pregnancy and hypothyroidsm

tschiss73 · 08-20-2002, 11:50 AM

ok, I am just about 8 weeks pregnant and my dr just called me and said that my thyroid test came back positive, she wants me to start right away on meds.. I have read articles that say that there is an increased rate of miscarriage with this and I am afraid that it is too late to start the meds?? we saw a healthy heartbeat last week but will starting the meds now be too late?? i also took the meds with my son but started at like 4 weeks and he was fine, then this new docter took me off the meds when I delivered him. now once again I have tested positive and they say "go back on them" I am so parinoid and scared at this point any insight would be great!!!!!

ErinJean · 08-20-2002, 12:17 PM

Ladies...correct me if I'm wrong...

I read where elevated thyroid antibodies can increase your risk of miscarriage...but I've not heard where being hypo can do this.

Hypothyroidism can cause a number of developmental birth defects...so take care of yourself!

Erin Jean

Jenbean · 08-20-2002, 01:03 PM

though i am very new to hypothyroidism myself- i asked RE what this does to ttc and pg (because i read about the late 2nd tri M/C and such) and he said if its UNCONTROLLED things happen. If I were you, I'd start now regardless to get it from being uncontrolled. Like I said, I'm a hypo-newbie and there are girls here with wealth of knowledge on the topic-see what other replies you get...

JessicaE · 08-20-2002, 01:48 PM

Jennifer is right, miscarriage and birth defects are really only likely if your hypothyroid is uncontrolled. Even at eight weeks, you've caught it early (you surely have not been hypo since day 1), so try not to worry. It is very common for women to develop gestational hypothyroid, that's why they test you when you're pg. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be fine. You just wouldn't want to go through the entire pg hypo.

tschiss73 · 08-20-2002, 08:04 PM

thanks for the replys, actually I was hypo thyroid before I got pregnant also but I was going from dr to dr and they kept taking me off it and putting me back on it................ I was on it for a year and then they took me off it 4 months before I got pregnent with this baby.........now I am going back on it again........... this is sooooo scarry, but like my parents told me I am going to worry for the rest my childrens lives so this is just the begining!!!! thanks again and I welcome any other input gladly!!!!

Julie_21 · 08-28-2002, 03:00 AM

Hypothyroidism and pregnancy are definately linked! My best friend had too suffer through 5 miscarriages. They had no idea why. Then they checked her thyroid and put her on meds. She just gave birth too a healthy baby boy last month. Another friend had the same experience but she only had too experience the pain of one miscarriage.

Definately get started on the meds! It is never too late!

MT · 09-01-2002, 02:59 PM

Hi. I was Dx Hypo in March of this year. The doctor told me that I had probably been having early undetected m/c all along as a result (there were so many times I was so sure I was pregnant). I asked him what will happen when my thyroid levels are low enough to sustain a pg and how it would be monitored. He said that while it is important to start meds adjustments (or in your case, taking the meds) as soon as you know you're pregnant and high thyroid levels are detected, that checking it every two months is fine. Since you were only two months along in the first place, I would assume you were still within the safe "window" of time. I would also check to see how high your levels were at the time your doctor tested--from 0.5 to 5.5 is considered normal. If they were only a little high, I wouldn't be too concerned. As the others who have posted have indicated, UNTREATED high thyroid levels cause problems. My doctor also reassured me that a pg woman's body is miraculous--it seems to get the things to the baby that the baby needs before giving it to the mother! Don't be too concerned, but I would check into it more for peace of mind. Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy!

Missy