Advice on what to ask Dr Toft

[Asilam]

Hi

I'm seeing Dr Toft next week. Looking for advice on questions to ask etc as I tend to go into gibberish mode.

After seeing my recent results he said my levels were excellent! He doesn't seem concerned re my high antibodies and had spoken to my GP about stopping my T3.

I'm struggling with swallowing and choking on liquids, saliva etc and I have a painful lump on near collar bone, don't know if these would be relevant or not

I started T3 only last week as I wanted to gauge how I felt before I see him. I always feel much better without Levo and want to convey thus to him and see if he'll monitor me trying T3 only for a while to see how I am. My joint pain has lessened, I'm not constipated as I am when on Levo either.

Since bloods were done I've been taking B12, Vit D & K, folate, iron and vit C along with selenium.

Sorry for long post but just hoping folks could help with questions or facts to put to Dr Toft.

Thanks in advance.

Asilam x

[Ari3]

Sorry to ask you but where did you get these all tested and how much it cost? I would like to do all these myself but where and how?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ari3]

Ari3

That is a Medichecks test.

There is some doubt as to whether reverse T3 is worth doing, it is quite expensive. Everything else on that test is done with their Thyroid Check UltraVit.

[greygoose]

So, were those labs done when you were taking T3, or not? Because that changes everything. On those results, you don't have a conversion problem, you're just under-medicated. Yes, your TSH is low, but so are your Frees, both under mid-range, when you obviously need them higher. An increase or two in levo would probably do the trick according to those labs. But, not knowing what you were taking at the time, it's impossible to say with any certainty.

Your high antibodies mean you have Hashi's. Not many doctors know anything about them or Hashi's, and just tend to dismiss them. But, it's good that you know. So, are you 100% gluten-free? Are you taking selenium? There not really much else you can do about it, except keep your TSH very low, but normally gives doctors the screaming habdabs, and they start jibbering about osteoporosis and heart attacks - all of it rubbish, of course. But, it does make life difficult.

[Asilam in reply to greygoose]

I was taking 100mcg Levo and 10mcg T3 when these labs were done. I started 100% GF this week and I'm taking selenium along with other vits.

I think he will probably say my TSH is too low but I'm determined to stand my ground.

This is such a minefield and I'm struggling to know what's best. You say I don't have a conversion problem so does that mean I'd be best keep taking Levo but an increased dose along with a small dose of T3?

I started just taking T3 only last week, 12.5mcg twice a day and feel better doing that.

I was hoping Dr Toft would agree to a trial of T3 only for a while to see how it goes, will find out next week it I'm armed with lots of info regarding my health since being put on Levo in 2007.

[greygoose in reply to Asilam]

I said you didn't have a conversion problem according to those lab results. But, I didn't know you were taking T3 at the time, and that changes everything. Please, if you want intelligent answers, always say exactly what you're taking when the labs were done.

You started T3 much too high, anyway. Starting on 25 mcg, unless you considerably reduced your T4, is very unwise. One normally starts with 6.25 mcg for two weeks, before increasing by 6.25. If those are the labs you're going to show Dr Toft, you're going to give him a totally false impression. I don't really think it was a good idea to start the T3 before seeing him, because you've really confused the issue now, and he won't even know if you need T3 or how your conversion really is. How can he make a decision about trialling T3 when you've muddied the waters like that?

[Asilam in reply to greygoose]

Thanks for your reply. I was already taking 10mcg of T3 along with my Levo before I changed to T3 only.

I have to say your reply was rather curt as I had already said I was taking 100mcg levo alongside 10mcg for over 6 weeks before labs were done.

I do appreciate your replies and advice but the majority of us on here seeking advice don't have the knowledge or experience you may have otherwise we'd know exactly what to ask, some of us are just finding our feet and such curt replies would put myself and others off asking questions.

[greygoose in reply to Asilam]

Well, to be honest, I didn't have any inkling that you'd been on T3+T4 for 6 weeks, nor that you are now on T3 only. To be more than honest, I can't make head nor tail of what you've written. It's very confused.

I wasn't being deliberately curt. I replied in my usual manner. But, it's very difficult to reply when the story seems to change all the time. All you need to put is the details - all the details : results, ranges, dates and doses. We need a time scale to be able to put things into proportion. All I got out of your post was that you'd started T3 before seeing Dr Toft because you wanted to know how it felt, and lab results from some unspecified date. I made what I could out of it. Obviously I wasted my time. But, I still think it was unwise to start T3 that close to seeing Dr Toft because it wouldn't give him a clear idea of what was going on. You really must try and understand how frustrating it is for someone who wants to help you but doesn't have the full picture. Never mind. I won't bother you again with my curtness. Good luck with Dr Toft.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Thyroid results look OK - frees could be a bit higher if you still have symptoms, but B12, folate, ferritin and vit D far too low, which will make you feel bad.

[Asilam in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thanks for your reply. Been supplementing with those that are low do fingers crossed.