6 weeks pregnant with TSH 18

[Aisha112]

Hi everyone. Its my first post. I’m 30 yr old and this is my first pregnancy. I have been hypothyroid for a long time. I have been taking 125 mcg of thyronorm and the control was good.

Recently I found out I was pregnant and my Doctor suggested thyroid function tests. My T3 and T4 levels were normal, but TSH was 7.5. My dose was increased to 150 mcg of thyroxine and then repeat testing was advised after 20 days.

On repeat after 20 days, my TSH came out to be 18.

I am perplexed with the report since I have been regularly taking my medicine as per instruction. Can someone tell me why my TSH levels are raised even after medication. What should I do next?

Does it really adversely affect the baby’s cognitive development?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

What should I do next?

For a successful pregnancy and a healthy baby, TSH should be less than 2.5

As you are not in the UK, you may need to find some articles from reliable sources from your own country for it to be acceptable and discuss this urgently with your doctor/endocrinologist and whoever is looking after your pregnancy.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you taking same brand of Levothyroxine as before?

Do you take Levothyroxine on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after?

Especially no other medications with Levothyroxine

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too

These are frequently too low and affect Thyroid

Obviously good vitamin levels are needed for baby's development too

[Aisha112 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I take my medicine empty stomach every morning one hour before breakfast. No food or drug is taken along with it. Have been taking folate and vitamin e since two months at night.

[jimh111]

A higher TSH increases the risk, that's all. You should have another increase, many women need their dose increased by 50 mcg. Perhaps take a 200 mcg dose for a couple of days to catch up and make an appointment with your doctor to have your prescription increased.

[Aisha112 in reply to jimh111]

My endocrinologist has suggested a dose of 175 mcg. I hope that works !

[jimh111 in reply to Aisha112]

That's very good, they can always reduce the dose if it is too much. If they measure fT4 also they can ensure the TSH assay is giving reasonable results.

[MaisieGray]

To rule it in or out as a possibility, were you taking any biotin, or biotin-containing supplements such as a B Complex or hair & nail product for instance, that could have skewed the test results?

[Aisha112 in reply to MaisieGray]

Yes but that was 6 months back when I took a biotin supplement for hair fall. Am not taking it from the past 6 months.