thyroid antibodies

[louiser91]

Its been a while since i have been on here but after nearly 3 years of ttc i eventually got a referral for st marys hospital in Manchester (i have had previous tests done before) I had several blood tests done and scans. Anyway cut a long story short, they asked me if i wanted to have some bloods done for thyroid antibodies... i got a phone call later on that week saying i had thyroid antibodies and do i want to be part of thyroid antibodies and levothyroxine study(TABLET), i know that having these antibodies means there is an increased risk of miscarriage/infertility but i was wondering if anyone else has taken part in this study or knows much about it???
ive Googled it but alot doesn't come up on it any success stories?
Essay over


thank you !! xxx

 

[Kaylakin]

Hi!
I don't know anything about the study you're referencing. I just know that it's vital to get the thyroid under control when TTC. My thyroid levels were slightly higher than they wanted before an IVF cycle so I'm on a very low dose of levothyroxine. They tested for antibodies as well but it was negative. The nurse had told me that if it was positive for antibodies they would just put me on a higher dose of the same med. What does the study entail?

 

[TTCabundle]

Helloo!

I dont know anything about the study but i do have thyoid antibodies/hypothyroidism! I know that getting your thyroid regulated is vital for TTC and im . We TTC for years before ingot diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Im now taking levothyroxine, its working wonders and my TSH and T4 are slowly regulating and im hoping we conceive our rainbow soon!

The levothyroxine would be a good step if you habe thyroid antibodies, im not sure about the study as I dont know anything about it. If I was you id ask for a bit more information about the study and what they will be doing.

Good luck x

 

[Briss]

Kaylakin, can I ask what your TSH was before your IVF? Mine was 2 last years but after 2 failed IVFs it increased to 3.7 this year. I am waiting for our next IVF and worried about possible under active thyroid issues and how it may affect TTC. My most recent Thyroid results are below and I think anti bodies are OK.

TSH: 3.79 (ref 0.27-4.20)
Free T4 16.8 (ref 12-22)
Free T3 4.5 (ref 3.1-6.8)
Thyroid peroxidase antibodies 6 (< 50 - negative) &#8211; TPO
Anti Thyroglobulin antibodies 11 ( <100 &#8211; normal) &#8211; TAK

I'd prefer to try to regulate my thyroid naturally without the synthetic hormone levothyroxine if possible. Does anyone know what can be done?

 

[lanet]

I know that my dr cancelled my ivf when my tsh was 3.37. She strictly wants it close to 1 to increase success. I'm currently under 1 and stimming. The meds can Increase it again so I have a little room for that but will be closely monitored. I'm on synthroid 100.

 

[Briss]

lanet, that's very distressing. did you also have antibodies or low T4? I am so scared to go on synthetic hormone, as far as I know it's for life.

I wonder if TSH can go down on its own with time or is it only going up?

 

[lanet]

I don't know what my other levels were, just the tsh. I started synthroid when my tsh was 3.1 in December. 2 years ago my tsh was perfect 1.6 so I was surprised, but hypothyroidism runs in my family. After a month on meds it was back to 1.5, however 6 weeks later it was 2.9. She doubled my dose and checked it 2 weeks later, the day before I was to start stims and it was 3.37, so she cancelled me and doubled my dose again. I was very upset and wanted to go ahead but she said if I got a bfn I would always wonder if that was why, that it decreases success. I did some research and a new study does say that subclinical hypothyroid (numbers just a little high like mine) increased chances of chemicals, miscarriage, or cycle failure. I'm really happy that she is taking all precautions. Not all drs would think it's a problem. Most REs do say tsh should be between 1-2 for fertility.
Also keep in kind that rising estrogen during stims can raise it even further.

 

[Briss]

lanet, thank you! I also checked all my thyroid tests for the last 5 years and apparently my TSH increased from 1.8 to 3.7. it has been constantly increasing so i guess there is little hope that it will go down. My mum also has hypothyroidism but when she was diagnosed she had T4 at 0, TSH at 40+ and also anti-bodies so it was quite extreme. On one hand I may as well start doing something now before it gets worse but on the other what you say about your treatment and how your thyroid reacted is not very encouraging. after you started taking the hormone your levels actually went up from 3.1 to 3.37. to me it sounds like your thyroid went on to rely on synthetic hormone and very quickly slowed down you would need to take higher doses.

Have you talked to an endocrinologist?

also, have they explained how to take your hormone? apparently if you take it with food it wont be absorbed which may explain why it goes up.

 

[03Cobra]

Hi ladies, I also have thyroid issues but a bit different in that it's hashimotos disease and have been on many many different doses of synthroid over many years. Was diagnosed young at 15 yrs old currently I am 40.
Briss you may want to look into dessicated thyroid to help bring your level down some endocrinologists don't like to give the dessicated since you can't be guaranteed on a continual exact dose each time but it does give you the full spectrum of t3 t4 as opposed to the synthetic levothyroxine, synthroid. It's usually very difficult for the thyroid to go down on its own and lanets fs is great after having many mc myself they finally thought to see where my thyroid level was since ttc can throw it off as well with the stress etc etc. they have now kept me at the lower end of 1 too try and ensure that even if I do conceive and it goes up it will not sky rocket to a dangerous level.
Taking your thyroid medication at the same time everyday and with an empty stomache is correct, however you also need to have breakfast about half hour afterwards and if taking vitamins at least two hours after taking the thyroid meds.
Wow sorry for the book ladies maybe some of this info can help you to understand better or look into something different

 

[lanet]

Briss yes I see an endocrinologist, the way I saw it wasn't that my body was relying on the synthetic, but that I was on too low a dose, it takes time to find the right dose. I started with a tsh of 3.1, the medicine seemed to help but then proved to be too low a dose. It's very common to have to take awhile to find a dose that will stabilize and keep you there.
Also yes you have to take synthroid in the am, before eating anything. I also was instructed not to use a generic, has to be synthroid. I had some thyroid symptoms such as fatigue and cold hands and feet. I'm starting to feel much better on this higher dose finally.
My increase could also have been from the birth control pills I was taking before ivf, it's common for hormones to further increase your tsh.
Cobra is your thyroid currently regulated?

 

[lanet]

I've also read that high tsh can lead to low response to ivf meds.

 

[03Cobra]

Lanet it is currently regulated, the best it's been in many years but at a very high dose of 2X .112 mg a day and has stayed at the lower end of 1 for almost 6 months now. I have been a little stubborn with it as I refuse to remove my thyroid completely.

I'm glad that you're feeling better on that dose Lanet and it's frustrating getting the dosage right for you on top of the ttc because it does interfere with the ivf meds and everything to do with ttc.

Briss sometimes the process of getting to the right dose for you can take several months, and then several months of close monitoring to ensure it stays there. In case you wanted to read up on dessicated thyroid it's called Armour thyroid or you can google dessicated, it's natural and taken from the thyroid gland of pigs.

 

[Briss]

03Cobra, thank you! I will check dessicated thyroid although it's still hormone. you mentioned thyroid removal? is the situation really that bad that under active thyroid can lead to that?

I am not sure if I have any symptoms, cold hands and feet but I had it all my life and it's actually getting better; most recently last two years I do feel tired a lot of the time even when I am not working long hours. cant think of anything else. I wonder if high TSH can be caused by anything else other than under active thyroid?

 

[Briss]

ladies, has anyone been taking Tyrosine? it's a supplement that's supposed to improve thyroid function. I wonder if any doctor recommended it for under active thyroid?

 

[lanet]

I haven't heard of it briss. I was just at the point where I would take anything the dr recommended if it would help get me a baby!

 

[Briss]

lanet, I am researching Tyrosine but it seems rather controversial. maybe that's why your doc did not mention it.

 

[03Cobra]

I've not heard of tyrosine either Briss, now you've given me something else to look into, thank you can never have enough knowledge on this stuff.

My sister also has hypothyroid and she swears by iodine treatment for it. I tried it but it did not work for me. That might be another more natural option for you.

No the removal would not be simply because of hypothyroidism, there are a few other things going on there namely several cysts and with the way the gland swells it pushes up against my esophagus. I wouldn't worry about that especially if this is a new thing for you.

 

[Kaylakin]

Bris's -
My TSH level was 2.7 and my clinic wanted it at 2 or below for the IVF cycle. It was elevated slightly in the past and then they rechecked and it was fine. My previous doc did nothing about it (it was slightly elevated) but my new clinic wanted to treat it.

 

[Briss]

03Cobra, iodine is very tricky. My mum was given iodine when she had thyroid issues but unfortunately it made things much worse and completely shut her thyroid. scary stuff so I was afraid of iodine most of my life. I know that thyroid needs iodine to function but somehow supplementing can worsen its function in some cases. what I read about Tyrosine is similar to iodine: some say deficiency in Tyrosine is found in people with under active thyroid and yet others say that supplementing does not make thyroid work any better and there seem to be no valid research confirming either way. I am definitely not prepared to experiment. I am trying to get my GP to refer me to endocrinologist so I could get some answers.

Kaylakin, your TSH just went down all by itself or did you do any treatment?

 

[Briss]

I had a chat with my acupuncturist about TSH and he agreed that although my levels strictly speaking within norm they should be much lower for TTC. he said he will take that into account in his treatment but TCM is not the most efficient way to deal with under active thyroid. basically synthetic hormone is the best way.