TTC with Hypothyroidism

[mariacm]

We are officially trying to conceive again!  So exciting! =)

Right now, I'm on prenatals, folic acid, B complex.

Anyone with hypothyroid here?  Mine was diagnosed during the last preg (it's secondary to a previous pituitary tumor, so hypopituitarism).  I'm on generic synthroid, levels ok at last many check months ago, but wondering how it will be with TTC.  Did you have difficulty due to the thyroid thing?  Did you need your meds adjusted at the beginning of preg?  Just curious what your experience was like.

Edited by mariacm - 1/15/11 at 4:00pm

[lisab82]

Hi Mariacm, I have a hypothyroid problem and it was causing my periods to not be regular. I was on synthroid but I found it didn't help bring my levels low enough so they put me on Eltroxin and I got pregnant with the help of excersing as well. I found out about my thyroid problem in February and I got pregnant in August, but i didnt start my meds until May...so it only took me 3months of being on the meds to get pregnant. Hope this helps. Happy TTC

[mariacm]

Hi Lisa, thanks for your reply. I expect to have my FT4 checked in a couple of weeks at my next endo appt. My periods are regular, as in every month or so, but cycle length varies and LP length varies.  I'm not sure if it's related to the thyroid or not.  I am overweight by about 40-50 lbs and it is definitely harder to lose weight now than it used to be, tho of course I'm older too.  Are you overweight too (I ask bc you said exercise helped, and wanted to know if it was wt loss that mattered or just exercise for your metabolism?)  I find it so hard to exercise nowadays, with my LO... if he's awake I can't do it, and when he naps, I try to take advantage to shower, eat lunch, clean up, relax, whatever.  I guess I need to make exercise a priority. ugh.

[marinak1977]

I have mild hypothyroidism and was having trouble getting pregnant but once I started taking t4 and adjusted my diet to reduce refined carbs I got pregnant. Miscarried the first pregnancy at 5 weeks but then got pregnant again and had DS. I did have to bump up my t4 dose during pregnancy a little bit, but otherwise I did fine. TBH our TTC troubles probably stemmed from both DH and I and the diet change really helped both of us, but I still needed the T4. Good luck

[GreenMamma]

Yep. And I needed mine checked every 2 months and adjusted accordingly. Then every 6 weeks pp for the first 6 months.

[mariacm]

Originally Posted by marinak1977 

I have mild hypothyroidism and was having trouble getting pregnant but once I started taking t4 and adjusted my diet to reduce refined carbs I got pregnant. Miscarried the first pregnancy at 5 weeks but then got pregnant again and had DS. I did have to bump up my t4 dose during pregnancy a little bit, but otherwise I did fine. TBH our TTC troubles probably stemmed from both DH and I and the diet change really helped both of us, but I still needed the T4. Good luck

Do you know why the reduction in refined carbs worked? 

[cameragirl]

Mine is slightly low.  I was taking a little bit of Cytomel before, then my thyroid seemed to kick in and I no longer needed it.  I've been ttc since April and asked to be retested.  My doctor was supposed to call or mail results and they haven't...so I'm not sure where I stand.  Will have to call on Monday. 

[marinak1977]

Sorry, I don't really know besides the general "refined carbs promote inflammation, and healthy customized diet helps balance the neuroendocrine system". It probably improved DH's sperm health too, because he had bordeline count and motility. So there were more factors at play for us.
I did get my TSH level below 2 to get preggo and keep it.

[cameragirl]

I was also advised to cut back on processed foods to reduce inflammation and neurotoxins.  I was taking Iodoral at the time, though I've read that iodine might make things worse if it is Hashimoto's. 

[mariacm]

Well I'm glad to hear I'm not alone in the TTC w/hypothyroid (though sorry for all of you to have to deal with hypo too!). 

I am going to the endo this month and will ask them to retest before we start TTC.  I have been reading a lot on MDC and online in general about thyroid stuff, and it seems that are a lot of ppl out there who think docs don't do enough bc they only treat according to the blood test, not acc to symptom relief; and that docs only treat with 1 synthetic hormone (synthroid) instead of armour which I guess is animal hormone?  My endo is probably pretty typical as docs go, so we'll see.

Generally, I feel pretty good.  However, I'm usually tired (but have a 13 mo old who still wakes up at least once a night and needs help going back to sleep); I have a lot more gray hairs on my head since he was born, which I recently read can be a symptom (who knew?); haven't lost ANY weight since about 4 weeks postpartum (I lost all 25 lbs of preg weight by then, despite nursing exclusively for 9 mos and not overeating much in general.  Not sure if any of these are because of hypothyroidism or due to other things... in a way I'd be relieved if it were the hypo since that would seem to be more easily solved. 

[sraplayas]

I was diagnosed with hypo before DD was born (my oldest).   Once I started supplementing (at that time with Armor thyroid), I conceived.  My levels have been adjusted over the years and since DS's birth my thyroid levels have improved so that I am taking less each day.  However, when I found out I was preggers with DS, the GYN sent me to an ENDO and I saw her Every Month of my pregnancy (with blood tests every month!).  Great pregnancy, smooth delivery (no pun intended), etc.  Hope all goes well for you, too!!

[oceane]

Originally Posted by marinak1977 

Sorry, I don't really know besides the general "refined carbs promote inflammation, and healthy customized diet helps balance the neuroendocrine system". It probably improved DH's sperm health too, because he had bordeline count and motility. So there were more factors at play for us.
I did get my TSH level below 2 to get preggo and keep it.

thanks for the info. By "reduce" you do not mean cut out completely, am I correct?

I am mildly hypothyroid and have been on meds for over a year, TTC for 2 years now. So it cannot be the only problem, as my TSH levels are steady around 1 now.

[mariacm]

Originally Posted by oceane 

Originally Posted by marinak1977 

Sorry, I don't really know besides the general "refined carbs promote inflammation, and healthy customized diet helps balance the neuroendocrine system". It probably improved DH's sperm health too, because he had bordeline count and motility. So there were more factors at play for us.
I did get my TSH level below 2 to get preggo and keep it.

thanks for the info. By "reduce" you do not mean cut out completely, am I correct?

I am mildly hypothyroid and have been on meds for over a year, TTC for 2 years now. So it cannot be the only problem, as my TSH levels are steady around 1 now.

I'm relatively new to this, but my endo uses the Free T4 or FT4 level to check instead of the TSH, bc from what I understand, TSH is the last level affected so not a good measure of thyroid function by itself.  Perhaps you should ask your doc to check your FT4 too.

[mariacm]

Originally Posted by sraplayas 

I was diagnosed with hypo before DD was born (my oldest).   Once I started supplementing (at that time with Armor thyroid), I conceived.  My levels have been adjusted over the years and since DS's birth my thyroid levels have improved so that I am taking less each day.  However, when I found out I was preggers with DS, the GYN sent me to an ENDO and I saw her Every Month of my pregnancy (with blood tests every month!).  Great pregnancy, smooth delivery (no pun intended), etc.  Hope all goes well for you, too!!

Wondered if you were on armour or synthroid during the preg with DS? and what you're on now?  I haven't tried switching to armour, but am curious about it, as I've only recently heard of it.  Not sure my endo would go for that, but curious aobut others' experiences.
 

[sraplayas]

When I found out that I was preg. with DS, I wasn't actually taking any thyroid, just an herbal tincture to regulate my hormones.  After immediately checking my levels, I started going to the Endo. while regularly checking in with my ND.  Lots of apts. but so worth it!  My ND felt that at that time it was best for me to take synthetic thyroid because it is more exact, whereas Armor is more variable.  (Not sure if I'm explaining it correctly).  I am interested in checking into bioidentical thyroid, too but what I really would like is to not need it anymore!

Please feel free to pm with any other Q's also. :)

[BunnySlippers]

I'm just popping in out of the blue to say...I have a hypothyroid pony (lol), who has been on synthetic thyroid for a year now. Although her condition improved slowly and considerably from time of diagnosis, she was still very far from 100%.

I put her on an Alpha Omega product a month ago called Adrena-FX (or Adrena-something), anyhow, the main ingredient is Vitex. It took 3 days on this for her to spring to life.

The other ingredients have to do with balancing blood-sugar, and improving metabolism.

I have taken her off it now for comparison purposes (to make sure this was the product that helped). I am going to re-start her on just vitex and see if the results are the same.If not Ill doa withdrawl period and put her back on the origional product.

Anyhow- I thought it worth mentioning as the immediate 'bloom' was fantastic, and if it helps someone to feel better it is worth taking the time to mention.

[blackbird2]

hello - I was diagnosed with hypothyroid during my first pregnancy.  it's not clear where it comes from (no hashimoto antibodies, and no particular illness that I can recall), and I had few symptoms. just fatigue.  anyway, no trouble TTC: BFP on cycle 2.  I'm now on the generic of synthroid.  As others have mentioned, i've also heard that armour is harder to regulate (dose may vary by batch?), but that if you have trouble converting T4 to T3 it can be helpful.  We just got another BFP after TTC #2 for 4 cycles.  I do think exercise is key in supporting a healthy metabolism.

A question for others who have responded:  when did you have your levels FIRST checked after becoming pregnant?

Thanks!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I was technically hypo but was on meds. (had thyroid removed in 96) My thyroid levels where checked every 3 months during pg and before getting pg once a year. I did have an appt. at the very beginning of my pg with dd and my levels where normal at that time. After giving birth I needed higher doses of thyroid med. that increased during the next few years.

I had no trouble related to ttc due to my thyroid levels nor trouble with the pg's.

[marinak1977]

So, a delayed response, sorry. I had my free t4 and t3 checked and I have normal T3, low t4. I take a generic version of synthroid and it works for me.
I did reduce refined carbs but did not cut out completely, that is correct. I do occasionally lapse but I feel a lot more energy and much better mood if I keep refined carbs below 10% of my diet. I think hypothyroidism often goes hand in hand with adrenal fatique so I'm starting to look into supplements for adrenal support as well before TTCing #2.

[peaches' mom]

Mind if I join you? I'm hypo, too. I had a thyroidectomy at the end of Nov 2010, so will be on thyroxine for life. I'm taking synthroid - very interested in armour but I am vegan and so can't quite make that leap. 

FWIW, I have heard that a gluten free diet can correct some people's hypo. Anyone heard of this? Wonder if this is connected to the processed foods? As I understand, it has something to do with the similarity between gluten & thyroid hormone (i.e. the immune system can't differentiate between them) and fights them both. 

Can anyone shed some light on my situation for me? As of Dec 23, my TSH level was 2.8. That day my thyroxine dose was increased by 25 mcg, I am now at 150 mcg. I know doses work differently for everyone, but can you guesstimate how much my TSH would be affected? How soon would it start to drop? (I know they usually say 4-6 weeks to stabilize, but apparently it does start dropping before that).

Perhaps against my better judgement, we went ahead and ttc this month anyway. I O'd around Jan 14 (>3 wks after my dose was increased).

Any thoughts?

Thanks for starting this thread, mariacm. There are more of us than I ever would have imagined!