Less than 12 weeks pregnant club! 2

LittleMoog

Does anyone here have hypothyroidism? I do, and when we started TTC I looked into it as I heard a program on Radio 4 a few years ago about monitoring levels in pregnancy.
Went to see my gp yesterday to inform them of my pregnancy, and get the levels increased, as per the current guidance, and she refused to do it. She's referred me to an endocrinologist as she says it's too complex for a regular GP to deal with, but I think the NHS guidance document was pretty clear:

 Advise the woman to consult her GP as soon as she thinks she may be pregnant.
 At diagnosis of pregnancy, immediately increase the levothyroxine dose and check TSH and FT4 levels while waiting for referral to a specialist:
o The dose should be increased usually by adding at least 25–50 micrograms levothyroxine; the size of the initial increase in dose will depend on the dose the woman is already taking and the TSH and FT4 concentrations. A 30–50% increase in dosage may be required. If there is any uncertainty about what dose to prescribe, seek immediate specialist advice so that there is no delay in the woman receiving an adequate dose of levothyroxine.

do you think I should push to have dose increased before seeing the specialist? I know it's the early weeks that are a particular concern

emsbet

LittleMoog wrote: »

Does anyone here have hypothyroidism? I do, and when we started TTC I looked into it as I heard a program on Radio 4 a few years ago about monitoring levels in pregnancy.
Went to see my gp yesterday to inform them of my pregnancy, and get the levels increased, as per the current guidance, and she refused to do it. She's referred me to an endocrinologist as she says it's too complex for a regular GP to deal with, but I think the NHS guidance document was pretty clear:

 Advise the woman to consult her GP as soon as she thinks she may be pregnant.
 At diagnosis of pregnancy, immediately increase the levothyroxine dose and check TSH and FT4 levels while waiting for referral to a specialist:
o The dose should be increased usually by adding at least 25–50 micrograms levothyroxine; the size of the initial increase in dose will depend on the dose the woman is already taking and the TSH and FT4 concentrations. A 30–50% increase in dosage may be required. If there is any uncertainty about what dose to prescribe, seek immediate specialist advice so that there is no delay in the woman receiving an adequate dose of levothyroxine.

do you think I should push to have dose increased before seeing the specialist? I know it's the early weeks that are a particular concern

How long will your referral take to come through? I think I would be inclined to book with another GP and print off the NHS guidance and take it to show them.

xx

mishkanorman

I have hypothyroidism which was diagnosed properly in my last pregnancy, that time round I was prescribed 50mg daily but it wasnt detected until my scan appt at 13 weeks and the pregnancy ended 2 weeks later (totally unrelated)

This time i took myself for a Dr's appt at 5 weeks and was tested at the same time - the Dr agreed that it should be looked at but wouldnt automatically up it.

My TSH levels have always been a subject of argument as the Dr kept telling me I was 'borderline' - I have had symptoms of hypo for years and kept ignoring them and when I did go to the doctors and got finally tested for things the Dr seemed to think this was some kind of coincidence !

Anyway, when I was first prescribed 50mg my TSH levels were 4.8 (it varies from area to area but generally they dont like you to be over 2 during pregnancy) my last levels came back at .5 which is too low really so the Dr advised to stay as is and be tested every 4 weeks.

I have never seen an endo, I agree with the Dr that they will be the better people to speak to but if you have to wait 6 weeks to get an appt thats pretty pointless. The first 12 weeks are the most important in terms of fetal growth as they are relying on your thyroid levels during the vital development stages.

If i were you I would print off the info you have found and see a different Dr, when did you have your levels checked last ? can you remember what they were ? Does your current dose keep you quite consistant or are they up and down anyway ?

feel free to pm me

welshgirl78

Thanks ladies and honestly best of luck to you all. Will be keeping an eye out and heading back to the ttc thread soon x

Littlemoog, no idea I'm afraid, but emsbets idea of a printout sounds like a good one, gl!

kazza1000

Hi everyone.

This is my 1st time on this thread and I'm wondering if anyone can help me out?

I think I may have a chemical pregnancy?

I had a BFP on Tuesday after feeling really lousy for 4 days, fatigue, nausea, headaches, hunger etc.

I have 3 kids so am pretty clued in to the signs of early pregnancy!

I used one of the digital tests which shows time from conception. This was 1-2 weeks so very very early pregnancy (3-4 weeks). All week I have been saying to my OH that this feels different than any of my last 3 as the symptoms have come on so early and I felt very very pregnant! Hope that makes sense.

Anyway, got up this morning with cramps just like period pain and also bleeding, very similar to my normal period. This has continued through today.

I have done another test and it says the same as the one I did on Tue - pregnant, 1-2 weeks.

Could this be a chemical pregnancy? Has anyone experienced this before? I have always sailed through pregnancies, no bleeding, no major sickness so am in unknown territory here.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

K x

emsbet

Kazza when was you AF due? Did you test early?
It's a tough one to answer, it could be a chemical pregnancy but then it might just be one of those cases of unexplained bleeding. I think usually with a chemical the hormone levels drop quite quickly and so the fact the CB is still saying 1-2 could be a good sign.
I think a good idea would be to get yourself an appointment with your GP on Monday. At this stage you wouldn't be able to see anything on a scan (and most EPUs won't do them before 6weeks) but the doctor may take some blood from you to measure your HCG levels. You would then need another blood test 2-3 days later to see if your levels have increased (they should double in the time).

Unfortunately chemical pregnacies and early mcs are really common. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

I'm sorry I can't be of much more help to you.

xx

ikkle87

Hi Kazza,

the best thing you can do is go and see your GP, they can do a blood test and then another a few days later to see if your hcg levels have risen adequately. At this stage of pregnancy thats the only way to know if you have had a chemical pregnancy.

Some women do still have periods when pregnant, and not all pregnancies are the same. Fingers crossed things are ok for you x

happydays77_2

I had a chemical pregnancy last year. I did a test on the Monday and it said 1-2 weeks. I started bleeding on the Saturday and at the time I did another test and it said the same. I waited over the weekend and by Monday the test said not pregnant. This is when I went to the doctors and he did blood tests and confirmed it was likely a chemical or a very early miscarriage.
Like everyone else has said, all pregnancies are different and just cos this was mine doesn't mean it's how yours will progress. I would make an appointment and go from there xx

kazza1000

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I'm not totally sure when my period would have been due, just sometime this week is as close as I can pinpoint it. It is probable that I tested early but the symptoms hit me with a bang last Sun/Mon!

I will make an app with GP on Monday and we will just have to wait and see.

This pregnancy would not have been planned like the rest, (I had a stomach bug about 2/3 weeks ago, guess it messed with my pill!) but we have been getting very excited at the idea of another LO this week.

Suddenly this afternoon I just feel pretty normal again, although I felt very sick and dizzy when got up this morning this afternoon I feel just like myself again and my energy levels have suddenly returned.

I suppose there may be a chance that I am actually still pregnant but my instinct is telling me that this one was just not meant to be.

Thanks to all
K x

kazza1000

kazza1000 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I'm not totally sure when my period would have been due, just sometime this week is as close as I can pinpoint it. It is probable that I tested early but the symptoms hit me with a bang last Sun/Mon!

I will make an app with GP on Monday and we will just have to wait and see.

This pregnancy would not have been planned like the rest, (I had a stomach bug about 2/3 weeks ago, guess it messed with my pill!) but we have been getting very excited at the idea of another LO this week.

Suddenly this afternoon I just feel pretty normal again, although I felt very sick and dizzy when got up this morning this afternoon I feel just like myself again and my energy levels have suddenly returned.

I suppose there may be a chance that I am actually still pregnant but my instinct is telling me that this one was just not meant to be.

Thanks to all
K x

Just thought I should add to this that although I feel that all symptoms of early pregnancy seem to have disappeared this afternoon I am needing to pee literally every half hour today.