Hi folks. New here. I realise that nobody can post links etc but I'm hoping someone out there can message me some info. I'm post menopausal and blood tests show I have hypothyroidism (tsh 9.8). For the past almost 10 years I've been so tired, hair falling out, gaining weight etc. I've been unable to be the mother my kids deserved and feel so bad. Doctors wouldn't test me and I got an at home test kit and when I relayed the results to my gp I was signed off their books for "breakdown of professional relationship" and my records show that I'm a hypochondriac. I can't get any doc to take me seriously or even look at the blood tests I have so I'm all alone on this. If anyone can help me with this I'd really appreciate it. Sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. Thanks folks.
Help sourcing t3 online please: Hi folks. New... - Thyroid UK
Help sourcing t3 online please
Welcome to the forum Johnprinefan,
So we can offer better advice, we really need to see blood test results (with ranges in brackets) for:
FT3
FT4
in addition to TSH.
Plus any antibody and key vitamin tests (ferritin, folate, vitamins D and B12). Antibodies will show if your condition is autoimmune (aka Hashimotos).
If your GP is unable to complete all the above (eg if TSH is within range, some surgeries may not be able to access FT4 and FT3 tests), you could look to do this privately, as many forum members do, for a better picture of your thyroid health:
thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...
Does your GP know/ understand that your TSH is 9.8? They should repeat tests if TSH still high (it should always be under 2) and then prescribe Levothyroxine if TSH remains high. This medication works well for the vast majority with hypothyroidism. It certainly appears that your GP practice have been unsupportive, even negligent.
I’m unsure why you are asking to source T3 (Liothyronine)?
Can you change GP practice? It would be simpler getting Levothyroxine through the NHS.
If not, can you see an endocrinologist privately? It is definitely worth getting all tests listed completed before seeing a private practitioner.
You are not alone, we are a friendly & supportive forum and are here to help. 🦋
Do you have a new GP yet? Whilst self medication is an option of last resort a lot have been driven to it because of a complete lack of GPs understanding thyroid problems. I suggest you approach several GPs and ask if they have anyone who specialises in the thyroid, you may be lucky. If not then I think I might register and hand in a letter describing your symptoms and a copy of your test results, that gives them time to look before you have your first appointment. If you don't get any further forward then come back here and the marvelous team here will help you move forward and hopefully on to the path to better health.
I think you intended to reply to Johnprinefan not myself Espergee
I have a new GP yes. I've been around literally every gp in the vicinity. Please read my other replies as perhaps that will give a better understanding as to the situation I'm in.
I got a private at home test done a few weeks ago (11th March 2024). I did the test at 9:15 on an empty stomach and these are the results of that:
TSH: 6.12
FT4 17.1
FT3 4.8
Last blood test done by gp (8th April 2024) showed the following re vitamins etc:
Ferritin and folate aren't showing up (could they be listed as something else?)
Vitamin b12 is 590 pmol/L
Vitamin D was low at 27 nmol/L - I am taking a high dose vitamin d supplement since then.
I only realised when I came home that she had tested for thyroid function which surprised me as I attended her clinic at 11am. She tested TSH and FT4
TSH: 4.35
FT4 11.8
She didn't mention them at all during the consult. She only mentioned that my vitamin d was low and I should take a supplement and that my liver function was bad, I must be a heavy drinker (I told her I'm not and that my epilepsy meds can affect the liver) to which she replied "Oh maybe. Well you're not symptomatic so we'll not worry about that". I came home and bought castor oil packs, milk thistle, glutathione... basically anything I can get my hands on to support the liver.
I've previously been tested for antibodies in 2021 but that result came back fine. I'm in Ireland in a rural community and I've been around every doc in the vicinity. There is more to the story that I'm not willing to discuss here but a report I made against a medical professional in the area has left me unable to get medical assistance for most things apart from medication for epilepsy which I have been taking for half a century and it's getting to be a fight to even get that. I can't even get hrt and have had 10 years of suffering with that too. I recently sourced that online and it's changed my life. I am looking to source t3 as I believe that can be got without a prescription. I'm just trying to be proactive about my own health and look after myself where others are failing to do so.
How low was vitamin D
How much vitamin D are you now taking
Web links about taking important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7
Magnesium best taken in the afternoon or evening, but must be four hours away from levothyroxine
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
medicalnewstoday.com/articl...
livescience.com/61866-magne...
sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
Recipe ideas
bbc.co.uk/food/articles/mag...
Interesting article by Dr Malcolm Kendrick on magnesium
drmalcolmkendrick.org/categ...
Vitamin K2 mk7
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
healthline.com/nutrition/vi...
Ferritin and folate aren't showing up (could they be listed as something else?)
No they should be listed as that
Folate might be listed as folic acid
medication for epilepsy which I have been taking for half a century and it's getting to be a fight to even get that.
Epilepsy medication can increase likelihood of hypothyroidism
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/239....
Strongly recommend seeing thyroid specialist
I came home and bought castor oil packs, milk thistle, glutathione... basically anything I can get my hands on to support the liver.
Only ever add one supplement at a time….otherwise you have no idea what’s helping or what’s making things worse
and if your liver levels are off because you are hypothyroid that’s what needs addressing
healthline.com/health/hypot...
beware of milk thistle
Never ever START on T3 far too strong and too potent and will immediately shut your own thyroid down
ALWAYS start on levothyroxine
Standard STARTER Dose is 50mcg
Retest 6-8 weeks later
Then dose is SLOWLY increased up in 25mcg steps over coming months
Retest 6-8 weeks after each increase
Strongly recommend you see thyroid specialist
There are options in Ireland
But BEFORE considering starting any thyroid hormones, get bloods retested 6-8 weeks after starting on vitamin D
Test BOTH thyroid antibodies too
letsgetchecked.ie/home-thyr...
Lot to unload here. Vitamin d levels were 27 nmol/L. I'm taking 10,000 units daily (for now) along with magnesium and vitamin k2-mk7. I usually take magnesium few hours before bed. Meds for epilepsy deplete the bodies stores of glutathione - found that out by accident recently. I have checked for thyroid antibodies already with letsgetchecked. They came back fine. I have already signed up for blood tests to be delivered to me in a few weeks. Ferritin and folate weren't on the blood test. There are options available in Ireland only to people who haven't lodged serious complaints to the gardai against medical professionals. Once you do that, everything is shut down and if you do manage to force anyones hands to do something for you, you get abused further. I've had years of this now and my adult children have witnessed it too. Can't even get a dentist to treat me properly. I've had a large lump of my gum removed by a dentist whose hand "slipped" twice in less than a minute while she laughed. So no, a thyroid specialist is NOT an option for me. I've said on another post, if I had other options I wouldn't be here asking.
I'm so sorry to read this. I know how it feels to battle a diagnosis and feel your letting your family down As Buddy said it's important to have a full picture so perhaps Advance Thyroid Function Test from medichecks or similar from other companies
Once you have thyroid, vits and minerals tested then post again here and you'll get loads of support and advice on how to go forward with this.
Gp sounds utterly useless and no knowledge of thyroid. If you can't find a gp then depending on funds perhaps an appointment with private GP who has knowledge of thyroid or private endocrinologist.
Good luck
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Posted test results above. Thank you so much. Everyone on here has been so helpful.
Thanks I posted results under Buddy's comment above. It's a long story and not just one doc but every single doc in the area. That's what happens when you lodge a very serious complaint with the gardai against one of their colleagues. Heck they've even blocked me from getting a passport.
Welcome to the forum, just a few things jump out at me? So you haven't got a GP at the moment, is that right? I dont know about healthcare in Ireland so forgive me but can you not register with a new GP. I must admit I think in your position I would be making a formal complaint about your former GP to the powers that be.
A totally OTT reaction to get you off their books and leave you without healthcare because they are too inept to treat you. Did you have a previously OK relationship with this practice? I'm struggling to understand how you getting a home thyroid test to show them could have triggered this turn of events. Its totally out of order imo.
Secondly T3 is kind of considered the thyroid medication of last resort. Its certainly not advised as a first line treatment. That is Levothyroxine, T3 can be much harder to tolerate and often requires multiple doses a day. People turn to T3, either in combination with Levo, NDT or on its own when they've tried and failed with Levothyroxine. Levo is extremely cheap, usually effective, stable and easy to get hold of.
If you want to self source then Levo would be easier than T3 to get hold of but really with a TSH that high you should be treated by a GP. Can you find another doctor to register with? Going through the normal channels would be preferable to self sourcing.
I have a gp. I made a serious report against a medical professional a few years back. I was told by my then gp that I would "never get any medical help in Ireland because of that" and he chased me out of his room. Sadly that has proved to be true. The gp I have currently is prescribing me meds for epilepsy which I have been taking for half century now. Every time I raise an issue other than my epilepsy I get signed off by whatever gp I'm with so I'm afraid to push it with this one. I tried to get hrt and she fed me a load of fearmongering which I knew was false but, as I said, I dont' want to push it. I sourced that myself online. I literally have no options but to try to sort this out myself and wouldn't be here asking if there were any other options open to me. It's so frustrating. If I can source levo without prescription I'll happily do that.
I've never done it myself but you can certainly ask for private messages. Maybe start a new post as its unlikely to be seen on this one.
I'm truly sorry for this mess you're in. And how ridiculous that you making a complaint has followed you around like that. Just shows how arrogant the medical profession are, they think they are above reproach. I'm speechless.
with TSH over 5 you should be started on levothyroxine
You also need vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested
Request GP do so
And thyroid antibodies
Always test early morning, ideally before 9am, only drinking water between waking and test
Thyroid test including thyroid antibodies in Ireland
letsgetchecked.ie/home-thyr...
Starting levothyroxine - flow chart
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