Pregnant & doctors are confusing me!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2003
Pregnant & doctors are confusing me!
1
Sat, 10-30-2004 - 12:18pm
Ok, this is a long story! I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was in high school. I had gained weight, was tired, my hair was dry & gross & my face broke out big time! I found that my thyroid had swollen, so we went to an endocrinologist. He aspirated it and gave me Synthroid. I remember he told me I would have to take this for the rest of my life.

Fast forward- I am 8 months pregnant with my second daughter and 31 years old. I am now taking Levoxyl 50 mcg (I have been on this for 2 years or so). I go to a high risk doctor for an ultrasound (I am not high risk, but my OB sends everyone there). He asks about my thyroid disorder, I tell him the above story. He asks if I have Hashimoto's. I say "I don't know, I just know I am hypothyroid". The next thing I know, my doctor calls me and says that I have to come in twice a week for nonstress tests to monitor the baby. I am of course alarmed! I go in and ask about this. I have never been told anything about this, even with my first baby! My OB says "it's the Hashimoto's factor...". The thing is I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE HASHIMOTO'S! I have heard of it, but didn't really know what it was in detail. Neither my father nor I remember the endo. referring to it as that, in high school. SO, my OB says that the symptoms for Hashimoto's are bulging eyes and restlessness etc. Totally different from mine. She and I agree that I probably didn't have that.

I have moved a million times since high school and every doctor I go to, I put down my medication and that I have HYPOTHYROIDISM. What if the original dr. did diagnosis me with Hashimoto's and it's been forgotten/lost along the way. I am so worried about my baby now. My OB told me some of the worries/complications that are possible.

They wanted to change my meds to 75 mcg of Levoxyl, but even within the first week, my heart was racing! So, they took me back to 50 mcg. My tests show that my levels are considered normal. But my OB said on the lower side.

I am going to the OB for nonstress tests once a week. They basically monitor the baby's heart rate.

I looked Hashimoto's up online. The symptoms are exactly like mine were (how could my OB be so wrong?) Is it possible to just be hypothryoid and not have Hashimoto's? I am a worrier and am trying not to worry too much about the baby. Should I request another appointment with the high risk OB or something? I am a bit overwhelmed and confused.

Anyone out there have any advice or similar experience that may help me relax!?

Thank you.

Jen

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Sat, 10-30-2004 - 4:31pm
Hi Jen - there's no need to be alarmed about being hypo and pregnant!! Your doctors are doing you a real diservice to be so bungling about it. You can go to a new endo now and have a new TSH test, and make sure that the doctor tests the antibodies. That's the only way to tell if you have Hashimoto's. That means that your hypo is caused by Hashi's, which is an autoimmune condition. Other causes can be just general thyroiditis, goiter etc. I think most hypo is caused by Hashi's but I'm not certain. You most certinly can't tell by the symptoms!! They are the same because Hashi's CAUSES the hypothyroidism so if you're hypo, it doesn't matter how you got it, the symptoms are the same and it's always treated the same.

You can have Hashi's and NOT be hypo but eventually, it will most likely cause hypothyroidism.

How does this all relate to you???? Well, the only thing that will effect you is that you need to have regular blood tests to keep your TSH within the normal range. The fact that your heart was racing on 75 mcg probably means that you're in a good range for you. But most often, medication needs to be increased throughout the pregnancy.

I haven't had a baby in quite some time but I remember with my son - my last baby - things were getting very high tech. I hated it. Pregnancy is treated more like a disease these days than the natural process that it is. That's my little rant for the day! LOL!

So you might want to ask around and see if anyone can recommend a good endo or make some calls and see if you can find one that has at least treated some pregnant women. In the meantime, relax about it. It sounds like you're just fine. But you will need to stay on top of it so it's important to start working on finding an endo. Hope this helps!! If you have any other questions, ask away! Cathy :)