T3 Sourcing

[Alan77]

If anybody has information on how they currently source T3 could you please private message me?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

**No information about a source of supply to be put on the forum please**

Alan77 Members are more likely to respond to a request from a member who hasn't posted before, if they give some information about their thyroid journey, what current thyroid hormone replacement they take and latest test results.

[StitchFairy]

The simple answer to your post is that some people source T3 by taking NDT, some people source T3 with a prescription from their doctor and some people source T3 through other means. If that isn't the information you're wanting, then you need to explain what it is you want to know and why.

[Alan77]

To be honest I'm on this forum on behalf of my wife who has given me permission to talk about her behind her back... she's just burnt out with the whole thing. She was diagnosed with Hashimotos about 4 years ago after 11 years of messing about with T4 dose. TSH never correlated to T4 dose no matter what they did. Hashimotos diagnosis was prized out of NHS consultant who had known about a multi-nodular goitre and elevated antobodies in the thousands for years. She is currently on T4 125/150mcgs on alternating days and 10mcgs of T3 which we basically threatened the endo consultant in order to get. T3 has definitely helped but still hypothyroid symptomatic. Consultant has threatened that if she gets pregnant she'll have to come off T3.

She's also off gluten and on Vit D3.

Iron/ Ferritin and Active B12 was OK at last check. Homocysteine was even low enough somehow; thankfully.

We'd like in increase the T3 dose as it's currently half the starting dose recommended by Dr John Lowe.

[HughH in reply to Alan77]

Consultant has threatened that if she gets pregnant she'll have to come off T3.

It is amazing that consultants have so little understanding of thyroid hormones. Why would they take someone off T3 when they are pregnant? It is a time when it is crucial to get the correct levels of thyroid hormones to avoid huge risks to the pregnancy.

If she has regular thyroid blood tests and her Free T3 remains in range why should the consultant be concerned?

Ask the consultant to look up the BNF, the doctor's bible. It is available online:

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/liothy...

Pregnancy

Does not cross the placenta in significant amounts.

Excessive or insufficient maternal thyroid hormones can be detrimental to fetus.

Dose adjustment

Liothyronine requirement may increase during pregnancy.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Alan

Well done for supporting your wife, not every partner is so understanding.

Have you got your wife's latest results - TSH, FT4 and FT3?

If endo has prescribed T3, then FT3 should be tested, and enough *should* be prescribed to help, although in reality it seems that most doctors don't really know how to treat with T3 even when they prescribe it.

Are her nutrient levels optimal? These are the levels to aim for:

Vit D - 125nmol/L according to the Vit D Council, 100-150nmol/L according to the Vit D Society.

B12 - top of range for serum iron, with a minimum of 550pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550.

Active B12 - at least over 70 (below 70 indicates need to test for deficiency). I would say at least half way through range (just my opinion), I had my test result come through today and mine is 82% through range with a note that says it is at a "healthy level".

Folate - at least half way through range.

Ferritin - at least 70, recommended is half way through range.

Does she take selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily to help reduce antibodies (selenium can be tested before supplementing if preferred)?

[Alan77 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Susie, thanks for all your efforts and your detailed reply. Trying to get most recent blood test results but like I said she doesn't want to even talk about it. I do know her TSH was 13 6 months ago. T4 was a bit high T3 was normal. Surely if TSH is high and T4/T3 normal it indicates conversion issues ISTH - Impaired Sensitivity to Thyroid Hormone/ Refetoff's Syndrome? (Such high TSH should lead to high T4/T3). If she has inability to assimilate T3 at a cellular level NHS endo will never prescribe 'enough' T3 due to their reliance on the TFT blood test which would be almost meaningless in my wife's case. The NHS are wedded to the simplistic and incorrect assumption that if it's in your blood you'll absorb it.

I've spent a fortune buying my wife supplements which she doesn't commit to take. Do you honestly believe taking vitamins/ minerals will help? She's currently taking folate, B12, Vit D daily and she used to take Selenium but says it didn't make a difference. If she has ISTH surely the only thing that's going to help is the active hormone - T3?

I work in a health charity and I know there are so many people living lesser lives because of poorly treated thyroid conditions and unrecognised ISTH.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Alan77]

Alan

I can't answer your questions about ISTH, it's not anything I have knowledge of. Member HughH knows a lot about that so he may pop along now that I have tagged him.

Do you honestly believe taking vitamins/ minerals will help?

Yes, if she needs them. Have her vitamin/mineral levels been tested and found to be low or deficient? If so is she taking the correct dose and any important cofactors that some need?

What are her latest vitamin/mineral levels - Vit D, B12, Folate, Ferritin?

Does she take her Levo correctly - on an empty stomach, one hour before food or two hours after, with a glass of water only (no tea, coffee, milk, and water only for one hour each side)?

Does she take her supplements at least 2 hours away from Levo? Vit D needs 4 hours away from Levo, and Vit D needs magnesium (4 hours away from Levo) and Vit K2-MK7 as cofactors.

I've spent a fortune buying my wife supplements which she doesn't commit to take.

Good quality ones or high street, supermarket, H&B brands? Why doesn't she commit to taking them? Can you make sure she does?

[HughH in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi Alan,

There is information of the Thyroid UK website about obtaining T3 by private prescription via pharmacies in Germany. This is perfectly legal and they are much cheaper than from a UK pharmacy.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/treatm...

An overseas pharmacy is possibly much cheaper still, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find reliable suppliers.

[HughH in reply to Alan77]

You would need the Free T3 and Free T4 actual results to see if conversion is ok. You are entitled to ask for them under the data protection regulations. The GP should have a copy of all hospital tests.

If the Free T4 is at the top of the range or above range and the Free T3 is low or at the bottom of the range then it could indicate a conversion issue.

Conversion problems are not the same as ISTH. People with conversion issues need to take T3 but would probably be ok with their Free T3 in the middle of the range. People with ISTH however need to have their Free T3 at the top or in many cases above the normal range to feel well.