[Natasha_C]

#1060097

After 5 years on PTU, I did RAI in March 2012, and surprisingly it went very well. For over a year, my T4 is in normal range (9-11.9), but my TSH is suppressed. I am not taking any thyroid medications for over a year now and feel very well.
I waited exactly one year after RAI to get pregnant, and it happened very fast — in April’13 I got pregnant and is currently 14 weeks (i was shocked because I thought it would be much harder to get pregnant after so many years of Graves’).
My Endo looked at me once when I was 5 weeks, my blood results were fine so he said he didn’t want to see me for the next 6 month.
However, my OB doctor believes that I should see Endocrinologist every 2-3 months, and he also sent me to get thyroid ultrasound after seeing that my TSH is suppressed. Ultrasound showed that I have inflammation in my thyroid so I was refereed back to my Endo.
Endo didn’t even look at U/S pictures and said he only trusts T4/TSH numbers. He said that thyroid behaves pretty well during pregnancy and that he wants to see me only in 6 month, which is right by my due date. He also said, that sometimes thyroid misbehaves after like 6 weeks postpartum, and that when he would like to see me too.
I am very confused at this point because I thought I would need to see my Endo more often during pregnancy, especially what if my T4 levels will go down and I will become hypo?
I will probably ask my OB doc to check my TSH/T4 every time I do blood works there and will monitor it on my own..

Does anyone have a similar experience?

[Kimberly]

#1180302

Hello and welcome – it’s really important to make sure you have a doctor who is up to date on the American Thyroid Association’s latest guidelines regarding thyroid disease and pregnancy. Here’s a link to the full document:

(Note on links: if you click directly on the following link, you will need to use your browser’s “back” button to return to the boards after viewing, or you will have to log back in to the forum. As an alternative, you can right-click the link and open it in a new tab or new window).

http://thyroidguidelines.net/sites/thyroidguidelines.net/files/file/thy.2011.0087.pdf

It’s actually common for TSH levels to drop during pregnancy, and some pregnant women develop an extremely low TSH without experiencing any problems. *However,* it’s really important to make sure you aren’t hypER or hypO during your pregnancy. We’re fellow patients here, not docs, but if it was me, I would follow the OB/GYN’s recommendations for more frequent testing.

Also, it’s important to note that antibody levels can spike post-RAI, which in rare cases can be passed on to the fetus, even after the 12-month mark. The guidance in the above link recommends antibody testing (TRAb) for all women with a past history of Graves’ at the 20-24 week mark, with the involvement of a maternal-fetal specialist recommended if antibodies are extremely elevated.

If you would like a second opinion from an endo, the “Looking for a Doctor?” thread in the announcements section of this forum has several links to search engines where you can look for a doc by city/state/zip.

Wishing you and your family all the best!

[Natasha_C]

#1180304

Kimberly, thank you very much for reply!
This information is very helpful and important to me.

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