GP visit experience for hypothyroidism and pregnancy

[thyroid-warrior]

After the last two phone calls with the GP, he invited me to the clinic for a face to face chat and measurement of blood pressure and heart rate. Was slightly concerned for a "showdown" and had to bring my husband along for moral support.

We had a discussion about how I came to increase my dosage to the current level. And he said he spoke to the senior doctor and endocrinologist and the recommendation was to drop my dosage back down to 87.5mcg and stop my T3 altogether.😅

The NHS guidelines about increasing thyroid replacement hormone from 30-50% immediately upon confirmation of conception - >> that was totally overlooked and the entire focus was on the current suppressed TSH.

I explained about my symptoms and how I felt in general these days - how I felt more energized and almost no symptoms, however he sounded genuinely concerned about my suppressed TSH levels.

How that could cause brain damage for the baby and miscarriage etc....

Anyway, my blood pressure was totally normal while my heart rate was slightly elevated, likely due to me expecting a fight 😅

I think we tried to keep the conversation amicable so he said, what we do with the recommendation is up to us and we'll should expect an appointment with the endocrinologist and obstetrician in the next two weeks.

I was just wondering if there are any materials available about pregnancy + levothyroxine + T3 treatment that I could arm myself with for the upcoming appointment?

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Sorry you haven’t had any replies.

My comment will bring your post back up the news feed & hopefully members can review.

You had some good advice re pregnancy & T3 in your last posts & references which will help.

There’s a collection of information on Thyroid UK page if you haven’t already had link.

thyroiduk.org/having-a-baby...

Your doctor is taught to be concerned about T3 and pregnancy, but you do have a say on your own treatment. If your FT4 & FT3 became over range, it is different to low TSH.

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

[thyroid-warrior in reply to PurpleNails]

Thank you, PurpleNails ! I will look into the resources, appreciate the link to Thyroid UK☺️

[Kerry124 in reply to thyroid-warrior]

I thought if you were pregnant you should be monitored by a specialist who deals with women who have hypothyroid and are pregnant. As for your TSH being low doesn’t he realise that it is actually pituitary hormone not a thyroid hormone. I feel upset for you that he is telling you stuff that night happen to your baby that is untrue if he is just going by your TSH and he is not a doctor who specialises in pregnant women with hypothyroid. What qualifications does this doctor actually have? He is just a GP who should always refer his patients to a consultant because quite frankly he has no idea and should not be messing with your dose at all. Also you don’t want the added worry while pregnant and he should not be speculating about what will happen to your baby without actually producing the evidence to back up his theory

Congratulations about your pregnancy and I would make sure you don’t see this GP again and just see someone who actually knows what they are talking about and is a specialist in pregnancy and hypothyroid.

[thyroid-warrior in reply to Kerry124]

Thank you Kerry124 ☺️

The thing is, he consulted the senior doctor and endocrinologist before giving me the recommendations face to face. That’s what he said, he was pretty convinced. (The endocrinologist was the same person who told me previously their institution don’t support initiation of T3 and wasn’t keen to understand more about my symptoms previously back in December. That’s how I got started on my own T3 after realising I’m a poor converter in January)

Previous consultations with the GP were on the phone. It didn’t offer me any hope that his recommendations was based on discussion with the senior doctor and endocrinologist. I’m hoping he will leave me alone for now. The first antenatal appointment should be in 1-2 weeks’ time and I’m feeling apprehensive about it.