Thyroid Tests

Meggiewegs1 · July 2013

My first post! Hopefully someone can give me some advice.

I had a first batch of thyroid tests done 2 weeks ago with some varied results and followed up with more tests yesterday. I got the results back and they are very confusing:

TSH: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone

Result: 0.07 Normal Range: 0.10 - 5.5

Previous Result: 0.05

Total T3

Result: 270 Normal Range: 50 - 170

Previous Result: 210

Free T4

Result: 1.1 Normal Range: 0.8 - 1.7

Previous Result: 1.2

I spoke to an endocrinologist after the first result and she ordered more tests and also said she would talk to my midwife about referral to perinatology. My midwife is on vacation and I never heard back about it. The endocrinologist emailed me today and said since my levels were the same there is nothing to worry about (going from 210 to 270 is the same on the T3?).

I know nothing about the endocrine system, so I won't pretend I do.

But...

1. If my results do not fall within the normal or expected range, doesn't that have a reason? I have heard of women who have thyroid issues while pregnant and they can get kinda wacky, but I want to make sure I'm being safe and well informed.

2. If my results are now further from the normal or expected range, how could there be nothing to worry about if her initial observation and instruction was to consult perinatology and order more tests?

Second opinion time or am I overreacting?

Thanks for any advice!

Oh, I'm 31 weeks right now, just in case that makes a difference. 2nd child.

DahliaFlower · July 2013

I would ask for a referral to perinatology. They deal with thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy a lot more frequently than general endocrinologists do. For example, it turns out that early in pregnancy, you TSH level can appear to be low because of an interaction with HCG, but in fact you may actually need to continue the same or more thyroid supplementation.

4Angel5 · July 2013

I have been hypothyroid for about 10 years, and have had 3 kids since my diagnosis, so you'd think I would know these levels by now, but I always seem to mix them up. I do know that in order for me to feel quote normal, I need to be on a higher dosage of thyroid meds when pregnant, and my numbers when not pregnant need to be just outside the quote normal range. I would have someone explain your numbers to you, but also take into account how you feel, because that makes a difference, too. Good luck!

SWA80 · July 2013

This is a late response so you hopefully have already contacted your doctor and received more information.

Your TSH indicates that you are hyperthyroid. They may want to put you on a small level of anti-thyroid meds, probably methimazole since you are in the 3rd tri. I'm hyperthyroid with Graves disease and have been taking meds my whole pregnancy. My endocrinologist has said that it is not a bad thing for me to be a little hyper while pregnant, but I would guess they may want to bring you up a bit. After you deliver, you could stabilize or even go hypo.

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