Yesterday I was prescribed T3, 5mcg twice a day. I remember reading previous replies on here that said to reduce levo by 25mcg once you start on T3 but I'm on 75mcg so would be a little difficult to cut tablets down by a third. Endo just said to continue with the 75.
Could I just confirm that I need to reduce by 25mcg with my results? They're on my profile. With the T3, I'll start with 5mcg each morning, then will bring in the second dose after two weeks, as advised previously on here.
Thank you.
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Highland49
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Ignore the Teva comment, I see you are dairy intolerant
Though you might try liquid Levothyroxine instead of Teva, just to see if Teva is upsetting you
But reducing Levothyroxine dose adding T3 is likely to help. Will lower reverse T3 too
Can you get 50mcg tablets of Teva.
Otherwise can take full 75mcg tablet one day and cut in half 37.5mcg for alternate day. That approximates to 50mcg per day. Easy to cut with craft scalpel knife
Best to only change one thing at a time. So reducing Teva, rather than trying liquid Levothyroxine. Though it may be something to consider in future
I'm sure that I'll get used to cutting the pills down and yes, like you say, I only want to change one thing at a time. I'm seeing GP today and hoping I can at least get my T4 prescription through the NHS. This has all been so costly when I'm barely working.
I was really thinking about the DIO2 gene test. Hopefully it will strengthen my case to getting T3 on the NHS but I wonder how many are successful that way?
Definitely something to bear in mind with the D3. My consultant wants me to recheck the Vitamin D before my next visit in December, so it's really good that he is aware of the importance.
There's another forum user I'm aware of, in addition to SlowDragon below, who has successfully used her DIO2 result to secure T3 on the NHS. There may well be several others. But I have also read of people whose results were ignored. So I don't think it will automatically secure you T3. But it can certainly weight your case! I'm planning on getting it done myself soon.
There's info on Improve Thyroid Treatment campaign on Facebook about a hospital in Kent that offers DIO2 gene test on NHS and T3 prescription if test positive
Wow, wouldn't that be brilliant. I only found out about this gene test fairly recently (from this forum of course!) but how many others are continuing on levo only and really struggling, not knowing there may be another reason for their worsening symptoms and/or poor improvement?
For clarity, the gene that affects T4 to T3 conversion is called DIO2 - that is, three letters and a number. Not D102 - a letter and three numbers.
The name comes from the enzyme that this gene affects which is a deiodinase. It removes an iodine atom from a thyroid hormone molecule.
On this forum we probably understand, but if you wish to look it up anywhere, it might help to get it right. If you are discussing with a doctor, you are providing an excuse to dismiss what you say.
(More strictly, two SNPs on the DIO2 gene, rs225014 and rs225015.)
I'm off to my surgery this afternoon so will test the water. I won't be surprised if the GP doesn't know what I'm talking about, though. I'm mainly going to check in with them but also to request medical exemption certificate for the levo.
It's similar to me thinking that having high TPOs + symptoms + family history would result in treatment. Some have automatically been diagnosed but others have struggled to be listened to, like I have.
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