Hypothyroidism.. high tsh

[htpowell]

I am new to this. I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism since I was 19. I recently had a miscarriage in November from my hypothyroidism that was untreated. I have been on levothyroxine since then. I am currently 5 weeks pregnancy and my dose was bumped up to 100mg, but I was warned about having a high risk pregnancy and high chance of miscarriage and a defect baby If I went full term. Since then I haven't had any symptoms. Has this happened to anyone else? How was your outcome? I am so scared. My level was first 7 then a week later 31.

[Chandralatha]

need help from you all. Please consider my conflicts in understanding hypothyroidism and its effect on pregnancy.
I have been diagnosed as Hypothyroid since 3 years. I have been treating still with Levothyroxine (25 mcg). I got married on June and now my pregnancy kit shows 2 red bars confirming my pregnancy. Today I have checked my Thyroid, the findings are as follow:

T3 - 1.31 ng/ml
T4 - 11.50 mg/dl
TSH - 4.19 MIU/ml
My height - 153 & weight is 58 kg

Now my questions are:
1) What is my current thyroid status?
2) What is possible effect of my TSH level on my Baby? (explain in detail)
3) How much Levothyroxine dose I should take during my pregnancy to maintain my thyroid hormonal level?
5) What should I do to reduce effect of Hypothyroidism on my baby? (Preventive measures)
6) Kindly tell me Dietary advice as accordance to my Thyroid condition.

And please remember there are no good medical facility available around my place here. But I am a nurse, I can find my own way. So please help me to combat with my situation.

[Kenneth N. Woliner, MD]

Thanks for the question. I hear your anxiety, so perhaps this bit of education can help. Hypothyroidism being undertreated is a cause of miscairrage and decreased IQ in a newborn (a TSH > 3.04 is one sign, having low T4 or low T3 levels would be another, but having "classic hypothyroidism symptoms" would be a third). Both thyroid medication requirements, AND Iodine intake requirements go up by 1.5 to 2 x the usual amount needed, so patients often have increase their iodine supplements and thyroid medication accordingly. Patients with high TSH numbers, such as you, will get their thyroid blood tests repeated (including checking for iodine deficiency) every 6 weeks (at least) until the TSH comes down, other tests normalize, etc. Synthroid isn't a "bad drug" but many patients and their newborns "do better" with a medication that contains T3 in it (Natural Desiccated Thyroid brands such as Nature-throid and Armour Thyroid). Speaking with your doctor, or consulting another doctor for a second opinion, will give you the patient-specific advice you need to allay your fears.