Hashimotos and Pregnancy

[laurenky]

Hey everyone, I am new here and 5 weeks pregnant. I went to my GP as soon as I knew, they did blood tests (which they said were normal, they won't tell you values on the phone). I asked when I should book again and they said that from now on I would be getting them through the midwife. When I phoned the midwife they said they didn't do that. Spoke to my GP office again where they put me in contact with the practice manager who seem very annoyed at me for asking and said I wouldn't need to book in again in the middle of my second trimester. I have not been advised to up my levothyroxine. I am now very anxious as this goes against everything I have read online about how it should be managed. Anyone else had this experience? I'm wondering if I should ask for a referral but not sure how quickly that would happen.

Thanks in advance.

[Marz]

You are legally entitled to all copies of results and ranges. Politely remind the Practice Manager she is breaking the law by witholding them. Are you in a position to have testing done Privately through Thyroid UK. ?

[laurenky in reply to Marz]

Thanks for replying, I will consider it if I don't make any headway with my GP.

[Wildbird]

NHS guidelines recommend an immediate increase of 25mcg of levothyroxine on diagnosis of pregnancy. TSH needs to be below 2 in treated patients during the first trimester. You should be tested when you book in with the midwife and monitored appropriately throughout your pregnancy. I do not understand why the practice manager was annoyed. You are rightly concerned and need your concerns taking seriously. It would not be unreasonable for you to book another GP appointment to query why the usual NHS protocol is not being applied to you. It may be that your current TSH results are below 2, as per the guidelines but you deserve reassurance and information about your test results ie the actual numbers.

[laurenky in reply to Wildbird]

Thank you, I am going to book another GP appointment to confirm why they are not following those guidelines. I just wanted to make sure all my information was correct in terms increasing levothyroxine straight away and how often my bloods should be checked.

[Marz in reply to laurenky]

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

This may be useful - there are over 2000 posts about Thyroid and pregnancy. I typed it into the Search Box and just chose one

[Wildbird in reply to laurenky]

I wish you a good appointment. You need the correct treatment and your practice does not seem to recognise your very valid health concerns. Good practice would be to let an endocrinologist have sight of your results and advise the practice accordingly. Many surgeries do that in the Midlands. All the best 😊👍

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Congratulations on your pregnancy

Ring the surgery and politely insist on printed copy full blood test results and ranges. You are legally entitled to these. Pick up asap

UK GP practices are supposed to offer online access for blood test results, ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.

In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet

Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up. They can no longer charge for printing out, rules changed after May 25th 2018

Pregnancy guidelines

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

gp-update.co.uk/files/docs/...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/guidel...

[laurenky in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you

[kaula]

Congratulations