Help with T3 please: Hello all - I’m considering... - Thyroid UK

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Help with T3 please

Shazamm profile image
22 Replies

Hello all - I’m considering T3

I posted a while back that I am considering using T3 as I don’t convert very well. I’ve seen my Gp who will consider referring me back to endocrinologist but said wait time is very long in my area and there is no guarantee he would prescribe T3 anyway. So I will go the self medication route. Latest results

TSH 0.79 (0.27-4.20)

Free thyroxine 19.7 (12.00 - 22.00)

Free T3 3.87 (3.10 - 6.80 )

Thyroglobulin antibody *135.00 (0.00. -115.00)

Thyroid peroxidase antibodies *433 (0.00 - 34.00)

I take 100/125 alternate days of levothyroxine and daily selenium, magnesium, zinc and went gluten free 3 wks ago, despite this I still feel as grotty and have the same symptoms as I did when diagnosed.

Please could somebody private message me with a a safe reliable source for buying T3 on line

Thank you all

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Shazamm profile image
Shazamm
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22 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Are your nutrient levels optimal?

Vit D - 100-150nmol

B12 - top of range

Folate - at least half way through range

Ferritin - minimum 70, preferably half way through range

Are you addressing the Hashi's by being strictly gluten free and supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily to help reduce the antibodies?

All these things need to be in place before adding T3. They are the building blocks for thyroid hormone to work.

Shazamm profile image
Shazamm in reply to SeasideSusie

Yes , I am on 200mcg selenium, B12 was over range in Oct, 256 .0 ( 25.10 - 165.00 ) dr told me to stop it. Vit D was 149.3 (50.00 - 200.00). Folate 24.8 (2.91 - 50.00) and ferritin was over at 179 (13.00 - 150.00) gp also told me to stop

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Shazamm

You shouldn't stop, eventually your levels will plummet. You should lower your dose to a maintenance dose. I've never understood doctors' thinking over this!

When did you stop supplementing and when were those tests done? Are you strictly gluten free?

Shazamm profile image
Shazamm in reply to SeasideSusie

Tests were done at the beginning of Feb , I have only stopped B12 and iron tablets as per Gp instructions , he wants me to have blood test again in another 4 wks everything else I still take.

Only went gluten free 3 wks ago and have kept strictly to it so far.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Shazamm

You need to stop iron sup

Others you need to swop to maintenance dose, not stop entirely

Shazamm profile image
Shazamm in reply to SlowDragon

I already have and will go back on adjusted dosage after next blood test

Supernovae profile image
Supernovae in reply to SeasideSusie

Hi, where did you get the figure for Vit D from, my GP told me over 50nm/l was okay, mine was 66nm/l.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Supernovae

The Vit D Council recommends 100-150nmol/L

vitamindcouncil.org/i-teste...

Scroll down to

"My level is between 40-50 ng/ml" and "My level is between 50-60 ng/ml"

Because those measurements are in ng/ml so you have to multiply by 2.5 to get nmol/L which gives

40ng/ml = 100nmol

50ng/ml = 125nmol/L

60ng/ml = 150nmol/L

Your GP is saying 50nmol/L is OK because it is outside the "Insufficient" category but it is not optimal. GPs only go by something being within range, they aren't taught nutrition so don't know about optimal levels.

Grassroots Health Disease Incidence Prevention Chart is interesting grassrootshealth.net/docume...

Scroll down to download load the same chart in nmol/L

Supernovae profile image
Supernovae in reply to SeasideSusie

Thank you, I doubt my GP would take any notice as the Vit D Council is a US based organisation and he got his value from Nice.... perhaps I should just increase my Vit D intake anyway. Taking 800iu so could increase to 1200iu see if I feel any better.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to Supernovae

They just want you out of the "deficiency" bracket and their job is done. With your level of 66nmol/L, you should be looking at a minimum of 2000iu D3 daily, maybe even more to raise it to the recommended level, then once you achieve that you will need a maintenance dose. I keep my level around 150 nmol and to achieve that I need 4000iu five days a week in winter and 2000iu five days a week the rest of the year.

There are important cofactors needed when taking D3 vitamindcouncil.org/about-v...

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-mk7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissue where it can be deposited and cause problems. Magnesium helps the body use D3.

Supernovae profile image
Supernovae in reply to SeasideSusie

Thanks again, I’ll increase my Vit D intake. I don’t think I’ve ever had my calcium level checked although I am taking Tamoxifen which, I think, affects your calcium. This is very confusing!

Supernovae profile image
Supernovae

Hi, my GP won’t check my T3 says he’s not allowed to..... is that right? How did you get yours checked Shazamm?

Shazamm profile image
Shazamm in reply to Supernovae

Mine won’t either for the same reason. I paid to have it done through Medichecks

Supernovae profile image
Supernovae in reply to Shazamm

Thanks, he said he wasn’t allowed to prescribe T3 anyway! Maybe I’ll have it checked privately. Did medichecks do your Vit B12 etc as well?

Shazamm profile image
Shazamm in reply to Supernovae

They have a whole raft of tests, you can more or less get whatever you want tested. They have special offers on Thursday’s

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Supernovae

Thousands on here use private testing. Just testing TSH and FT4 is inadequate

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies. Plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.

Essential to test thyroid antibodies, FT4 and FT3 plus vitamins

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 ideally 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. (Patient to patient tip, GP will be unaware)

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

Supernovae profile image
Supernovae in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you that’s really helpful, I’ve got Hashimoto’s I had high antibodies when first diagnosed, since then I have my TSH and T4 checked but nothing else. The last time GP only checked TSH. No one ever talked to me about thyroid disease I was just told about the antibodies over the phone and left a prescription! Although last winter when I was having difficulty getting up the stairs my GP checked my Vit D which was 22nmol/l so have been taking supplements ever since. This forum is going to be very helpful 😊

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Supernovae

Hopefully your GP gave you loading dose to improve very low vitamin D.

Are you now only on 800iu daily?

Have you had level retested? With Hashimoto's standard 800iu maintenance dose is often inadequate

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

Essential to also test 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 gut connection 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

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...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Supernovae profile image
Supernovae in reply to SlowDragon

I had some really high doses for a bit, this is all so much more complicated than I realised. I’m lactose intolerant, hope I’m not coeliac as well! I was pleased they reformulated the levothyroxine so it’s now lactose free. Before I took the vitamin D I was on 125mcg levothyroxine but now I’m taking 100mcg because my TSH was practically non existent. GP said it didn’t matter but I think he was wrong. So annoying when GPs just say anything to pacify you! Had Vit D checked a couple of weeks ago and it was 66nm/l which is apparently okay. Still taking 800iu daily though. I’ve never had folate, ferritin or B12 checked. I guess I’ll have to have it done privately.

Thanks for the links, I’ll have a look through them later.

Supernovae profile image
Supernovae

Thanks, I’ve just looked and there is a clinic not too far away be good to know what is really going on.

naturalendocrinesolutions.c...

Supernovae profile image
Supernovae in reply to

That was interesting, thanks.

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