Set back after set back: thyroid and Christmas help

[Deltasunshine]

Hi, could do with some advice. Feel so deflated as I've been waiting for a long time for my first IVF cycle with PGT due to a genetic issue on my side. Thought I was getting somewhere when I was told I needed to phone on the first day on my period and from day 21 I could start injections. Phoned yesterday only to be told I have to wait another month as they close over Christmas. Feel so frustrated! I then got another call back to say my thyroid level is 4.8 and they want it at 2.5 so having to take thyroxine tablets to try regulate but told this could take a while. Annoyed that they didn't tell me sooner (had bloods done in October). I really can't bear the thought of yet another delay to starting treatment. Anyone any advice if you've had thyroid issues? Feel emotionally drained already with set back after set back before treatment officially even starts x

[Millbanks]

Hi lovely, that is so frustrating, so sorry to hear about your delay.

I also had high TSH and once I was on the meds it took about 3 weeks for it to drop - so hopefully by the time you start your cycle in Jan, you'll be in a really good place.

I know it's frustrating and unfortunately delays are so very common in IVF treatment, as you just can't predict what the body is going to do (but also Christmas - grrrr).

You want to be in the best possible position before using your precious embryo, so try not to see it as a bad thing, but just that you are making it's home the best it can be!

This time will go much quicker than you think. Best of luck xx

[MagicTourmaline]

I am really sorry to hear about the delays... I know how frustrating it is... 😔Most of our treatments have been delayed for one reason or another... It gave me more stress than IVF treatment itself...

For me every time i thought we are ready to go my clinic came up with one test after another which could have been done all together to start with as they werent connected to one or another...

Then covid, then Christmas last year...

So I know exactly how you feel and I send you lots of strengh and patience for this journey and I wish you great success...

I really hope you can get your treatment done very soon...

[Hidden]

Aargghhh I am so sorry you have another delay, its just soul destroying isn't it.

I too have a delay again for different reasons, of about 7 months. There are absolutely ZERO plus sides to it as far as I am concerned. BUT the one tiny thing that gives me a tiny bit of comfort is the fact that we are delaying to optimise our chances (in my case I need an operation and recovery time). So when I am feeling like we both are, I try and remind myself that doing anything now wouldn't give us the best chance, and the next one could be the one, so better to do it once in great shape and get a positive result, than limp through a few rounds not really in the best condition and get several negatives.

Sending you the hugest hug, you will get loads of great thyroid advice on here. I really hope in a year or so's time you will be looking back and thinking 'so glad I did that - the time flew by and it was so worth it' as you cradle your baby xx

[Pnw2020]

Hi. Sorry to hear you have to delay but it is very important to get thyroid function controlled. Have you had a full thyroid check eg TSH/T3/T4 and antibodies. You make have to check this privately with eg medichecks. That’s actually how I was diagnosed with Hashimotos due to raised antibodies. In most people TSH isn’t higher than two but if you get diagnosed early it is easier to get control of. Also there are parameters for TSH during pregnancy son that’s why it’s so important for it be controlled before treatment.

Have a look at the Thyroid UK forum for more advice. Wishing you well x

[MammaMia86]

Hi!

Something similar happen to me, I had a test done on february and the thyroid levels were 2.3, a month later I had to do them again and it was 6!!!

They told me that I had to take medication for the thyroid until I have a baby. It was really frustrating, but taking the medication has reduce the levels and it is under control....you are gonna have to be patient because it takes time to see the results.

[Megrumpy]

As someone who has been through 6 cycles of IVF and 18 years of thyroid issues, I can personally tell you that your thyroid can make all the difference in the world. I finally got my BFP a few weeks ago and I believe that it was my thyroid dose that made all the difference in the end. What a lot of doctors do not seem to take into account is that you can have different TSH levels depending on where you are in your cycle. So I know mine is higher during my period. Regardless, if you are not feeling unwell (eg do not have heart palpitations, are not excessively restless or underweight), and are planning a pregnancy a lower TSH is always better than higher. Because even if you get pregnant, a high TSH is linked to deafness in children.How long it takes to see change in your TSH levels, depends a lot on your body. Mine changes really quickly but I know that the NHS standard answer is that it will take months. You might also want to discuss the dose with your clinic as a higher dose will pull your TSH down quicker. I know we once decided to change my dose in the middle of the cycle to push it up quick. Unfortunately, we never found out if that would have worked as COVID and lockdown no1 buggered that up.

Best of luck! But like a lot of people have said, you are better off having one perfect cycle than 5 where you knew something could have been improved.