Pregnant!

[goonervic]

So after a few months of trying I got a positive test result. Called docs this morning to request blood test to check my levels (as previous doc suggested) but was told that no rush - leave it for a good few weeks to get 'true' results. He was concerned about false positives but in my mind I would rather check now and then regularly through the pregnancy to make sure all is ok.

I am on 125/day and last 2 results were TSH 0.2 T4 14

Anyone any advice re this?

Thanks x

[humanbean]

Your doctor shouldn't delay raising your dose. Read the info from NICE on pregnant women with hypothyroidism :

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

Notice the sentence hidden near the bottom of the page :

Quote

Women with known thyroid dysfunction who are taking levothyroxine may need the dose increased by 30–50% from as early as 4–6 weeks gestation [De Groot et al, 2012].

End Quote

Since pregnancy is usually tested for at the first sign of a missed period, and pregnancies are counted from the first day of the last period you must be at least 4 weeks pregnant already, so your dose should be raised.

Congratulations, by the way.

[goonervic in reply to humanbean]

Thanks, my regular GP (who indicated I contacted him straightaway if I found out I was pregnant - for increase in meds and referral) is away until the 19th Sept! I have booked an appt with him when he returns, but there is 2 weeks between now and then....

I am going for a blood test to check levels this morn and when results are through I will ask to speak to an alternative GP - the one I spoke to is clearly not following guidlines....

My only concern is that if my levels show the same (no change) do I need to increase? I could just take an extra 50 myself until I see my GP? Hopefully I will get to speak to someone more interested in Thyroid than yesterdays GP.....

Thanks again for link x

[humanbean in reply to goonervic]

I'm afraid I don't know much about pregnancy and hypothyroidism, so I can't really say what you should do. However, I would be very reluctant to wait two weeks in your shoes. The most important time thing in connection with the thyroid and your offspring is that you have enough thyroid hormone while your baby has no thyroid of its own, and is relying on yours.

You should read this link :

guideline.gov/summaries/sum...

It's the American guidelines for managing thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy, and it appears to be more comprehensive than the UK link I gave you earlier. It isn't all about hypothyroidism though, so it won't all apply to you.

One thing it did remind me of ... The reference ranges for blood tests used during pregnancy are different to those used when not pregnant. Make sure that the lab and the doctor uses reference ranges for pregnant women when doing your tests.

I would also suggest asking the doctor you see about your Levo dose if you can have your iron, ferritin, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and folate tested. Low nutrients will make pregnancy more difficult for you, and could cause problems for the baby. And we all know on this forum that thyroid dysfunction increases the risk of low levels of nutrients.

Vitamin D - poor levels could affect bone development

Folate & B12 - poor levels increase the risk of neural tube defects

Iron & ferritin - poor levels increase the risk of having a baby with low birth weight

Make sure you ask for copies of your blood tests. If you are concerned about any of them post them on the forum and ask for opinions. But remember, nobody on this forum should be assumed to have any medical training at all. I have no medical training of any kind , so you shouldn't believe a word I say without doing your own checking.