Please help - thyroid, short lp, irregular cycles, miscarriage and the list goes on!

[happymrs]

Hi everyone,

I'm writing this in floods of tears because I just can't believe how much my body is failing me and how lost I feel.

I just need to hear some encouraging words, maybe some advice? Please help.

First the facts - I am 33, my husband is 46 (with 2 kids of his own) I have been ttc my first for 3 and a half years. 3 of those years had no luck at all - I was finally referred for fertility help - all tests showed everything was fine for husband and I.
I had a small op for endo and then they also discovered I had hypothyroidism. Since then my TSH levels have fluctuated so much - ranging from 0.4 to 9.4 and everywhere in between despite being on medication and having regular tests.

In July I finally conceived naturally!! The best thing ever! But sadly I had a missed miscarriage - found out at 12 week scan it stopped growing at 7 weeks.

Since then everything seems to have gone wrong - firstly, I don't seem to be ovulating every month - only one month showed positive on the OPKs. My thyroid levels are back up to 9.4 despite the medication and then today I started my period at 7dpo! My luteal phase is normally 12 days which is fairly short, but why the hell is it 7 days this month?

My fertility clinic will not see me now using NHS funding for another two years as I managed to conceive naturally last year.

I don't know where to turn, I don't know what to ask, or who to ask! Without funding I cannot see an expert and what help would I seek first? irregular cycles, lack of ovulation, short lp or thyroid issues?

Any kind words or advice would be so appreciated as I feel so low and worthless. I just want to be a mum.

Thank-you and sorry for such a long post.

Baby dust to you all.

 

[Gagrlinpitt]

Hi everyone,

I'm writing this in floods of tears because I just can't believe how much my body is failing me and how lost I feel.

I just need to hear some encouraging words, maybe some advice? Please help.

First the facts - I am 33, my husband is 46 (with 2 kids of his own) I have been ttc my first for 3 and a half years. 3 of those years had no luck at all - I was finally referred for fertility help - all tests showed everything was fine for husband and I.
I had a small op for endo and then they also discovered I had hypothyroidism. Since then my TSH levels have fluctuated so much - ranging from 0.4 to 9.4 and everywhere in between despite being on medication and having regular tests.

In July I finally conceived naturally!! The best thing ever! But sadly I had a missed miscarriage - found out at 12 week scan it stopped growing at 7 weeks.

Since then everything seems to have gone wrong - firstly, I don't seem to be ovulating every month - only one month showed positive on the OPKs. My thyroid levels are back up to 9.4 despite the medication and then today I started my period at 7dpo! My luteal phase is normally 12 days which is fairly short, but why the hell is it 7 days this month?

My fertility clinic will not see me now using NHS funding for another two years as I managed to conceive naturally last year.

I don't know where to turn, I don't know what to ask, or who to ask! Without funding I cannot see an expert and what help would I seek first? irregular cycles, lack of ovulation, short lp or thyroid issues?

Any kind words or advice would be so appreciated as I feel so low and worthless. I just want to be a mum.

Thank-you and sorry for such a long post.

Baby dust to you all.

Did they test you for MTHFR?

 

[joy8751]

Hey Happymrs!

A quick word to send you plenty of good wishes for this new year! I am certain 2016 will be our year for a strong and sticky BFP!
On my side, I am 32, have been ttc for a year with cycles anywhere between 35 and 55 days, and short Lp (8 to 10 days)
I have been trying all sort of things and vitamins. It appears that a combo of vitex and red clover is working well on me so I am trying it again this cycle and keep my finger crossed....
All the best to you!

 

[happymrs]

Hi

Gagrlinpitt - No, they haven't tested me for anything at all - I guess as I have only had one miscarriage they don't see it as a problem. For me, the real problem is conceiving in the first place! Thanks for your message though, after you sent that I looked it up to find out more about it!

Joy - Thank-you so much for your reply, its just so nice to hear from other people and not feel so alone! I have gone private and found an antenatal thyroid specialist (I didn't even know they existed!!) and have an appointment in two weeks time. Fingers crossed she can at least get my thyroid levels stable! Glad to hear you are getting somewhere with the supplements, I haven't tried that sort of thing yet as I am scared I will mess up my cycles even more! Fingers crossed for you. xx

 

[Gagrlinpitt]

Hi

Gagrlinpitt - No, they haven't tested me for anything at all - I guess as I have only had one miscarriage they don't see it as a problem. For me, the real problem is conceiving in the first place! Thanks for your message though, after you sent that I looked it up to find out more about it!

Joy - Thank-you so much for your reply, its just so nice to hear from other people and not feel so alone! I have gone private and found an antenatal thyroid specialist (I didn't even know they existed!!) and have an appointment in two weeks time. Fingers crossed she can at least get my thyroid levels stable! Glad to hear you are getting somewhere with the supplements, I haven't tried that sort of thing yet as I am scared I will mess up my cycles even more! Fingers crossed for you. xx

My sister had three miscarriages before her twins were conceived via ivf. That's how we found out we both have mthfr. It might be something worth looking into.

 

[OmarsMum]

Did your husband do any tests? I know he has 2 children of his own but that doesn't mean he won't have fertility issues later.

We have a healthy 6 yrs old boy, we've been trying for no.2 for 2.5 yrs with no success, we had a mmc in April 2014 & a blighted ovum in July 2015.

My tests were fine but DS semen test wasn't and now he is on supplements. He is 51 he was 44 when we conceived our boy.

My periods are irregular since the mc , they go between 24-32 days.

I hope you get some answers xx

 

[MrsMcCurdy]

Hey happymrs,
Glad to hear you have an appointment with a thyroid specialist because I would say just from what you said that might be the root cause of the irregular cycles, ect. I'm also trying vitex like Joy8751 is(just starting actually). Depending on if you go on medication for thyroid you may want to read up on it. It is an herb that works with your pituitary gland to balance your hormones. I've had lots of blood testing and a couple ultrasounds that don't show anything to worry about except I was majorly low on Vit D3 for a while. But now that that is being handled nothing has changed as far as my cycles either. So here's hoping vitex fixes it!
I also want you to know that you're not alone. Ltttc is rough... but we will get there. Baby dust!

 

[kazazza]

Hi, I've had all of your issues except for the lp problem.

Are you spacing out your thyroid medication with regard to food and other vitamins/supplements? My endocrinologist didn't think that this was important, but several thyroid orgs recommend ensuring at least 3 hours before/after other meds and taking it before eating. I actually take mine in the middle of the night since I usually drink herbal tea before bed and always have to go pee. Luckily, my levels stabilized pretty quickly.

I'm also using toothpaste without fluoride (which can affect the thyroid) and eating 2 Brazil nuts per day (supposedly helps).

Vitex was never particularly helpful for regulating my cycles, unfortunately. I switched to Maca a few cycles ago and it's been better (though I'm not sure if it's due to Maca). I hope that one or the other will work for you.

Good luck. All of these problems can feel overwhelming...I know.

 

[happymrs]

Hi,

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Omarsmum - yes, DH has had all the tests done and everything is fine. I might get him to go again as we did all of those tests a year ago. I might look into supplements for him, it can't hurt! Best of luck ttc no.2.

MrsMcCurdy - Thank-you so much for your kind words - I have heard of Vitex for ttc but didn't know it was helpful for thyroid issues. Definitely worth looking in to! I am just hoping the specialist can help - although trying not to pin all my hopes on her just in case!

Kazazza - I also found out from research about spacing the tablets. I do take mine first thing and then wait half hour before eating or drinking anything. I do take my other supplements with breakfast which only leaves a half hour gap and I read somewhere that other supplements should be taken after at least a 4 hour gap! I will definitely try that and maybe have my supplements with dinner! I didn't see anything about fluoride but that's really interesting - amazing what you can find out on here!! I have almonds every day but I think I will add brazil nuts to that! Thanks so much for the advice - all the best to you too.

Baby dust to you all. xx