T3 with 125mcg thyroxine

[AishaMalik]

Hi guys, im from the U.K. This is my first post. I have got so fed up with my uncontrollable underactive thyroid. I apparently have normal TSH and T4 levels over the 19 years i have had it. Im now nearly 30 and they symptoms are still debilitating. I asked for my ft3 to be tested as they do not do that here. It is very low but the Dr will not prescribe any t3 replacement. I have just bought some but I do not know if i should carry on taking 125mcg of levothyroxine and start the t3. Any advice on dosing would be helpful?

[waveylines]

Hi Welcome to our forum.

Can you pop your blood test results for tsh, ft4 & ft3 with the ranges too on your post. Results for folate, ferritin, iron & vitamin D would be helpful too. Your results will help in determining how low ypur thyroid levels are and whether you need to simply add the T3 or reduce the levothyroxine & add the t3.

[AishaMalik]

Typical ranges:

TSH - 0.4-4.0 mU/L

T4 9-25 pmol/L

FT3 3.5-7.8 pmol/L

My blood test from 22/2/18 are:

TSH: 0.78 mU/L

T4: 19 pmol/L

FT3: 3.8pmol/L

I have no other blood results as that is all that was tested.

The Dr is aware that my T4 is not being converted into FT3 correctly but isn’t able to prescribe anything as it is now blacklisted in the U.K. He did suggest that taking T4 and T3 together could be dangerous but would not give any further advice. Any information would be appreciated. Many thanks,

Aisha

[shaws Administrator in reply to AishaMalik]

There is no danger at all of taking T4/T3 as researchers have proven that most feel a great improvement and your doctor is just another who has no knowledge at all about dealing with hypothyroid patients.

We recover our health best when we have doctors such as yours and decide to learn/read as much as possible so that we can do.

[AishaMalik in reply to shaws]

Thank you for your reassurance. It was a bit worrying because he just said i will end up with arrhythmias and need to try and manage symptoms other ways, but I have seen how T3 has helped so many people. He was very reluctant to even test my ft3 levels.

[shaws Administrator in reply to AishaMalik]

I don't know why they frighten people when they have absolutely NO knowledge and adding some T3 can improve patients clinical symptoms. Ignorance is not bliss when coming from a professional.

I don't take T4 only T3 so I haven't dropped dead yet. I feel well and have been taking it added to T4 but on T3 only for about 3 years now.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to AishaMalik]

"Typical ranges:

TSH - 0.4-4.0 mU/L

T4 9-25 pmol/L

FT3 3.5-7.8 pmol/L"

You can't use "typical ranges". As ranges vary from lab to lab you need the ranges from the lab that did your test.

[AishaMalik in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thats the range the drs gave me for the lab that did my test.

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and I am sorry you have hypothyroidism.

The procedure for taking blood tests are that it has to be at the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours from your last dose of levo and the test and take afterwards.

This gives the patient the best results and may prevent doctor from adjusting unnecessarily.

We have two private labs which will do a Full Thyroid Blood test and one has a 'special offer' every Thursday. I will give you a link. I would think it preferable to have a Full Test which is : TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. If you decide to have a private test, make sure you are well-hydrated a couple of days before the home pin-prick tests or they can tell you where you can get blood drawn.

The GP should test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate - deficiencies in these can also cause problems.

Get a print-out (if GP will do these but few will as they seem to be instructed that TSH and T4 is sufficient) of the results, with the ranges and post them for comments.

Members can then advise how best you can improve your health.

Blue Horizon and Medichecks do the tests and Medichecks has the Special offer.

[Clutter]

AishaMalik,

I would start with a quarter of a 25mcg tablet 6.25mcg added to 125mcg Levothyroxine to see how you tolerate the T3. After a couple of weeks you can increase to a second 6.25mcg T3 dose at bedtime. Hold at 12.5mcg and have a thyroid function test including FT3 before increasing further. You can order thyroid tests from Blue Horizon and Medichecks via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin... Nedichecks offer #ThyroidThursday discounts.

[AishaMalik in reply to Clutter]

Thank you! My tablets should be arriving in the next few days but I do not know if I have purchased the correct item. Do you know of a reputable website to buy from?

[Clutter in reply to AishaMalik]

AishaMalik,

What is the name of the T3 you ordered? There are lots of reputable sites to buy T3 from.

[AishaMalik in reply to Clutter]

From <deleted by admin> in the States. Can you suggest anywhere to purchase from as Im a bit cautious that this product is aimed at those in the body building/ cutting business

[Clutter in reply to AishaMalik]

AishaMalik,

What is the name of the T3 brand? We can't post source on the forum so I deleted the name of the site you named.

[AishaMalik in reply to Clutter]

Absolute nutrition. I have tried to buy off other sites and found it very difficult .

[Clutter in reply to AishaMalik]

AishaMalik,

It sounds like a food supplement. If it isn't Liothyronine then it isn't T3 thyroid medication.

[AishaMalik in reply to Clutter]

first mistake. I will just have to keep looking. I have been waiting ages for this product to arrive from the states too

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your GP is not telling you the truth on Liothyronine. It is perfectly possible to be prescribed T3. But GP would need to refer you to NHS endocrinologist for assessment

british-thyroid-association...

Suggest you also see a Improve Thyroid treatment campaign on Facebook for letter templates on how to push to get prescribed

Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,

"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.

In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.

Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.

This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."

You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor

 please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

Also request list of recommended thyroid specialists, some are T3 friendly

Professor Toft recent article saying, T3 may be necessary for many

rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels first.

Also do you have Hashimoto's also called autoimmune thyroid disease, diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies ?

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Always get actual results and ranges. Post results when you have them, members can advise

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect 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

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first

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