High TSH so delaying treatment..

[Raglee]

Hello ladies,

I had my first appointment on Monday and had all the scans and tests etc and I received a phone call today to say my TSH levels were too high ( they ideally supposed to be less than 2.5 for fertility) and that I may need to go on Thyroxiene for 6 weeks, to bring my levels down, prior to treatment. I am a bit disappointed as I was so eager to start my next cycle but obviously if this increases our chances of success, I am more than happy to take it. Has anyone else had to do this prior to their treatment?

Love Emma x

[Tlove]

Hi Emma, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I wasn't able to get pregnant. Once my eltroxin was medicated properly, I got pregnant really quickly naturally! But then I had a series of miscarriages, which were unrelated to the thyroid problem. Generally if you have this, you should be on medication for life for it to keep it under control. I have been taking it at various doses for the last 4 years or so and have to get regular blood tests to make sure the levels are ok. You might be lucky and find that you become pregnant once it's under control - you never know! But when you do get pregnant it's important to get tested again as the levels change in pregnancy.

Best of luck with it - make sure you ask about how long you should be on it and whether you need regular blood tests.

[Raglee in reply to Tlove]

Thanks Tlove, never even thought/knew I had a thyroid issue before, so I suppose its good I know now. I will definitely have more questions for them when I see them x

[Tlove in reply to Raglee]

It was a surprise for me as well when I found out - it was included in some standard fertility tests when I wasn't able to get pregnant after a year. As I say, it did make all the difference when it was balanced properly but you definitely need to stay on top of it because the dose may need changing occasionally. It's good that they detected this for you prior to treatment.

[pm27]

Our second clinic wanted TSH levels under 2.5 so my GP prescribed tablets and it fell very quickly within a month. The clinic said i'd have to stay on it for the whole 9 months if we'd git a BFP. First clinic weren't bothered as it was under 5, it seems to depend on your consultant's view.

I know a delay is disappointing but it might make the difference.

[Raglee]

Thanks PM 27 , yeah our clinic Defo looking for a <2.5, glad to hear the drugs did the trick. Best of luck with your journey X

[AllyR]

As Tlove said, it was fertility tests which highlighted my hypothyroidism but it was only borderline then and I've doubled my dose since then (4yrs ago). I had successful icsi in summer 2014 third time lucky but we also have mfi. Depending on your tsh level, if you were not trying to conceive, you may not have been put on meds because less than 10 is considered normal by some doctors. What you need to be really careful of once you're taking levothyroxine is to always ask a pharmacist when you can take other prescribed drugs or over the counter meds. This isn't because of a drug reaction but because other drugs can lessen the effects of the levothyroxine which i only found out recently. I was on levothyroxine after giving birth and prescribed iron tablets and taking them at the same time. Both were not working properly as a result. Additionally you should wait 30 mins after taking your tablets before eating anything and before having caffeine. So i have mine first thing in the morning. Best of luck with your treatment.

[AllyR]

One more thing. If you do need to take thyroid meds forever you get free prescriptions for life - for everything, not just the thyroid meds.

[Raglee in reply to AllyR]

thanks so much AllyR for all that info, so good to know, would never have thought to ask about any of that x