Any experience with rising TSH levels?

[Camkid12]

Morning everyone. I can’t be the only person to have experienced this, so looking for some shared stories or advice please 😊

My TSH was 4.45 when we were referred for IVF. It wasn’t checked again until after a failed cycle (1 day three transfer, BFN, nothing to freeze). Since then, it’s been 6.02, 6.83, 6.89, 7.0 and last Monday 9.91.

I’ve been on 25 levo since the 6.02 reading last November, and increased dose to 50 then 75 since last week.

I know levo can take some time to work, but I can’t understand why it keeps rising. Getting it down to 2 seems like an impossible task! The only things I’ve changed is I stopped smoking 2 years ago when reading was 4.45. I also started taking 1 x 100mg ubiquinol last November (reading was 6.89). Could that be affecting my TSH?

I’m currently waiting to have a full thyroid work-up done privately (delayed due to Easter break), and also waiting on a GP appointment to discuss. IVF consultant said they do not have enough experience with thyroid issues and to get back in touch once my issue is resolved 😔

Thanks.x

[XOXO13]

Hello,

Those are high TSH numbers so it’s good you’re taking thyroxine. If you have a full thyroid screening, it will measure your T4 and T3 reading too. A low T4 and high TSH can indicate an under active thyroid (which I have). I’m on 100mg of thyroxine a day to control my TSH levels, and they were about 7.9+ during pregnancy. I’m not sure what they are now as they need checking again.

If you haven’t already, maybe ask to be referred to an endocrinologist via your GP as they specialise in thyroid issues. Private and NHS seem to have different opinions on what the optimal level of TSH should be when TTC. My first clinic weren’t concerned when my TSH was rising but my endocrinologist and private clinic always wanted it below 2.5.

Hope that helps xx

[Camkid12 in reply to XOXO13]

Hi. Thanks for the reply. So far, the only other thing they’ve checked is my T4, which is normal. Hopefully when I get the full thyroid function test it will give them more to go on. You’re right, there’s definitely conflicting opinions and viewpoints! My clinic said between 2 and 4 is fine, but most of what I’ve read on here says 2 is better. Based on my weight, 100 Levo should be the required dose, but they wouldn’t let me go straight onto that 🙄 x

[Cdlasnier]

Not sure if it would help but my doctor doesn't like levothyroxin but prefers synthroid he says it works much better. Make sure you are also taking the medication at lead 1 hour before eating. I'm sure you are already doing that. I actually had a transfer and then after mine jumped to 8! But it was because I was pregnant and pregnancy made mine jump higher. But I got it down within 6 weeks to normal range but I was on a very high dose like 150. My thyroid is crap lol. I also have hashimotos. But at least there is medication to help.

[Camkid12 in reply to Cdlasnier]

Hi, thanks for the reply. For the first 12 weeks I was actually taking it just before breakfast, and alongside supplements. Nobody told me that this wasn’t the best way to take it! I’ve changed that now though 👍 my body does seem quite resistant to medication in general, must have quite a high tolerance 😂 hopefully they’ll put me up to 100 in 3 weeks, then I’ll start to see a difference.x

[troupe]

Hi, I was diagnosed with under active thyroid in 2015 with levels moving around every six months when blood was tested. It wasn’t until I had a miscarriage last January when I started to research thyroid issues and found (and this is typical with lots of sufferers I’ve talked to) that your given tablets by GP and that’s it, no advice, no suggestions to improve this condition through diet etc. so what I have learnt and what I do religiously every day is keep loosing weight, slowly, about 1-2 pounds a week to get within the BMI range of below 26. I take 75mg of levothyroxine between 2/4am in the morning, no dairy or supplements before 8am. I eat a couple of Brazil nuts and only dark chocolate (75+ potency) three times a week and make sure selenium and iodine is in my multi vitamin. All my levels are now stable under 1 and have been for 12 months. I hope this helps a little x

[Anjalichaudhary]

Hi there, my tsh was also 4.6 when they transferred it was 3 day transfer and 2nd round of ivf, due to covid they cancelled my retrieval in first round of ivf.Currently i am 7 weeks, and my tsh is also 6.99 and i am taking levo 125 they said for pregnancy 2 to 2.5 is ideal but mine is also very high trying to control, you should increase your dose as your thyroid is also very high.