online help

[ds077391]

hello, new on here after seeing the one show thing this evening I wondered if anyone could pm me with any ideas for online pharmacys. we didn't even know this was an option and would love to save some money

[startagaingirl]

Hi - since this is your first post, if you give us some details of your thyroid diagnosis and recent tests, members will be more prepared to advise and help

Gillian

[ds077391 in reply to startagaingirl]

It's on behalf of my wife she was diagnosed with a under active thyroid with a high tag and low ft4

[ds077391 in reply to startagaingirl]

She is currently getting a synthetic t4 that is having little if any effect

[Kitti1 in reply to ds077391]

Hi & welcome

How long has she been being treated ? Can you get the blood results from your gp, it is your legal right. You can ask for a printout or phone up for your most recent test results. You'll need TSH ( thyroid stimulating hormone ) and t4. Also ask if antibody test where done. Many thyroid patients are hashimotos which is an auto immune condition and has further implications. Also ask for the ranges, these are important because labs vary around the country. The wonderfully knowledgeable people on here will be able to comment on them and advise you.

Alternatively / in addition it may be worth looking into having private blood tests done. Google blue horizon or medichecks. They do comprehensive tests including t3 - which the NHS won't do. And you really need to know this if your going to asses whether you need t3. Also certain nutrients can make a big difference to how your body utilises t4 - levothyroxine. Nutrients like vit b12 folate ferritin and vit d. The private blood test can show where you may need to supplement to improve how you feel

You really have found the right place to start feeling better. There are some really very knowing people on here that will! help with your journey to feeling well.

[ds077391 in reply to Kitti1]

Thank you for your advise, we have a medichecks centre near us and I think that's where we'll start as the reception staff at our health centre are quite prickly.

[shaws Administrator in reply to ds077391]

You can get home pin-prick tests which should suit as well. I'll give a link. Before switching hormones, it is always best to start with a fresh sheet, i.e. blood tests otherwise if you begin or add another hormone you wont have any ideas.

Tests should be the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a 24 hour gap between the last dose of levo and the test and take it afterwards. This helps the TSH to be at its highest and can make a difference to dose.

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

Your GP should check B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as we are usually deficient, B12 and Vit D in particular are essential pro-hormones.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

It's nice you are enquiring for your wife.

Post results on a new post with the ranges for comments.

Many women don't recover good health as some doctors restrict them, neither are doctors trained in disabling clinical symptoms which should be relieved when on an optimum of hormones which suit the patient.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

If you read on here you will see lots of us find when tested that we have low vitamin levels (often having to do these privately via Medichecks or Blue Horizon)

Significant improvements can be made by getting these at good levels. Always get full results with ranges

If your wife has Hashimotos (high antibodies) then checking for coeliac (test is unreliable) & even if this is definitely negative changing to a gluten free diet can improve symptoms for many

See The Thyroid Pharmacist website for more info

Vitamin D is commonly very low in lots of autoimmune diseases