Hi I'm new, I was diagnosed with underactive thyroid 4 years ago and never felt well on levo. Was put on T3 2 years ago which helped my symptoms and levels but T3 was removed in June 2017. Could someone please pm me a source of T3?
Thank you in advance.
Welcome to the forum, Laurenjay.
Who removed your T3 and why did they say it was being removed?
Hi thanks my new endo removed my T3 saying he didn't think it would help me but if I felt better surely it was working?
Laurenjay,
I wish new endos would listen when their patients say they feel better on T3 and not impose their bias against T3. I'm afraid without a NHS endo reinstating T3 you won't get it back on NHS.
You could appeal to your new endo and show him the BTA issued guidance that patients doing well on T3 should not have their prescriptions with-drawn. See FAQS for patients and GPs in british-thyroid-association...
You are right - he is wrong. Another sheep following what suits him and not the patient. The British Thyroid Association has made statements that if patient is well it should not be withdrawn.
Endos have all jumped on the bandwagon as the perfect excuse arose not to prescribe, i.e. extortionate price rise up to £260 per month per pack, I believe.
I suggest you send a copy of the following by an eminent Endocrinologist who was a past President of the BTA .
rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...
Read the whole article, of which this is an excerpt. We have all signed a Petition and there is a Parliamentary Debate in parliament on the 20th December, so we could ask our local MP for a ticket so that we could attend.
We are being walked all over by mainly male doctors/endocrinologists
You can highlight parts of the above from the BTA and send to your Endo.
Excerpt:
They also state, “The decision to switch from L-T3 to L-T4 should be based on clinical considerations and should be reached in conjunction with the patient after a discussion of the risks and benefits. Patients established on L-T3 who continue to derive benefit from its use should continue on L-T3. However, patients with uncertain benefits should be considered for a switch to L-T4 and advice should be sought from an endocrinologist on how this can be safely done.”
Read Numberone1 comment on the following link of which the above is a part.
Highly likely to have now have very low vitamin levels.
Removal of T3 severely upsets gut function
Ask GP to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Post results and ranges if you have them already
Essential to get these to good levels first, before restarting T3
Do you have Hashimoto's?
If antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease). About 90% of all hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's
Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels stop Thyroid hormone working
Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...
drknews.com/changing-your-d...
Your endo was an idiot to remove T3.
Was Levo increased to compensate?
Have you had recent tests?
For full evaluation you ideally need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested
See if you can get full thyroid and vitamin testing from GP. Unlikely to get FT3
Private tests are available
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results
Link about antibodies
T3
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