pregnant need dosage increase

[lucyr76]

I am finally pregnant after going through IVF. After insisting that my RE checks my thyroid at 5 weeks I finally got my results (I'm now 5 w 5d pregnant). When I started IVF my thyroid was 1.22 (i've been taking synthroid 50 mcg before getting pregnant)now my results are:
TSH 3.42
T4 1.4 (range is 0.8-1.8 ng/dl)
T3 109 (range is 60-181 ng/dl)
I know that this is too much for me, I've started experiencing faster heartbeat. I would like to get my THS back to range of 1-2. The problem is that my RE doesn't feel this is too much and I don' t have any other doctor who knows what they are doing. I' ve been diagnosed with hypothyroidism in 2001 and have been taking Synthroid 50 mcg ( 0.05mg). I would like to adjust the dose myself but don't know by how much, 12.5mcg, 25mcg or even more? Can anyone help me with this, I'm so scared I will lose my baby and that it's too late to do anything.
Thank you in advance for any help,

Lucy

[PregSJ]

Hi Lucy - I'm not able to comment on the dosage question, but I hope can offer you some comfort from my own story. When pregnant with my first child, at about six weeks my TSH was 12.6. My doctor adjusted my medication several times during pregnancy to where it was controlled around .4, but we didn't achieve this level until well into the second trimester. My son is now two and is an active, healthy, smart toddler. Be sure to push on the TSH and (if you have HMO where pre-approval is required) ask for a second opinon. Hang in there! (BTW, I know your concern since I'm 6 weeks pregnant w/my second child and have a TSH of 19 and am trying not to freak out. My OB is convinced that I'm not at risk of losing the baby, but I'm still going to see an endocrinologist to learn more.)

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

when pregnant aim to keep TSH around 1.0 and FT3 and FT4 in high normal range.
Generally this will mean an increase in thryoid meds over the pregnacy of 40 - 60%.

Just delivered a bright healthy baby after adjusting thyroid meds by 200% during pregnancy.

Generally my endo adjusted my meds by increasing t4 dose by 25 mcg for nearly every month in the first 2 trimesters.  Required increase will be different from woman to women.  But aim to keep levels within the recommended range.

TSH of 12 is too high for pregnancy and should be medicated.