Underactive Thyroid?

[CrystalD]

On Friday before our camping trip I went to Kaiser to get my second blood test to either deny or confirm my previous blood test which tested for my TSH levels and the test came back that I DO have a underactive thyroid.

My primary doctor seems really concerned while my RNP Ob/gyn doesn't seem to be that concerned. When I talked to my ob/gyn she said that a lot of woman have an underactive thyroid and don't know it. So my primary doctor is setting up an appointment to meet with an Endocrinologist to talk to me about medication. He says it is very dangerous to get pregnant while untreated...so now I am anxious because he is very 'medical' while my ob/gyn is the opposite.

Does anyone else have one?
Do you take medication for it?

Thanks.

[momtoM&D]

I discovered I had it during a routine physical (blood tests) when Melody was 8 mo old. I probably had it since she was born, but the symptoms mirrored post partum symptoms, (fatigue, hair loss) so I didn't think anything of it. I was on a pretty high dose of Levothroid at first, but that was lowered when I was pg with Dorian (pg can have major effects on your thyroid) and have been on that ever since. I get my blood tested every 6 mo or so to make sure the dosage is still correct. I was told I would be on the medication the rest of my life and that it can become serious if left untreated.

[PhreSpirit]

my diagnosis came up during a round of tests for a medical procedure that didn't end up happening as a result of my underactive thyroid. that was about two years ago or so. prior to me being on medication and such, dh and i hadn't gotten pregnant in like 5 years of not using any form of birth control and within about three months of being on the thyroid medication i was pregnant! i'm not sure if that's the reason for testing your thyroid, but i wasn't even aware that it could affect fertility. as far as the classic symptoms such as being tired, hair loss, etc. i still have bouts of feeling tired, but at this point i think it's more associated with my diet and lack of excercise than anything else.

[CrystalD]

Thanks ladies! The endrocrinologist called and I have an appointment tomorrow to discuss treatment options.

[CrystalD]

Whitney and Danielle do you have to be on a special diet or avoid certain foods now that you are on medication?

And I am assuming that the risks of it being untreated out weigh it being treated right?

Sorry I am doing some research so I have my list of questions for tomorrow.

[momtoM&D]

I've never been told to do anything about it but take the medication. I've never been told I should see an endocrinologist either though, so maybe my GP doesn't know what she's doing lol.

[PhreSpirit]

Whitney and Danielle do you have to be on a special diet or avoid certain foods now that you are on medication?

And I am assuming that the risks of it being untreated out weigh it being treated right?

Sorry I am doing some research so I have my list of questions for tomorrow.

my dr. hasn't ever told me to be on a specific diet, but i am supposed to take my medicine in the morning an hour before i eat. that doesn't always happen, but i haven't seen any adverse reactions to when i take it in correlation to when i eat. :dunno

when the results from my blood work came back, my thyroid levels were 3x what the 'norm' is so i just took the medication my dr. said i should, we never really talked about not taking it. :bag

[CrystalD]

Well I will let you know what she says. I know every doctor/practice is different so I am always curious to compare.

[momtoM&D]

:yeah to the taking the meds on an empty stomach. I usually take mine in the middle of the night. I started doing that when I was pg with Dorian and could not wait an hour to eat in the morning. I was up 3x a night to pee anyway lol. And now at least one of the kids wakes me up at least once in the night, so I take it then. There have been times that I haven't waited to eat and I don't notice anything, but I think if you do that consistently it will effect it's effectiveness - something about metabolism/absorption. You also can't take antacids or anything with iron or calcium within 4 hours of taking it. Really glad I didn't have heartburn with Dorian nearly as bad as I did with Melody.

I've never had any side effects with the meds and haven't heard about any risks or cons. I never really thought about not taking it.

[CrystalD]

Did your doctors say anything about breastfeeding and taking your medication? Does that medication pass through breastmilk?

Also did you get re-tested while you were pregnant to monitor your medication levels?

[PhreSpirit]

Did your doctors say anything about breastfeeding and taking your medication? Does that medication pass through breastmilk?

Also did you get re-tested while you were pregnant to monitor your medication levels?

the 13 days my breastfeeding lasted while in the hospital i was so pumped up on other drugs and antibiotics that i think my thyroid medicine was the least of their worries. i recall asking my ob/gyn while i was pregant about breastfeeding and my medicine and from what i can recall i don't think it was a problem - but i could be wrong. :dunno

i know they tested for it when i had my other routine pg labs done. they never had me come in specifically to have my levels tested.

[Jackie1021]

I have an underactive thyroid also. They found it a couple years ago when i was having some blood tests. I have to take 1 pill in the morning an hour before i eat.

[momtoM&D]

I bfed Melody for about 9 mo after I was diagnosed and Dorian bfed for 14 mo while on it and it was fine.