So a couple of months ago I wasn't feeling great, very achey, getting tired very easily, no stamina. I had private blood tests and they came back:
TSH 3.18 (0.27-4.20),
TT4 106.0 (66-181)
FT4 21.10(12-22)
FT3 4.10 (3.1-6.8)
A couple of weeks later, I went to the GP armed with these results , We talked about conversion issues. My GP decided to test my FT3 only which came back:
T3 3.3 (3.70-6.70) Please NOTE the different reference range.
She decided to up my daily dose of T4 of 112mcg per day to 150mcg per day, and asked me to retest in 6 weeks.
The results on the new dose have come back:
TSH 0.04 (0.30-3.94),
FT4 36.5 (12-20.20)
FT3 4.9 (3.7-6.7)
Please NOTE the different reference ranges.
So on the new dose after a week I felt amazing (I put a posting here about feeling giggly) then the effect gradually wore off but I still feel better than I did at first testing.
As expected I have been summoned to the surgery on Monday to reduce my levo. Any thoughts or comments please?!
As previously posted I have always felt better when my TSH is suppressed and my T4 is over range
Bloods back- they are reducing my thyroxine! 
Suppressed TSH, GP wants to reduce
TSH suppressed - Doctor wanted to lower my dose of T4
Advice with latest Blood Results please, GP wants to reduce Levo as now \"Hyperthyroid\"
Doctor has reduced my does based on TSH
What did your GP expect by increasing your Levo, and by more than the normal increment of 25mcg? You were already at the top of the range for FT4 with your private test results. Obviously the increase was going to take your FT4 over range.
Your FT3 was already low (27% through range), and showing poor conversion of T4 to T3, with your private results. Your GP test of FT3 showed an even worse result with it being below range.
So your GP increased your Levo which has sent your FT4 massively over range yet your FT3 is still low in range (40% through range). You are likely to be making reverse T3 with such a high FT4.
It is clearly obvious that you need less Levo and the introduction of T3. To get that on the NHS you will need referring to a T3 friendly endo.
Hi Seaside Suzie, yes I have been referred but there is not an appointment until June!!! so what should we do in the meantime? I can't face going back to zombie mode...
If it was me I would show these results to the GP, explain about the poor conversion, state that you need an urgent referral to the endo to discuss the addition of T3 and will she ask for your appointment to be brought forward. If your GP doesn't understand about conversion and T3, hopefully she will understand after you explain it to her. Do some research and take evidence with you. Dr Toft, leading endocrinologist and past president of the British Thyroid Association, has recently written a new article which says that T3 may be helpful for many patients
rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...
If you can't get an urgent referral I would say to the GP that I have no alternative but to self source T3 and start taking it to help myself.
Or if your budget can stretch to it, see an endo privately but ensure it's a T3 friendly one, you can get the list of thyroid friendly endos from Dionne at ThyroidUK
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Sounds like a perfect plan 😀
Thanks suzie, good link, are there more links on T3 conversion? I’m interested in why one who is healthy can then develope an autoimmune disease and then have conversion issues too. Where they always there? Do they develope... maybe going diwn a rabbit hole with this one!
And about reverse T3? Any articles, will this reverse its self when balanced?
Don't get hung up on reverse T3, there's more than one reason for it, the test tells us if we have rT3 but not why we have it. You could be making it, it's a fair assumption with those results, but you may not be.
Like you, I had over range FT4, low in range FT3, and top but just in range rT3. I added T3 to my Levo. Some months later I retested rT3 and it was even higher than before, quite a bit over range. So by that time it wasn't because of high FT4 because my FT4 had come down to 35% through range and FT3 was 75% through range. It may not have even been high the first time due to over range FT4. It's not worth wasting money on the test because you don't get an answer. Best thing to do is worth with what you know - you are taking too much Levo giving you far too high FT4, and your FT3 is too low so you need to add T3 to a lesser amount of Levo.
I can't help with any other links I'm afraid. I didn't have to discuss it with my GP, I just went ahead and self sourced T3 to add to my Levo. You could ask on the forum or do some Googling.
Who knows why someone who is health suddenly develops an autoimmune disease. There probably isn't an answer. My brother developed coeliac disease, a serious autoimmune disorder, at 70 years old, always been fit and healthy and no other autoimmune disease or medical condition other than atrial fibrilation.
Me too! Hypo for nearly 15 years and stable but then everything went pear shaped about 18 months ago!
Oh how I want to turn the clock back. What Happened? Why is nothing working now?
Following
Roughly where in the UK are you?
Some CCG's still banning NHS endo's prescribing regardless of guidelines
Other CCG's are (reluctantly) allowing new T3 patients
The price is dropping slowly
Hi SlowDragon, I’m in South east, I think the endo I will eventually see is open minded but I think he has told other patients there is no way they will get T3 on the NHS