Suitable thyroxine dose before pregnancy

[666666]

Hi every one here

I just need your help please..i am trying to conceive and occasionally I found that my tsh was 4.80 other hormones were normal

One Obs and gyne Dr told me that you may not need to take thyroxine. But If you want you can take 12.5 dose.another one told me this is not a safe test results in a trying to conceive woman .said you need to be put on 25 mcg of thyroxine.so am confused

I just don't know what to do .am afraid if I wasn't in need to this dose this may harm fetus

Any advise please

I appreciate every one here

Thanks in advance

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

666666

We can't advise you what dose to take. However, for TTC, a healthy pregnancy and successful birth, it's said that TSH needs to be below 2.5

You should do some research and discuss this with your doctor.

Here's what comes up with a Google search

google.co.uk/search?source=...

[666666 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks alot for your response

But am actually looking for such cases with same results

Thank you so much for the link I will check it out

[Heloise]

Hi 666666, this type of confusion from your doctors who should know what to do is notorious. I've been here for six years and do not understand why doctors haven't learned as much as I have about hypothyroidism. I assume they do not want to revise their policy. Your TSH should be under 2.0 even without being pregnant but certainly to support a fetus and pregnancy you do not want to be hypothyroid.

I will admit that it would be good to know for certain whether you have Hashimoto's which is an autoimmune condition. This means you will want to address the cause as well as treat the condition.

First, you need additional thyroid testing like FT4 and FT3 plus antibody testing. Some members have used private testing since the NHS is alarmingly negligent. Since deficiencies of certain nutrients will affect how well thyroid hormone works and often follow low thyroid, they should be tested as well.

All these issues should be addressed before trying to conceive. Others here will be able to direct you. But normally you would be started on levothyroxine at 25 to 50 mcgs and be monitored with blood tests every few weeks as you increase to an optimal dose.

I'm sorry to welcome you to our world. Hopefully you will find an intelligent practice, but, if not, we're here.

[666666 in reply to Heloise]

Hello Helois

Am so happy for your response

Your words was heart warming

I will do all tests you mentioned and let you know abt results

Wish me luck

Thank you sooooo much

[Heloise in reply to 666666]

I'm glad you are not depressed over my remarks It's such an important moment for you as you attempt to conceive. I think there are important books to advise you as you prepare because the baby is also going to inherit your microbiome which may be out of sorts right now. Keep asking questions here as the collective wisdom is far more helpful than physicians at this point.

[666666 in reply to Heloise]

Much aprecciation to you great person

Trust I will ask every thing I want here

But can you list me what nutrients that affect thyroid functions I should check in my body ?

[Heloise in reply to 666666]

If you are prescribed levothyroxine (but there are other treatments; liothyronine or natural desiccated thyroid) it means your body will have to convert it. This means a good functioning liver and well in range for B12, folate and ferritin. If gluten is part of the problem causing leaky gut you may need to avoid gluten. When your digestion is inhibited by low stomach acid (HCL) you may not be able to break down or metabolize minerals or amino acids. These side issues which are attached to this condition is very wide ranging as you can see. B vitamins are extremely important as they react with your own gut bacteria. So there is much to learn and may be the reason for the inaction of the medical world.

[Heloise in reply to 666666]

I should have added the extremely important prohormone, VITAMIN D. It is essential in that it supports the other hormones you need. The sun is the best provider for the vitamin but often there is not enough of it particularly during winter months so unless you live close to the equator you are probably deficient. Only use D3 with K2 if you need to supplement.

[jimh111]

The studies show that women who are hypothryoid (and possibly women whose TSH is above 5.0 but fT4 normal) their TSH should be maintained below 2.5 during the first trimester and below 3.0 in the second and third trimesters. There are no recommendations for the general population, it is assumed their thyroids are able to cope with the extra demand during pregnancy.

However, if you are having difficulty conceiving and your TSH is above 2.5 it's worth asking for a trial of levothyroxine. There are quite a few reports from women who had difficulty conceiving until they were put on levothyroxine. Certainly keeping your TSH below 2.5 and above e.g. 0.5 carries no risk and may actually be less risky than a TSH of 4.80. Leovthyroxine is dirt cheap.

[humanbean]

Having a high TSH will increase your risk of miscarriage, and reduce your chances of getting pregnant in the first place.

To reduce TSH you would need to be treated with thyroid replacement hormones, such as levothyroxine. The dose of 12.5mcg that was mentioned to you would probably make your situation substantially worse.

If someone has a functioning thyroid - but one that is not functioning well - then taking thyroid hormone replacement can actually cut the amount of thyroid hormone your own thyroid produces.

The treatment (Levo) and what you yourself produce isn't guaranteed to be additive. In other words, being given a tiny dose of Levothyroxine could actually cut your overall thyroid hormone level to be lower than it currently is.

Another point is that having low levels of thyroid hormones has a knock on effect on absorption of minerals and vitamins from the diet. (Hypothyroidism reduces output of stomach acid. It is probably one of the commonest effects of the condition. With insufficient stomach acid food processing in the gut is impaired.) With low levels of nutrients you decrease your chances of getting pregnant, increase your risk of miscarriage, and increase the risk of having a child with birth defects and/or lower IQ.

I didn't understand your response to SeasideSusie above.

But am actually looking for such cases with same results

Are you looking for people who did well with a higher than optimal TSH or people who did poorly? Or are you just interested in people whose results are identical to yours? Whichever is the case, I would suggest you widen your research, for your benefit and the benefit of any child you may conceive.

[Myro]

There is some theory about iodine low level and pregnancy.