T4

[Sarbie]

Could somebody please PM me where to buy T3 online please. Worried about ordering something dodgey!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking at your other post you have only been on Levothyroxine for 4 weeks you probably need to be more patient for a while yet

Presumably you are only on starter dose of 50mcg Levothyroxine

(Just read .... you are only on 25mcg dose.....no wonder feeling rubbish)

NHS guidelines saying standard starter dose is 50mcgs

beta.nhs.uk/medicines/levot...

Blood should be retested after 6-8 weeks on stater dose

Dose of Levothyroxine is increased in 25mcg steps. Waiting and retesting after 6-8 weeks each time

Most people eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.....but we can NOT just up the dose quickly. It has to be done slowly

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4, TT4, FT3 plus TPO and TG thyroid antibodies and also very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Do you have Hashimoto's ? UK doctors tend to call it autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or vitamins

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. When on Levothyroxine, don't take in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after test. 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. Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten. So it's very important to get TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once .

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/tuk/testing/t...

Link about antibodies and Hashimoto's

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Sarbie

If anyone does send you information about suppliers, as a precaution you may wish to contact one of the Admin Team to ensure any information you have been sent is for a genuine supplier.

[Sarbie in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you yes I will. 👍 I’m just trying to keep on top of this.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sarbie]

You can rush sorting thyroid.

You won't know if you need T3 until Levothyroxine is increased at least once or twice more

Plus getting vitamins optimal

[Sarbie in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. I have come off levo and am concentrating on vit D and B12 to as my results were low. I will reintroduce levo when my vit levels are right so I can absorb. I just cannot get my head around the rapid weight gain. I have only been off levo for 48 hours and have already lost a lot of water. I can see my ankles again!! I can’t understand replacing one problem with another- that can’t be right.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sarbie]

Which brand of Levothyroxine were you taking?

Not everyone gets on with all brands. Teva brand especially upsets many people

Stopping Levothyroxine can often make you feel much better initially, but can cause a crash in 10-14 days.

You were only on 25mcg dose. It's recommended that everyone under 50 years old is started on 50mcg. Starting too low a dose often makes people feel worse. It's enough to turn your own thyroid hormones production down or off but far too little in replacement

Your vitamins are most likely low because you are hypothyroid so stopping may make them worse.

Your folate also very low. So as well as sublingual B12 you may need daily good quality vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

Have you had TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested?

If these are high this is Hashimoto's (GP will call it autoimmune thyroid disease) then changing to strictly gluten free diet may help

Getting antibodies tested by GP or privately is probably next step

[Sarbie in reply to SlowDragon]

I felt better when taking levo and had it upped to 50mc when I discussed with my doctor how different I felt. But then I realised that I couldn’t do up trousers etc and couldn’t believe the amount of weight I had gained so quickly. I’ve read up on other sites and this does happen to other people who say as soon as they come off their weight comes off. I thought I would test this and see. It worked!! I read so many posts that have probably scared me but people had gained huge amounts on this levo. Upping my dose just made me gain more rapidly. I couldn’t see my ankles! This has never happened to me before. I go on holiday on Friday so am hoping I will remain well. But will take my levo with me. Thank you for the advice on tests I need which I will ask for. This has all hit me like a brick wall and am a bit of a control freak so am finding it difficult to trust others with my health when I know it is so complex and docs can get it wrong or prescribe the incorrect treatment. Yes it can be corrected after tests etc but in the meantime I have to suffer the effects which I’m just not prepared to do. I had to push my doc in the first place to give me levo as I was told I just needed vit D because I was producing enough hormone. I’m so confused and feel bad for pushing for levo and now not wanting to take it.