Re: pregnancy and lab values question

[Guest guest]

what the nurse told you about your OB handling things is not

uncommon, though the 2 really should work together, say if your OB

or midwife does the testing and if they dont deal much with thyroid

(some are entirely capable of handling things on their own)they

could consult your other doc.

your meds should most definitely be adjusted during pregnancy, mine

personally were increased 3 and 4 times during my pregnancies. since

your midwife isnt a thyroid pro, if i were you i would ask her to

check your labs often. it really is important. your thyroid levels

have alot of effect on your pregnancy and your baby, including size,

intelligence, and your own health and well being.

>

> My labs have looked good for a while now. TSH supressed, FT3 just

over the top, and FT4 in the upper range. I'm in my 8th week of

pregnancy now, and since I already had a lab slip for future use, I

went ahead and had labs done and sent to my thyroid Dr. Then I

called and wanted to find out if he needs to see me, or can just

tell me if I need any adjustment at this time, and how often I

should be tested. (A little background that in my last pregnancy I

was only tested once by my midwife, who never adjusted anything even

though my T3 came back very low).

>

> I only spoke with his nurse, and often times they think they know

the Dr.'s mind when they don't. But she had said that they don't

want the liability of dealing with an OB patient and generally turn

over the testing responsibility to them during the pregnancy. I

hope that's not really true. My midwife is not a Hashi's or thyroid

expert. She ordered a TSH only... and when of course it came back

low, she told me to cut my meds drastically (which I didn't). If I

leave this all up to her, I may as well not bother getting tested.

>

> So, first of all.... should your labs be at the same levels

during pregnancy as would be ideal otherwise? Is it bad to have a

supressed TSH while pregnant? Hopefully the Dr. understands the

issues involved... I mean really, if I had rheumatoid arthritis,

or epilepsy or something..... my specialist for that wouldn't turn

over my care to the OB who doesn't know anything about it!

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> My labs have looked good for a while now. TSH supressed, FT3 just

over the top, and FT4 in the upper range. I'm in my 8th week of

pregnancy now, and since I already had a lab slip for future use, I

went ahead and had labs done and sent to my thyroid Dr. Then I

called and wanted to find out if he needs to see me, or can just

tell me if I need any adjustment at this time, and how often I

should be tested. (A little background that in my last pregnancy I

was only tested once by my midwife, who never adjusted anything even

though my T3 came back very low).

>

> I only spoke with his nurse, and often times they think they know

the Dr.'s mind when they don't. But she had said that they don't

want the liability of dealing with an OB patient and generally turn

over the testing responsibility to them during the pregnancy. I

hope that's not really true. My midwife is not a Hashi's or thyroid

expert. She ordered a TSH only... and when of course it came back

low, she told me to cut my meds drastically (which I didn't). If I

leave this all up to her, I may as well not bother getting tested.

>

> So, first of all.... should your labs be at the same levels

during pregnancy as would be ideal otherwise? Is it bad to have a

supressed TSH while pregnant? Hopefully the Dr. understands the

issues involved... I mean really, if I had rheumatoid arthritis,

or epilepsy or something..... my specialist for that wouldn't turn

over my care to the OB who doesn't know anything about it!

>

>

>

>

I believe the general rule is testing every month during pregnancy,

and yes it has to be the TSH, Free 4 and Free 3.. they also should

be doing antibody testing every tri semester but definitely in the

last tri semester.. the body tends to have an autoimmune response of

its own during pregnancy where Hashi or Grave's patients need to

reduce medication..this of course comes back after pregnancy..

Also hypo tends to need more medication during the first tri

symester..

You really need to find an OB that understands thyroid during

pregnancy..

Kats3boys

[Guest guest]

>

> My labs have looked good for a while now. TSH supressed, FT3 just

over the top, and FT4 in the upper range. I'm in my 8th week of

pregnancy now, and since I already had a lab slip for future use, I

went ahead and had labs done and sent to my thyroid Dr. Then I

called and wanted to find out if he needs to see me, or can just

tell me if I need any adjustment at this time, and how often I

should be tested. (A little background that in my last pregnancy I

was only tested once by my midwife, who never adjusted anything even

though my T3 came back very low).

>

> I only spoke with his nurse, and often times they think they know

the Dr.'s mind when they don't. But she had said that they don't

want the liability of dealing with an OB patient and generally turn

over the testing responsibility to them during the pregnancy. I

hope that's not really true. My midwife is not a Hashi's or thyroid

expert. She ordered a TSH only... and when of course it came back

low, she told me to cut my meds drastically (which I didn't). If I

leave this all up to her, I may as well not bother getting tested.

>

> So, first of all.... should your labs be at the same levels

during pregnancy as would be ideal otherwise? Is it bad to have a

supressed TSH while pregnant? Hopefully the Dr. understands the

issues involved... I mean really, if I had rheumatoid arthritis,

or epilepsy or something..... my specialist for that wouldn't turn

over my care to the OB who doesn't know anything about it!

>

>

>

>

I believe the general rule is testing every month during pregnancy,

and yes it has to be the TSH, Free 4 and Free 3.. they also should

be doing antibody testing every tri semester but definitely in the

last tri semester.. the body tends to have an autoimmune response of

its own during pregnancy where Hashi or Grave's patients need to

reduce medication..this of course comes back after pregnancy..

Also hypo tends to need more medication during the first tri

symester..

You really need to find an OB that understands thyroid during

pregnancy..

Kats3boys

[Guest guest]

She doesn't understand thyroid hormones then, for sure..... TSH alone is not a valid indicator as to whether a person is hyper or hypo ESPECIALLY if they are already on replacement hormone or dealing with antibodies or on T4 only replacement.....

sigh

The lower your thyroid hormone levels, thats the Free T's, the great the stress on the baby.... if your body doesn't have enough thyroid hormone to properly function your body starts taking it from your baby.. that affects the both the physical and mental growth and development of the baby....

It's important to test regularly and adjust accordingly.

Topper ()

On Wed, 25 Jan 2006 13:26:23 -0800 "juliesisemore" writes:

I could ask her to check them often, but she thinks I'm overreplaced as it is. She wants to cut me back, when my other Dr. feels I'm in the perfect place. The midwife feels that my TSH should be around 2 and my free's should be in the mid-range.... you know, good and *normal*. But for me, that's hypo range. When I refused to reduce my meds, and explained to her that because I have Hashimoto's my Dr. likes to keep my TSH repressed, she wasn't very happy. To her a low TSH means I'm hyperthryoid and should be treated as such.

[Guest guest]

hmm... i posted a message last night, but maybe it got lost out in

yahoo land somewhere. i apologize if this is a duplicate.

at risk of sounding ignorant here... back when i was pregnant with

my first and i was given the choice between an ob doc or midwife, i

chose the doc for this reason. i personally felt that a doc may have

a bit more knowledge in regard to other medical conditions that may

have effect on my pregnancy, such as my thyroid problem.

maybe your midwife could give your (thyroid) doc a call and get a

crash course in thyroid 101 from them? if she is offended by this

request, well, too bad for her. you know your body and how you feel,

and i'm guessing have more thyroid knowledge. if you stay with the

midwife, maybe she can consult with your doc on every set of labs.

or maybe your doc could refer you to an ob or midwife that he has

dealt with on one level or another that may have a better idea of

(at the very least) what labs to run, etc. it really is important

that your thyroid be properly managed, for you and baby.

like i said before, my dose was changed i think 3x with my daughters

pregnancy and 4 with my son (something like that lol). be firm about

this- they work for you! and this is your health and your baby

good luck!

>

>

>

>

> > what the nurse told you about your OB handling things is not

> > uncommon, though the 2 really should work together, > your meds

should

> > most definitely be adjusted during pregnancy, since

> > your midwife isnt a thyroid pro, if i were you i would ask her to

> > check your labs often.

>

> I could ask her to check them often, but she thinks I'm

overreplaced as it

> is. She wants to cut me back, when my other Dr. feels I'm in the

perfect

> place. The midwife feels that my TSH should be around 2 and my

free's

> should be in the mid-range.... you know, good and *normal*. But

for me,

> that's hypo range. When I refused to reduce my meds, and

explained to her

> that because I have Hashimoto's my Dr. likes to keep my TSH

repressed, she

> wasn't very happy. To her a low TSH means I'm hyperthryoid and

should be

> treated as such.

>

>

>