Private testing

[TCG8]

Hi after the disastrous appointment with my endo yesterday I am thinking about getting private bloods done. Since I have tested positive for Hashis is it a good idea to keep testing them to see where they are or is just the once before enough? Also expecting thyroid bloods from yesterday done by the endo clinic and my dose has been reduced from 200mcg Levo and 10mcg T3 to 150mcg Levo only thank you

[Hidden]

If you know you have Hashi's don't waste money on getting Antibodies checked over again. The critical tests are free T3 and free T4, TSH, and also your b12, Vit D, folate and ferritin. Thyroid U.K. Provides a link to private labs. (And Medichecks has discounts every Thursday on various labs). Do not forget to fast 24 hours prior (water OK) and no thyroid hormone for 24 hours beforehand.

[TCG8 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks vitamins already done

[Saggyuk]

Why did they reduce your meds by so much? dose changes should be done gradually. What were your test results they based this decision on? If you haven't got them, you can ask for a printout from your GP and post them for better advice

[TCG8 in reply to Saggyuk]

My endo shouted at me for having thyrotoxic results.

When I sat down the endo asked me how I have been getting on and I said I have been feeling a lot better since taking the T3 with the Levo. He then turned the monitor round with my results on and said "yeah BUT WHAT'S THIS? Why are your bloods like this? Not good really is it? You're thyrotoxic!!!"

I have been switched from Levo/T3 combo therapy to just TEVA Levo, I have raised thyroid antibodies and diagnosed hypothyroid in 2014. I was doing well on the Levo/T3 therapy of 200mcg Levo and 20mcg T3 and told my endo today I was feeling better on it but he has told me he is no advocate of T3 or any other thyroid replacement medication except Levo and that an improvement in symptoms does not equal efficacy and safety.

He told me my results are a cause of concern due to over replacement and I am in danger of harming myself so he has told me to stop T3 altogether from yesterday.

TSH <0.02 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 38.7 (12 - 22)

Free T3 11.5 (3.1 - 6.8)

Before that on same dose

TSH 1.67 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 15.9 (12 - 22)

Free T3 4.6 (3.1 - 6.8)

TPO antibodies 339 (<34)

TG antibodies 478.5 (<115)

[Saggyuk in reply to TCG8]

The test results you had before were fine and even indicated a little wriggle room for an increase. How long had you been on that dose before the tests were done.

Your recent test results do indicate being over-medicated mind you. If you have hashis, you can have what's called a hashis flare where as your thyroid gets damaged from your antibodies (which were high), it can dump a whole load of thyroid hormone in your system and cause blood test results to spike like that.

200mcg T4 and 20mcg T3 is quite a high dose though, I'm on 30mcg T3 and 25mcg T4 with no thyroid function although some people do require more. Have you made any other changes recently? Have you resolved long standing nutritional deficiencies, have you gone gluten free? I used to be on a lot more meds before I resolved these so sorting issues like this out can mean you need less and can make you over medicated.

Either way, small changes in dose can make a huge difference and you might have been better off stopping them for a week to clear some of the excess and then starting them again on a slightly lower dose. You might find that you become too low again soon so make sure you get doc to retest after 6-8 weeks from the reduction to check if you haven't gone too low. If T3 was making you feel better, it wasn't necessary to take this out completely to be honest so maybe argue to have that added back in when your results are better.

How long had you been on the T3/T4 combo and what dose where you on before that?

[Saggyuk in reply to Saggyuk]

Also, if you get put back on T3, remember that although you should leave levo (T4) for 24 hours before blood test, you should only leave T3 for no more than 12 hours otherwise it will skew your results

[Saggyuk in reply to Saggyuk]

Actually, I've just seen your other post, you def need an increase now as all levels low. I expect it was a hashis flare so you need to point that out to endo and get back on a better dose Good luck