Reassurance about taking T3 during pregnancy

[V3ra]

Hi All

I’m just looking for some reassurance if anyone else has continued on T3 during pregnancy.

When I tested positive my ft4 was 17.5 (12-22) but my ft3 tanked from 4.4 to 3.1(3.1-6.8) and all my hypo symptoms were terrible. (Previous ft4 was17.1 and ft3 4.4 so I was still probably under medicated then but this was a massive improvement on previous levels and I had been feeling ok).

I had a consult with Dr Momi who got me to up my levo from 50-100 and prescribed liothyronine 10mcg 2x per day. (Ideally this would have started lower and titrated up but in order to try and mitigate potential miscarriage I went straight onto this dose).

Since, I’ve been feeling good (except for pregnancy related nausea and fatigue) and my levels are free t3 5.3, free t4 18.9.

I had a telephone appointment with the NHS antenatal thyroid consultant today (I’m 12 weeks tomorrow and this is the first time anyone in the nhs has even be bothered about my thyroid), who was adamant she wants me to stop t3 as it’s not safe during pregnancy. The nhs have been so rubbish at managing anything thyroid related that I’m loathe to stop it when my understanding is it’s more that there aren’t specific studies using it with pregnancy to show it is harmful or beneficial, so I the absence of studies it’s more about theoretical risks.

My understanding is before mono levothyroxine therapy, people would have been on NDT during their pregnancy which has t3 in it anyway.

Anyone successfully continued on t3 during their pregnancy? I just don’t want to get railroaded into doing something I’m not totally happy with.

I’m also taking Three Arrows iron supplement as my iron was a bit low. (In addition to b complex, vit d and folate). Other levels are generally ok.

CRP 1.04(<3)

Ferritin 48.8(30-150)

Folate >45.5(8.83-60.8)

B12 Active >150(37.5-188)

Vit D 113(50-250)

My antibodies are good for me currently (previously were 1000-2000) now TGA 274, TPO 224.

Apologies for long post, thanks for sticking in there till the end!

[Hidden]

I’m not really an expert but have just started on t3/t4 combo and one of the first things I asked my doctor was about pregnancy and t3 meds.

I can only relay what they told me…which is t3 is safe for pregnancy, you may just need slightly closer monitoring as baby will need t4 but you need t3 to feel well so it’s just ensuring there’s enough of each hormone for you both!

Hope this helps/ reassures a little! I fully intend to stay on my t3 when pregnant, I honestly don’t think I could manage on levo alone.

[greygoose]

Thousands of women who are not hypo have T3 all the way through pregnancy made by their own thyroids. If there were any danger, the species would probably die out! Doctors just don't like T3 - in fact, they're terrified of it - because they don't know what it is. As one doctor said to me, 'T3? That's something to do with hyperthyroidism, isn't it?' 🤣🤣🤣

[BrynGlas in reply to greygoose]

Greygoose, ever the saviour. I hope you are well.

[greygoose in reply to BrynGlas]

Thank you, BrynGlas. I'm suffering terribly from the cold right now!

[BrynGlas in reply to greygoose]

Ooh yes I agree with you! Ouch!

[Poniesrfun]

From all the in depth reading I’ve done, T4 is for the baby and T3 is for you.

What Greygoose said - that “normal” thyroid folks have T3 all along - is so common sense it’s almost laughable.

Happy baby!

Patti in AZ

[BrynGlas]

I am nò expert, but my gut tells me that you would haveT3 in your body if you weren't hypo. This one sounds as though she hasn't a clue. I would stick to your guns.

Why would she think that you shouldn't have T3 in your body normally? You need T3, it is the only active thyroid hormone.

Any chance of getting in touch with your Endo? You need help with your precious cargo and I would not trust this idiot sounding person. Maybe the Endo will back you up with the obstetricians? Sounds as though you will need it. He helped you get pregnant after all.

The best of luck, trust your instinct and your Endo, no one else.

[BrynGlas in reply to BrynGlas]

I forgot to say that my GP told me that T3 was an illegal drug and I was not to say those words in his presence again!

Get in touch with your Endo and change nothing on NHS say so is my instinct.

[V3ra in reply to BrynGlas]

Unfortunately this is the endo! The appointment was from endocrinology for a thyroid antenatal view. I also take LDN for Hashi’s and she said she’d never heard of it 🙈

[BrynGlas in reply to V3ra]

It was the Endo who wanted to stop T3?

[Hj101]

Hi, I take Armour thyroid and was given the same message as you when I was pregnant for the first time. I was told that it was unlicensed for pregnancy (I.E. not formally tested on pregnant women to establish safety). For various reasons I was able to persuade my endocrinologist to keep me on armour thyroid and to have had two healthy pregnancies and babies. The only condition as far as he was concerned was 6 weekly blood tests. We did have to introduce additional levothyroxine in my 3rd trimester because my t4 levels dropped.

My thought all along was that if I needed t3 to function before pregnancy there was no way my body would stop needing it when I was pregnant!

[BrynGlas in reply to Hj101]

I was lucky to have had my 3 children when I was healthy. I wouldn't have rated my odds very high of getting pregnant again after I was diagnosed in 1998/9

[V3ra]

Thanks all, all your comments make sense and I know this, but in the face of pressure from a so called expert I was having a wobbler! She made me feel that I was already damaging the baby with what I was doing. This has just given me the confidence I need to stick to my guns. My levels are all in ‘normal’ range so if I wasn’t on meds how would this be damaging to the baby!? Maybe I can take the opportunity to try and educate this Endo. I’ll be the first person she has had who will be having T3/T4 combo and LDN through pregnancy so she might learn something 🤞

[BrynGlas in reply to V3ra]

Yes, I can understand that. I'd go with your instincts only! Hats off to you, you got pregnant and now you need to keep your baby safe, I'm with you all the way, which I am certain everyone else will be too.

The support on here has always been immense and I am sure will always be here. There's nowhere quite like it!

[mstp]

Please do tell us how you progress Vera. There's nothing like new babies to keep us cheerful.

[BrynGlas in reply to mstp]

Ooh dear! Yes please, put me down for a free babysitter!

[Stephsteph]

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I can only speak for myself, I’ve had 3 children and was taking T3 and T4 before I had any of them. When I did get pregnant, I was put under consultant care because of having a thyroid condition but I continued to take T3 and T4 during all the pregnancies. It was never questioned or mentioned that I would need to stop. I had regular blood tests to keep an eye on the levels but they didn’t change much. I also breastfed all of them and continued to take it then as well.

[SilverAvocado]

Dr Momi sounds like the more switched on of the two doctors you mention, so I would cling on to them and try to make sure they're the one making the final decision.

Thyroid care during pregnancy can often be terrible. Doctors are just as careless with the health of our babies as they are with our own health. This antenatal thyroid consultant has probably caused countless miscarriages and other difficulties for thyroid patients. It makes my blood boil!

[Rileyfloof]

I'm not a doctor, but just thinking logically here. If you are hypothyroid and taking some T3 to bring your levels unto an acceptable range, why would it be acceptable to stop taking T3 and allow yourself to become more hypo just because you are pregnant?

I did a quick Google search and found the following article from Johns Hopkins, which is very well respected in the U.S. According to the article, low levels of T3 can make it difficult to get pregnant and can actually CAUSE miscarriage. You should also have your progesterone levels checked if you haven't already, as low progesterone has been linked to miscarriage. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

hopkinsmedicine.org/health/....

[V3ra in reply to Rileyfloof]

Thanks for the link, I’ll have a read. I’ve been taking progesterone throughout the first trimester and starting to wean off now I’m 12 weeks 🤞