anyone with hypothyroidism?

[KElwanger]

I just found out that my thyroid levels are borderline high (hypothyroidism). As far as I understand, I don't actually have full blown hypothyroidism but my tsh level is high and I think it may be causing lots of awful symptoms in my life. So I just started meds this morning to see if that helps my symptoms.

What I'm wondering is can high tsh levels make it difficult to get pregnant? I know really high levels can cause you to not ovulate and create awful, irregular periods. My periods are very regular, normal, and I ovulate monthly at a normal time in my cycle. Is there any other reason my high tsh level could be affecting my chances of conceiving besides annovulation? My level is only 6.91(relatively not too high), but treated it should be 1-2 so it's definitely not a normal level.

We've been ttc for 5 cycles and have had two mcs (ob doesn't think caused by hypothyroidism). Mlwe concieved my son the first cycle off bcp so I'm just worried this is what it causing it to take longer.

Hoping to hear from other women in a similar boat and with hopeful stories!

 

[modified]

I have hypothyroidism. Before I was on implanon, my periods were highly erratic and mostly non-existent.

I came off the implant on Nov 8th and didn't get a chance to have my first period - I fell pregnant first

 

[HappilyMrs]

I've had Hypothyroidism since I was 5 years old. VERY YOUNG to have hypothyroidism but I've been dealing with it for 20 years.

When your levels are out of whack it can cause LOTS of symptoms and trouble conceiving it on that list. Let your OB know about your new diagnosis. With medication hypothyroidism is treatable and many women get pregnant with it. It just needs to be under control in order for it to happen. I believe this is what is causing my trouble getting pregnant and/or not having a regular cycle. My OB will test my levels to make sure all is well at my regular doctor appointments but especially now since Clomid is in the mix.

Good Luck!!!! Let me know if you have any questions about your new diagnosis!

 

[KElwanger]

It's actually my obgyn that is helping me with all of this and put me on the meds. I'm just wondering if 6.91 is high enough to cause mc and/or trouble conceiving. Especially now that I'm reading a lot of women's ob's don't wsnt them ttc until their levels are under 2. I'm just feeling really confused. I've been dealing with all this info over the phone with my dr's nurse so I'm not getting to sit down and get super clear answers. I know I could make an appt but just wondering what I can find out from other mom's. Thank you both for your info/stories!

 

[Bee Bee]

I have had hypothyroidism for 4 years. Had my thyroid removed because of it and now am currently hyperthyroid lol.

Yes, hypothyroidism can cause conception issues. It can also cause issues with keeping a pregnancy if not controlled. From what my doc said, its actually easier to conceive if you are hyperthyroid but hyperthyroid messes with ovulation more. (as I'm currently experiencing)

So, typically, a "normal" range for thyroid levels is between a .4 to a 4. So, yes, 6.91 considered high. It could possibly attribute to past miscarriages. And yes, docs will try to get you to somewhere between a 1 and a 2. Which, I know sounds like a huge leap but usually only one or two months of experimentation with dosages will get you to the range you need to be. Rarely, very rarely, you'll get cases like me where no amount of medication helps lol.

Either way, it sounds like your OB knows their stuff and is getting you on the right path!

 

[reshma11]

i also have hypothyroidism and taking medicines since last 3 years but form past one year its working so slow.i was taking initially 50 mg then increased to 62.5 and now i m taking 75mg. every morning i take meds with empty stomach and next 2 hrs i dont eat or drink anything. i also avoid broccoli ,coli flower, cabbage, n some other foods then create problems in thyroid hormones.

i gone thru 2 miscarriage and 1 ectopic so my doc thinks thyroid might be creating problem. when i was first diagnosed with hypothyroid my level were 92.4. and within 2 months back into range. i tested my thyroid last month seems in range 4.1. hope this info helps you

 

[berwar]

I think I have some of the answers you are looking for. Most hypothyroidism is caused my an autoimmune issue called Hashimotos. The autoimmune cause is more likely to cause miscarriage as it is constantly attacking and killing your thyroid. I remember my doctor explaining this to me the first time I was pregnant as I was at a slightly higher risk for miscarriage.
Your thyroid goes through changes when you get pregnant. The baby needs your thyroid horomone before it makes it own later down the line so if you had undiagnosed hypothyroidism, your levels would get worse while you were pregnant causing MC.
Heres the good news: in 4 weeks they will recheck your levels. Whenever they are normal you are cleared to get pregnant and have a good chance of concieveing. As long as you are monitoring your cycles so you can detect pregnancy sooner and get more synthroid/levothyroxine at the first positive test, you should be able to have a happy healthy pregnancy
Believe it or not this is positive news. A lot of people have a lot of expensive testing done TTC and never get answers. While hypothyroidism is something youll have to live with your whole life, its manageable.
Also, endocrinologist like your labs to be between .3 and 3.0, with 1 being the best. Push for getting closest to 1, even if ure labs come back in "normal" range in 4 weeks because u have a better chance of conceieving with euthyroid levels!
Best of luck! Let me know if u have any more questions!

 

[KElwanger]

All of you have been so helpful! Thank you!

Berwar-I'm assuming I don't have hashimotos because technically I'm only considered having borserline hypothyroidism. But I think you did answer my question about whether or not it can cause mcs or having a hard time getting pregnant. I guess I'll never know for sure. My doctor doesn't seem to think it caused my 7 week mc or my early cp because my tsh isn't all that high and my t4 free was in the normal range. I hope she's right, but even if she isn't these meds should lower the risk of another mc I'm sure!

She has never said anything to me about waiting to ttc or wanting my levels to be between certain numbers. The only reason I'm on the meds is because I called back to tell them about my symptoms and she said I could give the meds a shot. So now I just feel so confused. I 100% trust my doctor so to hear all of this is surprising. I just hope the med works quickly and my level gets in a low healthy range and we get pregnant quickly with a healthy baby!

 

[berwar]

I am just really surprised that this number is considered "borderline". Borderline usually means a number that is close to a normal lab. Like if the lab was maxed at 4 then 4.1 or 4.2. While a 6 is by no means a terrible result its still way out of what is considered to be normal by all laboratory standards. Are you having any low thyroid symptoms like weight gain, hair loss, cold intolerance, tireness, etc? Does anyone in your family have thyroid problems? If not, I could see why they wouldn't want to intervene too much as sometimes thyroids fluctuate. As far as a Hashimotos diagnosis, it doesn't matter where your TSH falls, you can still have Hashimotos. It's not based on a lab value, but instead on the presence of antibodies in your blood. Most doctors don't really test for it because it doesn't effect the outcome (you still get meds), but it does let you know what your up against and if this is gonna be a recurring issue. Hashimotos is still the #1 cause of thyroid related issues.
I went to see a very educated endocrinologist in Vanderbilt in Nashville when I was attempting to get pregnant the first time. My thyroid level was at 7 and he told me to NOT get pregnant until my levels were in check because studies have shown that it causes lower IQ in children and a higher risk for miscarriage. When I got pregnant my levels went to 9 and my doctor and OBGYN were very concerned about getting it down.
I believe that your doctor is very good and very knowledgeable. The problem is that a lot of doctors don't really know how to thoroughly treat endocrine problems and oftentimes try to do the smallest intervention first, which I think can be a good thing. Follow your doctors orders, and ask for another tsh panel in 4-6 weeks. If the number hasnt improved close to 1, I would suggest upping the dose. If you are still having trouble conceiving or staying pregnant 3 months from now, a trip to a good endocrinologist couldn't hurt just to get the levels normalized. A lot of them have backgrounds in reproductive endocrinology.
One thing that has been good for you is your ability to get pregnant, meaning that the thyroid problem isnt causing infertility like it does in a lot of people. So I really believe you will go on to have a healthy pregnancy moving forward.

 

[KElwanger]

You are so helpful! I can't thank you enough.

So the reason it's borderline, from my understanding, is because my tsh level is high but my t4 level is normal. Here's something I found online to explain what that indicates.

"Thyroxine (T4). A low level of T4 confirms hypothyroidism. Note: some people have a raised TSH level but have a normal T4 level. This means that you are making enough thyroxine but the thyroid gland is needing extra stimulation from TSH to make the required amount of thyroxine. In this situation you have an increased risk of developing hypothyroidism in the future. Your doctor may advise a repeat blood test every so often to see if you do eventually develop hypothyroidism."

So what I've gathered from that is that I don't have hypothyroidism YET but that I'm at an increased risk to develop it and that's why my doctor said it's "borderline". But what I'm wondering is, even if my t4 level is normal, can having a higher tsh level, even without having hypothyroidism, still be a problem?

Yes I have symptoms! Thats why I called to inquire about my results further. My bbt is always in the 96s before I ovulate and then in the 97s after. My feet are cold often. I have constant fatigue. Frequent urination. Chronic headaches. Weakness. Muscle/joint stiffness and soreness. There is more but yes I have a lot of the symptoms associated with it, yet my numbers don't reveal I have it. That's why I'm so confused haha.

I'm going back in 6 weeks to get it tested and hopefully it will be normal by then. I wasn't advised to not ttc (im guessing because i havent truly developed hypothyroidism yet?) so now I'm unsure of what to do.

 

[KElwanger]

And I completely agree. When I heard borderline I would have though like 4.1 or 4.2 as well. I was very confused and frustrated at first. But then the nurse called back and told me about my t4 level and that's when I started to get an understanding of why she said borderline. But honestly I'm still pretty confused by it all haha.

 

[berwar]

I can honestly say ive never dealt with the borderline scenario before so its new to me as well. My T4 has always been normal but my TSH is off. I know the last thing ud want to hear is to wait and I know I sorta took that advice w a grain of salt as well. My thyroid was off when I had my daughter and she turned out perfectly normal. Id keep an eye on your charting and just make sure that if u do conceieve u get in a request a TSH panel ASAP. Your doctor will up your dose while you are pregnant and it goes back down once the baby is born. Im currently on 112mcg and I hope you never have to have that much! Best of luck!

 

[Bee Bee]

Thats the issue with GP docs or OB's treating thyroid issues though; most have varying opinions on what is "normal" and what warrants treatment or not. My suggestion is that if the symptoms are bothering you enough then to go see an endocrinologist until your levels are in a range where you feel better. Then a GP or OB can continue to monitor your blood levels and adjust as needed.

While I had great doctors (all general practice though, as I needed a referral from them to see an endo) the past 4 years, it was a long struggle to get my thyroid taken care of. A little bit more of my particular thyroid struggle in the cut, if you are interested haha.

Spoiler

For me, for whatever reason, my thyroid was not really reacting to medication. Every single blood test resulted in a different number, even when on the same dosage. My docs did get me to a 2 and felt I didn't need to go any lower despite me telling them I did NOT feel alright. It got bad enough that I got to a point where I had suicidal thoughts. It took me demanding to get in for an appointment, then balling all the way through the appointment to where they finally saw that I wasn't doing alright; despite my numbers saying I was.

But still, even though I was in a "good range" I started getting growths and cysts on my thyroid. (which shouldn't technically happen) I kept changing docs and finally got one that tested me for everything under the sun in order to prove my thyroid was the issue so that I could get it removed. Everything else I tested for was normal and healthy so that provided enough evidence to the insurance company that my thyroid needed to come out.

Thyroid came out in August and I have not felt this good in years. Even though I am hyperthyroid currently, it still feels better than hypothyroid did. Also I am currently on 75mcg which was exactly what I was on prior to surgery. To me, that proves just how little my thyroid as actually working; that I would have the same medication with and without a thyroid.

Anyway, sorry for that tangent, but the point is that I really had to fight to get to a point where I finally feel better. It was really easy for me to just take my doctor's word on what was "normal" and run with it. But it didn't get me anywhere and just got me feeling worse. I finally had to do some of my own research and try out new doctors until I got one that really listened to me and what I needed.

 

[KElwanger]

I can honestly say ive never dealt with the borderline scenario before so its new to me as well. My T4 has always been normal but my TSH is off. I know the last thing ud want to hear is to wait and I know I sorta took that advice w a grain of salt as well. My thyroid was off when I had my daughter and she turned out perfectly normal. Id keep an eye on your charting and just make sure that if u do conceieve u get in a request a TSH panel ASAP. Your doctor will up your dose while you are pregnant and it goes back down once the baby is born. Im currently on 112mcg and I hope you never have to have that much! Best of luck!

So even though your t4 level is normal you're still considered to have a hypothyroid because your tsh is high? Because that's me but not what I'm being told.

Beebee- thank you for all of that! I'm thinking I may go to an endo, depending on how my blood test goes in 6 weeks. I like to think it's fairly mild and won't be difficult to treat but we'll see. I've had these symptoms for 3 years or more so considering that I would have thought my tsh level would havw been much higher. I'm hoping that means what I'm being told is true; that I'm just at an increased risk.

But like I said I will meet with an endo if it doesn't go down easily. I do have a lot of questions and I'm getting so much mixed info (all helpful) so it would be nice to talk to a specialist.

I really really appreciate you all sharing with me what you know and your experiences!

 

[HisKhaleesi]

Thank you for this post. I was just diagnosed with hypothyroid as well, and am also TTC. My level is 4.7 and my doc said that was high and prescribed me synthroid. I am going to start it in the morning. Now Im afraid of miscarriage! I had no idea you were at a higher risk with hypothyroid.EEK!

 

[KElwanger]

Thank you for this post. I was just diagnosed with hypothyroid as well, and am also TTC. My level is 4.7 and my doc said that was high and prescribed me synthroid. I am going to start it in the morning. Now Im afraid of miscarriage! I had no idea you were at a higher risk with hypothyroid.EEK!

You're welcome! I'm glad it can help you too! So you're at 4.7 and that's considered high and hyperthyroid? Man, I feel like everything I'm hearing is all over the place haha.

You're not going to be at an increased risk as long as you are being treated! Once you're levels are between 1-2 I'm pretty sure your risk of mc is the same as anyone else! Dont worry about that

 

[Bee Bee]

So even though your t4 level is normal you're still considered to have a hypothyroid because your tsh is high? Because that's me but not what I'm being told.

I'm glad it helps! I like to help out where I can.

And yes, all my other thyroid hormone levels have been fine, but my TSH has always been an issue and my endo considers me hypothyroid. I think though that only having TSH issues just makes you hypothyroid, while other thyroid hormone issues might mean that you have Hashimoto's. And maybe that's why your doc is not considering you hypothyroid? Since you don't have Hashimoto's?

But it's pretty much like: all people with Hashimoto's have hypothyroid but not all hypothyroid people have Hashimoto's.

 

[berwar]

Bee Bee, I agree with everything you said! I am close to having my thyroid out bc of nodules and am curious as to how you feel having it removed. I havent been euthyroid for much of the last 7 years!
KEI, I'm sorry if we are confusing you or making it harder. At lot of us with thyroid issues learned really early on that we had to advocate and learn a bunch about this stuff the hard way, because we had bad doctors who didn't hear us out and bad experiences with getting the wrong/right information. I hope that you have a case that isn't as bad, but I know that oftentimes thyroids are finicky crazy organs that cause us lots of grief.
I have always had normal T3, T4, just low TSH. The low TSH was enough to justify my hypothyroid diagnosis and then later I asked for the autoimmune antibody test so that I could be certain that is was Hashi's (just for peace of mind).
When you say borderline, I'm assuming you mean "Subclinical" hypothyroidism which means you have no obvious symptoms and only slightly abnormal lab tests. But you seem to have obvious symptoms and labs which confuses me. However, I can tell you from personal experience when they first found mine it was a 5. I was diagnosed as "subclinical" and no one even tried to run an antibody test. My doctor just started treating it with 25mcg. 2 months later it was no better. I was upped to 50mcg. 2 months later it was upped again. And its been a battle ever since. I can tell you that sometimes I dont realize just how bad my thyroid makes me feel until its better and then I realize just how crummy I was really feeling.
I don't want to overconcern or confuse you. Or to act like I am a MD when I'm not. But Hashimotos is linked to other autoimmune disorders like B12, which I also have and almost everyone I know with the disease has also, and can cause an early gallbladder failure, like mine. its best to know for sure because when you do you can get to feeling a TON better!
His, try not to stress too much if u are already pregnant and have hypo. Its good that the dr found it. As I said, My level was 9 almost 10 when I was 5 weeks and I went on to have a very healthy and smart 2 year old girl!
I sincerely hope this helps and if not just tell me shut my trap!

 

[KElwanger]

So even though your t4 level is normal you're still considered to have a hypothyroid because your tsh is high? Because that's me but not what I'm being told.

I'm glad it helps! I like to help out where I can.

And yes, all my other thyroid hormone levels have been fine, but my TSH has always been an issue and my endo considers me hypothyroid. I think though that only having TSH issues just makes you hypothyroid, while other thyroid hormone issues might mean that you have Hashimoto's. And maybe that's why your doc is not considering you hypothyroid? Since you don't have Hashimoto's?

But it's pretty much like: all people with Hashimoto's have hypothyroid but not all hypothyroid people have Hashimoto's.

I was actually asking berwar that question because she has normal t4 but high tsh. I didn't know that was youe situation! But thank you for replying because that makes me feel more sure that I have hypothyroid and helps to explain my symptoms. I'm guessing my doctor either just doesn't know everything there is to know about it or you're right about the hashimotos thing. I sure hope I don't have that!

I honestly hope I actually have hypothyroidism because I'm ready to be rid of all these symptoms I've been suffering from and it also may explain my 2 mcs and why it has taken longer than I expected to get pregnant with baby #2. I had no issues with my son. My husband ans I got pregnant the first try off bcp and he was perfectly healthy! So maybe I developed it after him. Although I did have symptoms before him too. Who knows! I just hope the meds help!

 

[KElwanger]

You are not making this worse at all! I'm more confused the more I learn but ONLY because it's so different from the little bit of info I got from my doctor/nurse. But I feel like you all know better than she does because she's an obgyn, not an endo, and probably doesn't deal with it as much as a specialist was. You guys have it so I trust what you're saying, even though I do understand info differs no matter who you talk to.

The most confusing part of it all is that I'm being told by my nurse that my doc said I'm borderline hyperthyroid because of a 6.91 tsh level and normal t4 level and that we would just retest in 6 months. But pretty much everything I've heard from everyone else is that 6.91 is high, considered hyperthyroid, and that when ttc it is best between 1-2. I don't get why my doctor wouldn't do something about it (without my asking) knowing we're trying to have a baby after two mcs. So confusing... plus I think she's amazing so that makes it worse.