Help needed

[Mj1986]

I've just unexpectedly found out that I am pregnant. I am very high risk as I have stage 4 endometriosis and Hashimoto's, plus 10 failed rounds of IVF. I am speaking to the dr tomorrow but I am wondering whether I should tell him that I am taking T3 (at the moment I take 100mcg thyroxine and 12.5mcg T3), I take T3 without prescription, but since starting taking it its the only time I have managed to get pregnant and Its the best I have ever felt. I know he will tell me to stop taking it . Also, should I up my T4?

[humanbean]

Many doctors think that taking T3 is like taking a daily dose of dynamite.

Some of them think that T3 is addictive - a bit like speed or cocaine or heroin.

It seems to me that many of them don't even seem to realise that they have naturally produced T3 in their own bodies 24 hours a day, and certainly don't think that thyroid patients should have any.

They have been taught that T3 doesn't reach the foetus and thus consider it to be deadly for embryos, foetuses, and babies in the womb. [Because, in the early weeks of growth, before an embryo/foetus has a working thyroid, they need thyroid hormones from the mother. So if the mother is taking T3 as part of their thyroid hormone intake, with or without T4, the baby may be deprived of adequate levels of thyroid hormones.] But all healthy women with healthy thyroids who get pregnant have T3 in their bodies, and they aren't forced to take anti-thyroid drugs to reduce the amount!

The good news is that taking T3 at suitable doses is not likely to be a problem for any pregnant woman and as you discovered, it was probably very likely to have increased your chances of getting and staying pregnant, so it is beneficial.

Some links you might like :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

A member called kazzyhoo got pregnant on NDT and had a successful pregnancy. Read her four most recent posts. Although she hasn't posted for years her posts are still helpful :

healthunlocked.com/user/kaz...

Another thread :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Member Rhsana had a successful pregnancy on T3 only. You can see all her posts and replies via this link but you'll have to search for the relevant ones

healthunlocked.com/user/rhsana

This is one of her posts ...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

In that thread read the post by "Hidden" who took NDT (which contains T3) throughout pregnancy.

Doctors, nurses and midwives can be awful to women who take NDT or T3 during pregnancy. But for roughly 70 or 80 years (1890(ish) - 1970) the only treatment generally offered to hypothyroid people was NDT and women got pregnant and gave birth without obvious problems during that time. There are NO research papers that I've ever come across from that era screeching that NDT (which contains some T3) was making women miscarry and killed babies.

Posts tagged with the topic of Pregnancy (not specific to T3 or NDT or T4) can be found here:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Very good luck and my best wishes for a successful pregnancy.

[NWA6]

Huge congratulations! You finally got the treatment you needed and now you’re pregnant 🤗 I’m not sure I’d bother telling the Dr, just yet, wait until you hear what they have to say and whether or not it becomes relevant. When pregnancy is established you might feel stronger to stand up for yourself. In the meantime get regular testing and use the results and symptoms to establish how you move forward.

[HowNowWhatNow]

In response to the part of your question about increasing T4, read the NICE guidelines on pregnancy and thyroid. As I remember it says to increase by 25-30%.Ignore what the doctors say, if they say to reduce T3, but do ask for thyroid panel blood test now if you haven’t had one recently, to get your levels.

My GP told me to reduce my T4 . So I told that to my midwife and told her that this was bad advice - contradictory to NICE medical practice - and I was going to ignore it.

[Greeneyes14]

Hi, definitely be honest with your GP. They can quite rightly (as some one who has quoted NICE guidelines above) has said, 1) increase your levothyroxine dose- if there's going to be a delay in speaking to a GP increase your levo by 25mcg, if you have spare stock. 2) they will arrange an urgent blood test to see what your TSH/T4 is doing. 3) they can get a referral to endocrinology sent off.

I would then contact your local midwifery team and advise them of your pregnancy, and need for high risk support.

With regards to T3, Drs/midwives are entitled to comment on you self administering T3- that is their opinion. Its up to you if you continue to take it or not, but I think not telling them about it, is the WORST idea I've read. Just be open and honest, and advocate for your self. At the end of the day, they are medical professionals- they go into this job to help people not hurt people.

As you are diagnosed hypo, they will do your bloods every 4 weeks to progressively adjust your levo, as your baby grows, their need for T4 will grow. Their own thyroid starts to kick in producing T4 10-12 weeks, but you will still need to supplement for the duration of your pregnancy.

Ideally TSH should be 2.5 or below in the first trimester, from memory it then needs to be 3.0 in the second/third trimesters.

Finally, congratulations 👏 ❤ I wish you all the best in this pregnancy.

[HowNowWhatNow in reply to Greeneyes14]

Great advice from Greeneyes14, here. Agree you should tell your GP and put work in motion to be considered high risk pregnancy. With hindsight I should have been open with my GP practice about the bad advice I received from one very green junior GP there, for myself and for others who followed in the same shoes.

[radd]

Mj1986,

I would say it is essential you tell your doctor/specialists asap that you are medicating T3 as it will alter the way your labs present.

Once pregnant, the placenta releases HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) to stimulate a healthy thyroid gland and increased oestrogen will increase TBG (thyroid binding globulin) that binds more T4. Because you are medicating thyroid hormone replacement, without a dose raise you will quickly experience a shortfall and be risking well known early pregnancy complications.

Given that baby will also be dependant upon you for thyroid hormone for about 12 weeks, your supply must be further regularly replenished to encourage pregnancy retention. You may require several dose raises in quick succession and your goal will be for immediate optimal levels and not the six week saturation that we usually aim for.

Medicating T3 can cause TSH to lower more so than medicating T4 mono-therapy due to pituitary sensitivity, but during pregnancy doctors (who mostly have no idea of T3 intricacies) are taught to closely observe TSH levels due to its correlation with prolactin which if becomes too raised can cause complications in conception/early on in pregnancy.

Therefore, you need to advise your doctor that your TSH may look altered and ask that FT4 & FT3 levels are closely monitored, as these alone will be your guide. I have no idea on the dosing of T3 during pregnancy and have read too much can raise baby heart beat but humanbean has offered great info on others experiences so I guess it's a case of educating yourself as best you can.

Also, if you have Hashi a good read is "Your Healthy Pregnancy With Thyroid Disease" by Dana Trentini and Mary Shomon which concentrates mainly on the immune issues but briefly includes info about when medicating T3 & NDT.

Congratulations 👏👏👏😊