Thursday, January 5, 2012

Not Sure

I have an appointment tomorrow for an ultrasound to check my thyroid. I've been trying to get my doctor to order a full panel for thyroid testing, but he wasn't in today so it hasn't happened yet. I will call the office again tomorrow morning and request it again. 

My TSH levels were 1.07. I've found anything between .3 and 3.0 to be within the normal range. I just don't get it. Smack dab in the middle. I know I had them tested previously and they were normal as well. 

I called my fertility clinic today to ask them about the thyroid thing. They told me it probably wouldn't be the best to do an IVF cycle if my thyroid is all out of whack. I'm supposed to start Lupron on Monday and I have a suppression check in 11 days. I asked if they were to put me on Synthroid how long it would take to work. They said at least 6 weeks. This means potentially delaying another IVF cycle. Delays are not something I have dealt with well in the past, I'm not gonna lie. 

I'm so frustrated! I really need to be able to make an informed decision about whether to continue with this cycle or not before Monday, but I'm not sure that is going to happen. I can't make a decision based on my emotions alone. 

I don't understand how I've been to 2 RE's and neither of them have mentioned my thyroid. I've already done an IVF cycle and don't think my thyroid has anything to do with it failing. Yes, I've had a miscarriage, but I'm pretty sure that was due to low progesterone levels and not my thyroid. 

I've done some (understatement) research and found that the most likely thing is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I don't really have any of the symptoms and found that treatment is controversial. Some think if your TSH isn't elevated there is no reason to treat it. Others show that treatment helps. 

I just feel lost and not prepared to handle another delay. I know if there is a problem that needs to be dealt with it is best to do before cycling again. It's just hard to accept that and wait another couple of months. Hopefully I can get some kind of answers tomorrow regarding the ultrasound. 

6 comments:

  1. I had been to the RE, had my thyroid tested, and was told there was no problem. Then, when I had my RPL blood panel done, my antibody levels were high, and he diagnosed me with hypothyroidism. I'm like, huh?? I didn't even have any symptoms. So apparently it is very important to do the full panel, because my initial tests were only slightly off, not really a big deal, but when combined with the wacky antibody levels it is a big deal. Anyways, they put me on Synthroid (4 weeks ago), and told me not to TTC last month, but that I'd be fine for this month. 4 weeks was enough time for me to take it. Not sure if we have the same thing or not, I'll have to go pull my lab reports and see exactly what my numbers were, but from what I remember reading a wacky thyroid can lead to miscarriage. It was enough to make me not want to try last month. But when I questioned what would happen if we did accidentally get preganant, my doctor wasn't concerned and said I would be monitored and they would just adjust my medicine. So I'm not sure if that helps at all....but good luck.

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  2. Good luck! I haven't asked much about Thyroid issues so I am not sure how much of a difference it makes. Make sure though, that if it does matter, you try to fix it first. You want to give yourself the best chance you can.
    But I understand about the delay. I am in that mode right now and it was really hard to swallow that I had to wait two more months past what I anticipated.

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  3. I wish I could have a real time convertation with you. Everytime I read your blog I think of 100 things to ask you or tell you and then I forgot half of them as I write you. It is possible that you miscarriages because of your thyroid it's also MORE possible that your miscarriage is what triggered your tyroid problem. It's what triggered mine. When will you get the results of the test?? I don't want to say wait on IVF because they can adjust your meds if you get pregnant but if anythings off with your thyroid it will cause problems with getting pregnant and well IVF isn't cheap. It does take 6 weeks for the meds to change anything. The reason M's doctor might have let her start trying after 4 weeks is because hers isn't off by much. It's possible that your thyroid is your missing link as to why you haven't been able to get pregnant. Like I said before if you have any questions let me know.

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  4. I don't have a problem with my thyroid, but I was in a similar situation as you. I had a big fibroid, but my RE and GYN said it was no problem before IVF. Then I did one cycle, BFN and I was on the fence about removing it before trying again. I wish I had, because I threw that cycle away. I spent over a year on the bench from ttc, but it would have been better to do that BEFORE wasting a cycle. Sometimes a stitch in time saves nine, you know? And I think you need a full panel before moving forward, no matter what your RE says.If it is what your instinct tells you, follow it.

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  5. Oh no I hope they don't delay it! :( I have thyroid issues and they still went ahead with my IVF. They put me on meds for it months before IVF but then during IVF they doubled my dose. And everything was fine. My friend just did IVF and it worked and they just put her on a thyroid med. Hope it all works out for you! Let's get this show on the road :)

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  6. I know how frustrating delays can be! I hope you get some answers soon. I take levoxyl for subclinical hypothyroid, and have been for almost 2 years. My TSH was over 5 when I started, and my primary only treated it because I was TTC. My RE wants it between 2.5 and .05 I think. Since I've been treating it, I've fluctuated somewhat, but always within that range. I haven't ever been told my thyroid was enlarged, so I'm not sure about that one. But, the concern I've found from doctors hasn't been so much about getting pregnant, but about the development of the fetus in very early pregnancy if levels aren't under control. In any case, it is something you should be able to figure out, and treat. I know it sucks that it might have to take some time to do it though.

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