weren't on any thyroid medication already) which is what a lot of doctors base off of.  The actual thyroid hormones, T4 and T3 would be high, but honestly I'd be kind of surprised if an OB bothered to test those (the specialist should, though).  I always try to get my actual lab #'s so I can watch for a pattern of going up or down over time and with dosage changes.  I am hypo.

tisch1020

Do you know if the meds are ok during pregnancy? That's why I'm so freaked out. I read most Meds are category D and that really freaks me out.

nah82

I haven't researched hyper meds since I am hypo (I take levothyroxine and cytomel), but I know there are some pregnant ladies on them on a thyroid board I visit.

tisch1020

And I tested hyperactive with a specialist over 5 years ago but when they tested further all looked ok.

moonfaerie

I learned I was hypothyroid while pregnant with DD2. I took levothyroxine or it might have been synthroid at the time, they are normal meds that are safe for pregnancy. If you are indeed hypothyroid, it is better to take the synthetic hormones so that your baby is not deficient, as well as you. Don't freak out. Thyroid issues, while not fun, are relatively easy to treat.

In some cases, a woman only is hypo or hyperthyroid during pregnancy, and returns to normal afterwards. In my case, I permanently developed Hashimoto's, and get flare-ups sometimes, so have to get dosages adjusted.

tisch1020

Thanks ladies. Appreciate all the info and resources!

ashpeeler

I have hypothyroidism before I even got pregnant. I've had it since I was 15. As long as you're treated you'll be fine. No worries! ☺️

amiej1227

I wouldn't worry about the meds too much. I don't have a thyroid, I had mine removed last year, and my endo has reassured me over and over that they will be fine during pregnancy as it is just giving your body a synthetic version of what it naturally produces. And once you get on the meds and your body adjusts you will feel better.

pdmartel

BabyStandish said:

I learned that I'm hypo during this pregnancy. I freaked out in the beginning thanks to google but my dr told me it's pretty common. They put me on levothyroixine (I think that's what it is at least). I see my endocrinologist Thursday to get my levels re-evaluated. It's more of just an annoyance than a worry now.

This exactly. I believe my levels were not too high (like a 2.9) and I was told that in the first trimester they like to have it lower, but now that I am in second tri, I will be going for bloodwork in a few weeks to see if the Levo. is still necessary.