Having previously self medicated with T3 only, I decided 5 months ago to see an endocrinologist privately. I'd had some health issues and my adrenals weren't functioning normally. Before performing any tests the endo took me off T3 for 10 weeks.... my TSH by that time had reached 10.4. I was prescribed 25mcg liquid Levothyroxine daily. This low amount of Levo hardly helped my hypo symptom so after a month I added 6.25mcg T3 daily. I'm definitely feeling better with this combo but I'm still getting hypo symptoms every day.
Today I got my follow up blood results from my GP.
TSH at 3.0 (0.40-4.90) mu/L
(Disappointed no other thyroid hormones were tested)
So where do I go from here?! I'm told by my GP my thyroid function is normal. I doubt she will prescribe an increase of Levothyroxine. Should I add a little more t3? I'm also wonder if I should think about trying NDT, I welcome advise from anyone.
I'm assuming private blood tests for a full thyroid panel is the way forward before doing anything else? At least I'll know where my T4 and T3 are at.
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StarFlower2
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I'm assuming private blood tests for a full thyroid panel is the way forward before doing anything else? At least I'll know where my T4 and T3 are at.
That would be my suggestion.
When the private endo tested and your TSH came back at 10.4 were FT4 and FT3 tested then?
You really can't know if you need T3 due to poor conversion until your TSH has reached around 1 when on Levo only. You can't see if you convert or not when you take T3.
That's quite surprising considering TSH was 10.4 I would have expected to see a much lower FT4 but it's half way through it's range.
In your situation - and this is my personal opinion only - I would want a full set of results on Levo only. That will then show if you convert well enough or not. Then you can make the decision about adding T3. If you're going to come off T3 for the private tests, I would be off it for 6 weeks. I am using Levo plus T3 and find that with any dose change - Levo or T3 - it takes 8 weeks for my results to stabilise.
Yes, I also found these results surprising too. Was upset she didn't test FT3 along with the others as private costs were very high and I don't feel I got all the answers!
Thank you for this SeasideSusie, I think my decision will be to come off T3 for 6-8 weeks before testing.
Have you looked at Medichecks and Blue Horizon for private testing? Medichecks have special offers every Thursday. And particularly good value at the moment is their UltraVit which is £20 off until the end of this month (now £79 instead of £99) and does the complete thyroid panel plus the 4 important vitamins and minerals. You can order it now and you have 6 months to use it (when I last asked them).
25mcg Levo is a very small dose, basically a starter dose for children, the elderly or those with a heart condition. I can't see any problem with you increasing it to, say, 50mcg and wait 6 weeks to do your test. That should give you a fairly good idea of your next step.
You can post your new results on the forum for comment, then you will have the basis for a discussion with your endo.
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TSH LEVELS
GP review - low TSH on NDT
Blood Test on T3 only?
Suppressed TSH
Preparing for Endo appointment, new blood tests with lower TSH
