Worrying...I have Hashimoto's with + anti-thyroid antibodies, but normal TSH...

[Amila]

I really should just stop googling. A random blood test picked up highly elevated levels of anti-thyroid antibodies about 6 months ago, though my TSH has always been normal and has remained normal thus far.

I just found out I am pregnant, and am reading all of the horror stories of preterm delivery and fetal death and miscarriages related to having these antibodies...even with a normal TSH.

My family doc doesn't seem concerned so long as my TSH is ok. He didn't think i would have any trouble gettgin pregnant, which I didn't, and these antibodies can cause infertility...so...I know I am probably just freaking over nothing. But isn't that what we preggos do?

[mediumcrunch]

I would visit an endocrinologist just to cover all your bases. You are euthyroid now but it won't last forever. Also, depending on your TSH you may benefit from a small dose of levothyroxine. "normal" TSH is .5-5 but if you are on the high side of normal the endo may want to treat you especially since you are pregnant. Family docs are fine for managing normal, uncomplicated, stable thyroid disorders but anything unusual is best evaluated by and endocrinologist, even just one consult.

On an anecdotal side my thyroid tanked after baby #3. I was so sick they thought I had lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Turned out it was just hashimoto's. My antibodies were in the hundreds if I recall correctly. I've had 5 pregnancies and healthy babies since and am due in June.

[Amila]

Thank you! That made me feel lots better. I think my last TSH was about a month ago and it was 2.5 or so. Maybe I will go back to my endo, just to get his opinion. I also have this irrational thought that nobody has three healthy babies in a row without having a miscarriage, so thats bugging me too. My antibodies were also in the hundreds. Like 300 and 400 I think.

[mediumcrunch]

How about 9 pregnancies with no miscarriages and healthy babies. Talk about feeling like a time bomb? :P

My daughter was diagnosed with Hashimoto's at 8. Her antibodies were so high they were off the scale the lab used and her TSH was 77. She was asymptomatic not even sleepier at night, nothing, except for a goiter. Me, with a TSH of 37 I thought I was dying and even now if I get anywhere over a 5 or 6 I feel like crud.

[Amila]

Wow! That is super insipring! My dad just finally got diagnosed at 50 with a TSH of 70. He has been cold all of the time his entire life.

I was having a ton of symptoms that I thought were lyme, but now we don't really know what they were, because they say the hashimotos can't cause symptoms if it isn't techically messing with my thyroid function yet. I am attributing everything at this point to hormones what with being pregnant and breastfeeding consistently for 4 years.

Thanks for cheering me up!

[mediumcrunch]

My mom presents as a classic hypothyroid. Cold all the time, can't lose weight despite calorie restriction and vigorous exercise, dry skin, constipated, tired even the thin eyebrows. Her thyroid labs are all within normal range though. Her mother, her daughter and her granddaughter ALL have/had Hashimoto's. I think she'd benefit from a little synthroid, I mean, come on, just look at her and her history but noooooooo the little piece of paper from the lab says she is fine. s head: and she won't pursue it to see more than her GP and one endo.