Thyoid Q: answer from ghost and others would be appreciated

[stressball]

Hi,
I did IVF in May-June resulted in BFN. I noticed after few days that I felt pressure in my thyroid region. I saw a thyroid specialist last week and she said that my thyroid is slightly enlarged. My thyoid funtion tests came out to be normal. I will be doing FET in August. My question is can somebody have enlarged thyroid and still have normal function? or is it possible that the doc did not perform intensive testing to look into the problem. My symptoms tell me that something is not right such as lethargic, tired, headaches, heart racing or feels like missing a heart beat, hair loss. All these symptoms have been there since post BFN. Please help me solve this mystry.

Thanks
Sanya

[daly]

Hey!

I'm so sorry you're havig thyroid problems. Luckily it is an organ they know alot about and treatment, if needed, is usually not complicated. It sounds like your doctor checked a full thryoid panel. Those can definatley be normal with some swelling of the thyroid. There's different things that can cause enlargement. You can have a non-functional cyst (doesnt' produce any hormones) or an infection etc. I ended up with antithyroid antibodies after my pregnancy and had a cross reaction that caused excess thyroid horone to be released. Luckily it calmed down after a couple months. I just thought I felt horrible from lack of sleep, but my lethargy was really severe. Your symptoms could be suggestive of excess thyroid hormone, but if they did a full panel - tsh, t3, t4 that means your thyroid hormone is a normal level and can't be causing the symptoms. Did they give you the lab results? I know they've recently lowered the screening level of tsh for what is considered hypothyroid. The next thing htey might do is check your gland with an US. That can check for any structural (cysts, etc) Also, alot of time they can't figure out what if causing a little swelling and it will resolve on it's own. What did they recommend next? Double check they looked for anti-thyroid hormones as well. It your early in what I had, it could not yet be casuing a change in your thyroid panel, but just starting to react. Do they know you're having racing heart rate? I'd be sure to be outspoken with your symptoms. Wishing you tons of luck. I know I really wanted to be as heathly as possible before my next IVF cycle too, so the embies had their best chance. Let us know how it turns out.

[Ghost]

I don't know much about thyroid health. I do know that lack of proper thyroid function has been linked to pregnancy losses.

I think you should see an expert. Perhaps consult your RE first.

[stressball]

Hi Daly,
Thanks so much for your response. The endo doc had only done t4 and TSH. Yes the labs for these two came out to be within normal new limits. I requested her to do T3 and test antibodies after reading your response. The doc said she will order the tests but not sure if those would be covered even with my history (last year) of infection called thyroiditis followed by pnenomonia. She also said even if the antibodies are elevated ON THE PENDING LAB TESTS she would not treat it because she thinks my thyroid is functioning right. Does this sound right to you. The reason I am so worked up here is because in couple of days I will have my periods and will start my estrogen for FET. I am also not sure if my Labs will come by the next week. Do u think I should wait for my antibodies results come out? its very hard to wait though...Thanks a lot Daly...I really appreciate.Congratulations.... twins WOW...wish me twins too.

Love,
Sanya.

[EYCI]

Hi Sanya,
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about 6 months post-partum. The one thing that I learned is that you will want to work with an endocrinologist that will treat your symptoms and NOT just rely on the lab numbers. What is in the "normal" range for lab results may not be normal for you. The fact that they didn't do a full panel to test for thyroid function/disease says to me that your endocrinologist is not looking out for your best interest. Also, it may not just be your thyroid at issue, it could also be your pituitary gland or even your adrenal gland. Maybe you would want to consider postponing your FET to get it all sorted out, so that you can give yourself the best chance at a BFP. If for no other reason, if you do get a BFN in August, you may always wonder if it was due to the thyroid.

I'm sorry my post isn't more upbeat, but I really hope that you can find the answer to your question and symptoms. I know how much it sucks when you just don't feel like yourself and yet you can't figure out why.

Good luck to you!!!

--Julie

[daly]

Sanya - I totally agree with everything Julie said. It's very old school to treat the "lab" level instead of the patient clinical presentation. If you have antithyroid ab, it in itself doesn't indicate ttreatment. but, you need to be followed as it can lead to hyper initally and later hypothyroidism after the inflamation has worn out your thyroid and studies show significant increased risk mc while antibodies are high. The gold standard treatment is EXPENSIVE (ivig). Instead, my RE gave me prolonged prednosone/medrol. This is not shown to help antithyroid antibodies specifically, but it carried no harm and he felt better doing it. I waited to start my ivf cycle until the ab level resolved. I still have my thyroid function tested regularly givne this history and knowig how critical it is for a healthy pregnancy. I don't like that your RE isn't concerned about antithyroid ab. This is a general screening lab in my REs office due to the mc risk it carries. Is there an endocrinologist you can see? They are more specialized in the thryoid then an RE.
I'm sending you as much twin vibes as I can! Whatever is going on with your thyoid, once you find a good doc you'll be in great shape for another cycle. The thyroid really is an organ that is usually easy to treat and you just want to be sure your doc is conservative and checking everything.

Let us know how it turns out.

[stressball]

Hi Julie and Daly,
I just read your mails when I am on my second day of estrogen to start FET. My Doc is not RE but an endocrinologist. I went to the best one in town but unfortunately I did not get to see the doc I thought I was going to see. It was her PA. I still dont know what PA is?????Anyways whoever she is does beleive in lab results. She said that everything is normal except my Vitamin D LEVEL (20) and prescribed me meds...She said that Vit D does not affect the treatment and is not the cause of infertility. Now about my symptoms. I still fell tight in my throat. I dont have heart palpitations anymore.

Anyways I have a sono on Monday with RE...lets see what he says. Thanks ladies.