GP update

[Pinebunny]

Spoke to my GP re my meds and this is what she says:

They don't prescribe ndt, even on a named or private basis.

She can only prescribe in her guidelines which say anyone over 50 (I'm 53) with very high levels has to start on 25mcg levo. ( despite it not working for me previously) . I tried argue but sad says she can ask advice of an endo but likely to be next week before they come back to her.

Considerering it's Easter next week this isn't good. I don't get sick pay so need to do what it takes. Is there anyone I can see privately or something else I can do quickly?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

They can prescribe T3. Almost always as very small additional dose alongside Levothyroxine. It's difficult to get on NHS (due to cost ) but not impossible

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. Not all are private

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

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