Looking for some advice - I’ve been prescribed Clomid by my gynaecologist for fertility issues. I’m wondering if anyone has any experience of taking it? Is it okay for someone with hypothyroidism/Hashimoto’s to take? And if so should it be taken at different time to levo?
As well as that, on my last full panel of bloods my TSH and T4 levels are where they need to be but my T3 was only something like 35% through the range (full results on last post), will this affect my chance of conceiving?
Really trying to do all I can to get and stay pregnant. Just want to give myself the best chance.
Any advice welcome 🙂
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Catlady101
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I can't answer your Clomid / levo question but if you're taking it for an irregular cycle making sure your thyroid levels should help in that respect.
Your T3 level sounds too low (how are you feeling?). Most people need it to be at the top of the range. How did you get on trying to get t3 from your gp or a private endo?
TSH needs to be below 2.5 according to the NHS, but ideally below 1 before conception according to my endo.
Why don't you post your full set of latest results with ranges so people can comment fully (including TSH)? How much levo are you currently taking? It's also worth knowing that as soon as you find out you're pregnant you should add 25mcg to your daily dose - and then book an appointment to see gp/ get levels tested. I'll dig out the guidelines or look on the thyroid UK site.
Optimal vitamin levels can help with T4 to T3 conversion so if you haven't yet it would be a good idea to test vit d, folate, ferritin, b12 as these can be low in people with thyroid issues.
The book 'it starts with the egg' has a good (but small) section on fertility and the thyroid.
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. No I’ve been lucky and not had issues with my cycles, they’ve always been between 27 and 29 days.
I’ll try and attach or amend my post to include my recent levels.
I spoke to a private endo and he’s open to adding Efra Thyroid to my existing levo to see if it does make a difference. He was a bit sceptical because I said I’m TTC and he said that T3 levels in the body fluctuate. Im currently on 100mcg of levo and he proposed lowering my levo to 75mcg in the morning and taking a small dose of Efra at night which would provide 18mcg of T4 and 4mcg of T3. Im a bit confused as to what to do because I want to give my body the best chance of conceiving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. I’m also worried about changing and adding two things at once. I’ve not made a decision regarding adding Efra yet because I want to weigh all my options.
No problem. That makes total sense and I can completely understand your worry. Some more experienced people I’m sure will come along and give you some advice on the T3 and t4 mix. It’s tricky because so often it’s trial and error to get to the right place so takes a bit of time but you’re probably keen to start TTC. Definitely look at the vitamins - it’s a bit slower but can help with conversion if you don’t want to go down the T3 route.
Nice spready! Your vit d and b12 are still on the low side. Vit d should be at least 100nmol and I think your ferritin is now on the low side. If you post below what dose supplements you’re taking people can advise what you can do.
Sorry yes I’m not very good at this I keep forgetting to put all the info on.
Since my last full blood panel I increased my Vit D from the Better You spray and I now take Cytoplan Vit D3 & K2 which is a higher strength at 4000iu.
I’ve added a sublingual Vit B12 to the Thorne Basic B that I already take. Other supplements are Zinc 15mg, selenium 200ug, NAC 600mg, magnesium malate 3000mg and Bio-Kult probiotic.
I do also eat black pudding once a week to try and boost my ferritin. I’ll have to retest in a few months to see if the adjustments are working.
Desperately want to get pregnant, been trying for 2 years now and no wonder with my thyroid being so off. Just trying to get all my ducks in a row so to speak.
Sounds like you’re doing all the right things but SeasideSusie and SlowDragon might be able to add more. If I were you I’d probably go for the T3 as your T3 level is so low and you want to conceive but I think the general advice is usually get vits sorted first before trying T3. In which case you’re on it but just need to wait!
I am sure you will get there but i can appreciate it must be worrying / frustrating. There is great support over on the fertility forum if you ever need some tlc or just to vent. Good luck xx
Thank you I really appreciate your advice. I really hope we do get there, I’m just so worried about doing the wrong thing because it’s taken me so long to get to this point. Wouldn’t have been able to do it without this wonderful community.
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones
As you have Hashimoto’s are you on strictly gluten free diet or dairy free diet?
No I’ve not cut anything out of my diet but I try to limit the amount of gluten, taking it slow replacing one thing at a time. I’m hoping some of my vits will have improved again when I test in a few months. But I’m doubtful they will improve enough to boost conversion to T3.
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
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