Warm Spring Air & A Little Anxiety
Finally the spring has arrived here in our little spot in western mass. The air has been perhaps a little bit warmer than it should be for spring, 75 degrees? That is more like summer warm I do believe. Anyways, I am still feeling good and I am really starting to feel pregnant and that feels really good.
However, I am a little on edge. When I had my first blood work done for this pregnancy my TSH levels came back high, like 4.91 or something like that. So, about a week later I had the levels re-tested and this time it came back even a little higher...over 5.0. So, today 3 weeks later I went to the endocrinologist and he felt pretty certain that even after having more bloodwork that I probably really do have hypothyroidism and that I will need to be treated for it. I am glad to be treated for it, but I was pissed that for whatever reason I had been made to wait 3 weeks for the appointment I had today. I had been told when the appointment was made for me that if the doctors office thought I should come in earlier to see the endocrinologist that they would call me. Well, after talking to him it seems like they should have called me and I should have been seen much sooner.
So, now I am a little worried about this. I am a little worried because of all the things that he told me about having hypothyroidism in pregnancy, and how it is linked to miscarriage. I can't lose this baby, I just can't.
edited to add: I forgot to mention that had more blood work to test the FreeT4 levels as well as antibodies. So on monday I will find out about the first blood test and tuesday I will know for sure what the hell is going on and if I will for sure be treated.
11 comments:
Keeping my fingers, toes, and Capone's (the dog) paws crossed for you.
Just keep repeating, "everything will be okay." I know it's hard, but you have to believe that everything will be okay, or you will drive yourself crazy.
I was making funeral arrangements for Blake, because I knew he wouldn't come home alive. I terrorized myself my entire pregnancy, just KNOWING that at any moment, something was going to go wrong.
Now, I look back, and I wish I could say that I enjoyed my pregnancy. I miss my bump, and miss feeling him inside me. Especially when he is keeping me up at 3am. :)
How scary. And I'm furious that you had to wait so long to be seen and diagnosed.
That is frightening & I can't believe you had to wait. I hope you'll get the attention you need from now on.
Hi Erin, sounds like you are a bit nervous, I understand that pretty well. I miscarried my first baby and it made my next pregnancy, paranoia hell. But I found this web site called Babyfm.com, that rents out Doppler's, and boy I will tell you, that Doppler kept me SANE (at least as sane as it could), they rent by the day, anywhere from $1.85 a day to $0.85 a day, I rent the one that is a $0.85 a day, they bill me every 30 days, and it totals up to be about $21.00 a month. The more expensive rentals tell you your babies heart rate, that is the one I got last time, and I wish I had gotten it this time. If I could go back I would spend the extra money for the extra information. I would really highly recommend renting a doppler, if you haven't all ready ;), it could give you SO much peace of mind.
I hope that this is helpful. I think of you everyday and am ever hopeful that, after all you have been through, you can find peace and happiness. I wish I could give you a hug and tell you in person just how amazing I think you are.
That TSH is high, and make sure you get treated. They probably waited because under the old guidelines that max level was 5.0, and under the new guidelines the max level is 3.0.
Google it a bit, and let them know that you prefer to use the new guidelines because better safe than sorry. And if you need to get a second opinion, then why not? That said, this early, you will be fine, it's not to late.
Take care
I also have hypothyroidism, very common. I feel pretty stable when my TSH is around 2.0 or lower--but during pregnancy the levels can, and often will, fluctuate a lot. I get tested every month, and now that I'm nearing the end of my pregnancy, I'll be tested every other week.
Sorry, I hit submit too early. Don't worry if it takes a little bit to stabilize. I think it took me a few months till I found a dosage that really helped my symptoms AND kept my levels steady. Good luck!
crossing my fingers for you all!
Just coming back by to say I'm thinking of you. Many many hugs.
I so remember Erin how scary anything the least bit out of the ordinary during my pregnancy was and I'm sure with losing your dear Birdie that is much more so. What I can say is though you have been through the hardest experience and that my working years with OB and newborns the medical field is so on top of this and if there is anything going on there is treatment and all should be well. I don't say that like I know everyting, I just have a lot of confidence from what I have seen. My SIL is a high risk clinician for preggo moms;) for many years and although I know you are getting great care she is one who if you would have anymore questions she would do her best to answer them for you in more detail. I know I asked her things constantly when I was preggo and I even worked as a nurse then!! My daughter also is a clinical laboratory scientist and works with antibodies all the time and if you have any questions about those I could let her know too!! I just am telling you this because I remember how anxious I was at times just wanting to know everything was going ok. You are always in my thoughts and prayers....
Maybe a home doppler might be a good idea. It will do one of two things. It will either make you entirely crazy. Or it will reassure you that there is a heart beat.
However with preterm fetusus there is no protocol for what is a good tracing. I have seen 27 week fetuses drop down to the 90s for 2 hours with moderate variability (watching the strip like a hawk)and then pop back up to the normal 120-160. One of AWhonn's text book even sights slight variable decels in the preterm fetus as reassuring. As you see this could drive you crazy. But it may not.
My father has a home O2 sensor. His pulmonologist told him not to buy it because it will "make him crazy." However, he loves it because he gets and objective read that his oxygen level is ok or isn't ok. When you are trying to judge how well you are breathing and you are anxious, it is tough to make a judgement call. With the help of his O2 sat monitor, it helps him decrease his anxiety.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Enjoy the weather.
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