Lowering THS levels: Today we have... - Fertility Network UK

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Lowering THS levels

WaitingforGabriel profile image
27 Replies

Today we have learned that my THS hormon levels are found too high to become pregnant. They told us that THS should be maximum 2.5 and mine is 3.8!

I don't know if this was the real reason of not being able to conceive all the time.

Doctor prescribed l-thyroxine and told that it is extremely heavy medication. I really don't know how to deal with the side-effects if it hits hard. I already find the daily injections too heavy to do my daily tasks.

Does anyone know about natural supplements which might lower the THS levels? I wonder if something more natural could help me to deal with the issue without heavy side effects.

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WaitingforGabriel
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27 Replies
Behind_Hazel_Eyes profile image
Behind_Hazel_Eyes

Hi, I am on a quite a high dose of Levothyroxine (150mcg) partly because we are TTC and also because I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis. I have been on it for 15 years. No ill effects. In fact I feel worse if I forget to take it. I wouldn't worry!

WaitingforGabriel profile image
WaitingforGabriel in reply to Behind_Hazel_Eyes

Thank you for your response! That is helpful. How do they diagnose Hashimoto's? I wonder if I suffer from the same.

Wishing you best luck to conceive a healthy child.

Tamaa profile image
Tamaa

Hello. My level was similar to yours, was told the same as you, and started on a low dose (25), that was gradually increased as needed. I haven't had any side effects so far. Sorry, don't know about any natural remedies to bring TSH down, but there's definitely food that can be avoided which makes TSH high (you can Google 'food to avoid in hypothyroidism').

Thyroid hormone is one of the very important hormones in our body that affects almost every system. It's more beneficial to get it regulated than not out of fear of side effects. All the Best!

WaitingforGabriel profile image
WaitingforGabriel in reply to Tamaa

Thank you so much! That is very encouraging and helpful.

Poppygarden profile image
Poppygarden

I was recommended to give up gluten. I’ve been on a health mission but my level went down from over 3.5 to 1.5 after about 6 months. I have a large level of antibodies to my thyroid still though. All the best

WaitingforGabriel profile image
WaitingforGabriel in reply to Poppygarden

You used medications right?

Poppygarden profile image
Poppygarden in reply to WaitingforGabriel

No I wasn’t put on medication. I managed to bring it down naturally. I’m following a med diet, gluten free, and I eat as much antioxidant foods like blueberries as possible. My thyroid is being checked again later this week to make sure I’m still on track. My doctors have been surprised but the nutritionist who recommended the diet wasn’t. X

WaitingforGabriel profile image
WaitingforGabriel in reply to Poppygarden

wow!

Nabsal profile image
Nabsal

hi am also taking levothyroxine at the moment. It doesn’t have any much side effects. Please take it

WaitingforGabriel profile image
WaitingforGabriel in reply to Nabsal

Thank you for your support!

Wishinandahopin profile image
Wishinandahopin

Levothyroxine is a very common medication, I wouldn’t say it’s heavy and I’ve never known of anyone having side effects (specially for small dose which will be needed to get from 3.8-2.5). I took it and was fine. Important to take it on empty stomach - ideally 60 mins before food and supplements as it doesn’t work if you take it with certain vits and minerals.

Good luck!

Nabsal profile image
Nabsal in reply to Wishinandahopin

Yes I am also confused because I am also taking some multivitamins as well with it. Because going for second round of ivf

Anxiousintrovert profile image
Anxiousintrovert

I also took it while TTC, no side effects whatsoever. Good luck!

Nabsal profile image
Nabsal in reply to Anxiousintrovert

Do you take multivitamins as well with it parental ?

WaitingforGabriel profile image
WaitingforGabriel in reply to Anxiousintrovert

super!

Yellowlove profile image
Yellowlove

Hello lovely, I was placed onto Levothyroxine as well because my TSH levels were fluctuating a lot. They always told me they were in the ‘normal’ range but needed to be below 2.5 to conceive. I started with 25mg a day and it the fluctuations continued, I’m now on 75 per day and all is under control, the levels are usually below 2 now and I get them checked every 6 weeks. The endocrinologist suggested it’s a mild form of hashimotos, this after checking my thyroid antibodies which were slightly raised.

I saw a nutritionist who advised me to go off gluten and dairy, which I did, and it did help but I’ve found being religious with the medication (take on empty stomach first thing) has been the best to keep it under control. I’ve currently started eating a little dairy here and there and not being so strict and my levels are still very much under control, last check 1.44. Xx

No side effects of the meds at all for me x.

WaitingforGabriel profile image
WaitingforGabriel in reply to Yellowlove

Thank you for sharing your experience. 1.44 is wonderful! All best luck!

Yellowlove profile image
Yellowlove in reply to WaitingforGabriel

Thank you. See how it goes, you might not have any side effects. Losing gluten and dairy in the diet should help too but taking the medication should help bring it down. Hashimotos is diagnosed when you have thyroid antibody tests. X

gianna83 profile image
gianna83

I've been a thyrhoid patient for 25 years. A tsh of 3.8 is not detrimental for conception. For hashimoto's to be diagnosed you need to check your anti-TPO levels through bloodwork and the ultrasound shows it as well.

Et88 profile image
Et88 in reply to gianna83

Hi,

My TSH is 4 but TPO is <30 Ku/l ( normal is <60)

My clinic said it’s ok and no treatment is needed however I am confused. Do you have any advice/ suggestions?

Thank you

gianna83 profile image
gianna83 in reply to Et88

You should see an endocrinologist because during pregnancy and when you take estrogen for frozen embryo transfer, tsh can rise and that's a problem. I take a pill for my thyrhoid every day and i've also taken selenium in the past to help.

Eloquentia profile image
Eloquentia

Hi! I have been on 25 mcg of levothyroxine for over 10 years, my clinic did check levels regularly because thyroid hormones in the wrong range might affect implantation and staying pregnant. I haven't had any side effects from this medication and as others have mentioned, I do feel worse if I forget to take it. In my opinion, definitely worth getting the thyroid hormones in check before conceiving. In terms of supplements, I was told that selenium supports a healthy thyroid as an add on to the levothyroxine. I don't get on well with it myself. Very best of luck!

WaitingforGabriel profile image
WaitingforGabriel in reply to Eloquentia

Very encouraging to hear. Thank you!

ASteel85 profile image
ASteel85

hi there! I started taking Levithyroxine middle of last year after we discovered my TSH level had shot up from around 3.2 to 9.4 in the space of 3 months! No idea why. I started on 25mg but which quickly brought it back down to 3.8 but they wanted it down further for IVF so now on 50mg. No side effects what so ever. No need to worry! I also take Pregnacare multivitamins, omega 3, ashwaganda, lignosus plus all the other meds for FET. Currently in the middle of TWW! Good luck to everyone ⭐️

WaitingforGabriel profile image
WaitingforGabriel in reply to ASteel85

wow very strange!

wishing you all the best with tww outcome!

Megrumpy profile image
Megrumpy

I have been taking Levothyroxine for over 20 years and have had no side effects from the medication itself. It is essentially used to mimic the chemicals your thyroid would produce so other than overdosing you should not get any side effects.

Throughout my fertility journey my Levothyroxine dose was changed many times and I still believe that in the end that is what helped the IVF to work. I also believe that correct TSH levels for me gave us better outcomes in terms of the quality of embryos, despite the fact that my levels were within the norm the whole time.

WaitingforGabriel profile image
WaitingforGabriel in reply to Megrumpy

wonderful to hear. thank you for your response.

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