Hypothyroid and Pregnancy - advice please

Thanks for taking the time to respond yorkrose.  I had an appointment at 10 weeks with the endrocrinologst which I feel was far too late.  I have another booked in for end of April so hopefully I will get more answers then.  I just hate not knowing what is going on with my body.

x

Hi Christine...firstly congratulations on becoming a grandma/nanny...that is absolutely amazing news; your story made me boo (in a good way). I can't believe your daughter in law had to experience this 7 times before getting her little angel.  Your message has given me some hope. I am convinced that my thyroid is the cause of my miscarriages as they have never managed to stabilise my levels.  I just don't feel like I have been taken seriously.  I have read on other sites that your meds are supposed to be upped as soon as you find out your pregnant and that you are to have a blood test to check, but that didn't happen until I was 10 weeks.  Can you tell me whether your daughter in law was referred by a GP or if you paid privately was this very costly? Thanks for taking the time to message me. 

Lovely x

Hi Harley. No one ever seemed the slightest bit interested nor was there any mention of thyroid being a problem. It was only because I have also got an underactive thyroid and it had gone really haywire. I went to see a consultant and he told me what the problem was. I looked it up on the internet and that is when I found out that under active thyroid can cause these kind of problems in pregnancies. Within a few days of me finding out my daughter in law found out she was pregnant again and was absolutely distraught that she may lose the baby again. My son asked me to try and find someone for her to see and I found Mr Van Der Pump. We did have to pay privately but did not have to get a GP referral. You need to be seen as soon as possible(within days) when you get pregnant which can be difficult to get an appointment. I am sure though that if you look up his details on the internet and contact him he would be able to give advise about what to do. My daughter in law had to be tested every week for her thyroid levels with her own GP's surgery(Dr Van Der Pump wrote to her GP and told them what to do) and her dose of thyroid medication altered accordingly. Basically it was doubled from her original dose and she also had to take an aspirin every day. Don't know if you are aware but you should also take your thyroid medication with a full glass of water and at least an hour before food. Also if you take any stomach medications such as lanzoprazole these stop the thyroid medication working if taken at the same time. Can't remember how much they paid Dr Van Der Pump but I think it was about £250ish. I've sent my son a text so I'll let you know how much. He might have now gone to bed as he's shattered. Keep in touch and I'll get you as much info as possible. As for having blood tests every week they also had to fight for that at the GP's surgery because the nurse kept saying they didn't need to go every week. You have to be quite forceful.

 

Hi Christine

You are an absolute angel!!! Thank you so much for all the time and effort you have gone to, to respond to my message, it is so kind of you.  This is genually the first day that I have begun to feel more positive about the future after my miscarriage 2 weeks ago. 

Like your daughter in law it hasn't been too difficult getting pregnant (around 4 months, which I have heard is about average).  My partner and I stopped trying after our first miscarriage to focus on getting married first; it really helped to cope with our loss.

I really thought we had made it to the safe zone this time reaching 12 weeks; we were absolutely devastated.  I can't imagine how your daughter in law, son and yourself felt after her 7th miscarriage; nobody should have to go through it.  I am so happy that she got her little miracle .  

I desperately want to be a mum and agree with you, £500 is nothing if it means I have a beautiful bundle at the end of it all.  I have an appointment with an endriconologist at the end of April which I figured I may as well go to; it would also be extra information to hand over to the specialist you recommended.  My focus now is to save, save, save. 

Definately want to go down the private route.  From what you have said Dr Van der Pump really knows what he is talking about.  I think it's brilliant that blood tests were carried out every week and he clearly took matters very seriously.  I want to feel like I am in safe hands and right now I don't feel like I am being taken seriously.

Thanks again Christine. xxx

No problem whatsoever. It is so heartbreaking that such a simple adjustment to medication could probably have stopped all these miscarriages and wil stop you having more. I wish you all the luck in the world. Please don't hesitate to contact me again if you need any further help. I am now just about to leave  to go and meet our little miracle boy for the first time. They live 3 hours away from us.

Thank you. I have my fingers crossed that it will be third time lucky. I'm all excited for you meeting your grandson 😊. I hope you have a fantastic weekend xx

Thank you. I feel so much for you. After seeing my amazing little grandson yesterday and telling my daughter in law about you we were all crying. It will happen for you, keep strong and be very forceful about what you want and need from the doctors and hospitals. You don't have to answer this if you don't want to on a publice page but whereabouts do you live?

Hi again Christine. I imagine it was a very emotional and exciting time yesterday; I hope you got lots of cuddles and pictures 😊.

I have a final scan to check my body is back to normal on the 10th and then hopefully I can start looking forward. I will be sure to take your advice and be firm with the doctors and hospital. From other forums I have been on it seems like they don't have a clue about thyroid. I think seeing a specialist is definitely the right route and hopefully will reduce my anxiety.

I live in Horsham, West Sussex; what about yourself?

Thank you again for all your support Xx

Hi Harley

I live in Southport merseyside. I had just thought that if we lived fairly close to each other we could have met up but it's a long way away. You are quite right, they do not have a clue about the thyroid problerms and pregnancies but Dr Van Der pump does and is really good. I wish you so much luck and hope we keep in touch, just because I feel so much for your situation. Best wishes and keep strong, it WILL happen for you xx

Hi Christine.

That's ashame we are so far away; it would have been nice to meet for a coffee. I will be sure to keep in touch and hopefully will come to you with good news in the near future.

Best WIshes

Xx

Hi Christine

I know it's been a long time since I messaged you but I have been dying to share my news...I'm 17 weeks pregnant!!!

I wanted to thank you so much for all of your really positive advice, as I don't think I would be where I am today if it wasn't for you.

My doctor had been extremely supportive after my miscarriage and referred me to various specialists. I saw a gynaecologist who eliminated possible causes of miscarriage; everything pointed to thyroid although they would never admit to it.

I did things a little sneakily.., the specialist wanted the doctors to keep an eye on bloods every 4 weeks and they also wanted up to date results before appointments...so I alternated them and have been getting checked every two weeks, it definitely paid off.

I hope you are well and enjoying quality time with your grandchild..7 months has zoomed by.

Love

Sam xx

OMG Sam. I couldn't even finish reading your message at first. I was sobbing. I am so so happy for you and your husband. Your little miracle!!!!! Amazing. As soon as I saw my emails and saw your name I knew it was you and I got a lump in my throat. So wonderful for you. Everything will be fine and before you know it you will be cuddling your baby. I can't stop crying for you.

My grandson is now 7 months and so gorgeous. It's an absolute nightmare that you and my daughter in law had to go through so much trauma. Thank you so much for letting me know. I often thought about you and hoped things were ok. Would love to see a photo when you have had your baby. Need to find a way to communicate.' Facebook? Email? Very big hug and will look forward to hearing from you again when you have had your little miracle. Xxx

Congratulations!

Thank you Christine. Im so excited. We heard its little heart beating again yesterday, so reassuring . Will definitely keep you posted on everything. You can find me on Facebook under Sam Armstrong (I haven't made any announcements over fb and only really shared news with close friends, family and work colleagues); if you have difficulty with finding me that way try looking under sammylou photography.

Still can't believe your grandson is 7 months.

Sending a hug your way xxx

Thank you very much Barbara. Hope you are well xx