Got the call today from the OB's office with bloodwork results from last week's appt. Everything normal except urine test and my "thyroid" is low. EXACT same results as our first bloodwork last pregnancy. They said the pee sample must be contaminated so I can just redo the urine test next time, and they're sending off for additional labwork on the thyroid.
Of course the person who called is a tech who knows nothing so I called back and left a message for a nurse to see whether it is my TSH that is low or actual thyroid hormone - haven't heard back yet. I presume the former, which is less of a concern because Dr. Google tells me that low TSH is actually normal in the 1st tri, but I want to know for sure because google is also very foreboding on the topic of thyroid dysfunction in pregnancy. I don't normally have thyroid issues, and I've been tested many times because I'm fat and that's usually a doctor's attempted easy out for explaining why I'm fat or can't get pregnant.
I'm really trying not to stress about this but I can't help but wonder about every little thing and whether it was a sign or related to our loss last time. Did I have underlying thyroid disease that caused our preterm labor (that's one of the possible side effects)? Did I have an unidentified infection that was overlooked in pee tests that caused preterm labor? I really don't like having deja vu moments with last time because last time didn't end well. I'd love to have one doctor appointment without a concern or complication, but that's never going to be me.
In Puddin' news, her limp persists but the shivering appeared to be diminished or gone this morning. Spoke to the specialist and they want to see her to rule out a blood clot. We had the option of either leaving her there tonight and letting the vet see her in the morning (we can't miss any more work right now) or taking her tomorrow. I decided to take her tomorrow and just arrive late and hope no one notices, because the idea of leaving her at the vet overnight unwarranted was breaking my heart. I really hope they can "fix" her. She's a hot medical mess just like her mommy.
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About Me
- Busted
- Approaching 30. Married to the best person I've ever met. Infertile. IVF brought us our Doodles but we lost them at 23 weeks due to placental abruption. IVF#2 brought us our sweet Toodle, born June 17, 2009, and we finally found our happy again.
You like me! You really like me!
Our Journey So Far
- 1/2007 - Began TTC
- 6/2007 - Referred to RE for anovulation
- 7/2007 - First RE appointment, clomid cycle
- 8/2007 - Advised by RE to move to IVF based on MFI and anovulation
- 10/2007 - IVF#1: BFP with our Doodles
- 2/2008 - Learned Doodle A was a girl, Doodle B a boy
- 3/25/2008 - Doodles delivered and lost at 23w3d
- 4/2008 - Methotrexate Shot to induce passage of "retained products of conception"
- 6/2008 - Hysteroscopy and surgical removal of retained placenta
- 8/2008 - FET#1 - BFN
- 10/2008 - IVF#2 - BFP (singleton; aka Toodle)
- 1/2009 - Toodle penis sighting.
- 6/17/2009 - Toodle's arrival
Infertility References
General Infertility, TTTC and Adoption Blogs
Life After Loss
- Awful But Functioning
- Baby, Borneo or Bust
- Glow in the Woods
- God Won't Make a Mountain I Can't Climb
- Little Tiny Footprints
- Living Without Brenna
- Makes You Stronger
- Making a Baby From Scratch
- Mrs. Spit Spouts Off
- Our Own Creation
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- So Dear and Yet So Far
- The Happy Hours
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- Won't Fear Love
Knocked Up!
Multiple Madness
- Another Day In Pair-Adise
- Caba Twins
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- Multiple Baby Pileup
- My Journey to Motherhood
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- We're Having...Twins?
- Who Needs Patience
- Wonder Twin Power, Activate!
- Your Average Infertility Blog
Post-IF and Loss Babies (see also "Multiple Madness")
- A Baby? Maybe
- A Little Sweetness
- Alicia
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- Becoming Mom
- Between the Lines
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- Will They Have His Eyes
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Glossary
- BCP = Birth Control Pills
- Beta = Blood test for HcG (pregnancy hormone)
- BFN = Big Fat Negative (on HPT)
- BFP = Big Fat Positive (i.e. PREGNANT!)
- DH = Dear Husband. Even when he's not being particularly dear.
- ER = Egg Retrieval (part of IVF)
- ET = Embryo Transfer (last step of IVF)
- FET = Frozen Embryo Transfer
- Follies = Follicles or Eggs
- HPT = Home Pregnancy Test
- HSG = x-ray of Uterus and Fallopian tubes done by inserting dye through the cervix. Yummy.
- IF = Infertility
- Injectibles = see "Stims"
- IUI = Intrauterine Insemination
- IVF = In Vitro Fertilization
- MFI = Male Factor Infertility
- MFM = Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist (High risk OB; see also "Peri")
- OB = Obstetrician
- OHSS = Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
- PCOS = Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Peri = Perinatologist (high risk OB)
- PIO = Progesterone in Oil
- POAS = Pee on a stick (i.e. taking a HPT)
- RE = Reproductive Endocrinologist
- SA = Semen Analysis
- Stims = follicle stimulating drugs
- TTC = Trying to Conceive
- TTTC = Trouble Trying to Conceive
14 comments:
I hope this doesn't sound stupid or offensive, but I thought I read that placental abruption is a complication of a twin pregnancy due to the onset of related factors such as preeclampsia and hypertension, underlying causes more likely to develop in a twin gestation. I've never encountered anything about hormone-caused abruption.
I think a positive thing to think about is that there is already a huge difference this time - you've got one in there, not two. The odds of any kind of pregnancy complication are much lower with one, including abruption.
Thanks, Penny. Not at all stupid or offensive. My main concern is that the MFM wasn't keen on tying the loss/labor to placental abruption. He said that cause/effect in that type of loss are hard to determine and it's possible contractions/labor caused the placenta to abrupt and not vice versa. Based on that scenario, the labor could have been caused by any number of issues, potentially, and I have them all to worry about. But I do appreciate that a singleton is, all things being equal, much less risky. I'm just a worrier.
I am so sorry you have this added stress. I am personally filing my request with the Powers of the Universe to CUT BBM, her DH, their child, and her pets A BREAK!!!!
Take good care, hope all this stuff is addressed easily, thinking of you all.
My friend has an over active thyroid as well, she is 15 weeks.
I'm sorry you have more things to worry about. I hope it's nothing. And I hope Puddin gets well soon. (hugs)
My OB and I were discussing the contractions/abruption/contractions theory. She says that the bleeding can exacerbate things which can lead to contractions, which can lead to more abrupting, and so on.
But she still cites the abruption as staring the cycle. Why doesn't your MFM attribute it to that?
In a related ?, have you thought about requesting a copy of your medical records...I've been thinking about it a lot lately but I am not sure if it would just be re-hasing details...
Praying again for Puddin' and toodle and you...and less stress for all.
Having a sick pet gives you a heavy heart, and it's hard to bear.
Hang in there, she's a strong girl!
I am hypothyroid and had zero problems thyroid related through out my pregnancy. It's crazy easy to monitor and take care of. If that's what's going on, you will be totally fine!And for the love of god woman, STEP AWAY FROM GOOGLE! You have enough going on, just let it be ((hugs))
This must be so stressful for you. I'm so sorry...I don't know what to say. Just know that I'm here, thinking about you and sending love.
xoxo
Yeah...I think a doctor's appointment without incident is in order for you...you deserve it! Glad to hear that there will be progress with the cat...you need to figure that out too!
It could be that your thyroid is low, so your TSH is high (hypo- rather than hyperthyroid). If so, it should be really easy to take care of- you'll just need the right dose of thyroid meds.
I'm hypothryoid and my fs and endocrinologist are absolutely certain that it can be easily managed during pregnancy.
Good luck!
I had thyroiditis after my first pregnancy and I now take a daily supplement but my TSH fluctuates a lot.
Anyway, the comment is because in my last pregnancy, my TSH measurments went everywhere from 0.04 to 3.2 and my dosage varied between 75 and 150. It isn't easy to manage exactly as it takes about 6 weeks for your body to alter the level of TSH in response to a change in dosage.
However, my daughter was born fit and healthy and doesn't seem to have any consequences whatsoever (and she's almost one and a half now).
If you want my advice (not necessarily I know), try to have your TSH tested about every three weeks and know that if it is starting to swing in one direction, it will continue for another few weeks so your result will undershoot what your body is actually doing. I know this is hardly a science but it was the best we came up with.
There is also some debate about what the optimal levels of TSH are but it seems there is a fairly wide range of "acceptable". I know that there is general consensus that you should see lower TSH levels in the first trimester (the effects of changes in estrogen levels).
Hang in there.
DinoD
Hi. Here from LFCA and a hypothyroid patient who's now also a mom. My understanding (er, this is passed along from my thyroid doc's comments to me) is that mild hyperthyroidism (so, low TSH, busy thyroid) is common in early pregnancy and not generally a problem. In contrast, unfortunately, even mild hypothyroidism (high TSH, underactive thyroid) can be very detrimental to the health of your pregnancy. (As a practical matter, my doctor had me up my dosage when I got pregnant and then monitored TSH from there. Those on meds typically need a 30-50% increase in dosage early in the first trimester; if it turns out you need it, you can find more information about thyroid function and pregnancy here: http://thyroid.about.com/od/hormonepregnantmenopause1/ss/pregnancyguide.htm).
So as a practical matter, the point is (a) you did the right thing by insisting on finding out what is really going on -- is it your TSH that's low, or your thyroid? It matters. And two, if it turns out that it is the thyroid function itself, you want to get medicated ASAP. But hopefully, and more probably, you're mildly hyperthyroid, which should not be cause for alarm (er, in a medical sense, obviously in an emotional sense it may be, but that's another story!).
I found you through L&F at Stirrups. I'm thinking of you. (((HUGS)))
Tammy
www.twondra.blogspot.com
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