16 weeks pregnant, low t4

[Maya_83]

Hi everyone.

I'm currently 16weeks pregnant.

Had a blood test done yesterday and results are as follows.

T4 7.1 (10-5 24.5)

TSH 1.76 (0.27-4.2)

B12 1025 (197-771)

I'm on 25mcg of t4 and 6.25mcg of t3 which I take at 10am

And then another 6.25mcg t3 at 11pm..( trying to raise low cortisol, feeling better)

Is it dangerous for my t4 to be this low ? I know t3 lowers t4, but because of pregnancy should I be worried?

Also should I increase my dose?

(Anything more than 25mcg of t4 and I feel drugged up, with heavy head and like a zombie?

Please help.. what should I do?

Thank you in advance.

[shaws Administrator]

As you are taking a combinatiin dose of T4/T3 therefore your T4 will be low due to the combination. As you are taking a combination dose, the doctor should also have checked your Free T3 and your FT4. Your T4 is low because you're also taking T3. Blood tests were introduced for levothyroxine (T4 only). Before that our symptoms took priority. Levo (T4) is an inactive hormone and has to convert to T3 but you are also having additional T3 so I wouldn't be too worried. This is from TUK:

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

[Maya_83 in reply to shaws]

My doc is unaware of t3 as I'm self medicating.

I'm just worried it might effect the baby if it's not supposed to be that low.

I knw I will get a call from the antenal endocrine now 😏

Would you recommend I increase my dose or the numbers look ok? I mean I still feel so tired yawning during the day and need a nap without fail.. even prior to pregnancy so won't really say it's entirely related to it.

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Standard advice from NHS is to increase Levothyroxine by 25mcg as soon as pregnancy is confirmed

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

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

You need folate, ferritin and vitamin D tested too

[Maya_83 in reply to SlowDragon]

Any more Levo and it makes me toxic..

Vit D 167

Ferritin 198 (13-150)

Folate 19.4 (3.8-9999)

Cortisol serum 475.( blood taken at 8.15am)

I increased 6.25mcg of t3 as soon as I found out I was pregnant.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Maya_83]

Your ferritin is pretty high.

Are you supplementing iron?

There have been couple of posts (by helvella or shaws ? ) about research showing T3 is OK during pregnancy.

Currently most endocrinologists are reluctant to allow T3 while pregnant

[Maya_83 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I'm taking one iron tablet per day now.

Yes, that's why I haven't told endo I'm on t3 😏. They will tell me to stop,

Being just on Levo made me so so ill and bed bound , i refuse to go back to that stage, feel like I'm slowly getting better.

Any tips on dose increase?? As I still feel extremely exhausted by 3/4pm..

Would I benefit it adding another dose during the day??

Thank you for your time.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to SlowDragon]

This thread might be worth reading:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Maya_83 in reply to helvella]

Good read... thank you