T3

[Pans1]

Hi all. I've had a valve replacement and have a pacemaker fitted. Currently take thyroxin. Does anyone know if I'm OK to take t3. Fed up of going back to doctor as he is not interested. Any help much appreciated

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Have you got any recent thyroid test results? Before considering T3 you need to know your levels and whether you're converting well enough or not. Because over replacement of T3 could cause problems, and you already have a valve replacement and a pacemaker, caution is advisable so knowing your levels is a good idea.

What about Vit D, B12, ferritin and folate? Are their levels optimal? They need to be for any thyroid hormone to work.

If you don't want to ask your GP you could do a Blue Horizon fingerprick test, the Thyroid Plus Ten or Eleven cover just about everything.

[Pans1]

My last test about 2 months ago was as follows.Serum tsh level 0.73 mu/

0.35 - 4.94 mu/like

Doctor said it's fine and keeps sending me away but I'm putting on loads of weight but have no appetite and no energy.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Pans1]

You really need your FT4 and FT3 levels, you need to know if you are converting and if your current FT3 level is inadequate. Adding more T3 if your level is already high in range is not a good idea.

Your TSH is in a good place for someone on thyroid hormone replacement but doctors shouldn't dose by TSH alone. As you still have symptoms more investigation is required to see why, so you need to learn about your condition so you can discuss things with your GP. Look around ThyroidUK's main website.

When you posted a few weeks ago you said you were getting 'flare ups'. What do you mean by 'flare ups'. Have you got Hashimoto's (autoimmune thyroiditis) confirmed by positive antibodies? In answer to that post you were advised to get a Blue Horizon test, did you get one?

You need a full thyroid panel plus the vitamin and mineral tests mentioned. If you don't want to ask your GP then consider the Blue Horizon test mentioned. Don't self medicate with T3 with your heart problems unless you know you need it.

[mrsm49]

Do you hve a cardiologist? I was treated by one in a&e once (long story) and he knew more about thyroid than my endocrinologist!

[Pans1]

Morning. Yes I do I have have a cardiologist so I will ask him at my next appointment. I just seem to have been given the thyroxin and left to get on with it. I am reading up on the illness all the time but it does see a bit of a mine field made worse by a gp not taking how I feel seriously. When I told him I could barley stay awake his reply was well you are getting older. His lack of interest upsets me more than the illness.