Q's About Hypothyroidism

[penguin129]

Hi ladies! I've been on meds to help regulate my thyroid since September of 2014. I went to my appointment on Wednesday and found out my levels are still not stable. They dropped a little. The PA I see decided to keep me on my current dose and get rechecked in 6 weeks to see if it needs to be decreased. She told me she wants TSH to be at a 2. My last level was .86.

Some questions:

How long after starting medicine did it take for your levels to become stable?

What was the Target for your TSH?

What level were you told was best for TTC?

Were you able to start TTC before your levels remained stable as long as you were being treated and tested?


*I know these may be different for everyone, but I'm trying to get a clearer picture of how long this should all take and where I should be. Right now we are tentatively going to start trying in November so I have some time. 

[joy]

How long after starting medicine did it take for your levels to become stable? Uh, still waiting? I've been on meds since October 2014. I've had a hard road with them.

What was the Target for your TSH? 2ish

What level were you told was best for TTC? 2ish

Were you able to start TTC before your levels remained stable as long as you were being treated and tested? REs will allow you to cycle as long as your TSH is below 5 and you are actively working to get it lower. I specifically asked what TSH would be bad for trying to conceive. I was told 5 is eh and 10 is bad. So, okay.

EDIT: My TSH was originally 13.  My last blood draw showed I was 1.17.  I'm due for another check this month.

[emilie]

Hi! I'll play

How long after starting medicine did it take for your levels to become stable? I started meds in September and we are still working on getting my levels stable.

What was the Target for your TSH? 1

What level were you told was best for TTC? My GP and then my endocrinologist both advised around 1 for TTC. Though the old standards say "normal" is something like between .5 and 5, most endocrinologists now use a scale that has normal topping out at 3.

Were you able to start TTC before your levels remained stable as long as you were being treated and tested? I was subclinical hypo for years (TSH of 3-4) but since I had no symptoms just kept an eye on things. I started TTC over a year ago last spring so I wasn't on meds when I started. If you're on hormonal BC, sometimes going off it can change your thyroid levels and I wanted to see if that would happen. I developed hypo symptoms last summer, got rechecked, and went on Synthroid. I was on too little and then on too much, and started to develop hyper symptoms (my TSH was suppressed to 0). Now they are still trying to get them right - I take 50mg and 75mg on alternating days.

I think .86 is perfectly acceptable as long as you're not going hyper or experiencing hyper symptoms. Don't forget that it's not just about the numbers - it's also about how you feel. Some people might feel great at 2 while others might feel much better at 1. TSH can also vary from day to day and test to test. I think keeping at your current dose and making sure you're staying within range is a good idea.

[titania]

Do any of you know anything about Hypothyroidism in men? MH was literally just diagnosed today (his TSH was 7.5) after routine blood work and he didn't really ask any questions. Does that affect TTC at all? Sorry if that is a stupid question, I don't know anything about this and have been totally caught off guard.

[joy]

Jul 10, 2015 16:14:11 GMT -5 titania said:

Do any of you know anything about Hypothyroidism in men? MH was literally just diagnosed today (his TSH was 7.5) after routine blood work and he didn't really ask any questions. Does that affect TTC at all? Sorry if that is a stupid question, I don't know anything about this and have been totally caught off guard.

I asked my RE this because we thought my husband was hypo.  RE was unfazed.  RE said he needs to get his TSH right but wasn't super concerned about it affecting fertility at this point.

[ihatepizza]

* warning loss mentioned


How long after starting medicine did it take for your levels to become stable? I've been both hyper and hypo, in both cases it took about 4 months. I've been hyper since I was 13, I was never fully, "stable" although I'd go years at a time not being symptomatic, you learn to be good at reading your body

What was the Target for your TSH? 1-2  (I totally feel better being >1 but that's probably because I've been hyper most of my life)

What level were you told was best for TTC? 1-2 

Were you able to start TTC before your levels remained stable as long as you were being treated and tested? No, my endo (who is actually an internal medicine specialist) benched me, it's the second time being benched this year. My TSH fluctuates wildly and I've had a unsuccessful pregnancy so I understand this might be a recommendation specific for me. 

Honestly I think the thing that helped the most in regulating my thyroid was exercise. Until i began exercising regularly my levels were everywhere.  

[bocaburger]

How long after starting medicine did it take for your levels to become stable?
My TSH was around 4 when we started it. I started taking levothyroxine 50mcg in October and in November I confirmed ovulation for the first time, so it obviously took effect very quickly. My levels were under 2 for a while, then I started doing night shifts which threw off my med schedule and my TSH went up to over 4. We bumped my meds up to 75mcg and I started bring much more consistent with it. A month later I was down to 1.1, my lowest ever.

What was the Target for your TSH? <2.5

What level were you told was best for TTC? 0.5-2.5

Were you able to start TTC before your levels remained stable as long as you were being treated and tested?
Yes. I was told it can affect TTC but more importantly, increases your risk of miscarriage because the baby doesn't develop its own thyroid until second trimester. The most important thing is to get it tested as soon as you get your BFP and increase your meds right away.

There is a lot of dispute within the medical community about thyroid levels. The book The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough by Mary Shomron (I think) is super helpful and really helped me understand how the thyroid interacts with your reproductive hormones.

[bocaburger]

Also, the way you take your medicine is very important. You should take it consistently around the same time every day (usually first thing in the morning). Take it on an empty stomach with a lot of water and then wait an hour to eat.

[wowcheezits]

How long after starting medicine did it take for your levels to become stable? About 3 months, and that's because I was in such bad shape I rode my doctor constantly. I had to ride it out best I could because they can't dramatically increase the dosage or it can affect your heart. So for about a few months, I was half dead. My TSH levels started out at 17.70 u[iU]/mL when our range is .47-4.68.

What was the Target for your TSH? under 2

What level were you told was best for TTC? under 2

Were you able to start TTC before your levels remained stable as long as you were being treated and tested? Yes I've been able to TTC before my levels remained stable because there's a link between hypothyroidism and infertility. So my TTC didn't do anything.

[wowcheezits]

Jul 10, 2015 19:38:01 GMT -5 bocaburger said:

Also, the way you take your medicine is very important. You should take it consistently around the same time every day (usually first thing in the morning). Take it on an empty stomach with a lot of water and then wait an hour to eat.

I do this every day. First thing I wake up. Slam a full glass of water right away at 7 a.m. Then I eat an hour later. The reason why for this is because the medication cannot "fuse" with anything else that's inside your stomach or it may not react as well.

[wowcheezits]

I also want to further add that sometimes you might have to try a different brand. They started me on Levothyroxine and it did not work. Ever since I got switched to Synthroid I've been golden.

[emilie]

Jul 10, 2015 19:34:16 GMT -5 bocaburger said:

How long after starting medicine did it take for your levels to become stable?
My TSH was around 4 when we started it. I started taking levothyroxine 50mcg in October and in November I confirmed ovulation for the first time, so it obviously took effect very quickly. My levels were under 2 for a while, then I started doing night shifts which threw off my med schedule and my TSH went up to over 4. We bumped my meds up to 75mcg and I started bring much more consistent with it. A month later I was down to 1.1, my lowest ever.

What was the Target for your TSH? <2.5

What level were you told was best for TTC? 0.5-2.5

Were you able to start TTC before your levels remained stable as long as you were being treated and tested?
Yes. I was told it can affect TTC but more importantly, increases your risk of miscarriage because the baby doesn't develop its own thyroid until second trimester. The most important thing is to get it tested as soon as you get your BFP and increase your meds right away.

There is a lot of dispute within the medical community about thyroid levels. The book The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough by Mary Shomron (I think) is super helpful and really helped me understand how the thyroid interacts with your reproductive hormones.

+1.  This is the one thing that my endocrinologist was focused on.  She says that I need to call her right away when I get pregnant - even if I can't get in to test right away, she usually has people up their meds a little immediately as to not harm the embryo.

[penguin129]

Thanks to all of you for your responses! It is nice to hear everyone's stories. I felt like I was the only one going through this even though I know I am not. My SIL has been dealing with managing her Hypothyroidism for 15 years. I talk to her about going through this, but it is nice to have others who are TTC or getting ready to TTC to talk to about it with.

[penguin129]

Jul 10, 2015 19:38:01 GMT -5 bocaburger said:

Also, the way you take your medicine is very important. You should take it consistently around the same time every day (usually first thing in the morning). Take it on an empty stomach with a lot of water and then wait an hour to eat.

I take my medicine every morning after I take my BBT. I set my alarm for 6:30,temp, take my pill, and then go back to sleep. I always wait at least an hour if not more to take it. I do need to get better about drinking more water. 

[penguin129]

Jul 10, 2015 20:09:59 GMT -5 emilie said:

Jul 10, 2015 19:34:16 GMT -5 bocaburger said:

Were you able to start TTC before your levels remained stable as long as you were being treated and tested?
Yes. I was told it can affect TTC but more importantly, increases your risk of miscarriage because the baby doesn't develop its own thyroid until second trimester. The most important thing is to get it tested as soon as you get your BFP and increase your meds right away.

+1.  This is the one thing that my endocrinologist was focused on.  She says that I need to call her right away when I get pregnant - even if I can't get in to test right away, she usually has people up their meds a little immediately as to not harm the embryo.

I know it is important to get your levels checked as soon as a pregnancy is confirmed. Did your endocrinologist say how soon to start testing for a BFP?

[penguin129]

ihatepizza I'm sorry for your loss. The love tit is for sharing your story.

[titania]

Jul 10, 2015 17:35:01 GMT -5 joy said:

Jul 10, 2015 16:14:11 GMT -5 titania said:

Do any of you know anything about Hypothyroidism in men? MH was literally just diagnosed today (his TSH was 7.5) after routine blood work and he didn't really ask any questions. Does that affect TTC at all? Sorry if that is a stupid question, I don't know anything about this and have been totally caught off guard.

I asked my RE this because we thought my husband was hypo.  RE was unfazed.  RE said he needs to get his TSH right but wasn't super concerned about it affecting fertility at this point.

Thanks!

[emilie]

Jul 10, 2015 22:20:51 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

Jul 10, 2015 20:09:59 GMT -5 emilie said:

+1.  This is the one thing that my endocrinologist was focused on.  She says that I need to call her right away when I get pregnant - even if I can't get in to test right away, she usually has people up their meds a little immediately as to not harm the embryo.

I know it is important to get your levels checked as soon as a pregnancy is confirmed. Did your endocrinologist say how soon to start testing for a BFP?

I'm not totally sure of your question, but if it is when to start testing, I'd say the same as when you should start testing normally: if and when your period doesn't show up.

[gabride2010]

penguin129 Do you have Hashimoto's or are you just hypothyroid?

[penguin129]

Jul 11, 2015 6:50:02 GMT -5 gabride2010 said:

penguin129 Do you have Hashimoto's or are you just hypothyroid?

I believe just hypothyroidism.

[ihatepizza]

Jul 10, 2015 22:21:32 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

ihatepizza I'm sorry for your loss. The love tit is for sharing your story.

Thanks. I think it's really awesome that you want to learn as much as you can about your thyroid.

[penguin129]

Jul 11, 2015 0:17:08 GMT -5 emilie said:

Jul 10, 2015 22:20:51 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

I'm not totally sure of your question, but if it is when to start testing, I'd say the same as when you should start testing normally: if and when your period doesn't show up.

That is exactly what I was asking, when to start using pregnancy tests. I just didn't know if I should start testing sooner than normal. Thanks!