Low Thyroid levels in pregnancy

[LITTLELADYBUG]

Well on a different note... I have a question. My dr. said I have low thyroid. Should I be worried? What is the cause of this? Can it cause any other problems? They mentioned putting me on a supplement but they took more tests so I need to wait until they come back. Anyone else ever had thyroid problems during pregnancy?

[KikosLady]

I am 9 weeks pregnant and just found out that I have a low thyroid.  This was discovered by an ear nose and throat specialist who I went to 9 months ago for a lump in my throat. .  .they just called to give me the results.  Now, that doctor has prescribed me synthroid (50 mg).  Is it going to be too late to have a healthy baby???  I teach special ed students and see developmental problems daily so I think I am more concerned than most anyhow, but to add this to it I am really worried.  

[LITTLELADYBUG]

Turns out I am Hyper not Hypo... they aren't putting me on meds yet although I was .25 lower than I should be. Not sure what is up but I'm definately unhappy with my dr. right now.

[Jah02e]

Thanks!

[LITTLELADYBUG]

No problem

[LITTLELADYBUG]

yes I remember you asking... I have had cramping since about 10wks it is off and on somedays it is always on but mostly off and on. I have never really had period cramps so I have nothing to compare it to. Mine have gotten more and more painful. My dr. seems to think that they are caused from and infection or these cells. I did have a bacterial infection and took the meds for that but they still aren't better. So I'm not sure what the cause is. I am hoping it is the cells so that way when they figure out what is wrong with me they will fix the cramping too. Call your OB nurse mine are very very helpful with any questions I have about this stuff.

[Jah02e]

I asked you yesterday about the precancerous cells and they erased my question, well I think the last thing I asked was about the cramping.  Do you remember?

[Stacie30]

My doc discovered low thyroid around my 10th week of pregnancy with Conner. He put me on Synthroid (brand name for levothyroxin) and everything was fine. I'm sure you will be too. Isn't it crazy how much there is to worry about in pregnancy?

[married_newfie_mommy]

no I wouldn't worry about it...your dr knows what he is doing and if in fact your levels are low you will be given a prescription for meds and your levels will be checked and monitored closely for the rest of your pregnancy and afterwards...

[shedevil31]

I have a underactive(low) thyroid and take medication also
Yes you will have to take it while pregnant and probably from now on..
Your blood work will confirm how low and the doctor will put you on the right dosage.
I have been taking thyroid medication for about 14 years now!

[LITTLELADYBUG]

I have always been really small 105ish but since I have been pregnant in the first 3 months I almost gained 20lbs. I weighed 121 at my last appointent 123 before that somehow I lost 2 lbs. but anyway I just checked the symptoms...
"If you are running on too little thyroid hormone, your whole metabolism is "low." You may feel run down, slow, depressed, sluggish, cold, and tired. Your hair may be brittle, your skin dry and itchy, your muscles crampy"

I guess I would have to say I have most of those but it is winter here in washington and pretty cold so it seems like all of those things could be related to winter too. However I have had depression and Bipolar disorder most of my life and apparently they are closely related. Well as long as it is treatable and I can take medication for it I guess I wont worry so much.

[mandymoo1983]

hi i was diagnosed with low thyroid when i was pregnant with my now 5 month old at about 10 weeks they talked about putting me on meds but i went for a couple of repeat blood tests and they come back fine it also happend to my cousin hope this helps good luck

[LITTLELADYBUG]

Thanks it is crazy how much you have to worry about I feel like I will go insane trying to keep everything at a great even level but hopefully it isn't something I have to think alot about. Thanks for the help and comments.

[married_newfie_mommy]

I don't think so...I think that it will be fine...I on the other hand am very scared...because of this there is an increased risk of miscarriage even into the 2nd trimester (not to scare you)...I am ttc now so I have to make sure that I take my meds and get my levels checked often...do you have any of the symptoms of hypo? muscle cramps, (I had them really bad, especially in my legs), cold all the time...there are others I am sure on the site, those are the 2 main ones that I had...or ya and WEIGHT GAIN...lol..I gained 68 pounds while I was pregnant...I was 136 before and when I went in to have him, I was 204...he was 9 pounds 10 ounces..he was born January 28, 2003...when I left the hospital I think I was down to like 180..but then started to go back up...I am just starting to lose some of it now...

[LITTLELADYBUG]

yes my sister now takes meds to regulate her thyroid.

I googled it but it kinda freaked me out, I don't know why along with the high risk cells I have to have this now too. I guess doc knows best??!! I will have to just hope all goes well.

Thanks for the site, that does help, I'm am concerned though because they say the first trimester is the essential time. And I am in my second now. Are they too late? You don't have to answer that I am just racking my brain now. I am confused and concerned.

[married_newfie_mommy]

the medication is a MUST in pregnancy...I think that they only remove your thyroid if it is hyper or if it is doing more damage than good...your sister is now hypo and takes meds right?

I take 125mg daily of synthroid...my sister and father are on meds for hypo too...but my dad takes eltroxin...they are both the same thing but they have a different brand name and with eltroxin you can only get certain doses..I tried to switch but it doesn't come in the dose I need...go to allthyroid.org and click on Thyroid Disorders & Treatments on the left hand menu...you will see a sub menu and then a heading for Thyroid Disease in Pregnancy & Childhood...you will get some info from that and like I said before you can always google it...HTH

[LITTLELADYBUG]

thank you, I am concerned because my sister had to have her thyroid removed but I think she had hyper not hypo... I have always had this checked and it is the first time it came back abnormal but I am hoping she can fix it. You take medication... Do you think it would be safe to take during pregnancy?

[married_newfie_mommy]

ok I don't want to scare you but your thyroid produces a hormone called thyroxin...thyroxin is responsible for the baby's brain development...now your levels are probably on the lower side of normal and this is why they are running more tests...most women get hypothyroidism (low thyroid) after the baby is born..including me...I have been taking meds for hypothyroidism since June 2003...they have changed my dose and keep testing me every month to 3 to make sure my levels are still in the normal range...I am currently ttc and I have to watch my levels very closely as having low thyroid can cause miscarriage...you could google hypothyroidism in pregnancy to get more info if you wanted...

[clinique_diva]

not me hun, but i hope they figure everything out, and the sooner the better.