Re: HELP. Consultant's advice is different to Doctor's advice.....

[Guest guest]

I agree with your assessment, and I'd go with the doctor. Every single

study corroborates her opinion. Low levels of hormone cause miscarriage

too, and cause mental problems in the child to boot.

Jan

and Dan wrote:

>I am now 12 weeks pregnant, taking 150 mcg thyroxine, and have

>supressed TSH of 0.1 (0.3 - 5.0) and have been given different advice

>from different Doctors and am now puzzled as to which I should

>follow. My T4 is 17.1 (9 - 24). Not sure if that is FT4 or T4, but in

>any event it's within normal range which would indicate I have normal

>levels of thyroid in my system?

>

>My DOCTOR says the supressed TSH is safe as the T4 (or was it FT4?)

>level is normal and recommends I continue taking 150 mcg thyroxine.

>

>But my CONSULTANT seems to be going by TSH alone. His secretary

>phoned this morning (I left a message for him last week) and said he

>and wants me to lower the dose to 125 mcg thyroxine. I am worried

>that lowering the dose will make me hypo and effect the pregnancy,

>but I am also worried that the supressed TSH might be an indication

>of being hyper. The Consultant hinted that a supressed TSH increases

>the risk of miscarriage.

>

>Should I follow my Doctor's advice and remain on 150mcg in spite of

>TSH being 0.1?

>Or should I follow my Consultant's advice and reduce the dose to

>125mcg in spite of the fact my T4 is normal whilst taking 150mcg?

>

>I've not had any problems with having such a low TSH. I feel very

>well on 150 mcg and have not experienced hyper symptoms. Also I had

>the 12 week scan this morning and baby is spot on for dates and

>everything looks fine.

>

>My Consultant is in his 60s and retiring this month, whereas my

>Doctor is in her 20s. I'm wondering if this is a case of the Doctor

>following recent studies and the Consultant following the old

>fashioned guidelines?

>

>What do you believe the specialists should be going by? TSH alone, or

>T4?

>

>I realise I posted on this subject a few days ago (and wish to thank

>the people who replied).... but any further comments would be greatly

>appreciated!

>

>Regards,

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

You should be going by FREE T3 and FREE T4 and how you FEEL. I think it

would be far more dangerous to lower thyroid hormone if you feel well.

There have been a few women on these lists who had miscarriages when they

were treated to the TSH and meds were lowered.

Gracia

> I am now 12 weeks pregnant, taking 150 mcg thyroxine, and have

> supressed TSH of 0.1 (0.3 - 5.0) and have been given different advice

> from different Doctors and am now puzzled as to which I should

> follow. My T4 is 17.1 (9 - 24). Not sure if that is FT4 or T4, but in

> any event it's within normal range which would indicate I have normal

> levels of thyroid in my system?

>

> My DOCTOR says the supressed TSH is safe as the T4 (or was it FT4?)

> level is normal and recommends I continue taking 150 mcg thyroxine.

>

> But my CONSULTANT seems to be going by TSH alone. His secretary

> phoned this morning (I left a message for him last week) and said he

> and wants me to lower the dose to 125 mcg thyroxine. I am worried

> that lowering the dose will make me hypo and effect the pregnancy,

> but I am also worried that the supressed TSH might be an indication

> of being hyper. The Consultant hinted that a supressed TSH increases

> the risk of miscarriage.

>

> Should I follow my Doctor's advice and remain on 150mcg in spite of

> TSH being 0.1?

> Or should I follow my Consultant's advice and reduce the dose to

> 125mcg in spite of the fact my T4 is normal whilst taking 150mcg?

>

> I've not had any problems with having such a low TSH. I feel very

> well on 150 mcg and have not experienced hyper symptoms. Also I had

> the 12 week scan this morning and baby is spot on for dates and

> everything looks fine.

>

> My Consultant is in his 60s and retiring this month, whereas my

> Doctor is in her 20s. I'm wondering if this is a case of the Doctor

> following recent studies and the Consultant following the old

> fashioned guidelines?

>

> What do you believe the specialists should be going by? TSH alone, or

> T4?

>

> I realise I posted on this subject a few days ago (and wish to thank

> the people who replied).... but any further comments would be greatly

> appreciated!

>

> Regards,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I think Jan is right on this one. The rapid gain in weight at the end of

the pregnancy is going to effectively lower the T4 dose and bring the

TSH back up a notch anyway. Your doctor should monitor for changes

immediately after the delivery, however. I understand that this is when

there are often large temporary jumps, particularly toward the

hypothyroid state. My daughter (the nurse) had this happen to her after

her last child.

Chuck

[Guest guest]

I also like the suggestion of having both doctors talk to themselves - I

don't think it is right for them to stress you out with conflicting advice.

Jan

Chuck B wrote:

>,

>

>I think Jan is right on this one. The rapid gain in weight at the end of

>the pregnancy is going to effectively lower the T4 dose and bring the

>TSH back up a notch anyway. Your doctor should monitor for changes

>immediately after the delivery, however. I understand that this is when

>there are often large temporary jumps, particularly toward the

>hypothyroid state. My daughter (the nurse) had this happen to her after

>her last child.

>

>Chuck

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Jan, Gracia and Chuck for taking the time to reply to my

posting. I appreciate the advice and will try and get an appointment

with my Doctor tomorrow or Friday. The problem in England is that so

most Doctors are reluctant to test anything other than TSH (in my

experience they generally refuse to test TT4, FT4, TT3, FT3 or

antibodies). We are very behind the times here. I wish more emphasis

were put on clinical diagnoses and FT4 and FT3.

Thanks again for the support and advice.

Regards,

>

> >,

> >

> >I think Jan is right on this one. The rapid gain in weight at the

end of

> >the pregnancy is going to effectively lower the T4 dose and bring

the

> >TSH back up a notch anyway. Your doctor should monitor for changes

> >immediately after the delivery, however. I understand that this is

when

> >there are often large temporary jumps, particularly toward the

> >hypothyroid state. My daughter (the nurse) had this happen to her

after

> >her last child.

> >

> >Chuck

> >

> >

> >