hashimoto's thyroiditis/getting pregnant/tsh levels

[carisa]

I was wondering if anyone knows what the tsh levels should be in order to be able to get pregnant? I have read that 1.0 is the best level to be at, currently I am at about 2.0. I will be doing invitro-fertilization in a few weeks and I'm thinking about calling my doctor to see if it would be worth while trying to get it down to 1.0.

Thanks,
Carisa

[artsyrose]

the question is how do you feel? 2 is still considered "within the normal range" unfortunately. 1 is optimal. I have Hasimoto's too. are you on replacement therapy yet?

[carisa]

I am on Synthroid 50mcg. I feel ok. I feel so much better than I did before I was on the Synthroid. I got diagnosed a year ago this month and this year I have felt pretty good. Lately though I have been feeling a little more tired and I am wondering if I feel my best with a level around 1.0. I was around 1 last October and I remember feeling pretty good at that time. I got tested a few weeks ago and it has gone up to 2. That seems like a big jump to rise that much in just a few months time.

[artsyrose]

you probably need your dosage adjusted. you obviously feel better at around 1. I am not sure about the tsh levels and pregnancy issues. have you done any correlary research online to see what the obtimal range is? whatever that range is, my first concern would be my (your) overall wellbeing.

[carisa]

I have done research both on the web and I have Mary Shomon's Living Well with Hypothyroidism. Mary's book said that the tsh should be between 1-2, and I have read that too on the web. I just would feel better if it was lower. I've already spent thousands of dollars on the ivf and I don't want something like my thyroid to cause it to fail. I have a doctors appointment this afternoon. I will tell her I would like to try and lower it just a bit. I'm just worried she will look at me like I'm being neurotic! :)

[artsyrose]

hey, it's your body, your life, your money....who cares what she thinks, hmm? if it makes you feel more secure in this endeavor?

[nycbklyn]

hi there, i'm so glad i just came across this site while doing my own research. I am about 4 weeks pregnant and my tsh level is currently 2.9. Definitely a bit on the high side. My endocrinologist advised me to have my tsh levels checked every month when i visit my ob/gyn, i have my first visit tomorrow. Will let you know what they both say based on my results. Good luck!

[ashley189]

I was diagnosed with Hashimotos about 6 months ago. My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for about 14 months on our own with no luck. My fertility doc wants we to start Clomid, my endo wants me to look into hormone replacement. I am so confused at what to do. How do I know what I should do? I have done my research and kind of thought waiting to take the hormone replacement is fine because my tsh is still ok. Any advice?

[cabh123]

Hi Ashley, I highly recommend you read Mary Shomon's book that Carissa mentioned.  It's great.  I don't know what your TSH levels are, but you should aim for between 1-2.  If you are higher then you should probably look into taking thyroid meds.  

She describes in the book how pregnant women should get checked every trimester and even every 6 weeks in the first trimester- when your hormones are cycling the most.  It is important to adjust your medication throughout your pregnancy.  High TSH levels are linked to higher incidence of infertility and miscarriage.  Good luck!

[nessa1378]

Hi,
I was just diagnosed with Hashimoto's after the doctor did some blood tests due to my husband and I not being able to conceive for about a year. I did have Graves disease and thought I was all set, in remission, but I guess that was just the beginning. I'm also diagnosed with Celiacs disease which is also a condition that makes conceiving difficult. I guess I'm just realizing my husband and I may need fertility help, I think I just thought it takes a while for some couples.

[nichole629]

Hi.  I was also just diagnosed with Hashi.  My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for about 4 years.  We have not done any fertility treatment.  My tsh is at 4.83 and I'm not yet on any meds.  I think I'll read the book and talk to my doctor about it.  

I'd like to hear how everything turns out.  Good luck!

[nichole629]

on one of the other forums some said something about miscarrages caused by clotting in women with Hashimotos?  Dose anyone know anything about that?

[ashley189]

Hi Nichole! I was diagnosed with Hashi as I said about 7 mos. ago. My TSH was normal until last month when I checked it and it was a 66.97. Literally in 3 mos. it went from a 3 to 66.97. That is the thing about Hashi-you never know when your thyroid will fail. Mine did and now I am hypothyroid. So now I am on 100mcg of Levothyroxine. My new endo and my Reproductive Endo both said that I should have went on meds when my TSH was a 3. It would have kept my body/thyroid from changing so dramatically. I would absolutely recommend that you start some meds, even just the lowest dose. It would make such a difference for now and in the future. I have felt SO bad these last few mos and now I am finally getting more energy. You said you have not had any fertility treatments yet? How are your periods? I have not had a normal one in a year. I have a fertility doc and a my RE. After the Hashi, they also discovered that I have PCOS. I am now on glucophage and endometrium to regulate my periods/blood work. I am hoping to start clomid in August. If you have been trying for 4 years, I would definently go see a fertility doctor. What does your regular gyno or your endo say. I think I would go see someone. I was only ttc for a year and when I called the fertility doc, they got me right in. My doctors all agree that if your thyroid is not under control (they want it to be between 1-2) that the risk of miscarriage is a lot greater. That is why I had my TSH checked last month-because I was supposed to start clomid. I could not start because my TSH was way too high. And that is the risky thing about Hashi-you never know when your thyroid will fail and you will become hypothyroid. It is absolutely something I would not let go!! Your baby needs your thyroid and if your levels are too high or it fails when you are pregnant you could have problems. I hope this helps!

[nichole629]

My cycle is pretty messed up I started going to the doctors when I was 24 for a period which lasted 5 mo.  No explanation was ever found.  I was passed from doctor to doctor most of which wanted to put me on the pill (which I tried and it aggravated my symptoms).  One wanted me to go on sarphin after an interview and no exam.  Finally  I found a doctor who did a laparoscopy but still no answers.  No endometriosis, she talked about putting me on luprin? to put me into "fake" menopause then restart my cycle.  I didn't want to try that because I felt like it was still guessing and I was planning my wedding.  Didn't think I could handle it. Then I went to an internist.  She ran an entire blood work up; noted that my thyroid was large but the tsh was normal.  She recommended that I at some point have an ultrasound on it. I also had a high ANA titer so I went to a rheumatologist.  He treated me for a "lupus like" disease.  I didn't feel better (some symptoms were better but...not better and I was on a lot of meds including a steroid).  I decided to stop the meds and the doctors and started some vitamins and supplements.  About 3 mo. later I got pregnant.  I felt wonderful but I had to deliver my son 6 weeks early by emergency c-section because the blood flow had slowed at about 26 weeks and then stopped just before I delivered.  I had no symptoms.  About a year later the earlier symptoms such as irregular menstruals, aching, fatigue, dizziness, forgetting what I'm talking about mid-sentence, sever pms (the kind of cramps that make you stop and double over) crept back.  I don't know if it was the gradual sneak up of symptoms of if I just got used to them but I handle them better now. Anyway, I've had a period sporadically since then.  Sometimes I'm regularish for 4 months then I'll go 6 mo without a period.  I tried progesterone balancing cream.  It helped me get my period but the symptoms never went away.  During the more regular period cycles I noticed that my thyroid