Hi guys ,
I have an underactive thyroid and have been taking medication for at least 10 years, however I'm not sure if it's working as I still get all of the symptoms. I recently found out that having an underactive thyroid increases the chance you miscarriage, which obviously scares me! If I'm on the right medication, will this increase disappear? I can't find any information about the rate once someone is being treated.
Many thanks!
I went on to have two healthy babies after many miscarriages. But it is a concern that after 10 years on medication you still have symptoms. Do you have recent blood red results you can post here? What medication are you on? Ideally once you are on the right dose of the right medication you should have few symptoms or be symptom free.
Sorry that was meant to say blood test results!
Welcome to our forum and you haven't given any background on your Profile of when diagnosed, with what (hashimoto's or hypothyroidism).
I note you were diagnosed ten years ago so would hope you are on an optimum dose of levothyroxine.
After ten years, you should be on an optimum dose of levothyroxine which means you should have no clinical symptoms at all. So I will give you a list of clinical symptoms and tick off the ones you have and tell the person who gives your prescription that you need increases of 25mcg every six weeks until your TSH is 1 or below and your Free T4 and Free T3 should be in the upper part of the ranges.
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
Blood tests for thyroid hormones have to be the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of levo and test and take afterwards. Levo should be taken, usually first thing, with one full glass of water and wait an hour before eating.
GP should test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate and all should be optimal, no just in range.
We have to read, learn and ask questions. Also always give the ranges for the results of any tests you have. Vitamins/minerals also have to be optimal as does our thyroid hormones.
Hi, thank you for your reply.
Yes I was diagnosed just over 10 years. My dad has an underactive thyroid so I was tested and found out I had it too. Since then I've been test around once a year. I'm between 75mg and 100mg at the moment (one doctor says I should be on 75mcg, the other says I should be on 100mcg so I alternate) I didn't realise there was so much more to it and just followed what the doctor said. Yes I still get most of the symptoms, tiredness, always cold, more recently weight gain and hair loss, depression etc etc. I alway thought this was 'normal' and actually went to the doctors last year to ask why I'm still getting all of the symptoms if I'm on the right medication and he basically said welcome to life!
My next step is to have a full blood test but I don't think they're going to give me one as they're pretty useless!
Thank you so much for your help, this forum is so valuble, I'm so glad I found it!
Dear Hattie87:
The thyroid medication doesn´t relief of your autoimmunity; such problem, could affect your fertility issues- to be pregnant-.
If you avoid leaky gut it would be better for you; so, you should avoid sweet things and milk carbohydrates-; all of them, increase gut permeability.
So will there always be a high chance fertility issues, even if I'm on the right medication? I'd love a baby but think I'd not try as I just couldn't deal with it!
Oh Hattie -
Sorry to jump in but I couldn’t ignore your comment.
I can understand your worries but please know there are many women with hypothyroid issues who successfully go on to have babies.
We are all also different. Our level of autoimmunity / health/ other conditions etc can all vary greatly.
So please don’t think you’re out before you’ve even started (!)
With the right information you can be on top of the condition and any (if any) fertility issues you have in future.
The fertility network forum on healthunlocked is also brilliant. When you do try to conceive - checking for info on there is a good idea too 👍🏻
Thank you for your reply !
That's really good to know. I've always had a fear of pregnancy (incase of miscarrage) though and at 31, have only just started getting my head around it, just as I've started to face the issue, I've found this out 
I've only just found this forum and there seems to be so much information, so I'll be having a read through everything. Thank you so much!
Hi Hattie87,
Not a complete answer to your question but:
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/guidel...
You can go to your surgery and ask for a copy of your results to be printed out. It’s now or about to be free. I think 25/5 for some reason. They used to be able to charge a fee to cover paper and ink.
But in is Hypos your TSH should be 1.0 or lower and you should feel well. You are probably under medicated and may need to raise your Levothyroxine. Especially if you’ve been on the same dose for ten years. Do you take any vitamins? Selenium, Vit c and iron, vitamin d, etc?
Vitamins taken 3 hours after and minerals 4 hours after your Levothyroxine. And Levothyroxine taken on an empty stomach with only water an hour before food or non water liquid?
If you have high antibodies/ Hashimotos - have you tried going gluten free for six months?
Thank you so much, they've just got back to me and said it's £50, do you know when it will be free or if there's anyway around it as that seems a bit excessive for some print outs to my own information.
I've recently started taking some multivitamins. I used to take them at night before bed (the doctor said it doesn't matter if I have them with food) but have recently started taking them in the morning again.
I'm not sure if I have antibodies, how do I find that out?
Thank you!
Hattie87, I got my entire record printed out recently, and that was £50. It sounds like that is what they're talking about.
Recent printouts should be handed out for free or a small cost to cover the paper and ink. But it may be there is a cut off of 40 days when they don't have to give it in this way.
It may be worth thinking about a private, mail order, pinprick test. Medichecks and Bluehorizon are companies that do it. The ThyroidUK website explains how.
You want to see TSH, freeT4, freeT3, and antibodies. Your doctor is probably not doing all of those. Ideally vitamins, too: vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin. They do packages including sets of tests.
Your blood results should be available online. There’s a maximum £10 charge for bloods and £50 for all that surgery holds. Basically it’s free but they can charge for paper and ink at a reasonable fee.
This might help:
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/NHS_In...
I’m pretty sure it’s the middle of this month. I’d ring the surgery and ask as they may not be aware. I’ll have a look and get back to you.
Hi hattie (!)
Welcome. All the above advice I’m Sure you’ll find very useful. As a fellow sufferer in a similar situation, just to let you know the few things I know about hypothyroidism and pregnancy.
1) most hypothyroidism in uk is autoimmune- so your immune system is attacking the thyroid gland which slowly decreases its ability to work but it can heighten risk of other autoimmune conditions like coeliac etc which can also cause infertility. Also things like PCOS and diabetes which can affect our hormones etc so we have to have a more holistic approach to our bodies in order to treat it and not just right thyroxine levels. Often we need extra vitamin and mineral supplements and a different type of diet to reduce the immune response.
As mentioned above things like going gluten (and dairy) free, and a low carb diet often helps.
2) generally speaking for fertility your tsh needs to be below 2.5. (That’s according to NICE guidelines and most ivf clinics strongly push this too.)
However most of us patients feel better with a tsh below 1.0
3) in pregnancy the baby relies solely on your thyroid hormone for most of gestation. Therefore your dose of thyroxine needs immediate increase as soon as you are confirmed pregnant. Your doctor should know and implement this.
Sorry this must be quite overwhelming if you don’t know much about your condition etc
Pls don’t worry- you will find lots of info on this forum. Once you have your test results post them on a new post and people will advise u.
Are you actively trying to get pregnant? Or was it just a worry you had for the future ?
Thank you so so much for your help, I really appreciate it! I'm not trying to get pregnant at the moment but I'm 31 now, so it's something I've really got to think about! I've only just found out my underactive thyroid could effect this in the last few days, so still trying to take everything in really!
Hi Hattie87,
From my own experience, if you are on the right dose/medication, you should have a good pregnancy. You are likely to have it increased during the pregnancy to compensate for the baby taking some of the medication from you and to keep you healthy. I was able to have two full term pregnancies.
However, (long long story) once they started messing me around, I did have problems and as a result, I did suffer several miscarriages.
I would discuss any concerns with your Gynecologist as it was my Gynecologist that started the ball rolling to get my thyroid back on track.
Hope this helps 
xx
Thank you so much, that's good to know!
Does this seem right?
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