Dangerous to take Levo??: Has anyone been... - Thyroid UK

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Dangerous to take Levo??

7 Replies

Has anyone been pregnant whilst taking thyroid medication? I'm looking to see a private endo next week. He said he is willing to prescribe me something seeing my results. The Nhs GP and endo said its dangerous to take something. But private endo is willing to prescribe me something. I am worried am I doing the right thing? I hope it won't effect my cycles as I have regular cycles. Any get pregnant With the help of these meds.

TSH 2.84

FT4 16.4

TPO 109

And what's the difference between levothyroxine and desiccated thyroid ? he said dessicated may be better..

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7 Replies

Orangepie,

Your GP and NH endo won't treat you because your TSH is within range but your new endo thinks you need thyroid hormone replacement in view of your previous miscarriages.

Although your results are good, as soon as you conceive your need for thyroid hormone will increase. Not only will you have competing hormones but be supplying your growing baby.

Normal thyroid hormone level is critical to normal development of the baby’s brain and nervous system. During the first trimester, the fetus depends on the mother’s supply of thyroid hormone, which comes through the placenta. At around 12 weeks, the baby’s thyroid begins to function on its own.

TSH should be kept in the low-normal range (0.4–2.0 mU/L) meaning yours is at present too high, (and an FT4 concentration in the upper reference range.)

If this were me and I was symptomatic I would take the meds in preparation for conceiving. If however you are not symptomatic, you could wait until you fall pregnant and then medicate. The trouble with this is Levothyroxine can take up to six weeks to saturate every cell in the body and those first few weeks are vital to give you the best chance of keeping your baby.

Your thyroid antibodies look quite high. Are you gluten free ?

Flower

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Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

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in reply to

Ok, that does indeed make more sense. I'll discuss with him if I should take it from a positive pregnancy test or from now. I was on gluten free for a few days but then I did not want the antibodies to go down as the endo may get incorrect results. So I stopped. I will speak to the endo about this next week, glad I found one who is willing to listen thanks to this site.

in reply to

Orangepie,

Once you are diagnosed with Hashimotos it doesn't matter what your antibody level is regarding test results as Hashimoto antibodies are with you for life.

You want the antibody level to reduce as soon as possible as can be unbelievably destructive.

You need to look after your body so ready to conceive..

I agree with Clutter re meds. Levothyroxine will be so much easier for doctors to monitor you by as dose adjustments are probable.

Good luck,

Flower

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Clutter profile image
Clutter

Orangepie, Levothyroxine is synthetically produced thyroxine (T4). Natural Dessicated Thyroid (NDT) is derived from pig thyroid and contains T4 and T3.

Either therapy is safe to be taken during pregnancy but for NHS monitoring during pregnancy it will be easier if you are taking Levothyroxine as NHS doesn't train doctors and midwives to interpret results on NDT.

in reply toClutter

Very helpful! Thank you will mention that to the Endo ...

Molliemoo1 profile image
Molliemoo1

Hi orangepie I've pm'd you but just a quick note from someone in a similar position.... Thyroxine is perfectly safe during pregnancy. It is, however, important for us to note that there is no "official" reason / evidence /guidance that doctors or endocrine specialists can follow to prescribe when tsh is "Normal". Until large scale clinicial evidence arrives, this will be the case.

Anyway, in short, go for it.. At least it rules something out. Have you been tested for antiphospholipid syndrome? Apparently we are more likely to have this as we have antibodies.

in reply toMolliemoo1

Hello! Thank you so much for that. I will definitely be going for it and can put my Mind at rest for that then. I hope it works out for us. Oh really ? Yes I have my results for anti phospholipid antibodies in 3 weeks time. I hear that's easily treatable ! Think we might be onto something here. Just the waiting around for results can test your patience lol.

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