Stressed out - thyroid, weight

jr63_2020

I had an OBGYN appt and I usually love my doctor, but I left there really frustrated today.

I will first say that I am incredibly grateful that the results of my most recent u/s showed that the baby is growing appropriately, on schedule, and no abnormalities.

Now for me....

5 weeks ago I had my thyroid levels tested at my physician's office, where I always go. I already know I'm hypothyroid (since 2006) and I was just following up on it. Well I got the results and they told me I was "within range." I asked them for the number, they said 3.97 and I said..."no, that's too high." I won't go into full detail about that whole ordeal but since my physician was away, I was talking to the on-call dr who basically told me I was a hypochondriac, and went through a series of conversations with my OB and doctor's office. They decided I should wait 3 weeks and get tested again.

3 weeks later, I got tested again. I got the results last week and my thyroid had gone down to 2.99, which was much better (I think because I'd also gone off of prometrium in that time). My dr kept my meds the same.

Today, I had an OB appt, and he had my OLD bloodwork. Well he sees my thyroid number (the 3.97) and tells me it's high, and my T4 is borderline. And he's like, "well your T4 levels are what would affect the baby and those are borderline." I start flipping out because it's now been 5 weeks and I already QUESTIONED it (I cried in hysterics to the on-call physician) and everyone basically told me I was being a crazy person for no reason, and now my OB says it's a problem!!?? WTF!! And the endocrinologist he referred me to has a long weight. They "squeezed me in" for June 23. (I'm going to try to find another one tomorrow if it's possible).

Okay and then the topper..he's like "Oh you're 17 weeks? You've gained a little more than 10 lbs. I want you to watch your caloric intake. ... ... Do you have diabetes in your family at all?" Great. Great, thanks for putting that in my head, because I also really want to worry about GD.  And HELLO, you just saw that I'm hypothyroid. 1. I gain weight easily because of it. 2. i'm on PELVIC REST. Helloooo YOU told me I can't exercise. 3. I'm taking an iron supplement and am constipated. 4. I still get nauseous OFTEN so sometimes all I can eat are carbs. So wth do I do, not eat??

 I'm so frustrated. I'm frustrated that my freaking thyroid levels could affect my baby and no one listened to me 5 weeks ago. I'm annoyed that he basically implied that I'm eating too much so I now feel like a bad mother, when in reality, I'm eating whatever will stay down at this point JUST TO EAT. Just completely frustrated. I cried for an hour when MH came home. He  just came in and told me that he knows I'm doing 100% everything that I'm able to do to take care of the baby and not to worry that anyone is questioning that.

Anyway, thanks for reading if you made it this far. 

VikingQueen

Oh buddy I'm so sorry your going through all this ((big hugs)) I'm glad everything is looking ok with the baby. If you Ned anything you know where to find me hon. Btw I can't believe your 17 weeks already!!!

GPickles

I'm so sorry you Dr's made you feel like crap.  I would be frustrated too if different Dr's were telling me different things.  Hopefully this new Dr. will think your levels are fine.  ((big hugs))  It sounds like you are doing everything you can for your baby just like your H said.

BritanyV

*breathe* 

What level are you talking about?  Your TSH?  Are they looking at all your levels in conjunction with one another? (T3, T4, and TSH)  It is better to look at all three than just one. 

I would definitely try to get in with an endocrinologist as soon as possible.  I'm putting off calling mine because I'm afraid that upping my meds too soon last time might have caused my loss but I really have nothing to back that up with.  My endo automatically increases your dose to the next level when you find out you are pregnant then watches your blood work monthly. 

 

((HUGS))

jr63_2020

BritanyV:

*breathe* 

What level are you talking about?  Your TSH?  Are they looking at all your levels in conjunction with one another? (T3, T4, and TSH)  It is better to look at all three than just one. 

I would definitely try to get in with an endocrinologist as soon as possible.  I'm putting off calling mine because I'm afraid that upping my meds too soon last time might have caused my loss but I really have nothing to back that up with.  My endo automatically increases your dose to the next level when you find out you are pregnant then watches your blood work monthly. 

 

((HUGS))

Yeah, the 3.97 (3 weeks ago) and the 2.99 this time are TSH. He wasn't happy with my elevated T4, but I don't know what that number is. I was flipping out at that point and didn't think to ask.

BritanyV

bananarama91:

BritanyV:

*breathe* 

What level are you talking about?  Your TSH?  Are they looking at all your levels in conjunction with one another? (T3, T4, and TSH)  It is better to look at all three than just one. 

I would definitely try to get in with an endocrinologist as soon as possible.  I'm putting off calling mine because I'm afraid that upping my meds too soon last time might have caused my loss but I really have nothing to back that up with.  My endo automatically increases your dose to the next level when you find out you are pregnant then watches your blood work monthly. 

 

((HUGS))

Yeah, the 3.97 (3 weeks ago) and the 2.99 this time are TSH. He wasn't happy with my elevated T4, but I don't know what that number is. I was flipping out at that point and didn't think to ask.

During my pregnancy with ds, they didn't focus on TSH at all (even though they looked at it), they focused on the T4 and wanted it above 1.   When I went in it was below 1.    I don't even know what my TSH was at the time.   

 Have they upped your dose at all?  If not, I might ask your doctor to bump you up to the next dosage while you are waiting for an appointment with the endo.  

haziedaze

((HUGE HUGS)) This all sounds way too stressful. I doubt you've caused the baby any harm, because it's not like those numbers are way out of control. Bringing up the weight sounds like the straw that broke the camels back and was horrible timing. I hope things get straightened out soon. Can you think of something to pamper yourself with to relax?

luvmyducks

Aw, sorry hon ((hugs)) that's a lot to deal with and I would for sure be upset also.

Karen1998

(((Hugs)))  My doctor said the normal range for TSH during pregnancy is between 1 and 4.  Your TSH has been in that normal range, so try not to worry.  They worry when it's outside that range, though they do prefer you to go hyper (which I am currently) over hypo.  It also takes about 4-6 weeks for your levels to even out after a medicine change, so testing in 3 weeks won't give you the most accurate result.  However, I'd think it's a good sign that your TSH is lowering.  From what I've read and heard from my doctors, it does all sorts of wacky things during the first tri and begins to even out after that. 

I asked my peri about my T3 as it keeps going low (I'm on a combo of T4 and T3) and he said the two keys are TSH and free T4 in pregnancy.  They don't test my free T4 (talked with the endo about this) as I'm already on a combo of T3 and T4 so I will test low for T4 even though I'm actually not.  Instead, they run a full panel on me (with a different T4 test) and go off all of the scores, but concentrate on TSH. 

Regardless, it sounds like you're frustrated with your doctor and could use some time with him to get your questions answered.  Can you get another appointment or set up a phone call to go over your thyroid questions?  That would at least help to get your questions answered and ease your mind before your endo appointment next month.  It's actually really common here to have to wait for an endo appointment and a month, unfortunately, is a short wait here.

tiffanysbride

Can you call and let the OB know when you appointment is and ask for your T4 levels? Sometimes they can move up an appointment if needed by calling them directly.

I am really sorry no one listened to you earlier. It can be insanely frustrating to be ignored by the people that are suppose to be caring for you. I wouldn't worry about the weight yet, but they might be able to refer you to a prenatal nutritionist. I saw one last time around for other reasons (blackouts related to sugar and anemia) and while I am certainly not that careful it was a great tool.

HadleyS

Boy do you have a lot on your plate!  I am sorry that you are so frustrated with so many things.  I am hypothroid too, but really, those numbers do sound fine.  I do agree with PP about getting in to see an endocrinologist though, I think that they more than any other kind of doc will be really looking out for what's best with your thyroid levels.  My OB is a little "meh" when it comes to checking my thyroid as well, and sometimes it just doesn't sit well with me.

hart0620

I am sorry you had so much trouble.  I have found that thyroid issues tend to be an uphill battle. I basically had to diagnose myself and I knew that they were going to push back at me about being treated.  But I also knew that there are studies that show hypothyroidism can cause early miscarriage (like the two I had already had.)

I did a bunch of research and I put together a little cheatsheet and included my sources so that when I talked to them I wouldn't forget all of the facts I found. It helped me a lot to know that I wasn't just being a crazy person and I had actual data to back up my beliefs. Here are a few facts I found that might be helpful:

- In 2002 the NACB (National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry) recommended that in early pregnancy the TSH should be no more than 2.5 mIU/L

- According to research, during a normal pregnancy, the following are the TSH normal ranges for an iodine-sufficient population without autoimmune antibodies...

First Trimester: 0.24 - 2.99
Second Trimester: .46-2.95
Third Trimester: .43 - 2.78

GL with everything. I hope they can get it all worked out.

jr63_2020

I know I was at a 2.5 when I first got pg, so hopefully we caught it right at the change.

And you're all right, I'm extremely frustrated that the drs aren't on the same page, and wouldn't listen to me when I told them (practically stalked them) that something was wrong. 

Fortunately, I found an endo who took pity on me and is fitting me in tomorrow, so I hope we can figure this out. I am so anxious about the whole thing and obsessed all night about it 

Thanks for all of your responses!