Fed up feeling tired and cold

[Tiredandcold]

Hi all , can anyone PM me with details on where I can buy t3 ,from a reliable " approved " site.. GP is no use, so looking to get it myself. Thanks

[startagaingirl]

Hi and welcome to the forum. Since this is your first post, maybe you could tell us a bit more about your thyroid issues, including any recent test results, and we will be able to advise you better. Also members are more likely to share sources if they are sure it is an appropriate treatment for you.

Gillian

[Tiredandcold in reply to startagaingirl]

Thanks for the reply.. been suffering for last 7 years, same problems as everyone here banging head against brick wall as gp is no help as he keeps referring to tsh is within normal range and mine usually 0.5 - 1.00 , but also same problems as everyone here still have symptoms such as afternoon crash at 3.30/4.00pm always need a nap, cold all over and keep arguing with the other half about the temp of the central heating lol. Blue finger tips and lips in the late evening. Feeling drained ,diet and exercise not producing any results, over weight causing knee problems. Last visit to gp got me so frustrated I got upset which led him to diagnose depression,  I refused any medication and left ....!..other half bless him has been suring the net for info and we have come to the conclusion it boils down to lack of converting t4 to t3 so metabolism is at rock bottom and  if  im ever going to make any progress I have to do it my self.  Yes Its autoimmune   thyroid  disorder and have been avoiding gluten and also the kitchen side is full of vitamins  etc, like I said we've been doing the research for years , in fact it was our research that I found out I had the problem in the first place as our old gp just said it was due to running round after the children , working and being over weight that was making me tired...doctors eh...what do they know.. there are some good ones but I'm yet to find one

[startagaingirl in reply to Tiredandcold]

Hi - many of us recognise your story from our own experience unfortunately. However that doesn't necessarily mean that t3 is the best solution for you. You are quite possibly correct that you don't have enough t3, but a solution might just be more t4, or maybe a good supplement in the correct dose. That is why you wI'll always be asked on this forum for thyroid results. Never believe a doctor's interpretation of your results, always ask for a printed copy, you are entitled to these by law.

T3 is a hard taskmaster if all your nutrients aren't optimum, which can cause more problems. In taking t3, you will also be committing yourself to a lifetime of sourcing your own (getting harder by the day now!), and also constant private testing as NHS will only very,very rarely test ft3 and no other measure is relevant when on t3.

So before you take such a step, why not get a copy of your last results and post them? You are looking for everything you can find from Tsh, ft4, ft3! Folate, ferritin, vit d and vit b13. Also thyroid antibodies - TpoAb and TgAb. Always quote ranges, figures in brackets, as labs differ and these are required for interpretation. Should look something like Tsh 1.0 (0.4-4.2).

Many of us use private testing through Blue Horizons (thyroid plus 11 will give all above) or Medichecks (thyroid ultravit).

Gillian

[Tiredandcold in reply to startagaingirl]

The only test results i have are from 2015

Tsh 1.62 (0.35-9.94

Free t4 16 (9.0-20.0)

T3 4.6 (2.4-5.7)

Tpo 246.5 (<50)

[startagaingirl in reply to Tiredandcold]

Well results from 2 years ago are absolutely no good for judgement on the situation now, especially since you have Hashis and hence your thyroid output will more than likely have changed over time. However, what that does show, is that in 2015 you were actually a good converter of t4 into t3.

If you are seriously considering t3 you really need to have an up to date set of test results. Personally I wouldn't go trying t3 without full knowledge of my full situation, thyroid and nutrients. To do so runs the risk of confusing your whole situation more through lack of understanding of what is causing any issues - under-medication, low vit d, low ferritin, over-medication, too much t4, etc, etc, etc. You really need to know your position and address any deficiencies you may have.

Gillian

[Tiredandcold in reply to startagaingirl]

Thanks for all this advice and feedback it's vastly more important than anything we can get from the medical fraternity.. I work in a school and I noticed during the six week break I didn't need an afternoon nap and was still feeling warm by bedtime ...i say warm .. that's warm compared to usuall lol..but 2 weeks back at work and the naps and cold have returned..could the stress of work drain my " thyroid energy" ... is this a sign of a cortisol problem ..as a more relaxed day lessens the symptoms.....somthing else my go won't look at ....!

[startagaingirl in reply to Tiredandcold]

The medical community typically seems to know very little about thyroid unfortunately. Your energy pattern says under-medicated to me rather than a cortisol problem. It is t3 that powers all our energy systems and, if you don't have enough of it, any extra energy output will leave you short.

The thyroid and adrenals work together to support all your body's functions. If you are down on thyroid hormones the adrenals will try to compensate by pumping more cortisol into the system than they would otherwise. Eventually they become fatigued and then you have major problems. But it doesn't sound like you are anywhere near that point. In the vast majority of cases, once thyroid levels are optimal, the adrenals simply return to normal working. So you may notice high cortisol symptoms more, but really it is because you are too low on the thyroid, rather than being due to stress.

Gillian

[Tiredandcold in reply to startagaingirl]

All that seems to be pointing to slightly under medicating with t4...as our GP thinks you don't really have a thyroid problems unless your tsh is 9 or over I'm lucky to have started treatment via endo who convinced the GP to treat when I had tsh of 4.5 and felt half dead ....so I've got no chance of an increase as I've asked before...so next question where can buy from a safe and secure site some more t4 levothyroxine

Thanks

Lisa

[startagaingirl in reply to Tiredandcold]

Get some results, then we can advise better, including some literature to help convince your GP on what is really required in terms of treatment. There is a reference article - if you search here for "anthony toft pulse" you should find references to it and how to get a hold of a copy.

Good luck

Gillian

btw - if that doesn't work and you still need extra t4 supply, then that is possible to buy within Europe. Wait and see if and when you need it.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need to know results for TSH, FT4 and FT3. Do you also have high thyroid antibodies? You need to know. Did GP test these? If not ask that they are tested.

If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known as autoimmune thyroid disease). About 90% of hypothyroidism in UK is due to Hashimoto's.

Hashimoto's very often affects the gut, leading to low stomach acid, low vitamin levels and leaky gut.

Low vitamins that affect thyroid are vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Important to test these. If they are too low they stop Thyroid hormones working. Have these been tested, if not ask that they are. Always get actual results and ranges.

You need good vitamin levels and high enough dose of Levo first, plus if you have Hashimoto's then gluten may be causing issues. You might need to consider gluten free diet too trying T3