Scared of adding/taking T3

[Zo88]

Hi I am new, I have thyroid peroxidase antibodies of 337 (<34) and diagnosed hypothyroid in 2013. My previous endo identified a clinical need for me to have T3 added to my levothyroxine but my current endo told me the T3 is not a safe medication for me to take.

I was mentally clearer on T3 and made fewer mistakes and I am debating with myself to go back on it. I have 2 months of it left, current results below though I am due a retest at end of September.

I realise I run the risk of being struck off by my current endo since he disapproves of me taking T3 but because of my symptoms returning I feel I need to go against him. Should I?

Thanks

(150mcg levothyroxine)

TSH 0.04 (0.2 - 4.2)

Free T4 20.8 (12 - 22)

Free T3 4.5 (3.1 - 6.8)

[Clutter]

Zo88,

Better to feel well by selfmedicating than to please the endo who is not getting you well I think.

I felt well enough with FT3 4.5 on Levothyroxine and T3 but I know a lot of people need FT3 higher in range to feel well. As long as you keep FT3 <6.8 there should be no danger to health.

There have been two long term observational studies showing Liothyronine is safe.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/resear...

[Zo88 in reply to Clutter]

Hi I have constipation and tiredness and feeling cold as well. So I would like to add T3 back in

[Clutter in reply to Zo88]

Z088,

Hopefully the T3 will help.

[humanbean]

my current endo told me the T3 is not a safe medication for me to take.

he disapproves of me taking T3

I'm going to stick my neck out here and say I suspect what your endo disapproves of is the idea that his department may end up footing the bill for your T3 prescription. Endos must be aware that many people feel a lot better with T3 added to their meds, so I suspect he is pretending ignorance for his own reasons.

You basically have two choices :

a) Do what your endo says, knowing that you will continue to feel less well than you could. But then why would you want to see a doctor who deliberately keeps you feeling less well than you could?

b) Ignore the endo, start buying your own T3, and go it alone. Many of us do.

[greygoose]

He's either very ignorant or lying - like most of them, and I can never make my mind up which! T3 is not dangerous at all, as long as you don't take to much. In a healthy person, T3 is made in the body by converting T4. Why would your body make something that is dangerous for you? Have they ever considered that? Or do they just think we're all so stupid that we won't think it out for ourselves and question is? The latter, I believe!

[Zo88 in reply to greygoose]

Yes I have been thinking the doctors know best but probably not in this case.

[greygoose in reply to Zo88]

Not where thyroid is concerned, no. Too many vested interests!

[Angel_of_the_North]

T3 is perfectly safe. If your previous endo said you had a clinical need for it, I suspect that you do. What's the point of feeling worse just to please your endo, who is probably influenced politically by the cost of T3 to the NHS (as they have a poor purchasing policy which prevents competition and allows compnaies to fleece than)