Hi all I bought T3 in Greece, have been on it for 3 weeks feeling better already. I am taking 12.5 T3, not sure if it’s the right dose??
My GP is useless can’t get an appt!!! They are sick of me as I have other issues arthritis and bad back. Love to hear any opinions.
I’m now terrified for when T3 runs out!!!
I also suffer with depression.
Thanks for listening guys and gals
Cazzalouise
Looking back at this post healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Because of your below range FT4 and FT3 back then, did you do as suggested by SlowDragon and ask your doctor for an increase in Levo to bring your Free Ts into range?
Did you get Vit D, B12, Folate and Ferritin tested?
What were your results from tests done just before you started T3?
What dose of Levo were you on then, and did you alter your Levo dose when starting T3?
What dose of Levo are you on now?
T3 should be started at 1/4 of a tablet - 6.25mcg, and increased by 1/4 of a tablet at a time.
Do you take your Levo correctly - on an empty stomach one hour before or two hours after food, with a glass of water, and water only one hour each side?
Do you take your thyroid meds at least 2 hours away from any other medication and supplements (some need 4 hours, some need to be taken as far away as possible, so opposite ends of the day).
I had a private test about 6 months ago. I upped my vits to help. Doctor said I was in range. I even got a second opinion in Cambridge where I found out I had low cortisol. So they put me on steroids they made me so ill I stopped taking them. The Drs there were disinterested and frankly spoke to me like an idiot. I can’t remember my last results. Just had a blood test at my Gp they said they would ring me if my levels were off. Haven’t heard from them but am going to get a printout from them as advised on here. I didn’t realise that I had to start on such a low dose. I take them with my Levo correctly.
I take 100 levo I will post my printout they only tested my T4 nothing else. I asked for bit test and he just glared at me.
I take selenium zinc vit d’s vit c and B complex.
Always constipated exhausted and fatter by the minute even though my appetite is poor. Depression and foggy brain is bad mind you I’m also menopausal. Trying T3 in desperation and what I have read about the difference it makes to hypo people.
Thank you for your advice
You will need to retest full Thyroid and vitamin levels 6-8 weeks after starting on T3
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 also on T3, make sure to take last dose 12 hours prior to test
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...
Vitamin D - It's trial and error what dose each person needs. Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there. Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk
Also read up on importance of magnesium and vitamin K2 Mk7 supplements when taking vitamin D
Magnesium can help with constipation too
betterbones.com/bone-nutrit...
articles.mercola.com/sites/...
healthy-holistic-living.com...
articles.mercola.com/sites/...
Hi
You cannot rely solely on your gp for your health. ( most people do everything themselves)
Slowdragon gave you v important information for a reason. When you are ill the thyroid meds and adrenals are the last thing to sort out.
In this order it’s
Diet ( hence you need to have thyroid antibodies tested- if you high levels you will need to be gluten free) Many people go gluten free anyway and eat a high fat low carb diet with plenty of veg.
Vitamins- these need testing. You have to pay for your own if your gp is unhelpful. There are offers on most Thursdays with blue horizon and a finger prick test is easy to do. You can’t guess what you need and there is no point taking ones you don’t have a deficiency in.
Absorbtion
This is massive to get right. Any signs of stomach issues/ hashimotos ( high thyroid antibodies) I’d certainly suggest a comprehensive stool analysis test with say regenerus or Genova. (the later will have to go through thyroid uk if you cannot get a specialist to sign it for you). Regenerus is fine though.
Then when all the foundations are good you can tweak dosages.
In the meantime I’d suggest monitoring your temperature with a basal ( preferably) thermometer. You need to aim for 36.50 degrees. If you do 4 per day and take the average you will have an idea on how your meds are working and only the cost of the thermometer . Obviously that does not determine how you feel but if you are under 36.50 you are undermedicated and if there is a variation of more than 0.3 then the adrenals are not fully functioning.
Any increase in meds needs 8 readings for 4 days.
It’s disappointing people don’t get the support they need from doctors or t3 I’m most cases on the nhs. I was on t3 for 17 years b4 mine was taken off me due to cost. Initially my t3 was nil.
It’s so important to have good foundations to help you add in / absorb thyroid meds. Without doing the things that were mentioned to you now and previously your health will never be as good as it can be.
Sadly we sometimes have to take what little the GPs give and forge ahead ourselves.
Thousands of people source their own meds and in my experience ( as a general rule from someone who does have patients) few people really do have depression rather they have insufficient vitamins, poor absorbtion and low thyroid and adrenals results.
See DrMyhill.co.uk and in the search bar( top right type in orchestra)a great guide to good health.
Re t3
You may find if your t4 is high enough and vitamins optimal you don’t need t3.
If you do all you can, make adjustments and recheck bloods you can ask The forum for places to source t3 if you need some. (You’d have to check a site out via the admin team)
Good luck to you.
All good advice that you’ve been receiving and if you’re feeling better on the T3 then obviously you’re on the right path. ( i’ve successfully added even greater amounts of T3 without any trouble and yet I would not want to contradict anything that said here.)
There are outside sources non-pharmaceutical sources of T3 from what I’ve seen and heard it’s very weak - it’s not impossible to get it but it’s not pharmaceutical grade. Is it at all possible for you to get some sort of private doctor? Here in the United States we call them functional doctors. They practice medicine that’s not dependent on tests entirely yes they do test but they also listen to the patient and they’re willing to make their own decisions about medical treatments other than main stream. The doctor I go to started using NDT 20 years ago just because he had so many patients that told him levothyroxine didn’t work.
One of the things I’ve learned here is the importance of enzymes digestive enzymes and proteolytic enzyme‘s. ( i’ve added them and they work amazingly so) The same doctor I mentioned above said one of the reasons why those of us who have trouble with T4 only treatment is because we don’t have the digestive ability or the metabolic ability to convert T4 to T3. That’s where the enzymes come into play. I have experienced great relief with proteolytic enzyme’s in particular but also digestive enzymes and I was tested by a functional doctor - They found digestive enzymes to be very low. (Before adding Digestive Enzymes) Mind you I was having no digestive issues that I knew of no indigestion no constipation none of that and still they were very low. When I added digestive enzymes my health improved in all kinds of ways. More energy that’s the number one thing less brain fog too.
Thinking about digestive enzymes and other digestive problems like constipation the first thing that comes to mind is probiotics. Taking too many probiotics can give you the other problem magnesium is also helpful. When we think about T4 conversion problems and digestion and digestive enzymes and probiotics it all kind of makes sense. ( much research points to the gut as the root cause of Hashimoto’s disease and thyroid problems)
The vitamins that you said you were taking, the selenium the D3 that kind of thing, those are all great keep doing that. Selenium helps with conversion as well . So if you can’t find a pharmaceutical source of T3 and you have to source it outside of the pharmacies you’re going to need all the help you can get with conversion assuming you’re going to continue to take the T4 along with any T3 you can find - T4 can be converted to T3 and that’s what the doctors are schooled to believe happens - but it does not, it simply does not happen with all patients. So again selenium, digestive enzymes proteolytic enzyme‘s, and probiotics - all of these things can and do help with the problems that you’ve listed.
Just one more note about D3 which is very important for all kinds of reasons. Functional doctor that I go to admits that he does not know why humans are no longer receive vitamin D from the sun in the amounts that are adequate. I had been taking 2000 mg of D3 for years and still when tested results were extremely low. He increased the D3 to 5000 mg which sounds crazy high and still I’m just barely getting enough D3. I was reluctant to go to that high of a dose every day but I did it trusting that he knew. I have had no ill side effects - it’s been over year. ( and I am in very good health) Not saying that everyone else needs to take this much vitamin D but just trying to make a point that more than likely folks with our problem need D3 - and should not be afraid to experiment with higher doses.
I do wish you well you must find a source of T3. Trust that you are feeling better with the T3 like many of us have experienced - thousands of us have experience better health only when adding T3. Please keep in touch and share what it is that works for you.
I have had a profile come up as louisebyrne and it’s not me! How do I stop this? Thank you
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