GPs in Ireland :  Hi, I am new here. Have had no... - Thyroid UK

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GPs in Ireland

seabass123 profile image
29 Replies

 Hi, I am new here.

Have had no luck with current GP

I live in Dublin.

I have low T3 for which I was given Trybon 20mg. With no instructions as to use.

I believe there are some GPs in Ireland willing to treat hypothyroidism.

Does anyboby have a recomendation?

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seabass123
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Clutter profile image
Clutter

Welcome to the forum, Seabass123.

Thybon 20mcg T3 should be split into 2 x 10mcg doses which can be taken on waking and at bedtime.

GPs anywhere should be prepared to treat hypothyroidism when diagnosed.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

Welcome to our forum seabass123.

You haven't given any thyroid history in your profile so can you give a little bit of history please.

When were you diagnosed and have you previously been on levothyroxine - and what dose?

Depending in your dose, usually it's a straight swop-over. i.e. 20mcg of T3 is approx 60mcg of levo so I don't know whether your dose is too low at present or not.

This is a link (links within may not work as it's archived) but the info is excellent. Dr Lowe died a couple of years ago and he himself took T3 - one daily dose of 150mcg.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

seabass123 profile image
seabass123 in reply to shaws

I have been sick for over 2 yrs with a myriad of awful symptoms including fatigue vertigo dizziness unable to walk at worst I have not worked in all that time. gp insisting on anti deps and psychiatry which I refused.eventually went else where and bloods showed low t3 and b12. i have only been on treatment for 2 weeks and already feel way better. Can t3 work this quickly. Feels like miracle.One question do Ihave to up dose of t3 and what vits and supps should. Tks

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to seabass123

Yes, T3 is the active hormone and you can feel a difference more or less immediately.

T4 - levothyroxine has a long half life. T3 is absorbed into our blood stream in about three to four hours and is then  in our receptor cells. Its work then begins and lasts between one to three days.

Great stuff when at last you feel something is working in your favour :)

Jose651 profile image
Jose651 in reply to seabass123

Hi seabass123,

I'm from the North of Ireland and welcome. I'm happy that you are starting to feel a bit better. Hopefully you will be full of energy before our Summer comes. 😂

Can I ask what are they doing about your B12 treatments. I am a member of another forum within HU. PAS. Pernicious Anaemia Society. 

If you have your results, write a new post here,and there with the ranges in brackets, for members to comment.

Have you been tested for Folate, Ferritin and Vit D.

J

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to seabass123

Hi, seabass, what you should take, dépends on your results.

What was your B12 level?

Have you had your vit D, folate and ferritin tested? They are equally important, and need to be optimal, but we need to see a result before advising what and how much you should take. :) 

seabass123 profile image
seabass123 in reply to greygoose

Tks my b12 is 184, folate is 7.8,  ferritin 194,  tsh 1.8,  free t4 16.4  total t3 1.10 no vit d done. ..IIii

Dr also gave me lugols iodine drops 25mgs daily. I am a little confused as to whether I need treatment or not.  

I would appreciate an opinion as I am a bit scared of t3  especially if I dont need it. Also wondering why on t3 and not more commonly used treatment. I have had 12  b12 injections over last 3 weeks and dont know if i need more or not.

I forgot to mention I am on Magnesium 1000, Selenium 1000, Calcium, Fish oil, Vit C, Zinc, Co enzime 10, I have been checking my temp and pulse and both up after t3. Is this a reaction of hypothyroid patient or would it occur if anyone took t3. Curious about mood and anxiety as well . Seems to be really improved after being miserable for so long. Would it have same effect on someone without thyroid dysfunction. Sorry for so many questions just need to be sure that t3 is right for me and not just feelgood drug masking symptoms. 

Jose651 profile image
Jose651 in reply to seabass123

Can you give the ranges for B12 and Folate please.

I'm sure that figure for B12 is before you got your injections. 

Folate looks very low? Are you taking a supplement to raise it ?

J

seabass123 profile image
seabass123 in reply to Jose651

b12 levelsbefore injections dont know much about folate. New toall this so excuse my ignorance.

seabass123 profile image
seabass123 in reply to seabass123

Sorry range for b12 191 663. 

folate3.5   16

Jose651 profile image
Jose651 in reply to seabass123

Don't be sorry, we all had to start somewhere and when I became a member I was much worse than you.😀

So your folate level was 

7.8.  (3.5 - 16)

B12 uses Folate and as you have added a lot more B12 to your system, your folate will be used up.

Have you joined the PAS forum? There are a lot of experienced members that will be able to advise.

I am a member there as well. A lot of people are members of both these forums.

J

Jose651 profile image
Jose651 in reply to seabass123

Seabass,

What is the exact result (with ranges ) for the folate levels. I presume that figure of 7.8 was before you got injections of B12.

J

seabass123 profile image
seabass123 in reply to Jose651

Yes before inj 3.5 to 16. range folate 7.8

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to seabass123

Whether or not you need thyroid hormone replacement would depend on your test results at the time of diagnosis.

But I will say that they Don't hand out T3 on a whim! You have to need it.

Did your doctor test your iodine before he prescribed it? Iodine isn't really recommended for hypos unless your hypo is caused by iodine deficiency. I would insist on a test before taking it, if I were you.

Is this an ordinary GP you're seeing? Because his treatment sound unorthodox to say the least.

Total T3 is an absolutely useless test. It doesn't give you any useful information. What you need is the FT3.

Your suppléments sound rather haphazard. Did the same doctor prescribe them all? Did you have a calcium test before starting calcium? What about selenium? That sounds like rather a high dose to me.

T3 is not a drug, and it doesn't mask anything. If you didn't need it, taking would make you feel rather ill.    

seabass123 profile image
seabass123 in reply to greygoose

Dr ordered t3 on low total t3 results. No iodine test. Went to see him with fatigue etc. Now very confused dont know if I should continue with treatment. Need to get proper tests but where? 

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to seabass123

If your TT3 was low enough for him to prescribe T3, then your FT3 would have been even lower. So, seems to me you need it. You are, perhaps in denial. But, you need to continue. Pity you Don't give a range for the TT3 and the FT4.

It's not the T3 he's prescribed that worries me, it's the iodine. You really, really need to get that tested before you start taking it. If you take it when you Don't need it, then it can cause all sorts of other problems.

And what about the calcium? Taking that if you Don't need it is very, very bad. Did you get it tested? Really can't help you if you Don't give all the details. :)

Why not post a new question asking where you can get private tests done. Iodine won't get tested on the NHS, anyway. I can't help you with the testing, because I Don't live in the UK.

seabass123 profile image
seabass123 in reply to greygoose

Can u please tell me what tests are necessary to diagnose hypothyroidism. Going to gp today. tks Appreciate help.

seabass123 profile image
seabass123 in reply to seabass123

Idont live in uk but in republic of ireland

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to seabass123

I know even less about the Republic of Ireland than I do about the UK. Sorry.

seabass123 profile image
seabass123 in reply to seabass123

Can t3 cause insomnia and strong heart beat when Iwake up suddenly.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to seabass123

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPOab

TgAB

But you've already been diagnosed. I honestly Don't know what you're worrying about. You were diagnosed with a low TT3, you said. And if the TT3 is low, FT3 is going to be low, too. And it's low T3 that causes hypothyroidism.

Anyway, those are the basic tests, but I doubt if your doctor will do them all. Other tests that are useful are :

vit D

vit B12

folate

ferritin

because hypos often have nutritional deficiencies, and those are the basics which all need to be optimal for your body to be able to use the hormone that you're giving it.

However, you should not take calcium or iodine without getting tested first. Because, you Don't want too much of either of them. Too much calcium can cause things like kidney stones.

seabass123 profile image
seabass123 in reply to greygoose

Tks it is just that in previous post u said that tt3 test is useless so want to be sure .

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to seabass123

Ah, ok, I see the confusion. Sorry. Well, in a way, it is useless because it contains both bound and unbound T3. The body can only use unbound - free - FT3. And if you just do the Total, you Don't know how much there is of each.  

But if the TT3 was so low that your doctor thought it low enough to diagnose you, then it doesn't really matter - low is low. It's when it gets a bit higher that you need to know how much is Free.

It would have helped if you'd given a range. We really do need those ranges to understand the results, otherwise, it's just a number. :)

seabass123 profile image
seabass123

Iforgot to say Ihave been diagnosed hypo thyroid and this is my first treatment though Isuspect Ihave had for a while.sea bass123

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to seabass123

You should have an appointment in six weeks (50mcg of levo is the usual starting dose - or 20mcg of T3). A gradual increase until you feel well not until the TSH is in range.

I take my dose once daily and I am well. This is a link re T3 as some doctors wont prescribe it. 

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

Also when you have your blood test for thyroid get the very earliest possible and don't eat before it. Also allow about 24 hours between your last dose and the test and take it afterwards.This helps keep the TSH at its highest as it drops throughout the day and GPs mainly go by the TSH and adjust dose willy/nilly whih isn't a good idea.

seabass123 profile image
seabass123

What is the correct way to supplement b12. I have had 13 cytamen 1000mgs injections  over  past 3 weeks and dont know what to do next. Friend told me b12 skin patches good but where to get them .How long for it to elevate'

Jose651 profile image
Jose651 in reply to seabass123

Hi seabass123,

How are you feeling now that you have had your 'loading dose'. 

My level was 120 last year and after I got the 6 injections it took a couple more weeks before I felt the benefit . 

J

Gaelstar profile image
Gaelstar

Hi there Seabass123. I'm also new to this site and need to do some research as I'm on eltroxin for the last 10 years after total thyroidectomy. Chronic insomnia ever since and constant fatigue. I live in Ireland too (Cork) and looking for a doctor who will prescribe t3 if necessary for me. Have you any recommendations?

Good luck with your thyroid journey.

Gaelstar

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