Prescribed beta blocker for test results. On ND... - Thyroid UK

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Prescribed beta blocker for test results. On NDT but may go back to Levo. Where is the best NHS Specialist hospital in London ? Help!!!

alex232 profile image
19 Replies

Hi there, I wonder if anyone can help me that may have had similar experiencesI have just got my thyroid tests: free T4: 15 and TSH: 0.11 - they do not tests for T3 in Newham. I was prescribed 3 a day 10 mg of Propranodol for palpitations (a beta blocker) and I have an immediate referral for a specialist. The consultation was all done on the telephone, I guess my thyroid is hyper and that why they put me on this until it get sorted. In the past my tests have been okay, I have been taken NDT Nature-Throid 2 grains. Its been working for me for the past couple of years. In the past I have always had trouble working Levo and synthetic T3. But due to finances and all the problems getting these medication. I am considering giving Levo another try and also because since then I have been diagnosed with FND and that may have blurred my understanding of the symptoms. I am not sure about this. Any opinions would be helpful and also I have a choice of 3 hospitals: Newham, Royal Free or Whipps Cross, which one would be the most sympathic and effective do you think. Thank you for reading this.

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alex232
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greygoose profile image
greygoose

Your thyroid cannot be hyper as it is obviously hypo, because you are taking thyroid hormone replacement. I don't know about the FT4 because you haven't given the range, but a TSH of 0.11 is not that low.

Do you have palpitations? Perhaps that is why they gave you a beta blocker.

When taking NDT, it is essential to have the FT3 tested, because the FT4 is going to be low, and the TSH very low, so neither of them will tell you if you're on the right dose. Doesn't your doctor know that, and write on the blood test request that you need your FT3 tested because you're taking T3?

I'm afraid I know nothing about FND, but have you had your B12 tested? I don't know anything about hospitals in the UK, either. Sorry. :)

alex232 profile image
alex232 in reply to greygoose

thank you so much for your reply I did write T4 15. When I see a specialist I will get tested for T3, . The question is how do you get a certain area in London to realise that you need to tests for T3 - it really baffles me. I have a lot of weird things happening in my body like FND - I get dystonic palpitations - I am hoping while waiting for a thyroid specialist this may make a difference to this. I don't take anything else and have avoided meds. And can you not go hyper if your prescription is to high?

What is your opinion of back tracking from NDT to Levo - has that ever been successful.

many thanks

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to alex232

15 is the result. We need the range, the numbers in brackets after the result.

You cannot go hyper, ever, if you are hypo. The thyroid does not work like that. You can be over-medicated, but we can't know if you are unless we have the range for the FT4.

If your body has got used to the T3 in NDT, then it is unlikely to ever be happy on T4 (levo) only.

Hashela profile image
Hashela in reply to greygoose

My understanding is that you can be hypo for a period of time and, upon destruction of follicles get a surge of endogenous hormone that makes you temporarily hyper. In my neck of the woods we suppress tsh down to around .15 or .13, but .11 is pretty low. The specialist will definitely help you. Good luck!

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to Hashela

Bu that is not actually hyper as it is not the thyroid overproducing hormones, it is dying tissue dumping hormones. Low T3 can cause palpitations. Once on meds, TSH is relatively unimportant - Free T3 and free T3 are what matters, as no one know if the pituitary and hypothalamus are working according to the text book,

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Hashela

If you have Hashi's, yes. That's more or less what happens. But, as Angel_of_the_North says, that's not true hyper, it's what is called a Hashi's 'hyper' swing - aka Hashi's flare. But it will only happen if you have Hashi's, not with other types of hypo, and the OP didn't mention having Hashi's.

You cannot control the TSH like that - not without risking the well-being of the patient, anyway. The important number is the FT3, and if getting the FT3 to the right level for the individual patient means that the TSH drops below 0.13, then so be it. The TSH is not the most important number. And, if your doctor tries to keep your TSH at a certain level, then he doesn't know very much about thyroid, I'm afraid.

alex232 profile image
alex232 in reply to Hashela

thank you, I have an appointment in April now so a bit of a wait, it is definitely low from what is expected but I do not know my T3 yet so i shall know then.

alex232 profile image
alex232 in reply to greygoose

free T4 level 15 pmo/L Range between 10.50-24.50pmol/L

TSH level 0.11 Mu/L 0.27-4.20mU/L

Oh I see about hyper now - its just over medication maybe then. Would have more Graves types symptoms because of it.

Yes I am really thinking now its not a good idea but just finding the right replacement, I have a month left of Nature Throid

alex232 profile image
alex232 in reply to alex232

I do have Hashimotto, and it is now clear to me how T3 is the most important result, which I did not know. But in the world of Newham they don't bother measuring it. I will get my T3 results when i see the specialist at Royal Free in April. The beta blocker medication I have been given for palpitation has given me a pain free shoulder today, which i have not felt for years so I am so happy at this moment. But I don't think I can continue taking them indefinitely I had been concentrating on my FND, is adrenalin still connected to T3 Angle of the North, Grey Goose or anyone.[ Thank you so much for your support

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to alex232

Adrenalin is not connected to T3 as far as I know. Why do you ask?

OK, so you have Hashi's, but with that low FT4, I very much doubt you have had a Hashi's swing. it would be a lot higher if you had. And, incidentally, the TSH would be unreadable.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to alex232

You cannot possibly know if you're over-medicated without testing the FT3. The TSH tells you nothing.

What are you thinking is not a good idea? Why? Taking Nature Thyroid is a very good idea if it makes you well. That is what is important, not the TSH. Don't let stupid, ignorant doctors put you off taking something that helps you.

Merlio18 profile image
Merlio18

Hi can I just ask is he private (edited by Admin) at St Albans hospital or on the NHS as how are you able to take NDT if it's through NHS has he prescribed it on a name patient ? Is he knowledgable in prescribing NDT and liothyronine?

Thanks Nicola

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to Merlio18

I will remove doctor's name as no names of doctors/endocrinologists are permitted on the forum. I note you've had a response to your statement :)

m7-cola profile image
m7-cola

I have written to you privately.

Mary76mary76 profile image
Mary76mary76

Do you feel hyper? I feel very anxious and jittery when i go hyper.

alex232 profile image
alex232 in reply to Mary76mary76

i don't really know Mary76. I am not really anxious but maybe jittery, but I do feel out of control with my attention and I am unable to switch to another thing easily. I get spasms too. I do suffer from FND which is another one of those hidden condition, which makes the whole thing complicated. But amazingly this Beta Blocker seem to have made a difference at the moment, so I am glad I took them. So my research goes on in a very positive way. Do you have these symptoms?

You could do with a full thyroid blood test which will give you TSH, FT4, FT3, antibodies x 2

B12, Folate, Ferritin and Vitamin D. These can be obtained through Medichecks or Blue Horizon. Most of the people on this site results to taking a private blood test.

If you take the test fasting and early morning leaving of Levo 24 hours prior or if taking any NDT or T3 leave off 10/12 prior to the test.

alex232 profile image
alex232 in reply to

yes Bunny, I will try to get the results privately, I did not know that it was so common, it will help, thank you. Especially I have to wait to April to see a specialists. Do you have good one?

alex232 profile image
alex232

thank you so much can you send me that detail too - thank you so much. I think you are right what you are saying, maybe I had forgotten what it was like as it's been like 8 years. But it is frustrating that in the future I may not be able to get the NDT meds I need.

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