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Hello fellow TTCers,
I don't hang out here much anymore, but wanted to share some info that I found during my TTC journey in hopes that it might give others a shorter path.
To summarize some of the highlights from what I've been reading: hypothyroid is way, way underdiagnosed, one of the indications of hypothyroid is fertility problems (not that all fertility problems are related to thyroid, but I sure am starting to wonder how many women have unexplained fertility problems and undiagnosed hypothyroidism), TSH tests should be between 1 and 2 for optimal fertility, TSH numbers DO NOT give the whole picture, synthroid can put your TSH numbers in the normal range and NOT relieve symptoms, synthroid is only T4 and your body needs to be able to convert T4 to T3 so if your doc is only looking at TSH numbers and T4 numbers he/she may be missing the fact that you're having difficulty converting T4 to T3, which means that synthroid or levothroid or any other T4 only drug may not be the answer. Something like armourthyroid or westhroid includes T3 and many people have better results on those medications rather than synthroid alone or synthroid with synthetic T3.
Docs should also test for thyroid antibodies to rule out for Grave's and Hashimoto's. Women with thyroid antibodies are at a higher risk for miscarriage and tend to have difficulties with IUI and IVF. 3-5% of women with autoimmune thyroid problems also have celeiac disease and in response to a gluten free diet the thyroid antibodies can decrease or no longer show up.
Iodine deficiency runs pretty high in this country. Iodized salt is enough to minimize goiter growth, but isn't necessarily enough for optimal iodine levels. Low iodine levels can be a factor in fibrocystic breast disease and ovarian cysts.
Soy is bad news for thyroids. Fermented soy doesn't seem to cause the same problems, but unfermented soy (soy cheese, tofu, soy milk, soy protein powder, etc.). "A study in humans found that daily soy consumption resluted in symptom sof hypothyroidism and goiters in 50% of subjects. These hypothyroid symptoms resolved one month after stopping soy ingestion." Overcoming Thyroid Disorders by David Brownstein, M.D.
The more I learn, the more frustrated and just plain angry I get over the fact that this information is so freakin' pertinent and so overlooked
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My endocrinologist seems to think that as long as my numbers look good, all is well and then has the nerve to tell me that synthroid's the only med that's been adequately tested which is a total LIE because there have been so many problems with potency and synthroid it's ridiculous. When I told him I hit bottom in July and then started to perk up with my new bottle of meds he looked totally shocked that there could even be the possibility of a bad batch. What planet does he live on?! And why do I have to be the expert here?! Sorry for the vent, I'm just completely frustrated and irritated that I'm having such a hard time finding the medical support I want when it's becoming more and more obvious to me the kind of help I need. It's such a shame that DCs can't prescribe drugs because I have such a great one.
At anyrate, if anyone wants to pick my brain more feel free to PM me. Sources I've used for info:
Dr. Brownstein I ordered three of his books and his videotape - really good info and some things you could implement right off the bat, but not enough info to quite do everything on your own
About Thyroid Fabulous source of info - has sections on pregnancy and fertility, as well as a list of recommended docs by state and area
Weston A. Price soy alert
Good luck with the baby making!
Lisa
I don't hang out here much anymore, but wanted to share some info that I found during my TTC journey in hopes that it might give others a shorter path.
To summarize some of the highlights from what I've been reading: hypothyroid is way, way underdiagnosed, one of the indications of hypothyroid is fertility problems (not that all fertility problems are related to thyroid, but I sure am starting to wonder how many women have unexplained fertility problems and undiagnosed hypothyroidism), TSH tests should be between 1 and 2 for optimal fertility, TSH numbers DO NOT give the whole picture, synthroid can put your TSH numbers in the normal range and NOT relieve symptoms, synthroid is only T4 and your body needs to be able to convert T4 to T3 so if your doc is only looking at TSH numbers and T4 numbers he/she may be missing the fact that you're having difficulty converting T4 to T3, which means that synthroid or levothroid or any other T4 only drug may not be the answer. Something like armourthyroid or westhroid includes T3 and many people have better results on those medications rather than synthroid alone or synthroid with synthetic T3.
Docs should also test for thyroid antibodies to rule out for Grave's and Hashimoto's. Women with thyroid antibodies are at a higher risk for miscarriage and tend to have difficulties with IUI and IVF. 3-5% of women with autoimmune thyroid problems also have celeiac disease and in response to a gluten free diet the thyroid antibodies can decrease or no longer show up.
Iodine deficiency runs pretty high in this country. Iodized salt is enough to minimize goiter growth, but isn't necessarily enough for optimal iodine levels. Low iodine levels can be a factor in fibrocystic breast disease and ovarian cysts.
Soy is bad news for thyroids. Fermented soy doesn't seem to cause the same problems, but unfermented soy (soy cheese, tofu, soy milk, soy protein powder, etc.). "A study in humans found that daily soy consumption resluted in symptom sof hypothyroidism and goiters in 50% of subjects. These hypothyroid symptoms resolved one month after stopping soy ingestion." Overcoming Thyroid Disorders by David Brownstein, M.D.
The more I learn, the more frustrated and just plain angry I get over the fact that this information is so freakin' pertinent and so overlooked
At anyrate, if anyone wants to pick my brain more feel free to PM me. Sources I've used for info:
Dr. Brownstein I ordered three of his books and his videotape - really good info and some things you could implement right off the bat, but not enough info to quite do everything on your own
About Thyroid Fabulous source of info - has sections on pregnancy and fertility, as well as a list of recommended docs by state and area
Weston A. Price soy alert
Good luck with the baby making!
Lisa
