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My wife is a pregnant and TSH is 6.2 ulU/ml
Hi,
My wife is a pregnant for 45 days now. Our doctor advised to get the basic checkups done and I notice that the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone - TSH(ECLIA) is 6.2 ulU/ml.
What are the risks if the TSH value is this high? What measures can be taken to bring it to the normal range?
I am little worried about this and I need to see my doctor a couple of days later as she is out of town
My wife is a pregnant for 45 days now. Our doctor advised to get the basic checkups done and I notice that the Thyroid Stimulating Hormone - TSH(ECLIA) is 6.2 ulU/ml.
What are the risks if the TSH value is this high? What measures can be taken to bring it to the normal range?
I am little worried about this and I need to see my doctor a couple of days later as she is out of town
Thanks for your suggestions. We are meeting the doctor tomorrow and I will share the feedback.
Welcome to the Forum. I hope you don't mind taking suggestions for your pregnant wife, from a male member of the Forum. LOL I'm sure you will hear from other members with experience in this area.
In the interim, I just wanted to mention that TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many variables that it is totally inadequate as the sole diagnostic for thyroid. At best it is an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4. FT3 is the most important because it largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions. Studies have also shown that FT3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while FT4 and TSH correlated very poorly.
Specifically, your wife's TSH test result is high enough to dictate more testing. She should ask for Free T3 and Free T4, along with the TSH test. Also, she should be tested for the possibility of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, by testing for the thyroid antibodies TPO, and TG ab. Since many hypo patients are also low in other areas, it would be good to test for Vitamin A, D, B12, iron/ferritin, zinc, magnesium, and selenium.
Whatever the outcome of these tests, you should not allow your wife to be diagnosed and medicated based on TSH alone. You should insist on the testing I mentioned and then based on results, I expect that she will at least need thyroid medication.
In my opinion, a good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve hypo symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. If the doctor is uncomfortable with clinical treatment, then the option might be to target getting her FT3 and FT4 levels to at least midpoint of their ranges.
In the interim, I just wanted to mention that TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by so many variables that it is totally inadequate as the sole diagnostic for thyroid. At best it is an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, and also levels of the biologically active thyroid hormones, Free T3 and Free T4. FT3 is the most important because it largely regulates metabolism and many other body functions. Studies have also shown that FT3 correlated best with hypo symptoms, while FT4 and TSH correlated very poorly.
Specifically, your wife's TSH test result is high enough to dictate more testing. She should ask for Free T3 and Free T4, along with the TSH test. Also, she should be tested for the possibility of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, by testing for the thyroid antibodies TPO, and TG ab. Since many hypo patients are also low in other areas, it would be good to test for Vitamin A, D, B12, iron/ferritin, zinc, magnesium, and selenium.
Whatever the outcome of these tests, you should not allow your wife to be diagnosed and medicated based on TSH alone. You should insist on the testing I mentioned and then based on results, I expect that she will at least need thyroid medication.
In my opinion, a good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve hypo symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. If the doctor is uncomfortable with clinical treatment, then the option might be to target getting her FT3 and FT4 levels to at least midpoint of their ranges.
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