Hello, just wondered peoples thoughts or experiences? I have never been diagnosed with a thyroid issue but after near 2 years of TTC and 2 miscarriages I do wonder if things could be better in the TSH/TPO antibody side of things. My GP has never shown a concern with it I have basically had to beg her for more blood tests after my last miscarriage, never had a face to face appointment just sends me for blood test then I read the results online...
I want to be sure there is nothing being missed that could be affecting my fertility anyone any experience with this?
Here are my results over the past year:
Feb 2023 (Private) - TSH 7.79
April 2023 (GP) - TSH 3.2
July 2023 (Private) - TSH 2.46 and TPO 110
Sept 2023 (Private) - TSH 3.45
Nov 2023 (GP) TSH 3.2 and TPO 86.8
Thank you for reading
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DaisyChain22
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Do you have any sort of diagnosis? Hashi's? Hypo? Because that's what you've got. The high antibodies are saying you have Hashi's - Autoimmune Thyroiditis. And the high TSH is saying you are hypo and should be on thyroid hormone replacement - if you aren't already. And, being hypo will most definitely affect your fertility. And, if your doctor doesn't know all that, then he should be struck off! To conceive and carry a pregnancy to term your TSH should be below 2 at least, and preferably below 1.
That said, it's not the TSH or the antibodies stopping you conceiving, but a high TSH indicates that your thyroid hormones are too low. And that's what's causing the fertility problems.
I don't know how much you know about thyroid, so don't want to over-burden you with info you already know. But if you have any other questions, please ask them.
Thank you for your reply, No I do not have any Diagnosis. Only 2 of the above blood test were taken by my GP (April 23 & Nov23) and as both of these were below 4.2 they were noted down as 'Normal No Action' via the NHS App and as for the the positive antibody result there was a note next to it saying 'Positive TPO antibodies, however TSH currently OK'.
I had to really beg for the Antibody test as I knew from taking a private test that positive antibodies (also high cholesterol despite a very healthy lifestyle...? ) but my surgery wont look at private results. My Dr told me that the lab will only test this if TSH is high, but she said for the sake of reassurance she would put a note on to request this (This was a telephone conversation after my second early loss).
I received the results via the NHS app shortly after and have never had any contact with my GP since she requested the final blood test, I guess I felt stupid and like I was over reacting as no one else seemed concerned so I haven't done anything about it but these last few weeks I have been feeling so tired despite making sure I get good rest and it making me think about it again, I'm tempted to do another home test to see where I am at currently..
and as both of these were below 4.2 they were noted down as 'Normal No Action' via the NHS App and as for the the positive antibody result there was a note next to it saying 'Positive TPO antibodies, however TSH currently OK'.
TSH is far too high to consider TTC
Likely low vitamin levels too especially with autoimmune thyroid disease
Strongly recommend you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing
Improving low vitamin levels essential as low vitamin levels tend to lower TSH
high cholesterol despite a very healthy lifestyle...?
Cholesterol levels have nothing to do with lifestyle. High cholesterol is a hypo symptoms.
Cholesterol is made in the liver - because the body needs it! - and the liver keeps levels steady by making more when you consume less, and vice versa. However, when T3 is low, the body cannot process cholesterol correctly, and it builds up in the blood. It is a symptom, not a disease.
I guess I felt stupid and like I was over reacting as no one else seemed concerned
Well, we're concerned, I can assure you of that! But, then, we know more about thyroid than any doctor. Our hive-mind is full of experience and knowledge gained from many, many hours of reading and talking to each other. Doctors spend about half a day on the whole endocrine system during their seven years in med school, so you can imagine how little time is spent on the thyroid itself. And, most of what they do learn is wrong, such as 'hypothyroidism is easy to diagnose, easy to treat). Well, it's not rocket science, it's true, but it's beyond their capabilities. So, that's why they're not concerned.
Wouldn't hurt to do another home test - when was the last one?
thank you for your message, my last test was at the GP in November so I am going to do a medichecks at home test which also includes some vitamins etc to see where things are at, just trying to get as informed as I can at the moment before I next try tackle the doctors…
I have recently re-looked at my previous gp test results and I have noticed that my in my liver function my Serum alkaline phosphatase was actually low both in April and November last year, it was 25 and then 26 (the range is 30-130) do you know much about this and if this should be a concern? I googled it and there was mention of hypothyroidism being a potential cause amongst other things? But this has never been acknowledged by the doctor
Don't suppose the doctor knows anything about it. They are very vague on all things thyroid and have little idea what it does to the body. But I'm afraid I know nothing about it. Sorry.
Thank you for the information and taking the time to reply,
Unfortunately I feel a bit helpless as my GP's test have always come back under 4.2 they deem this to be in range and therefore I do not have a diagnosis of a Thyroid disorder and do not receive any medication. I try to lead as healthy a lifestyle as possible but not sure this is enough
Thanks for your reply, I do take vitamins, a multi vitamin(proceive) started about a year or so ago on vitD as kept catching lots of illness also take omega 3 and take and iron tablet for about 9months. feritin was 39 in April (so in range) then has increased to 66 in Nov after taking ferogloblin supplement (iron,folic and B12)
I will be doing a medichecks test which also includes vitamins to see where things are currently at.
can I ask, my TSH has fluctuated over the year, starting at 7.79 last Feb then towards the 3’s, is this level of fluctuation normal with TSH or could the decrease be down to me introducing more vitamins etc
can I ask, my TSH has fluctuated over the year, starting at 7.79 last Feb then towards the 3’s, is this level of fluctuation normal with TSH or could the decrease be down to me introducing more vitamins etc
A mix of everything probably
With high thyroid antibodies…..Hashimoto’s…..thyroid levels hop around
Thyroid is attacked by autoimmune disease…..thyroid cells break down and release excess thyroid hormones, this can cause temporary excess thyroid hormones. After each attack thyroid likely to become more damaged
Improving low vitamin levels can help thyroid function better and better conversion of Ft4 (storage hormone) into Ft3 (active hormone)
Good Afternoon, Just had my Medichecks Advanced Thyroid Test results back, all was within range except for TSH which was 4.9 and Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies which were 131
Please add actual results Ft4, Ft3, vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin
See GP again, or different GP at practice with these results
Request starting on levothyroxine
If they still refuse
Here’s link for how to request Thyroid U.K.list of private Doctors emailed to you, but within the email a link to download list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists
Ideally choose an endocrinologist to see privately initially and who also does NHS consultations
once you have got FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done
Assuming you need to work on improving low vitamin levels ………then retest thyroid and vitamin levels in 2-3 months
Your GP is being obtuse not treating you
Go see THYROID specialist
Here’s link for how to request Thyroid U.K.list of private Doctors emailed to you, but within the email a link to download list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists
Ideally choose an endocrinologist to see privately initially and who also does NHS consultations
Meanwhile get coeliac blood test done BEFORE trialing strictly gluten free diet
Your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.
A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing
Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential
A strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential due to gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and may slowly lower TPO antibodies
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first as per NICE Guidelines
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.
Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial
With loads of vegan dairy alternatives these days it’s not as difficult as in the past
Hi DaisyChain, I’m so sorry to hear of your losses. We have very similar stories so I thought I should post.
Like you I had three miscarriages in 2 years and was referred to a consultant for the usual recurrent miscarriage checks which includes testing for TPO antibodies and thyroid checks. I came back with results that I had high antibodies and believe my TSH was around 3 and the consultant said this was higher than he’d have liked and was the only potential factor they could link to my miscarriages (all my previous losses went through genetic testing etc). So I was discharged and a letter sent to my GP for a repeat thyroid function blood test 8 weeks later. For this test, I wasn’t given the result however the GP simply stated by text(!) that I was within normal levels and that was that. I also had a thyroid function test prior to TTC with my GP which came back at borderline levels far higher than then NICE suggested 2.5 and the GPs shrugged off my symptoms of weight gain/tiredness/cold and so the advice of GPs treating wasn't straight forward in my experience.
It was only until my consultant called back a couple of months after my follow up GP blood test for a phone review and I said oh yes I’ve had the test but the GP said all was within range but I don’t know the result. It turns out I was at 3.9 so my TSH had risen in 8 weeks and the NICE guideline is to treat from 4.0…although they knew I was trying to conceive so not I’m sure why neither the GP nor the consultant treated as I had been over 2.5 for years . I pretty much pleaded on the phone and said with having thyroid antibodies and a family history of hypothyroidism it was inevitable I was going to need thyroxine at some point and thankfully they saw sense and I was prescribed the starting dose.
I fell pregnant again perhaps 3 months later but that unfortunately resulted in an ectopic pregnancy (bad luck and now an endometriosis diagnosis to contend with) however very long story short - I’m now 17 weeks pregnant and things look to be progressing well. All my previous losses were prior to 12 weeks so I’m feeling hopeful for this one. I have consultant led care due to being hypothyroid which just means extra blood tests in each trimester to ensure all is within range (the irony…)
You for sure need to push the GP for thyroid medication. Also with your history, when you fall pregnant again make sure to push for a prescription for progesterone. It’s a new NICE guideline which GPs potentially don’t know about but the EPAU prescribed to me after my first scan at 6 weeks (due to my prior ectopic) and they wrote a letter to my GP to tell them to follow up with another prescription to cover up to 16 weeks gestation.
Lastly, once you’re pregnant again and on thyroxine, ensure you inform the GP you’re pregnant straight away as you’ll need upping by 25 micrograms to help your pregnant progress and get you to the end goal.
It’s an uphill battle but good luck and don’t back down!!!
Thank you for your reply and sharing your story, I am sorry to hear what a difficult time you have had and of your losses. Its so great to hear things are looking up for you now, Congratulations! It has brought me hope for the future that with the right treatment it could be possible if I am able to get it... I just feel a bit trapped as I'm not considered bad enough to receive medication but my results also by the sounds of it are not good enough to realistically fall and stay pregnant which leaves me feeling helpless right now
I was in exactly your position only 13/14 months ago so definitely have hope for yourself.
Get booked in with another GP asking them to review your latest blood results and have the NICE guidelines printed and to hand to put under their nose. You’ve been left in an unfair situation and hopefully you find a logical and sympathetic doctor to hear out your health concerns.
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