Coming off the pill any affects ? Or am I pregnant?

[Bluemarble1]

Hi I'm new to this , it's nice to know there are lots of people on here to help 😊 .basically I came off my pill about 3 maybe 4 weeks ago and since the last week or so my thyroid has been playing up swollen thyroid , feeling tired and just generally rubbish . I had a blood test friday so just waiting for the results.could this be an affect of coming off the pill or could I be pregnant already ? And my thyroid playing up is a sign ?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Are you currently taking levothyroxine?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Before considering TTC make sure vitamins are good

[Bluemarble1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I'm currently on 25 micrograms

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bluemarble1]

How long have you been left on just 25mcg?

Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg (unless over 65 years old).

The aim of Levothyroxine is to increase the dose slowly in 25mcg steps upwards until TSH is under 2 (many patients need TSH significantly under one) and most important is that FT4 is in top third of range and FT3 at least half way through range

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Also note what foods to avoid (eg recommended to avoid calcium rich foods at least four hours from taking Levo)

All four vitamins need to be regularly tested and frequently need supplementing to maintain optimal levels

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase in levothyroxine and 6-8 weeks after any significant hormonal change...like stopping or starting on the pill

Absolutely essential to regularly retest vitamin levels

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested?

Add any thyroid or vitamin results and ranges you have already

Or come back with new post once you get full thyroid and vitamin testing

[Bluemarble1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hiya I've had underactive thyroid for about 3 years and been on the same level , I've never tested my vitamins or had any other test I dont think..do you do this thru the doctors. My thyroid has been fine until I've recently come off the pill

[Bluemarble1 in reply to Bluemarble1]

I've also started taking folic acid due to wanting to conceive as read you are ment to take it , would I be okay to take regular multivitamins?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bluemarble1]

First thing is, do you have any actual blood test results? if not will need to get hold of copies.

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.

The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results

UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and 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.

Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

Ask GP to test vitamin levels and thyroid antibodies

Obviously good vitamins are essential before a TTC

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Essential to get thyroid optimally treated before conception....any baby is totally reliant on your thyroid hormones for first 3-4months of development

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bluemarble1]

Get vitamins tested...before taking any supplements

[humanbean]

Having come off the pill your estrogen/oestrogen levels have probably increased. This has an effect on thyroid function.

I don't know the details but I would suggest doing a web search for "estrogen thyroid" and reading some of the links that come up.

[dhlazaro]

Document your symptoms. Checking on being pregnant is the easy part . It would be good to get a deficiency vitamin panel first to make sure you are not deficient. Breast pain nausea and drink plenty of water dehydration symptoms.

[Bluemarble1]

Had my results basically my t4 level is perfectly fine but my tsh isnt functioning propperly so they have upped my dose to 50 and I've got another blood test in a few months and I've started taking wellness for women vitamins to insure I'm getting vits everyday

[MichelleHarris in reply to Bluemarble1]

I wish you the very best of luck if its your desire to get pregnant.

The advise on replies is really good. Ive learnt that your GP saying your results are fine or normal is not always the case. I was told this for years and looking back now at my results due to open access, they really wernt. Get your actual results and keep a record and post them here.

Also vitamins and minerals are incredibly important and again I found I was Zinc deficient, found by NHS Endo when I’d been taking a Zinc supplement for 6 months so goodness knows what it was like before.

Vitamins are important for getting pregnant, staying pregnant and healthy baby and healthy mother. Delivery is a big deal for the body. Also maximises the conversion of Thyroid replacement. Also may help sustain your Thyroid before its inevitable deterioration presuming you have Hashimotos? Have you had your Thyroid antibodies checked to see? x

[Bluemarble1 in reply to MichelleHarris]

Yes I'm.going to try and get hold of them so I can post them I am due to start today but had nothing ...but not sure if it will take some time for my body because of coming off th pill and my thyroid being affected .But its strange because I've had a few times where i have had stomach ache and thought yeah I'm going to start but still nothing