Really looking for feedback, mentally exhausted.

[tessamarie]

Hi ladies!! I am completely besides myself at this point with everything. For starters i am 21years old, and having an IUI prcedure done (keep in mind that i have a donor speciman that i am getting pregnant with i dont have intercourse with men, so unfortunately timing is of the essence to the extreme) Anyways, I thought since i am so young that i wouldnt have problems getting pregnant, but a las... I was diagnosed in November of 2009 with Hypothyroidism and Hashimotos thyroiditis which ive been on medication for and brought down to normal levels. I started charting my ovulation since April of 2010 with absolutely no success. I started supplementing with pre-natals and also an extra b6 and folic acid since beginning of June as well. Also, when i say charting i mean i have literally been taking an ovulation test every morning and sometimes in the later afternoon since april with no sign of any ovulation. The LH line would get dark but never ever dark "enough". So finally after much exhaustion about a weeks ago i went to see my fertility doctor and nurse. I explained also how my periods came every month but not at the same time, my cycles were screwy but they did come monthly... Except for June, which is unusual... So anyways, when i saw the doctor a weeks ago she put me on 50mg of Provera and told me to start taking it immediately for up to 10 days and to stop on the first day i got my period and to call and schedule a CCR, she also took bloodwork that day which was a wednesday.  So that friday i called and she told me my test results came back normal for my thyroid, but that the prolactin levels were pretty high, so at this point i am still taking the Provera (im on day 7 with no period yet) and i am also taking Cabergoline which is supposto lower my prolactin levels, i was told to take it twice a week for a month before we even do the CCR or the IUI procedure. I guess im just at a loss.... I didnt ever think it would take 5 months or more to get this situated. has anyone had this run around before? Its like i try to fix 1 thing and 5 more things pop up. I dont get it. Is there anything i should bring up to my doctor? Any feedback would be appreciated.

[tessamarie]

Thanks for the response! Yes i am on thyroid medication, and when she did the bloodwork last week it came back in the new range of normal, i have been and am still currently taking my medication religiously. Its just strange, i always know when im about to get my period because i get my cervical mucus i can tell the difference, but since my prolactin levels are high it doesnt let me ovulate apparently. Ive thought about acupuncture my partner recommended it, im just so impatient and i didnt want to have to even resort to any type of non-holistic medication (im studying to be a dietician so im big on doing things naturally)  so thats why ive looked into the acupuncture-- it would be alot easier if i had intercourse the "normal" so called way id have better chances but im depending on the IUI procedure... obviously... but itd be nice if my body would start working properly lol. So are you still TTC? What is your story?

[Sherri90049]

Are you on thyroid medication? I know you said your last thyroid test was normal, but the lab range of normal is frequently the old, outdated range (0.5-5.0, something like that). More current values used by about half of the endocrinologists is 0.3-3.0. Thyroid can affect your menstrual cycles. At age 21, one would think you shouldn't have the trouble that you are having conceiving. It's very good that you're looking into it early. I didn't realize I had any problem until I started trying to conceive at age 40! I, too, have Hashimoto's and am hypo. I also frequently have normal thyroid tests, but ALWAYS have some degree of symptoms. Very frustrating fighting with the endo, but luckily once I was trying to conceive, they put me on low dose Synthroid in order to keep the TSH between 1.0 and 2.0, which is considered optimal for TTC.

Good that you've added supplements, too. Diet, I've found, is a very important factor in TTC. I read many times about women who stopped eating gluten and were then able to conceive. Personally I gave up gluten and refined sugar. (have a family history of gluten intolerance) I have noticed that I feel alot better since then. Something else to consider trying is acupuncture. Haven't been doing it long but I really really like it's making a difference. Have read over and over how much it's helped other women. It's not cheap, but if you have any partial coverage for it with your insurance, I highly recommend it.

But most of all I would say that I feel the best use of my time in trying to help my TTC cause, is just focusing on my own health and body and getting to feel as good as possible. Once you do that, perhaps your body will be ready to do its thing. Thyroid antibodies are linked to miscarriage, so if you have them, it's best to be treating them with a low dose thyroid medication while TTC. Your fertility specialist should know about that. If he isn't aware of the optimal range for TSH of (1.0-2.0) for women TTC, you may want to consider finding another dr. Or at least try to inform him of that and see if he will treat you based on that.

I am sorry to hear you are having trouble at such a young age. But there is plenty of time, and with persistence and patience, you should be able to get to the bottom of what's going on and be able to conceive and carry to term. Good luck!