I am trying to concieve, I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism i started levothyroxine 25mcg Wednesday oct 14th. My tsh was 4.390 and t4 was 1.25
How long till my levels go optimal to get pregnant? Which i believe is under 2.5.... any successful stories ?
That is a very low dose to start on and usually you are started on 50mcg unless you are elderly or have heart problems. I am not sure about this but I think your TSH has to be under 2 to get pregnant. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will be along to advise you.
There isn't a hard and fast timescale. You need to be retested in 6-8 weeks and if the test still shows TSH>2.5, you'll have your dose increased by 25mcg and another test 6-8weeks after that.
It could be that your TSH improves enough on 50mcg, or you might need wait til you're on 100mcg, so I'd allow up to a year.
Also be aware that once you fall pregnant, your TSH will likely go up again so you need to increase your dose by a further 25-50mcg as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed, and you need TSH to be below 2.5 for at least the first trimester.
I’m in the same boat as you. Started on 25 and then went up to 50. Turns out 50 was too much so now I alternate between 25 and 50 every other day and my TSH went to 1 at my last test in July. I started Levo in December 2019 so allow yourself time to get the balance right. It might be quicker for you.
I have also gone gluten free after advice from the lovely people on here, so that could also be a factor. I’m not pregnant yet but my cycles are starting to regulate and get back within the ‘normal’ range.
Good luck! And also looking forward to hearing success stories.
Hello,
I have regular cycles. I didnt even have symptoms of hypo other than not being able to concieve. I have heard stories of people getting pregnant 3 weeks after starting meds but they are usually on 50mcg I get blood drawn this week and then 21 days later. I am on a fertility plan so they are gonna be drawing it to see if my levels are getting better and if I am ovulating.
what are your tsh?
Baby dust to you!
Ah ok!! I had seriously low energy and absent cycles after coming off the pill so it may very well kick in quicker for you.
I’m getting my blood drawn today actually for my first fertility checks and then also at 21 days.
My last TSH check was at 1.25 or something like that.
What was it initially? And then taking levo whatvwas it after ? What dose did you start on ?
I started at just under 5 on a 25 dose. After going up to 50 my TSH went down to 2.5, but then 2 months later I was feeling awful again - heart palps tired, just awful - so got bloods checked and I was at 0.04 or something which meant I was then hyperactive. So then I went to 50 and 25 every other day (so Monday 50, Tuesday 25, Wednesday 50 etc) and also went gluten free, which brought me to 1.25. We’ll see where I’m up to after today’s test!
When you were on 25 did it go down ? Have you been ovulating since you taking the meds ?
Nothing happened on 25 if I remember correctly but the doc said he was testing my tolerance for it 🤷🏻♀️well I’m confirming ovulation through bbt tracking and I seem to have been since March. It went from 65 day cycles down to now 35ish so hopefully I am!
Awe so happy to hear you are now ! I hope you a successful pregnancy and healthly baby
You too!!
I understand that trying to conceive then the TSH Reading is important. There was a tread on here a while back so try a search. I didn’t take much notice as I’m at the wrong end of the age scale but I did glance at it. Normally we like our TSH to be lowish so that makes me thing for pregnancy it may have to be higher but please get proper advice even if it means walking into a Maternity hospital and asking there.
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
Have you had thyroid antibodies tested
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?
If taking any supplements that contain biotin you need to stop these a week before ALL Blood tests (biotin can falsely affect test results)
Ask GP to test vitamin levels and antibodies
Standard starter dose of levothyroxine is 50mcg
You will need bloods retested 6-8 weeks after each dose increase
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)
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 vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)
medichecks.com/products/thy...
Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test
Thriva also offer just vitamin testing
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code
4th day on 25mcg levo, feeling awful
Took extra 25mcg levo
Sourcing Wockhardt 25mcg levo?
Endo decides to add 25mcg of Levo to 2 grains of Nature Throid
