Anyone here with hypothyroidism?

nervous0220 · March 2018

So, among my issues (PCOS and positive ANA), I am currently being treated for hypothyroidism. It just occurred to me today that even though I brought it up to my OBGYN, he breezed over it at our appointment and I haven't had my TSH levels tested since before my BFP. If you already have hypothyroidism, how far along are you and have you had your TSH levels tested?

mama1824 · March 2018

I think they tested me in first trimester with last two pregnancies. If it’s a concern call you OB and ask to get tested.

wamam027 · March 2018

I have Hashimotos Thyroiditis. I'm only 7 weeks today and have had my tsh tested twice, both times my numbers were high and therefore my medication has been increased both times. The Dr testing is my reproductive endocrinologist since we had to use fertility drugs to get pregnant, so he's been really "on it" as far as blood work for my thyroid and hormones. If you are worried I'd definitely call your ob and ask for that bloodwork!

nervous0220 · March 2018

@mempartyof3 @wamam027 Thank you for your responses. I'm going to make some calls tomorrow morning. I need a new OB.

vrj0522 · March 2018

I also have hypo and pretty much the moment I get a BFP, I call my endo. He always gets me in the next day, it's that important to make sure that levels are normal during pregnancy. I would strongly suggest you call your OB or your primary doctor and make sure that you get your levels tested. Also, if your OB doesn't seem proactive about it, I would make sure that you are asking them to check them every 6-8 weeks, even if only for peace of mind.

goldie987 · March 2018

Also hypo here. My Endo gave me a lab slip (they don't do in office blood draws, I just go to LabCorp and they send the results over) at my last appointment when she gave me the all clear to TTC to use once I got a BFP. I'm on here killing time until they open at 8 to confirm if there's anything else they want me to do other than my blood test this morning. I'm 4+1 today btw.

pitbullmama71 · March 2018

I'm also hypo. My levels were last tested in November. I'm 7w2d and my RE wants to do another US before discharging me to an OB. So I'm guessing I'll get more bloodwork in a couple weeks when I can finally see an OB. My levels have been the same for the last 10 years so maybe that's why they haven't said anything about it yet.

nervous0220 · March 2018

I called my primary care this morning and went to the lab before work. The nurse I spoke with told me I was definitely right to call and ask to be tested.

TheSouffleGirl · March 2018

I'm hypo (Hashimoto's) and waiting to hear back from my OB re: whether to get my levels checked before my April 10 first appointment (I'm ~4w3d.)

Your OB should definitely answer any questions, take things seriously, and make you feel comfortable. However, I have had 2 OBs who have not acted like my thyroid is a big deal because it is pretty close to normal even when unmedicated and doesn't fluctuate much (I've been on 25mcg of levothyroxine for 3 years, including a whole pregnancy without a dose change.) After the initial diagnosis and a six week follow-up after I began my medicine, I think I only had 1 extra panel beyond the other normal checks.

How off is your thyroid, OP?

mama1824 · March 2018

@TheSouffleGirl I am similar. This is pregnancy number three and I’m getting blood work at 11 weeks which I’m fine with because I’ve been at .88mg for almost a decade and didn’t change at all during other pregnancies. If I start feeling off or something I’ll call and get it pushed up but comfortable with waiting

nervous0220 · March 2018

@TheSouffleGirl @mempartyof3

I was diagnosed 4 years ago and I take 88mcg. I knew that your thyroid impacted your fertility, but I didn't know that having an underactive thyroid might hurt your baby. I was falling down the rabbit hole of Google, and given how common hypothyroidism is I figured it might be good to check in with others to see how they were addressing it in their first trimester.

It's good to hear that there's a range. I never thought I had intense hypothyroidism. I think my TSH was at 11 when I was diagnosed. I really didn't notice any changes when I started synthroid. But holy shnikes is there crazy scary stuff online!

But, I got tested this morning and am waiting for results. Hopefully we're good, because I'm almost 7 weeks. Thank you everyone for your responses and hopefully this thread will also remind other moms to get checked out.

TheSouffleGirl · March 2018

@nervous0220: There is definitely a range!

Also, I didn't mention it in my first post, but I was first put on meds while pregnant with my daughter at Week 12. Since it can take several months for the medicine to become effective, I think it's pretty safe to say she went relatively unmedicated for the first half of the pregnancy, and turned out just fine.

My OB called back and said that as long as I wasn't noticing any changes/symptoms of being hypo I don't need to come in early for a panel. My guess is that if you haven't noticed a lot of changes throughout your time managing your hypo issues, your case isn't cause for concern either (although it's always good to get checked for peace of mind!)

ashkee05 · March 2018

I an Hyper but when I am pregnant I run hypo. They test my numbers almost every appointment until we get to the close together ones then they slow down. I usually end up on pills but have been lucky both pregnancies before that I didn’t have to take them my whole pregnancy.

linz36 · March 2018

I have hashimotos and run hypo. I just started medication in January and haven’t had my levels rechecked yet. I’m thinking maybe I should bring it up at my next visit though.

soehlerk · March 2018

Yes, I have hypothyroidism. I asked if they'd test my TSH during the routine HCG blood draw, and they did.

vrj0522 · March 2018

@linz36 - unless you have an appointment in the next few days, you might want to at least call and ask about it. Given that your levels haven't been tested since you started medication, it's hard to know if the dosage was correct, or if it was too much or not enough and then pregnancy can also have an impact.

nervous0220 · March 2018

As a follow-up, my levels were just fine, in fact a little better than they were when I was last tested in August. I am very glad I got it tested.

goldie987 · March 2018

I got my thyroid labs back today and my TSH is already over 2.5. Literally 2 months ago, it was 1.4 on my current dose, so up my meds go and I get to go back in a few weeks to retest. This is my first pregnancy since I started meds so I have no idea how my thyroid is going to cope with the added stress.

vrj0522 · March 2018

@goldie987 - my rx always has to be upped at the beginning but then remains constant the rest of the pregnancy. Hopefully something similar happens for you too.

wildtot · March 2018

*lurking*
before my DS i use to be hyper. Because i was stable without meds before getting pregnant i didn’t think to get checked unt about 11 wks. No doubt i was hypo and not in the necessary range. I started low dose but got upped a few times. Same thing happened with this pregnancy. During the first tri both you and baby depend on your thyroid therefore your range needs to be on the lower end. The ranges change during each trimester. My dosage went down after delivery but have stayed hypo since then.

Eta: if you’ve told to hav grave’s disease (hyper) they may run addiction blood work during your second tri to check antibodies. If they come out high then they’ll have test baby after birth i think (luckily mine were negative).

Eveinshock · March 2018

Hypo here and was monitored monthly by my endo with bloodwork and med adjustment for the last pregnancy. Both ob and endo said that is extremely important.

However throughout the whole last pregnancy the endo kept lowering the med I have been on for 10 years (Armour) and adding/increasing a new med (synthroid) bc she says in pregnancy we have to keep the T4 up. Spoke to her today about this pregnancy and she jumped into the exact thing....halving my Armour dose instantly. I really hate that. I hate it bc I know it's been working for me for so long. I asked her if I can just keep it as is and add synthroid and just monitor. I have no idea why that would be a problem? She wouldn't budge. I will have to discuss it in person with her but I really am not an idiot, I can follow science as with most other things, and I want a real answer. A real reason why this is not an option!

CoconutKisses21 · March 2018

Another hypothyroid momma here. With my first pregnancy I took 2 extra doses a week, for a total increase of 28%. My TSH stayed between 1-2 for the duration of the pregnancy at that dose. I have a new OB and asked the nurse about it but she hasn’t gotten back to me yet.

4kids2018 · March 2018

I also have hypothyroidism. After I had my 3rd child I noticed I didn't feel right. This is my first pregnancy since discovering the thyroid issue. I'm anxious about it, my levels haven't been tested since shortly after starting the levothyroxine.

tinypikachu · March 2018

I’m hypothyroid too and have been since a few months before TTC for #1. My levels were stable throughout my first pregnancy but went crazy after I delivered and I had to get three med adjustments so keep that in mind for after! Apparently, it’s more common than some think.

I just got mine tested like a month ago by my PCP and will get it tested again at the 8w appointment, as per my OB’s protocol. I’m 4w2d now

TheSouffleGirl · March 2018

@4kids2018: How long have you been on the meds? Depending on what your dose is, some doctors won't test for a few months because it can take a while for the synthroid to take full effect.

Eveinshock · March 2018

Ok now I am livid. I just spoke to my pharmacist and what the endo actually did was lower my overall dose. She added synthroid, cut my Armour, so now I am taking 3/4 the total thyroid dose I have been on for 10 years. The pharmacist called the office even to confirm that is what they were doing. I just hate this. Who LOWERS a pregnant woman's dosage......?

vrj0522 · March 2018

@Eveinshock - yep, I would be pissed too. Maybe call and ask why they did that and tell them that you are not comfortable with that decision?

A couple of months ago I got my dose changed and the dr wanted to change it by two doses and I said no way, I'd rather be on the low side of normal if I am ttc and he agreed and only moved me one dose.

Don't let them make a decision for you that you are not comfortable with unless they explain it to you and it makes sense!

TheSouffleGirl · March 2018

@eveinshock: Yes, call and ask! And cross-check with your OB. I actually did all my synthroid meds out of my OB's office last pregnancy to avoid cross purposes, and just ditched the endo until after I was dismissed from the OB six weeks postpartum. (And I like my endo, I just didn't want to mess with 2 sets of labs being interpreted by 2 doctors who don't know each other and can't talk.) That probably wouldn't be the best choice in all cases (my hypo is super simple), but sure it made my life a lot better.

Eveinshock · March 2018

Here was our conversation on the topic friday:

Me: I do have a question about the thyroid adjustment. Would there be any possibility to keep the Armour dose as is and just add a small amount of Synthroid? I know the T3 is not as important to keep up during pregnancy but both T3 and T4 is always pretty low so I wouldnt think Id be getting too much of either?

Her: I think its's best that we decrease the Armour Thyroid as we did during your last preganancy. Synthroid is better for the baby vs Armour and also easier to keep the thyroid levels balanced.

Mind you I was never "balanced," I was constantly low on everything last pregnancy bc I was on a LOWERED DOSE (I didn't know at the time).

goldie987 · March 2018

@Eveinshock that makes me so angry. Unless labs indicate that you're hyper, decreasing dose especially in early pregnancy when demand goes up seems to be a completely asinine decision on their part.

@TheSouffleGirl my OB basically told me they don't handle thyroid at all and I needed to find someone who would manage the thyroid side. I'm almost happy they are hands off about it because it means the Endo can do her thing (she specializes in thyroid and pregnancy) and the OB doesn't try to overstep and cover something they aren't as strong in.

Eveinshock · March 2018

goldie987 said:

@Eveinshock that makes me so angry. Unless labs indicate that you're hyper, decreasing dose especially in early pregnancy when demand goes up seems to be a completely asinine decision on their part.

@TheSouffleGirl my OB basically told me they don't handle thyroid at all and I needed to find someone who would manage the thyroid side. I'm almost happy they are hands off about it because it means the Endo can do her thing (she specializes in thyroid and pregnancy) and the OB doesn't try to overstep and cover something they aren't as strong in.

It's infuriating and disturbing. And SHE's the best one I've found. My OB also said they do not handle the thyroid and make you go to a specialist. I am thinking about asking the pharmacist if they know of any dr who seems to know what they're doing based on the scripts they fill. Seems like the pharmacist was more with it than the Dr!

TheSouffleGirl · March 2018

@eveinshock: I'm sorry! That's so frustrating! I hope that you find a good new endo if that's the route you're going.

@goldie987: That makes sense. I actually just went and looked at my OB's website, and he does have prenatal endocrine care listed as one of his subspecialties. I guess I just got lucky without realizing it!

Hope you ladies get settled soon!

Anyone here with hypothyroidism?

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