Congratulations on your pregnancy! My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your baby for a wonderful outcome!

You know, I think your questions deserve Elaine Moore's attention. Are you inclined to post them in her Q&A Forum?

Best of luck to you with everything and Happy Holidays!

Of course, I was motivated to check my library of links to see if I could share any helpful medical resources :) I found this:

http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1089/thy.2011.0087

Being that the latest ATA/AACE hypothyroidism guidelines have the potential to make a horrible situation worse, I'd still be inclined to seek Elaine's opinion.

I messaged Elaine on Monday, before I got my TSH results. I guess I just assumed my TSH would be suppressed. I was worried about my FT3. I will update my message to her. I typically email her and she has always responded- never have posted on her forum. Do you think I should post on her forum instead?

Fantastic article- just took a quick glimpse but I will dig deeper later today. Why is it that with all of these articles that i have read with thyroid and pregnancy it focuses on TSH and T4? Not a ton on T3...

Thanks for your insight and kind words, Cd. I get kind of frustrated at times- my case always seems to be an exception to the rule and it's tricky finding information that applies to me. I'm praying all will go ok. This time last year I was in hypohell and was hoping and wishing for the day I could be pregnant again. I give tons of credit to the people on this site that truly have improved my health by providing me with help and information. Hope all goes ok...

I've always preferred the forum because others might be helped by reading my questions and Elaine's answers.

In fact, I remember reading Elaine telling someone on the forum recently that FT3 can be artificially elevated (due to a certain protein, I think). She suggested that the poster get a FT3 by dialysis test.

I can't explain the focus of articles published by the ATA/AACE. I don't have complete faith in their publications since they really failed people dealing with hypothyroidism.

I understand your frustration and can tell you that you're not alone. Many people in your same situation have crossed my path over the past 6+ years I've been participating on thyroid forums.

I'm glad things have improved for you and wish you nothing but the best!

Congratulations! Wonderful news! I also hope everything goes well, and it seems like it is going well so far.

I have looked into the ATA/AACE guidelines for pregnant women also because my daughter is also expecting. I had thought they would be testing her thyroid frequently, but found out they haven't, and I wanted to see what the guidelines say.

[I am working through traditional MDs, so I am motivated to know the official stance, right or wrong, and don't want to blunder in my relationship to my doctor by suggesting something that comes from a less-respected source: ie Elaine Moore, however good her advice may be.]

I do very much agree with posting in forums, however, just like cd says.

First, it is helpful to know that the TSH is the gold standard in traditional medicine, and Free T3 is only considered a worthwhile guideline if your TSH is extremely low. FT4 and Total T3 are considered more reliable than FT3.

TSH levels define "hypothyroidism" and "hyperthyroidism". So, "overt hypothyroidism" (OH) is defined in the 2011 guidelines by the TSH being over 2.5 if the FT4 is also low, and above 10.0 no matter what the FT4 is. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is defined as having the TSH level between 2.5 and 10.0 when the FT4 is "normal" (in range.)

Essentially, what it means is that your thyroid hormones are expected to rise in pregnancy, because that is what is good for the baby, and your TSH is expected to fall.

According to that, you may be very close to SCH.

Congrats! Definitely get in touch with Elaine Moore about those Free Ts of yours. I try to go and read her forum at least once per week.

{{{hugs}}}

Awww... thanks for all of the kind words :) You all literally made my day :)

Thanks for the advice- I went ahead and wrote on Elaine's forum and she has responded. With all of your help and hers, it feels better to know I have the information to advocate for myself and to also put some of my anxieties at ease...

Seriously, you all are so awesome. You have helped me tremendously and I can't say how much I appreciate it. I'm happily pregnant, scared and nervous, but excited at the thought of having another child. I have my ultrasound on Dec 27th- hoping to see a heartbeat - they will officially declare I have a viable pregnancy then. Fingers crossed and praying tons! My stomach is all bruised from my heparin, bum hurts from my progesterone shots, and morning sickness is definitely kicking in. So very blessed... I'll keep you guys posted :)