Underactive Thyroid and Hashimoto's

[TMonster]

I don't know how much "cause problems" can coincide with just feeling better or people having other problems and blaming it on their thyroid.

The truth is, there is about a 30% miscarriage rate during first tri and if a woman has a slightly off thyroid she may be more apt to blame that because we look for a reason.

The american academy of clinical endocrinologists suggests offering medication to people who are symptomatic with levels above 3 but tons of labs will still show levels 5 and 6 as normal and if you see a primary care physician they generally look at the labs, see that it's within range and tell you that you are fine. I have had several uphill battles with primary care physicians when it came to getting my meds increased before I switched to an endo as my primary.

I know that I *feel* best when I am around a 1 but I don't think any actual damage is being done to my system when I am above that, I just feel like I have more energy which is, essentially, what thyroid hormone does.

 

[Darlin65]

Tmonster I have to disagree with what you are saying. Your levels need to be below a two to be healthy slight or not. That was my doctor's goal the whole time. Also miscarriage is caused by thyroid issues. That's what happened with me because I hadn't started my levothyroxine yet. I also dealt with multiple chemical pregnancies but as soon as my levels were below a 2 we conceived. It does play a big part in your fertility and we aren't just looking for a reason.

 

[TMonster]

Normal thyroid levels are still considered to be, as of 2013 between 0.4-4.2
My thyroid levels were below 2 and it still took me 3 months to conceive. There is only about a 20% chance or less of conceiving on any given month assuming everything was done right. Just because your thyroid levels changed to below 2 and you conceived it doesn't necessarily have to do with each other and I have yet to see any double blind study showing anything of the sort.

It is also possible that below 2 you felt better, had more energy to dtd or enjoyed it more or even stopped stressing that your thyroid level was preventing you from conceiving.

Your body almost always requires additional thyroid hormone during pregnancy and many pregnant women and people in general will feel better with levels below 2 but I have never seen any major study done that showed anything close to that.

My mother has hashimotos and has been hypothyroid for most of her life. She never got tested during her first 6 pregnancies (6 out of 8 pregnancies) and her levels were in the high 20s when she found out early on during her 7th pregnancy and this woman can probably borrow a toothbrush and get pregnant and has had no issues throughout her other pregnancies with severely out of control thyroid issues.

Random examples will always be just that but I would be interested in reading published data, ideally through double blind studies rather than what people think of feel which can be purely circumstantial on this.

I did have a quick look at pubmed to see if I could find anything but it was by no means exhaustive so if you are familiar with these studies I would love to see them.

 

[Darlin65]

I'm not basing off of studies I am basing off of real life experience and working with my gp and my midwife. I know what I've been through. I think it's very inconsiderate of you to come on here and dismiss people's real life problems because of studies. I also have 2 SIL with infertility issues and the first thing they do is test your thyroid because it really does affect fertility and conception and keeping a healthy pregnancy. If it wasn't true doctor's would not want to bother and keep on our care as much if it only mean "we'd feel better". Honestly my doctor wasn't concerned at all with how I felt and said that may never go away even once my levels were right and it hasn't.

 

[Darlin65]

"Other hormone problems may be created when you have an untreated thyroid disorder. Your thyroid function can easily be tested, and this problem is very treatable."

It's even in the BnB miscarriage facts and myths section that thyroid issues if not properly treated can cause mc.

 

[kit10grl]

I think the important thing to remember here is the fact they 'CAN' cause miscarriage. It doesn't mean in every case it WILL cause a miscarriage it also doesn't mean every woman who has a miscarriage and a thyroid problem miscarried because of the thyroid problem.

As previously stated there are no definitive studies being referenced in this thread so both experiences are anecdotal and while that is of the highest importance to both posters it doesn't mean it is the same in every case. For example I am extremyl hypothyroid and struggle to keep my levels stable for many reasons. I took a long time to conceive with DS but conceived first try with DD. I have never had a miscarriage.

My DD had a heart condition and I know TMonster is in a similar position to me but that also doesn't mean that the fact we are both hypothyroid caused our babies CHD's. Or maybe sometime soon someone will do a study on cases of CHD babies in mothers with Hypothyroid and find a link.

All I'm saying is everyones opinion is valid but in cases of medicine then most people will want proven medical fact over personal anecdotes. It doesn't mean in your case that you or the other person is wrong it just means each poster doesn't feel that one instance of something is enough to base their opinion on.

 

[Darlin65]

Ironically my son does have heart problems too. I would have never thought about that. But my hypothyroidism was discovered after my pregnancy. I had been checked prior to my pregnancy with DS and my levels were normal.

Idk if you can find any studies on it but my midwife told me the link between hypothyroidism and pregnancy issues is that it can lower your progesterone levels so much to the point you may not even be ovulating.

 

[Leids]

Yay good news!!

TSH: 1.570
FT4: 1.14
FT3: 120

And my hCG levels were 2164 which is consistent with being 5 weeks pregnant! Everything's perfect. Don't even need meds.

 

[Darlin65]

Yay good news!!

TSH: 1.570
FT4: 1.14
FT3: 120

And my hCG levels were 2164 which is consistent with being 5 weeks pregnant! Everything's perfect. Don't even need meds.

Wonderful news!!

 

[kit10grl]

Yay good news!!

TSH: 1.570
FT4: 1.14
FT3: 120

And my hCG levels were 2164 which is consistent with being 5 weeks pregnant! Everything's perfect. Don't even need meds.

great news

 

[Literati_Love]

Leids - That is amazing! Your TSH is just perfect! What a wonderful surprise for you. I hope that alleviates your concerns.

 

[Leids]

Haven't updated this in forever! How is everyone doing? I get my monthly blood work done tomorrow but have been feeling great, no issues at all with this pregnancy. I was so worried early on though!

My TSH levels were 1.75 in December, t3/t4 is normal. Still not on any medication, but I suspect I'll still get postpartum thyroiditis. Hoping my TSH levels don't shoot up in third tri which I hear happens pretty often! I'm really happy I pushed to get frequent testing just in case though.

 

[Literati_Love]

So glad you're doing well and your thyroid has stayed under control!

I am now pregnant and my TSH already shot up by my 8-wk check-up but I'm on a higher dose now and baby is doing just fine!

 

[Hope39]

My tsh was 0.6 last month, and has shot to 1.9 this week, at 5w pregnant!! I'm ok if it doesn't go above 3.??? Something according to my endo.

She didn't want to test me again till I was 12 w, no chance!! She ringing me in 4w if I haven't had another mc x