My doctor said it is normal with those high TPO ab values, because I have a family history. I told him that I am worried I will have miscarriage since TPO ab can cross placenta barrier and attack the embryo, but he said there's nothing he can do about my TPO ab.
So I wonder if indeed nothing needs to be done in my case, since my TPO ab values are not super high and other values are in normal range.
I am so worried that those antibodies will attack my baby. Please tell me what I need to do and prepare so that I can protect my baby.
Thank you so much!!!
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swedishsnow
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Welcome to the forum, Swedishsnow and congratulations on your pregnancy.
UK clinical advice is to increase a newly pregnant hypothyroid woman's Levothyroxine by 50mcg and to keep TSH in the low normal range of 0.4-2.0 with FT4 in the top 75% of range to reduce the risk of miscarriage and post partum thyroiditis. The USA ranges in the link below vary slightly.
Your TSH is almost 2.0 which is the top of the range and your FT4 mid way so I think a dose increase would be prudent and helpful and will help reduce your thyroid antibodies. Your thyroid levels should be monitored every 4 weeks during the first trimester when the baby is dependent on maternal thyroid hormones.
Try not to worry too much about your antibodies, they are quite low and in my area of the UK <100 is considered negative.
Gluten-free diet is recommended by many Hashimoto's members as it can reduce antibodies and Hashimoto's flare ups.
I'm not sure if you will able to access the NICE recommendation below outside of the UK
The test result for TSH from 26/11 is 2.55mE/L, and Tpo ab is 109. Do you think I should start taking Levothyroxine immediately?
I Sweden we have to book a time with the doctor, and then he will diagnose, then give me medicine. I am afraid I can't wait until next month to get my diagnose done I am worried, I want the medicine now
Swedishsnow, yes I think you ought to be taking 50mcg Levothyroxine now. Can you book an emergency appointment with your doctor or midwife to get the Levothyroxine prescribed?
Swedishsnow, please don't panic. Your TSH is slightly above what is desirable but was within the desired range a few days ago so getting treatment now should make everything right xx
If you want to listen to my story today, here it is.
I booked an emergency doctor and met her (Katarina) this morning. I told her everything and she said that she cannot give me any Levothyroxine because my test values are totally normal.
I told her that my tsh value is not normal since I am pregnant.
Then she just said: then it is your midwife health center which should take care of this. So she sent a remiss to midwife health center and asked me to call them to book a time.
Then I called the midwife health center, they said they wouldn't take care of me until I am registered with them, and the registration time for me is next month.
Blahblahblah a lot has happened today, I cried a river and called all the possible numbers, even Katarina's boss to complain about this case.
Finally just now Katarina called me back and she became so much nicer. She said that she consulted an Endocrinology specialist, and specialist said that I should take another blood test in two weeks, to see how it will become. Because it is more accurate if the diagnose is set according to two results in my pregnancy.
So I will take another test on 16 Dec.
Thank you for reading my story Clutter. Your patience is greatly appreciated by me. And I need to ask you a few questions.
1, What do you think of their decision, to take another blood test and then see if I need to be treated or not?
2, I can actually ask my friends to buy Levothyroixine in China and send it to me, probably I can receive it next week. Do you think it is needed?
3, Is it true that women like me, if not treated, will have a much higher risk of miscarriage? Is it possible not to have miscarriage if not treated?
Thank you again for whatever your advice is, I am really grateful for you spend your time writing to me. After a whole day's frustration, it is only when thinking of you that I can feel warm, I can feel that I am supported.
There is higher risk of miscarriage in undiagnosed and untreated hypothyroid women but most, unless previously diagnosed, won't even know they are hypothyroid and will have successful pregnancies and deliver healthy babies.
Remember, you are only very slightly above the low/normal TSH range recommended in the UK. Women miscarrying probably have very high TSH which may be triggered by pregnancy hormones.
After the health scares about adulterated products in China over the last few years I wouldn't recommend Levothyroxine from China. I think it may be better to wait for your repeat blood test in 2 weeks and if your TSH has risen your doctors may prescribe Levothyroxine.
I hope all goes well, Snow. I'm sorry you've not been enjoying your pregnancy with all the worry.
Sadly enough to say, and also dramatically enough to say, that I had my miscarriage on 4 December, so 10 days ago.
I started with brown spotting on 2 December, then blood on the 4th. By then I was in my pregnancy week 6+3 days.
I don't know what to blame, but I strongly think that it is my thyroid that probably caused the miscarriage.
Tmrw I will go have another test of thyroid hormones, but I am not pregnant anymore, so they won't give me any diagnose even if my TSH is over 2.5.
We want to try again this month to see if I become pregnant, but HOW afraid I am to have another miscarriage. It's still hard to believe that I have had a miscarriage, coz I am so young and healthy(as I thought).
I am so sorry you miscarried. I will give you another link which may be helpful too. Many women miscarry if their thyroid hormone are out of whack. When doctors only go by the TSH level it can result in problems rather than taking note of clinical symptoms.
My next appointment with the doctor is 5 Jan, I don't think she will give me levothyroxine, coz it needs two tests in pregnancy showing that tsh is above 2.5 to diagnose me and give me medicine.
I am taking the second test tmrw, but I have already had the miscarriage.
That's what I am worrying about. I am worried that if I had got pregnant again, at the time between the two tests, I could have had a miscarriage again, namely I could have miscarriage before I am even diagnosed that I need levothyroxine.
Have your blood test as early as possible, as that's when the TSH is highest but this is also another link which you may find helpful. The doctors should be ensuring you are as healthy as possible for a good pregnancy.
It seems to be a worldwide problem nowadays. They don't listen to patient and tell the patient everything is fine and ignore any clinical symptoms.
I didn't mean that this is an ideal time (after a miscarriage) to have the TSH but just to let you know that it varies throughout the day and the TSH isn't always the most accurate way to diagnose a patient.
An early test should show the TSH at its highest. It could mean the difference between being diagnosed or not but some people's TSH doesn't always rise enough for the doctor to give them hormones despite clinical symptoms. It's a mess really.
Yes Shaws, it's crazy. The doctor I met, Katarina, she in not updated at all. She kept denying that my TSH 2.55 is high for pregnant women, just kept kept denying, until I forced her to see Stockholm Medical Guideline website, like the bible for doctors, it clearly says there that if two tests show that a pregnant women has tsh over 2.5, then Levothyroxine should be given. Then she just stopped denying! She even refused to test me again when I requested until she read this and finally arranged another test for me.
It is shocking that how cocky she could be and believe that the patient of course can't know more than her in a certain field.
We will try to get another baby again this month, and meet the doctor next month and I will request another test.
It is the arrogance that some of them have. We, who desperately need answers to very important questions are ignored and they must have such big egos and feeling of importance that they cannot comprehend anything other than themselves. Her mistake may have cost you the loss of a child. It's not good enough.
It was good you pointed out her serious mistake and I hope you go to someone else to look after you when you become pregnant again.
I know how important it is for you and husband. My daughter unfortunately, couldn't conceive so it was probably her autoimmune conditions (she has a few) that hindered it. She is now past the childbearing stage but you still have the instinct to have your own baby.
Sorry to hear about our daughter's case and thank you for encouraging me.
I am glad that I found you guys to help me out here with your suggestions and mentally. At least somebody understands me here. I feel that I am concerned here. Thank you and I will update my status to you.
Swedishsnow, I'm so sorry, that's devastating. I can only suggest you persist in requesting Levothyroxine to reduce your TSH into the low normal range 0.4-2.0 while you are trying to conceive and throughout the pregnancy.
I do hope your GPs help you to have a successful pregnancy.
Yes Clutter, I will be requesting Levothyroxine everytime I see the doctor. But my next appointment will be 5 Jan, and then again 15 Jan. It seems that I have to book as many appointments as possible.
Do you think I need to do something about my TPO ab? Since I checked this antibody attacks the fetus as well, but none of the doctors I have asked seem to agree on that.
Swedishsnow, adopting a gluten-free diet helps some Hashimoto's patients reduce their antibodies but I don't know how quickly it works and it doesn't help everyone.
My boyfriend and I are thinking of adopting a gluten-free diet for me. It takes a bit of courage to do so though, coz I am a fan of noodles.
My result comes out today(which I took yesterday) TSH 3.88, TPO ab 106. Not so much to do though, coz my TSH is within the normal range (0.2-4)
And the doctor Katarina told the nurse to tell me that we can discuss about it on 5 Jan.
It seems that all that I can do is to wait. This December is really gloomy for me, I really wish it gone.
My boyfriend and I will try this month to get a baby, I don't believe that I will have another miscarriage, but on the other hand I am a bit worried that it will happen on me again. What do you suggest Clutter?
Swedishsnow, I really don't know enough to advise. For instance, should your body recover from the miscarriage for a few weeks or is it okay to try to conceive immediately? Your doctor or midwife are the people to advise you.
Re your thyroid, your TSH is rising quite quickly and at this rate you will soon be above the range and will be prescribed Levothyroxine.
I hope your next pregnancy will be successful and you are able to enjoy it without worry.
I'm sure gluten-free noodles must be available if you look for them. Otherwise you may need to buy g-f flour and make your own.
Ask about Armour to the community. I about died trying to take Synthroid and Levo. Armour is a naturally occurring thyroid supplement. Still prescription, though. 23 years on Armour, and only had issues when there was a shortage (so I had to order from Canada).
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