@m6agua & @nolemomma14 Hashi's girl here! A normal endocrinologist should be the best to help get your thyroid levels right. I was on synthroid and then levothyroxine and they kept having to up my dosage because nothing was changing. I wasn't until I was switched to Armour when things started getting better symptom wise as well as my levels. I also take Kelp daily to support thyroid as well. There's a book called the Root Cause and I highly suggest it!
EDIT: Forgot to mention my endo said that she never wants to see TSH over 2.
@brookert615 maybe I should give my old endocrinologist a call while I am here. I also ordered the Root Cause per your suggestion the other day! I have been wanting to read it for a while. My TSH was 1.71.
Me: 26, DH: 31 Diagnosed with Hashimoto's 06/17
BFP #1: 05/11/16 DD born 01/01/17, Happy New Year TTC #2: 01/2019 BFP #2 09/24/19--Ended in chemical pregnancy BFP #3 07/02/2020 Due: 03/10/2021
@nolemama24 I would highly recommend researching "thyroid functional medicine" or "thyroid optimal". Conventional medicine doesn't really want to do anything until you are basically too far gone, thats why they put so much weight on TSH, when really, typically TSH is the last number to get bad because it is only your pituitaries signal to produce more T3 & T4. Also the drug(s) you are on are T4 only, you may need to try a combo drug, especially if you are having issues converting T4 (inactive, stored form) to T3 (active, in the cells form). I worked with my conventional doc for about 8 months before deciding to pony up the money and go with a functional doc. I personally am on NP Thyroid, which is a generic T3/T4 NDT drug (Natural Desiccated Thyroid). It's been about a year with them and it was so worth it, expensive, but worth it. The functional doc addressed my sex hormones, adrenal issues and thyroid issues all in one since they are all closely connected. I think someone recommended "Root Cause" by Dr Izabella Wentz the other day, I highly recommend reading that too. Her website has a lot of great info too. I also like the resources Dr Becky Campbell and Chris Kresser's websites have.
As for the CD21 testing and ultrasound it depends on what they are looking for with the ultrasound. The CD21 test should ideally be 7DPO, so if you ovulate at or around CD14, you should be fine. If you don't then the results wont really tell you much. In my experience regular conventional doctors don't really know how to interpret these results with a functional whole body mindset.
ETA: In the UK the measurement unit of the tests in the chart above are typically different, but you can typically find what you need by google searching "___ Test optimal levels"
@brookert615 Hey! I've noticed from your check-in you have Hashi's. I haven't been diagnosed with that yet, but who knows if I will. I loved Root Cause and it helped me a lot. I am still trying to piece together all of my stuff. I am leaning towards either having undiagnosed Hashi's or Low T3 Syndrome due to low vitamin D, elevated reverse T3 and leaky gut. If it is the later then I don't even have a thyroid issue, I would have a gut/liver issue. It's so hard because everyone and every case is so different. It is starting to feel like we should have a separate thread for thyroid issues. I've become rather passionate since my experience with doctors not helping and having to advocate for myself and I try to spread the word and help other's do the same.
@m6agua It was a long road to get finally diagnosed. My GP was garbage and refused to do the full thyroid panel. I actually ordered my blood tests out of pocket and took it straight to an endocrinologist that I found who is up-to-date with everything and had great reviews. She had my bloodwork and was like “So you have Hashimoto’s but you already know that, huh?” Lol. I’m a firm believer in not only being you’re own advocate for your health but finding the doctors who are willing to dig and find a solution for their patients! If you ever have any questions please feel free to shoot me a message!
@m6agua after posting this afternoon, I decided to call up a functional medicine doctor. I tried two different endocrinologists here in Tampa and was unhappy with my care (not to mention, you have to wait three months to get an appointment--even if you are an existing patient!). I have been wanting to see a functional medicine doctor and I think it's finally time. Hopefully they accept me, even though I don't live in the US anymore. Like you and @brookert615, I have been relying on my own research to get to the bottom of this disease. At first, I was just interesting in feeling better (I used to be so fatigued and my hair was falling out) and loosing weight. But now that I lost the weight and I am feeling great, I am so sad that it's affecting my TTC. Ugh. Auto immune diseases are so unfair. Hugs to you both. I would love to do a thyroid check in/thread!
Me: 26, DH: 31 Diagnosed with Hashimoto's 06/17
BFP #1: 05/11/16 DD born 01/01/17, Happy New Year TTC #2: 01/2019 BFP #2 09/24/19--Ended in chemical pregnancy BFP #3 07/02/2020 Due: 03/10/2021
Re: WTO Thursday 4/25
EDIT: Forgot to mention my endo said that she never wants to see TSH over 2.
Diagnosed with PCOS & Hashimoto's
Diagnosed with Hashimoto's 06/17
TTC #2: 01/2019
BFP #2 09/24/19--Ended in chemical pregnancy
BFP #3 07/02/2020 Due: 03/10/2021
Diagnosed with PCOS & Hashimoto's
As for the CD21 testing and ultrasound it depends on what they are looking for with the ultrasound. The CD21 test should ideally be 7DPO, so if you ovulate at or around CD14, you should be fine. If you don't then the results wont really tell you much. In my experience regular conventional doctors don't really know how to interpret these results with a functional whole body mindset.
ETA: In the UK the measurement unit of the tests in the chart above are typically different, but you can typically find what you need by google searching "___ Test optimal levels"
- BFP: 3/10/16 — Baby Girl born 11/20/16
TTC#2 April 2019- BFP: 3/10/16 — Baby Girl born 11/20/16
TTC#2 April 2019Diagnosed with PCOS & Hashimoto's
Diagnosed with Hashimoto's 06/17
TTC #2: 01/2019
BFP #2 09/24/19--Ended in chemical pregnancy
BFP #3 07/02/2020 Due: 03/10/2021