T3, ivf and others

[Sodo]

Hi, I've recently seen a private endocrinologist about my hypothyroidism and what came from that meeting is another increase on thyroxine, up from 200mcgs to 225mcgs per day. They said they suspected I had absorption issues and has referred me back to my GP for a coeliac disease test. They stated that T3 isn't recommended during pregnancy or whilst trying to become pregnant. They hope with the increase in T4, that my T3 levels will increase. I'm not so convinced. I'm waiting for my DIO2 gene test results and I'm taking the recommended vitamins for my thyroid. I'm just wondering if anyone who has been in the same boat has advice? Where do I go from here if I find out that I'm not converting to T3 anyway, and can't get treatment whilst waiting for ivf?

[Phoenix605]

Im afraid I cant help much with the pregnancy angle beyond I know they try and keep your ft4 a bit higher during the first 12 weeks as the baby has no functioning thyroid til then so is reliant on a maternal supply of T4. Try searching the site with the word pregnancy and you should find plenty of previous posts.

Do you have any recent results including FT4 and FT3, they are the only way to tell how well you are converting basically you divide the FT4 by the FT3 to give you a ratio. Conversion seems to be considered decent around the 3:1 - 4:1 mark if you have the dodgy gene, conversion should be well out, if it is in the ball park it is likely it can be improved by addressing nutrient levels. If you arent absorbing levo then you probably arent absorbing nutrients well either,

Most hypos have some absorption issues due to gut issues, this frequently causes low stomach acid, the symptoms of low are similar to high, eg reflux. Try the baking soda test mix a spoon of baking soda into water and drink, if normal you should burp within 5-10 mins. If low acid try taking a large spoon of apple cider vinegar at meal times, many members swear by it. You can also buy HCL and betain capsules which are stronger if needed.

Do you have hashi and have gone gluten free? If so the coeliac test wont work, you need to do a 6 week gluten challenge before testing to have a hope of the test picking it up (you get a lot of false negatives), you need to eat a lot of gluten to try and stimulate a reaction the test can see.

If you are hashi many find an improvement in symptoms and antibodies by going structly gluten free even in absense of positive coeliac test.

You say you are on thyroid recommended vitamins, have you tested vit b, d, folate and b22 in last 6 months, if not it is worth retesting as these have minimum levels for decent conversion. Fixing mine got me from 4.7:1 - 3.5:1 in a couple of months. If you search SeasideSusie she gives excellent nutrient advice.

Post your vit levels with supplements and thyroid levels with doses with answers to the hashi and gluten questions in a new thread and hopefully you will get loads if advice.

This post seems to have fallen through the cracks unfortunately, (possibly due to the IVF title as fewer have experience so possibly didnt read, leaving that for the body of the text might help).