fluctuation TSH

irishgirl00 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-18-2005, 03:04 PM

Hi all...

DH and I may be jumping back on the IVF bandwagon again since our Russian adoption plans are not looking good with the situation going on over there -

after two IVF attempts last year, one BFN and a chemical pregnancy we found that I may have a thyroid condition. TSH was 4.25 and I was given synthroid to get it down between 1-2 as endo said that was optimal for TTC. Well, we decided to stop TTC and take a break, so I stopped the synthroid (as endo told me 4.25 was still normal, just not for TTC)

So, skip to present ( a year later) - TSH is 1.6 on 1/5 (no meds) and 3.4 on 1/11 (no meds). Acupuncturist thinks antibodies need to be looked at before TTC again...she thinks possibly Hashimoto's and says don;t waste tiem and energy on TTC with IVF or any other way until we get an answer to the thyroid problem.

Any thoughts? I have PCOS too and just started on gluchophage XR - could that be reason for fluctuating thyroid? I contacted my endo and hope to hear from her when she gets ack in the ofie on Monday - just thought I'd ask you ladies if you had any advice or experience to share.

Thanks
Beth

Star622 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-20-2005, 05:22 PM

Hi Beth!

I'm not real sure. I know that seasonal changes can affect your thyroid from what I've read.

I can't recall if my gluc was affecting my levels or not. Mine fluctuated quite a bit for awhile, but it was because of my breakfast cereal.

Now that I take it at night, I'm fine. I'm back on gluc so we'll see.

I lurk a lot on the Russian adoptions boards on another site. Seems like things are picking up just a little bit. I hope it continues so you get your referral soon.

tomcat · #3 (**permalink**) 03-28-2005, 03:35 PM

Beth, I'm not sure either. But I wanted to just chime in to say that my TSH went from 4.1 to 3.3 in a month (no meds). I thought that was a bit odd, and am curious to hear if you've found anything more out from your endo.

Good luck! Catherine

Lisa94 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-29-2005, 10:35 AM

I thought I'd chime in that there seems to be a lot of lab to lab and test to test variation with TSH. I make sure that I always go the same lab at about the same time of day to get my TSH checked.

Also, the clinical lab ranges for normal TSH range were changed by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists a few years ago. (Not very many doctors seem to know about this though...it depends how up they are on reading journals.) Normal is now 0.3 to 3. You definitely want to have your TSH between 1 and 2 for optimal conception. That's what my endo told me, and I have read a lot of articles that have said the same.

You should have your anti-thyroid antibodies checked, your TSH and free T4. You are right that your other medicines may affect your thyroid...all these hormones interact. I think you are on the right track to get to the bottom of the thyroid issue before you invest in IVF. Good luck with the doctor!