Hi I'm new here would like some advice plz - Thyroid UK

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Hi I'm new here would like some advice plz

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
β€’23 Replies

Hi I'm Cat 32 and currently 4wks 5days pregnant

I'm just looking for any advice and what I should say to my gp tomorrow when they ring.

Iv had numerous miscarriages and iv never been told there's anything wrong with my thyroid I had a chat with the lovely misswinky34 last night and she brought to my attention my TSH levels should be under 2 at my stage of pregnancy.

I had my tSH level done in August and it was 2.7 miu/L I don't know what these are I'm guessing the range 0.20-4.00miu/L

My free T4 level was 12.6. Pmol/L. Range 10.00-20.00pmol/L

My questions to you knowledgeable lot are does my levels look real bad and do our levels tend to rise in pregnancy. I'm going to ask for them to get tested again as I really want everything to work out for this pregnancy I am really anxious and I know drs say normal but I want optimal. Also I keep breaking out it severe sweats and I get out of breath easily. I'm really sorry none of it makes sense to me I'm just starting to get to grips with trying to understand it. Would be greatful for any help.

Thank you

Cat

πŸ’—πŸ€—πŸ˜˜

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AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluv
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23 Replies
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Clutter probably has the official pregnancy guidelines

Yes definitely ask for immediate testing

TSH

FT4

FT3 (ideally but unlikely to do it)

Also very important is thyroid antibodies - usually they only test TPO antibodies

Ask for ferritin, vitamin D, folate anc B12 to be tested too

Always get actual results and ranges

If GP won’t then private testing is available

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven includes all these

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH result

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluvβ€’ in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you for your help. My vit d and folate were done a couple of weeks ago they came back deficient in meds for them. Thanks for the heads up about fasting does that include drinking as well? X

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluvβ€’ in reply toSlowDragon

If the docs wouldn't test me and I paid for them privately would the docs accept the results and act upon them if they showed I needed medication? X

shaws profile image
shawsAdministratorβ€’ in reply toAllWeNeedIsluv

Not necessarily I am sorry to say. However when you have blood tests for thyroid hormones the test should be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and if you were taking thyroid hormones you'd allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards.

If they did accept they'd want to do their own testing so make sure your TSH at its highest, follow the procedure above. That keeps the tSH at its highest and it drops throughout the day. TSH means thyroid stimulating hormone and it is from the pituitary gland which tries to flag up more thyroid hormones.

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluvβ€’ in reply toshaws

Thank you. I don't and never have taken thyroid hormones. I'm going to ask my gp to do this test as the tsh is higher than it's supposed to be if ttc in August the fact I'm pregnant now and iv lost previous I'm sure they will understand why I want these checked before I meet the miscarriage clinic next Friday so we could get any potential meds on the go. Do you think that sounds reasonable? X

shaws profile image
shawsAdministratorβ€’ in reply toAllWeNeedIsluv

It certainly does sound reasonable. You should be well looked after in your pregnancy for your sake and the sake of your baby, especially with your history of miscarriages.

This is a link from another website and it is self-explanatory.

hypothyroidmom.com/your-hea...

It was in 2015 so am sure the book must be published by now.

This is from another 'page' :-

If hypothyroidism has been diagnosed before pregnancy, thyroid hormone replacement medication dosage should be adjusted to reach a TSH level not higher than 2.5 mIU/L prior to pregnancy.

If overt hypothyroidism is diagnosed during pregnancy, thyroid function tests should be normalized as rapidly as possible to TSH levels of less than 2.5 mIU/L in the first trimester (or 3 mIU/L in the second and third trimester).”

hypothyroidmom.com/have-you...

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluvβ€’ in reply toshaws

Thank you very much xx

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluv

Thank you this is really helpful. I'm sorry for all the questions. Is that what I'm looking at potentially being hypo by my previous results? X

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

You might find something in Clutter's replies to this recent post useful healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluvβ€’ in reply toSeasideSusie

Thank you very much xx

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRememberingβ€’ in reply toAllWeNeedIsluv

You're welcome :) I wish you a safe and happy pregnancy and a healthy baby who brings you much joy :)

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluvβ€’ in reply toSeasideSusie

Thank you that really means a lot. πŸ’—πŸ€—πŸ˜˜

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluv

Just want to thank you all for your help my gp has booked me in for my thyroid to be tested no problems there. I'm getting them done on Wednesday. The thing is it will be 1.30 will I still be ok to have them done at that time as long as I fast? X

shaws profile image
shawsAdministratorβ€’ in reply toAllWeNeedIsluv

No. Doctors mainly go on the TSH Alone - It is highest very early a.m. and drops throughout the day and may make the difference between being diagnosed or not and told to have another test in six months.

I would phone and rearrange for the earliest. It doesn't matter if its a few days later (or someone may even cancel) but it makes a big difference in the timing.

This is a past post.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluvβ€’ in reply toshaws

Great thank you I just rung and they have one for 8.50am same day. Thanks hun will the drs go by different guidelines for pregnancy or will they be aware of this tsh needing to be under 2? xx Remember it is also a fasting test and if/when you take thyroid hormones you wait until after the test to take it.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRememberingβ€’ in reply toAllWeNeedIsluv

Much better :)

Best if you fast overnight too. Have your evening meal the night before, drink as much water as you like but nothing else until after the blood draw, have breakfast after your blood draw. Eating lowers TSH and you want yours as high as possible.

Let us know when you have your results and what your GP is going to do. I'm rooting for you and your baby :)

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluvβ€’ in reply toSeasideSusie

You lot are a lovely bunch. Really appreciate this I have never thought about my thyroid only since the other day when I my medical report in my hand. So how long will the turn around be? Iv got the miscarriage clinic on Friday so will the results be ready for then to take along with me or do the blood test times vary. I'm not sure if she's doing the whole shabam or just the tsh and ft4 like before. Xx.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRememberingβ€’ in reply toAllWeNeedIsluv

At my surgery, if the blood goes off in the midday collection (a van collects it where I live and takes it to the hospital), then the results are back the next day but a doctor has to see them before you are allowed a copy. If the blood is collected in the afternoon, it doesn't go off until the next day.

I would think the thyroid tests should be back within 48 hours at the most.

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluvβ€’ in reply toSeasideSusie

I was thinking that just needed confirmation. So I'll ring them and get a print out on my way to the hospital. I'm hoping iv done enough in time to keep my little bean safe and sound. Thank you again your a ⭐ πŸ’—πŸ€—πŸ˜˜

shaws profile image
shawsAdministratorβ€’ in reply toAllWeNeedIsluv

That is great. I certainly hope so but remember what he tells you and make a new post to state what he said and members will respond.

I have no idea how a sentence following your response ended up on your reply to me as I didn't press anything, so I will repeat it below:-

Remember it is also a fasting test and if/when you take thyroid hormones you wait until after the test to take it. )

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluvβ€’ in reply toshaws

Oh gosh neither do I I never copied and pasted it. I don't take no hormones just vitamins so I'll leave all that till afterwards. I really appreciate your help thank you so much πŸ’—πŸ€—πŸ˜˜

Louby_Lou profile image
Louby_Lou

3yrs since I was last pregnant but I specifically do remember that my Levo was increased as soon as I was pregnant. At 4-6wks gestation. It's important that you have the increase asap because the baby is not able to regulate its own thyroid and relies on mum for its thyroid function.

Please don't worry though and just mention it to your GP on Monday.

I only know this after miscarriages and I was referred to an Endocrine-Obstetrics Consultant once I was pregnant and my meds ended up being doubled by the end of my pregnancy to about 250mcg.

AllWeNeedIsluv profile image
AllWeNeedIsluvβ€’ in reply toLouby_Lou

Thanks for your reply sorry you've suffered with miscarriage .I don't understand it all iv never been diagnosed with any thyroid problems. Not taking meds just got hold of my medical report and thought maybe this is why iv miscarried so much. You said increase increase what? I thought my tsh is too high. I'm getting my bloods done on Wednesday to see what the score is. I'm currently 5 weeks today. Hope if there is a problem I get it sorted in time I lost my last one at 5 weeks although the hpts wasn't as strong as this one. πŸ’—πŸ€—πŸ˜˜

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