26 weeks Pregnant. OB wants me to take Synthroyid for hypothyroid. I am so worried.

[gingergrltea]

I want to take Armouor (Spelling)?

I am scared the side effects sounds very yucky.I have Gestational D as well.This is all a big shock to me as my other pregnancy's have been prefect.I do have PCOS so I don't know if that caused it?

I have read on the internet that the syntetic thyroid meds can really mess you up.I don't care if it is a catagory A drug. I want something natural for baby,and I.I plan on breastfeeding.

Does anyone take this med how is it?

I have read that once you take synthroid its a lifelong drug? Don't want baby to be a risk form taking it.I also don't want a baby with low IQ from not taking it.

How about Armour thyroid drug? I would prefer this but don't know how to discuse this with my OB. He already thinks I am strange (he is nice though).

All I know is I am scared,and have been crying do to all the stress this pregnancy has caused. Why this pregnancy?My others were perfect,and boys.This is my first girl.

I don't follow the sheep,and I don't want anything unnatural in my body. I just want to be safe.

[mommytimes2]

Hi! Sorry you are going through this.Pregnancy can be trying enough as it is. I take a synthetic thyroid medication (Levothroid), and have for about three years since I had my thyroid removed surgically. I also took the medication throughout my last pregnancy. Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) is extremely common. The reason people take it for the rest of their lives is because the need for the supplement doesn't usually change--once you are in the position of needing more hormone, you usually need more, period.

Also, not having enough thyroid hormone in your system can be bad for baby. Your baby needs you to be healthy and to have adequate amounts of T4, in particular. Good thing your doctor found this issue and wants to treat you...a lot of women have a difficult time getting that care.

As far as synthetic vs. natural, I am torn myself. I tend to want to go natural on most everything, but haven't on this one. I have Hashimoto's and Grave's antibodies that I don't want to get "stirred up" by taking real thyroid, so I take the synthetic. That said, I know a lot of people are very happy on Armour! Endocrinologist and other MD's will try to get you to take synthetic, generally speaking. Myself, I am doing just fine on Levothroid (synthetic). And yes, you can definitely breastfeed!! I have a happy, healthy one year old DS who I am breastfeeding.

There are sooo many of us women on thyroid supplementation...you are not alone! Not sure what your TSH or thyroid hormone levels are, but if you need it, I would definitely get treatment. Not getting treatment can result in miscarriage and lowered IQ in baby. Not to scare you, but it is not something to play around with. Best to you!

Edited by mommytimes2 - 6/24/11 at 7:10pm

[oaktreemama]

Making medical decisions based on what you read on the internet isn't always the best way to go. I have taken thyroid medication for years-all through my pregnancy and through three yrs of nursing.

There have been no side effects of any kind-other then me losing 30 pounds, no longer feeling depressed and exhausted, and my hair stopped falling out.

[no5no5]

I've taken synthroid and had no side effects.  And my thyroid levels are now regulating themselves, so I no longer need it.  I may need it again later in life, or I may not.  So no, it's not always a lifelong drug. 

If I needed it during pregnancy, I'd take it in a heartbeat.  The risk to the baby is much, much greater from a thyroid deficiency than from synthroid.  (IMO, there is no risk from synthroid, unless you take the wrong amount, but I understand that you may have doubts about it.)

That said, if you feel more comfortable taking Armour, by all means, ask your OB or try to get a quick appointment with an endocrinologist and ask for it there.  But please don't wait.  You need to get your thyroid levels back to normal ASAP. 

[MrsBone]

I, gratefully have a doctor that is on the armour bandwagon as far as prescribing goes, so I have no problem getting it. It doesn't hurt to ask and to say you feel more comfortable taking something naturally derived rather than synthetic. If synthroid were my only option, however, I'd take it. The benefits of a working thyroid outweigh the risks to the fetus(are there any??) I've been on armour throughout 2 pregnancies and I'm breastfeeding my second. No problems.

[Marnica]

I take Armour and am happy with it - no side effects. my long journey brought me to a doc who is an MD but he specilaizes in bioidentical hormones and is into alternative medicine as well. IMO synthroid is only a temporary bandaid for people. Logically it makes no sense to take a t4 only med. T4 is an inactive form of thyroid hormone (ie it is not directly used by the body and must be first converted into t3 to be used). T3 is the active form and most people do not convert t4 to t3 that well. When a person has an abundance of t4 (from taking synthroid) and they are not converting it to t3 like they should be, the body will start making reverse t3 which is also an inactive form and the rt3 will bind to the receptor sites and clog them up so whatever t3 (active form) is actually floating around in the body wont make it into the cells to be used.

This is why there are millions of people taking syntroid who have some improvement initially (for years maybe) but their symptoms return (this happened to my brother who took synthroid for years) or who only find marginal improvement in the first place - but they remain on it because they figure they feel a little better which is better than no improvement and they don't realize they could feel MUCH better since nobody is discussing dessicated thyroid with them. The majority of endos do not prescribe dessicated thyroid because they have no experience with  (nor were they taught anything about bioidentical hormones) Sometimes it takes work to find a doc that knows about this stuff. This is a great website with lots of info. with that said there are obviously people who take synthetic t4 only meds and feel happy with the results. To each his own. As for taking either during pregnancy or BF - no worries there for me.

check out this website. lots of good info

www.stopthethyroidmadness.com