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Help with treating hypothyroidism and pregnancy.

Posted , 5 users are following.

nathanlgd
nathanlgd

Hi, I'm posting on behalf of my girlfriend. A year ago she was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (at 29 years old). We've been dealing with the local doctor since she was diagnosed, she was put on medication to correct her hormone levels and had regular blood tests to monitor her levels. We are really wanting to start a family and because of this condition we have so far been unsuccessful. After a handful of blood tests, Gemmas (my girlfreinds) levels became 'normal' and the doctor said he was happy for us to try for children. However, after a while Gemma started to feel unwell - as she did before the condition was diagnosed so returned to the doctors for another blood test. The test showed that her levels had once again altered and moved Gemma back into the 'unfertile' bracket. The doctor increased Gemmas medication and she has just recently had her first blood test on the higher dosage. Gemma is yet to see the doctor to talk through her results but over the phone, the doctor told her that she currently isn't ovulating. Previously, maybe 9 months ago, we both had fertility tests and were both told we were fine and healthy.

I don't have much faith in the doctor we are dealing with and I'd much rather try and see a specialist but we aren't sure how to go about this? I'd like to hear from anyone else who has been through a successful pregnancy with hypoththyroidism? - Please include details of your treatment before and during the pregnancy. If anyone can point us in the right direction to find better help for Gemmas condition I would be truly greatful. Thank you

2 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • nathanlgd
    nathanlgd

    Posted

    Additional information:-

    The medication Gemma takes is Thyroxine. Originaly she was on 50mcg's and now 75mcg's. Since moving upto 75mcg's, Gemma seems to be having some psychological side effects, she seems to be upset and depressed - crying quite.

    • brewster121044
      brewster121044 nathanlgd

      Posted

      Levothyroxine is a synthetic drug invented by someone in the 50's & most DR's prescribe it.It only contains T4 & your body needs to convert that to T3 .Not everyone can do that but there are other options which you will find in the book I told you about.Also Levothyroxine has many side effects read the leaflet to see if your girlfriend has any of them then research what else is available
  • cass8476
    cass8476 nathanlgd

    Posted

    why don't you try something natural as she needs to get her thyroid going to get her metabolism going and then everything else will. i have recently been to naturopath and she's getting me on natural stuff to get things going. i'm not going to her to get pregnant ( i have 2 kids) but i don't want to be on medication for the rest of my life as i'm only 28.
    • nathanlgd
      nathanlgd cass8476

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply. Can you give me a little more information about naturopath? Also, did you have kids with hypothyroidism? Thanks
    • cass8476
      cass8476 nathanlgd

      Posted

      no i didn't have kids with it but got it straight afterwards, A natropath does it natural without medication, the levythryroxine skips the thyroid and just does what it's meant to do, not fix the thyroid and make it work again. taking natural stuff heaps heaps. she just needs to get an appointment and talk it over with someone. you can google them and see where they are in your area.
  • brewster121044
    brewster121044 nathanlgd

    Posted

    I came across this on the Facebook Thyroid group dont know if it will help but it cant do any harm, the auther is Mary Shomon, the book is called Thyroid Guide to Fertility. Also look at Thyroid Disease at About com. Good luck
  • ChrisFrank
    ChrisFrank nathanlgd

    Posted

    Hi Nathan.

    My daughter in law has had 7 pregnancies and each foetus has died at between 6 and 8 weeks. We have now realised with the total lack of help from GP's and some specialists that the problem is very likely connected with her underactive thyroid which she has had for some years. She went to see a private specialist Dr Vanderpump in London last week. He was brilliant. If you can afford it you can find him on the internet and phone to make an appointment. He is a specilaist in underactive thyroid pregnancy and infertility. Good Luck

  • saby3248
    saby3248 nathanlgd

    Posted

    Hi I'm new to this forum but i'd like to share my story.  I've had hypothyriodism since I was 7 years old.  (I'm now 38).  I have 2 children 6 and 4. it took me 4 years to have my 6 year old.  I went to my GP and told him i wanted to start a family he refeered me immediately to the endocronoligist at my local hospital who told me I had to have near perfect T3 T4 TSH blood levels a BMI of less than 30, before he would even let me come off the pill.  12 months hard work and many blood tests ultra sound scans investagative surgery later.  I was told i didn't ovulate.  2 3month courses of fertility drugs late I still wasn't pregnant at whch piont I was put on the IVF ICSI waiting list I made it to the top of the list my funding was pulled.  I resigned myself to never having children of my own.  That christmas I felt very unwell a routine pregnancy test was very posistive i was almost 10 weeks.  I don't know why I got pregnant with no help no fertility treatment no IVF but I did.  9 months after my son was born I found out I was pregnant again with my daughter.  Again no drugs no IVF no help we didn't even try for another baby it just happened. I will say while I was pregnant my blood work was very closly monitored as was the baby to the point where I was told it would be unsafe to carry on with the pregnancy I was induced early with both.  I hope this helps. 
    • ChrisFrank
      ChrisFrank saby3248

      Posted

      Hi saby3248. Thank you for your reply. My daughter in law never has a problem getting pregnant it's just that the babies keep dying. Thankfully, now we have hopefully realised the problem and she is under Dr Vanderpump she will be ok. She is also now being monitored very closely and having regular blood tests. I will tell my son and daughter in law what you have said about being induced. (If she makes it that far). Its good to hear that you were able to have children and I am very happy for you. Thanks for the info
    • saby3248
      saby3248 ChrisFrank

      Posted

      Hi christine. Thank-you for the reply.  I don't know if this is a bit like shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted but I was told when I had serveral threatened miscarriages with both my children that the demands on my body being pregnant with thyroid problems I needed to have my medication higher than normal so my body could continue with the pregancy.  I really hope your daughter gets the help she needs.
    • ChrisFrank
      ChrisFrank saby3248

      Posted

      Thanks Saby. Yes her medication has been doubled now and she is being monitored very closely. It is ridiculous though that the only reason we realised all of this is because I also have an  underactive thyroid and something has gone really dodgy with mine. A few weeks ago I was told I would have to go and see a specialist so I looked up the problem I have. It was then that I saw all this about underactive thryoid and pregnancy problems. No doctor or preganancy and infertility specialist, even private ones had ever mentioned it to my daughter in law!!! unbelievable. Thankfully the specialist she is now under is very good. Thanks again for the advice.
  • Tigger200
    Tigger200 nathanlgd

    Posted

    Hi all I'm new to this group and need some advise I have had boods done as I was walking around half dead I was getting heart palps racing heart all the usual symptoms so I have been. Diagnosed with over active thyroid the t4 was 39 and t3 was high also my doc says he's gonna book me in with a specialist !! I have a swollen goitre ! I'm so upset as I'm getting married in 3 months abroad and after the wedding we were gonna try for child ! I've already had a silent miscarriage 2 years ago and really don't want this again I asked my doc questions today but he didn't seem int in answering I'm on beta blockers and  carbimazole 20 mg please can u give me dome advise as I'm feeling anxious I know I need to stay calm but as I'm getting married I'm scared and don't know anything about what I'm going through 
    • ChrisFrank
      ChrisFrank Tigger200

      Posted

      Hi Tigger200. Not sure if over active thyroid causes problems with pregnancies but definitely the thing to do is see a specialist. My daughter in law has now seen a specialist who deals in thyroid, pregnancy and infertility. She had to go to London to see him privately but that was because underactive needs immediate action when. you become pregnant or preferably before pregnancy. It needs monitoring VERY closely. My daughter in law had seen some pregnancy specialists and her GP on a number of occasions but none of them dealt with the thyroid problem. You will need to insist on your thyroid being checked regularly and it's probably the best idea to wait until you have that sorted before you try for a baby. Hope all works out. I'm sure when you've seen the specialist you will feel better about it all. Keep in touch and try to stay calm. Good luck and good wishes.
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