Soy, coffee and Thyroid

Well, it turns out my TSH and Thyroid antibodies are at it again. Confusing as I have now been taking the Levothyroxine for 8 months now and they had dropped a few months back. TSH now seem to be outside the normal range confirm I have a propensity to primary hypothyroidism. Annoyed as my levels need to be 2 or lower to be safe for pregnancy as anything above that heightens my chance of miscarriage and preterm labour not to mention risks with fetal brain development. 

January: TSH 3.8 mlU/L

April: TSH 1.2 mlU/L

August: TSH 4.67 mlU/L

Also Antibodies results show they are also very strong, 90-100% of cases of Hashimotos Thyroiditis and Graves Disease show antibodies. Less than 10% of normal individuals have thyroid antibodies.

January: Anti-Tg (thyroglobulin) 241 mlU/L

August: Anti-Tg (thyroglobulin)  537 mlU/L

January: Anti-TPO (thyroid peroxidase) 244 mlU/L

August: Anti-TPO (thyroid peroxidase) 871 mlU/L

It turns out that consumption of soy products, so soy milk and coffee may be causing issues with my body's ability to absorb the thyroid medication so I've emailed my nurse and GP to see if I have to stop my morning coffee...nooooo! Its the only thing I'm allowed these days haha. So, all in all we may have found a very possible cause of current fertility issues, I may be seeing the thyroid specialist after all. Will wait and see.

Right, heard from my GP and it turns out she never got my blood results but has managed to track them down. Thyroid TSH levels definitely up due to antibodies so shes up'd my Levothyroxine meds to 100 mcg Monday-Friday and 50 mcg on the weekends. Have to do another set of bloods in 6 to 8 weeks to check again. Means we cant TTC while my levels are up so more waiting. Should have MRI done by then.

Wow! it's official.

16.08.13 - "X-ray Day"

Today was my Hysterosalpingogram (HSG). This was it, the X-ray that would tell all, even though I would finally know for sure this was also the test I was dreading however it sounded a whole lot worse than it actually was.

The day started with a phone call while I was getting ready, it was Cashmere Radiology ringing to advise they had a roster change so there would not be a woman available to do the procedure till the afternoon. I advised her that I was fine with a man and confirmed I would see them at 11.00am, DH looked a bit uncomfortable with that till I reminded him my surgeon would be a man also. DH was coming in with me for the procedure so that made him feel a bit better haha.

I took the whole day off work as they had advised there may be dye leakage, bleeding and abdominal cramping afterwards and was not keen to be at work for that, so DH took a half day too. He went to his lecture, got me a coffee from my fav cafe on way home to pick me up. I wanted to get there early, I like to be early to all my appointments, you feel alot calmer and prepared when you're not rushing around. They had a fantastic selection of mags, so chilled for 20 mins before they called me.

I was taken through to a room to get changed into my robe where she explained the procedure so I just nodded and smiled as I had done alot of reading up and was fully prepared, so no questions from me, apart from "do i need to take out my belly piercing?" lol.

Righto - it was go time, the moment we have all been waiting for! She took me through to the room with the giant Xray machine where DH and I waiting to meet the gentleman that would be doing my procedure. He immediately cracked a joke so that made me feel really comfortable. 

Up onto the X-ray table I went, the actual inserting of the speculum and catheter was no worse than a smear test, im not going to say it didnt hurt but i was surprised how little it actually did. Within seconds the dye was injected and he slid me up under the machine, he took one of me on my back, one on my left hand side and one on my right hand side and we were done. Couldnt believe how quick it was. He then slid over the telly and DH was ushered over to me to see the screen.

IT'S OFFICIAL ... I am 1 in 4000 born with a Unicornuate Uterus and I have just the one fallapion tube ... but its OPEN which means its not blocked... seeing the dye through the tube and spilling out into my abdomen was the BEST NEWS EVER!! 

 There is absolutely no sign on the X-ray of a Rudimentary Horn or right-hand side of my uterus that we can see, I think the next pelvic MRI I have may look more into that, heres hoping otherwise I could be looking at a laparoscopic investigation or hysteroscopy (http://www.oxfordclinic.co.nz/procedure-treatment/hysteroscopy) not keen on the idea of either of those.

So let's see what the specialist says, i'm feeling really happy with the news, I had psyched myself up for the bad news, so feeling very relieved as there is a really good chance we could conceive naturally, still early days, but some positive news.. Yay for me!!

Will post again when I get my MRI appointment.

Dr Libby Weaver Seminar

I had the pleasure of listening to a very well educated, positive, happy, healthy and empathetic woman tonight at a seminar I took my Mum and sister too thinking they would get more out of it than I would. 

http://www.drlibby.com/about-dr-libby/

I was very wrong and it just reinforced decisions I have made and am continuing to make. She has reminded me that my health and happiness should be my main focus as I face what the next years of my life have in store for me. Few books of hers to read to get the most out of her message, but will remember the W of her A-Z on Womens Health tonight.. "why do we do what we do when we know what we know"... This is going to help me make better choices tomorrow, then the day after that, it will all be about baby steps, in the hopes we will one day hear some in our home. 

The HSG (Hysterosalpingogram)

Got an appointment! Well got my letter re the appointment...This time at Xray Department at Princess Margaret Hospital. Will get to know all the Radiology Departments in Christchurch at this rate. 

I have to wait until my next cycle (expected Tue 6.08) and phone to book the test for day 5-10 which is the best time to get the best result.

This is an important test for me - this will confirm my UU, my rudimentary horn or not and also check status of my left fallopian tube.

Here is a brief synopsis of what the test involves:

A hysterosalpingogram is an X-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes which allows visualisation of the inside of the uterus and tubes. The picture will reveal any abnormalities of the uterus as well as tubal problems such as blockage and dilation (hydrosalpinx). 
If the tubes are not blocked by scar tissue or adhesions, the dye will flow into the abdominal cavity. This is a good sign but it does not guarantee that the tubes will function normally. It does give a rough estimate of the quality of the tubal structure and the status of the tubal lining. Some cases where the tubes appear to be blocked where they join the uterus, may in fact be normal. Often blockage at this location may be due to spasm of the opening from the uterus into the tube or from accumulated debris and mucus blocking the opening. This can be managed by passing a very thin catheter into the fallopian tube either at the time of hysterosalpingogram or during a hysteroscopic procedure.
A hysterosalpingogram may also indicate endometrial polyps, submucus fibroids, intrauterine adhesions (synechia), uterine and vaginal septa uterine cavity abnormalities, or the after-effect of genital tuberculosis. The hysterosalpingogram may or may not be able to detect pelvic adhesions, mild hydrosalpinx, small polyps, endometriosis, tubal phimosis (clubbing of the fimbria at the end of the tube), or immotility of the tube. Other tests, such as hysteroscopy saline sonohysterography or laparoscopy may be necessary to accurately evaluate your uterus.
Although the purpose of the hysterosalpingogram is not therapeutic, sometimes forcing dye through the tube will dislodge any material which blocks it. A number of women have become pregnant following a hysterosalpingogram without further treatment.
Generally there is no special preparation needed for this test. However, depending upon your diagnosis, you may need to take antibiotics to guard against possible infection. To ensure that you are not pregnant, the study is done between Day 7 and 10 of your cycle. Prior to the procedure you may take an anti-inflammatory medication (Aleve or Motrin). A small catheter is placed into the cervix and the dye is injected. You may feel heavy cramping during, and for several hours following this procedure. 
Cool - sounds like heaps of fun! Im strangely looking forward to it tho, will know once and for all!
Will update again once I've been :-)