TTC with Grave's Disease

[ShoeFairy]

Hi, I am new and would love some advice please...To be brief:

I was diagnosed with Grave's disease in July 2005 and had the RAI in August 2005. I am still not on a correct dosage and have very irregular cycles - is this due to changing of dosage, a factor atleast? I'm not happy with the service I am getting and I don't feel like my questions are being answered truthfully.

I am very sensitive to stress and don't handle it too well.  I know this doesn't help me in getting any better.  After 6 years of marriage my DH and I are TTC, but to no avail. We have only been trying for 4 months, during which my dosage has chopped and changed - I get so upset when nothing happens.  I'm trying to find research on woman in my situation, emailing their success stories of conceiving and having healthy babies after RAI...but none are answering my questions....will I ever get pregnant - has it happened to others?  Not getting pregnant, is this because I'm too anxious and that I'm still not receiving the correct dosage of thyroxine? I am not level yet.

I get tested again in two weeks and I have started yogo and will also be having a few acupuncture sessions to help me relax - do you think I'm on the right route here, to becoming level again?  If my levels are fine and fertility is fine (not too sure yet!), is there a chance I could get pregnant successfully?  I just want to relax, but feel I can't without my questions being unanswered?!  Help please...someone...

[hyperfan]

ShoeFairy - Thanks for sharing this.  I have similar problem - diagnosed Graves Disease when I was 21 and after 9 years, I finally had RAI done in Aug 05.  It's been more than a year now, my numbers are not still not leveled and it is delaying TTC planning. Let's hope for the better, good luck!

[lookin4aclue]

Just thought that I might be able to get you into a place where you can find some research and read about people in the same place as well as chat with alot of us that have Graves, and have dealt with TTC.  There are alot that might have been in your place.  I myself didn't have problems TTC after becoming hypothyroid, but I do have Graves so can understand how it can cause you to have problems TTC if your still hypothyroid.  Being hypothyroid can cause problems.  Try looking at this link
http://mediboard.com/groupee/forums/a/frm/f/150103281
that should get you started, and give you alot of us in the forum to chat with.  Hope I helped!

[JLS77]

I also have Graves Disease, have been treated with RAI, and am TTC.  I was diagnosed with Graves when I was 14 (I'm 29 now).  I had RAI when I was 20.  After about 6 awful months following RAI, I finally got my levels sorted out, and managed to only need occasional, minor levothyroxine dose changes for many years after that.

2 years ago, I went off of birth control pills to prepare to TTC.  My cycles have been a mess ever since.  However, they were a mess before I went on the pill too (I went on the pill when I was 17 because of my crazy cycles).  I've been TTC for about 18 months now with no luck so far.  I think part of the problem might be that I ended up hyperthyroid after going off of the pill (TSH down below 0.1).  I was so used to being fine for years that I didn't really even consider that my thyroid levels might be off.  I didn't realize that coming off of the pill might affect the levothyroxine dose I would need.  This past February, I got my yearly blood test, and found out that I needed to cut my dose.  I've had to cut it a total of 3 times now, but it looks like the 3rd time we cut it too much (TSH went up to 3.89), and now I've increased to an intermediate dose (trying to get my TSH in approximately the 0.5 -2 range).

Anyway, sorry, this is a bit of a long story, but I wanted to tell you that each time I've changed my levothyroxine dose, my cycle has gotten messed up for at least one cycle, and then seems to even out more over the next few cycles.  It's frustrating, because that means I have to wait a couple of months to see how it's doing, which definitely drags out the TTC process.  I've been hoping that I can fix this problem by optimizing my thyroid levels, so I'm going to wait it out a little longer before trying Clomid, etc. (although my patience is wearing very thin, I must admit!)  Anyway, having a similar situation, but over a longer time frame, I thought I'd just share my experience in case it helps you at all.  If your body reacts like mine does, you may just need to wait it out a little if you're changing your dose, and your cycle might regulate on its own.

Hope this helps

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Thyroid may be playing a role.  I-131 has not been associated with infertility in most cases.  In fact, I-131 treatment as you had is preferred to cure the Graves before trying for pregnancy as anti-thyroid drugs can be more dangerous during pregnancy as they cross the placenta.

That being said, infertility is at least 6 mos of TTC in a woman with normal menses.  Regulating TSH (keeping it 0.5-2.0) is important in this regard, but may not be the only factor.  Take the thyroid med first thing in the morning at least 30 min before food, stick with the same brand and talk to your doc about any supplements or other meds you may be taking.  If taking pre-natal vitamin, take this in the evening and thyroid med in am.

Stress plays a role as well.  Good luck.