Visit to GP re digestive issues.

[beaton]

So here we go again. I have been waiting to see my GP since May, so was pleased to get an appointment today.

I asked if digestive issues, low saliva, heartburn, acid reflux, grumbling tummy and diarrhea were affecting the absorption of T3. Well perhaps I shouldn't have mentioned T3 because he is now saying I must be over medicated. I told him I had lowered my dose from 80 mcg. to 60 mcg. but it hadn't helped. He is still insistent the because of my TSH reading that I need to take T4, even though I have yellow carded it as I am intolerant. Admitted he is going to run more tests and an MRI scan, which is good. I have put on weight this year and gone up a dress size. I still have underactive symptoms, cold tired etc. I'm on a G/F diet.

So, am I over medicated and do I need to take something that makes me ill (T4) ?

Bloods (done March.)

TSH 0.019 (0.35 - 4.5 )

T4 < 5.2 (10.5 - 26.00)

T3 3.6 (3.9 - 6.8 )

[Nanaedake]

Could you check whether the T4 result you've listed is actually FT4?

[beaton in reply to Nanaedake]

Yes, FT4, have the letter in front of me. Don't know why it isn't an actual number. x

[Nanaedake in reply to beaton]

Well, your FT4 and FT3 aren't very high which would suggest you were not overmedicated but as I don't take T3 someone else on here who understands how it effects the ranges will need to answer.

[greygoose]

No, you don't need to take T4 if it makes you ill, that's just silly. Your FT4 is low because you aren't taking any, but your FT3 is low, too, which is rather strange, given the TSH. How much T3 are you taking at the moment? How do you take it?

[beaton in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoose. These bloods were the ones done in March., GP says he hasn't got a copy from the hospital. L looked up the ranges from the hospital online. I was on 80 mcg. but stopped then for the bloods. Trying to keep to 80 but GP wants it reduced to 60. Sometimes feel I should be upping the dose. Had been taking in two doses morning and afternoon but have been trying out taking all in one go in the morning. So fed up fighting.

[greygoose in reply to beaton]

How long before the blood draw did you stop the T3?

When I asked how you take it, I meant do you take it on an empty stomach, etc., like levo?

[beaton in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoose, stopped T3 about 30 hrs before blood draw, given the wait. Take T3 first thing an hour before breakfast. I can't see how he can say I'm over medicated if I was below range on T3 when it's the only medication I take.

[greygoose in reply to beaton]

Because he was only looking at the TSH, and has no understanding of the FT3.

30 hours is much to long. It should be 8 to 12 hours. So, you have a false low there, for your FT3. It isn't really below range, and you can have no idea how high it really is. What was the point of leaving it for 30 hours? It won't raise your TSH because that doesn't react fast enough, it just means that now you have no idea of your true level.

[beaton in reply to greygoose]

Agree Greygoose, there was a mix up. I'm due for bloods on 23rd Aug. but not till PM (First available appointment.) Have reduced T3 to 60 mcg. first thing in the morning. Now if I'm going to take T4 for the blood test only do I take that for two days ?

Thanks for all your advice. xx

[greygoose in reply to beaton]

I don't know what you're trying to achieve by taking T4. Taking it for 2 days won't show up in a blood test, I shouldn't think. And having your blood drawn in the afternoon will mean that your TSH is at its lowest. Levels of T3 also vary throughout the day, but I'm not sure how. It just seems like a wasted blood test, to me. If you're doing it to prove to your doctor that your not over-medicated, it's going to fail, because of your low TSH.

I think it's time to make a stand. You don't want to take T4, so don't take it. You want to take the dose of T3 that makes you well, so take it. If your doctor doesn't like it, drop him and go it alone. You cannot keep chopping and changing and messing up your blood tests like this because it serves no useful purpose. Sorry, but that's my opinion. Stick to your guns. It's your life, your body and your health. Not your doctor's.

[beaton in reply to greygoose]

It's the doctor who has requested the blood test He wants me to add T4 10 mcg, one a week, which I don't think is any good.

I had booked the appointment re gut issues. So MRI and other tests but he seems to think all my problems are down to T3. He wont even prescribe cream for psoriasis. So must admit I'm losing faith. We only have on practice where I live so not much choice.Have seen 5 endos. who are all rubbish.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to beaton]

10mcg a week (about 0.5mcg a day) is super pointless - and where are you going to get 10mcg tablets? . Just ignore him. You might want to get the list of doctors with a clue from [e-mail]. If you decide that you do need some t4, you could consider swapping some T3 for NDT

[greygoose in reply to beaton]

All your problems could be down to low T3, certainly! But, I don't think that's what he meant. lol

10 mcg T4 once a week? What on earth does he think he's going to achieve with that? The man's an idiot, he knows nothing about thyroid. Well, he's not going to be very happy with a blood test done in the afternoon, because your TSH will be very low, and won't prove anything. I don't really know what you can do. Except tell him outright he's an idiot - and I don't think that would go down very well!

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to beaton]

Don't have an afternoon test - it'll make it look even worse. Cancel and try again or just give up and get private tests

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to beaton]

I think you stopped too soon before bloods - I only leave 6-12 hours - so your free t3 result is not very accurate. You need a retest. I'd say aht your doctor doesn't understand how read T3 bloods and there is no point expecting him to understand it.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need to test levels of B12, folate, ferritin and vitamin D.

Sounds like low stomach acid

Do you have Hashimoto's?

[beaton in reply to SlowDragon]

Had to fight to get bloods done but she did :-

B12 644

Folate 12.6

Ferritin 87

No Vit D

I think it's low stomach acid and yes Hashimoto's and Psoriasis. So autoimmune.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to beaton]

With both Hashimotos and psoriasis it's recommended to try gluten free. Are you GF already?

Vitamin D can get tested for £28 via vitamindtest.org.uk

B12 could be higher and vitamin B complex might help (but stop 3-4 dats prior to any future test due to biotin can falsely affect test results)

Have you tried Apple cider vinegar for low stomach acid. Or Betaine HCL.

Loads of posts on here about low stomach acid

T3 result is not true result. Only recommended to stop it 12 hours before blood test

[beaton in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon, Yes I went GF when gp just shrugged and won't test. I had known I had a problem with bread so it seemed the obvious move. ( I'm also vegetarian.) Will look into Vit. D testing if not done on next bloods. Will also get them to do T3 again if it's not listed. There was some mixup last time. I am looking into both Apple cider vinegar and Betaine HCL and will try one of these once I've had my MRI.

Thanks for taking time to reply to me. xx

[Angel_of_the_North]

No, you are not overmedicated as your Free T3 is UNDER range. If you are taking t3 you'd expect it to be near the top of the range. You might have low stomach acid. have you tried taking either lemon juice or cider vinegar before a meal or Betaine HCL with a meal? People often have very low FT4 and TSH when taking T3 - it might be problem or it might not - seems to depend on the individual. It means that you won't have any T4 to fall back on if you forget to take the T3 and you will have poor conversion of what little you do have, but should be fine if you have enough T3

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Very difficult to be vegetarian, gluten and soya free and eat high protein diet needed to help Hashimoto's

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Highly likely B12 is too low and low stomach acid

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low B's can be quite important, hence B complex to keep them all in balance

See this article about low vitamin D and connection to low B's and insomnia

drgominak.com/sleep/vitamin...

Also read you profile that thyroid issues started after an accident . A car accident? Did you have whiplash? Or bang on head? Both can cause onset of thyroid problems