Ttc and hypothyroidism

[Kiwiq2019]

Hi all sorry for posting again. My heads just battered with everything this week

So I've been ttc for a while and it hasn't been happening and found out I'm hypothyroid with sky high antibodies.

Back in April my TSH was at the higher end of the normal range but gp didn't care really

What I'm wondering now is the high tsh a possibility as to why I haven't conceived? I know that I should avoid pregnancy atm cause it isnt safe until my levels are in order but I'm curious if it affects conception as well as pregnancy?

Any input would be greatly appreciated

Thank you

[greygoose]

The TSH itself doesn't affect anything. But, if your TSH is high, it means your thyroid hormones - T4 and/or T3 - are low. Too low to conceive or to carry a baby to term. In the early months, the baby relies on the mother's thyroid hormone for development of the brain. So, she needs enough hormone for two. If the TSH is high, that means she won't have enough. When the TSH comes down to around 2, there should be enough thyroid hormone in the system.

[Kiwiq2019 in reply to greygoose]

So it's a possibility that this could be why I haven't conceived then altho my periods have been regular and I have been ovulating so maybe I'm just clutching at straws

I know there could be other factors but I'm just being optimistic that it can happen once I get my levels at about 2

[greygoose in reply to Kiwiq2019]

It absolutely could be why you haven't conceived, yes. Your body will be protecting you because you are not in a fit state to conceive with a high TSH. How easy it will be to do so when your TSH comes down, I really can't say, but you should be able to.

[Kiwiq2019 in reply to greygoose]

I guess I'll just have to wait till my levels are optimal and take it from there. Its good to know that with the right dosage of meds I can conceive. If not itll be back to the gp I guess

[greygoose in reply to Kiwiq2019]

Have they started you on levo?

[Kiwiq2019 in reply to greygoose]

25mcg once a day and then repeat bloods in 8 weeks but haven't even seen the gp yet this was just a phone call I want to make a face 2 face appt to discuss the dose

[greygoose in reply to Kiwiq2019]

That was much too low to start you one. They should have started you on 50. Go back sooner than 8 weeks, if you can, and get an increase.

[Kiwiq2019 in reply to greygoose]

I plan to. I checked nice guidllelines and it says initial dose should be 50. The doctor guy who rang me literally said dont ask me any questions about this condition as I don't know

[greygoose in reply to Kiwiq2019]

Well, at least he's honest. But, I would have thought it was his job to pass you on to someone that did.

[Kiwiq2019 in reply to greygoose]

He just said repeat the bloods affer 8 weeks and if still abnormal then see at the time but if normal then I'm ok to stop the meds

[greygoose in reply to Kiwiq2019]

Stupider and stupider! Of course you're not alright to stop the meds! He wasn't kidding when he said he knew nothing about it, was he. lol It's for life. If your next blood test is 'normal' - even though there's no such thing - it's because you're taking levo. If you stop the levo, the results will just go back to what they were before.

And, it's very doubtful they will be 'normal' on such a small dose, they could even be worse because the dose is so low. Wonder how many patients he's killed in his time?

The protocol is to start on 50 mcg - unless you're very young, very old, or have a heart condition - retest after six weeks and increase by 25 mcg, and repeat the process. And, you continue doing that until you feel well. Once you feel well, and your symptoms are gone, you stay on that dose, with periodic testing, for life.

I do hope you can get to see someone different, that doctor won't ever make you well.

[Kiwiq2019 in reply to greygoose]

Planning to make an appt on Tuesday for further info I'll just ring every day until I get one lol. Part of me is tempted to just take two of the 25mcg ones and take 50mcg of my own back and then tell the doctor this is what their guidelines say

[greygoose in reply to Kiwiq2019]

Yes, but if you do that, aren't you going to run out pretty quickly?

[Kiwiq2019 in reply to greygoose]

They've give me 8 week supply of the meds but if I see another gp and he doesn't change it to 50mcg I'll be stuck in a months time lol

[greygoose in reply to Kiwiq2019]

Well, any doctor that has the slightest idea what he's doing will increase to 50 after the next test. But, there's no guarantee that any of them would agree to do it before at least six weeks are up.

[Kiwiq2019 in reply to greygoose]

I'll just have to try my luck which who I see when I make the appt I guess

[greygoose in reply to Kiwiq2019]

Indeed.

[Kiwiq2019 in reply to greygoose]

So I had a telephone call today with a different gp. Hes done a 2 month supply of the 50mcg instead and just said use what you have first take 2 a day.. he said thanks for pointing out the mistake I'm right it should be 50mcg to start

Do you know whether I can claim the script fees back lol once I have an exemption certificate?

[greygoose in reply to Kiwiq2019]

Well, that's great news! A new prescription AND an apology! Well done, you.

I'm afraid I have no idea about script fees, though. I live in France.

[humanbean]

Hypothyroidism often affects the gut and reduces absorption of nutrients from food. Low nutrients are common amongst people who are hypothyroid.

To maximise your chances of conceiving and having a baby in the best possible health you need to optimise your nutrients as well as your thyroid hormone levels. The ones that people often have problems with are iron, ferritin (iron stores), vitamin B12, folate, and vitamin D. You could ask your doctor to test them for you. If he refuses (as they often do) then you have the option to pay for them privately. For more info on testing, see :

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

If you want help on the subject of testing write a new post and ask. Medichecks, Blue Horizon, and (more recently) Thriva are the tests most often used which incorporate nutrient testing. It is worth registering with testing companies so that you receive emails about money-off offers.

[Kiwiq2019 in reply to humanbean]

All my vit levels was checked and fine just waiting on vitamin d so just need to focus on my thyroid hormones really

[humanbean in reply to Kiwiq2019]

Can I ask who decided your nutrient levels were fine? Doctors consider anything within range to be fine. But just being in range is not the same as being optimal. You could post your nutrient levels and ask for feedback in a new post if you want to.

[Kiwiq2019 in reply to humanbean]

I already posted them on here and got feedback on another post.

[humanbean in reply to Kiwiq2019]

Okay, great. I often forget to check posting history.