Latest blue horizon bloods

[Carrie97]

Feeling like crap! Bones ache, memory like I’m 100, tired, grumpy etc I’m on 175mcg of Levo have been for years, I have hashi. My gp is useless. I’ve been on levo for 12 years. Isn’t there something else I can try? Added my results in pic.

[shaws Administrator]

Your doctor is restricting you as he believes your results are perfect.

Your TSH is good but FT4 is low as is FT3. T4 is an inactive hormone and it has to convert to T3. T3 is the Active hormone needed in our millions of T3 receptor cells so that we can go about life feeling we've normal healt.

Quite a number of research teams have found that a combination of T4/T3 has resolved some people's symptoms. Unfortunately, if you're in the UK the medical profession has put a blanket ban on T3 meaning those who were improved on it were left without a life-belt.

You need an increase in dose (for both T4 and T3) but doctor will most probably not prescribe T3 as the cost has risen (I think about 6,000%). Many on the forum source their own but no information is permitted on the forum. Even an increase in levothyroxine might well raise your FT4 and FT3.

You can put up a new post asking for T3 or NDT which will then be closed for info on the forum but a private message can be sent to you by those who get their own,

The very original thyroid hormone replacement called Natural Dessicated Thyroid Hormones (NDT) and can you imagine that before 1892 hypo people died a horrible death but from then on no-one died through hypothyroidism as NDT contains all of the hormones a healthy gland would do. There were no blood tests back then so patient was dosed according to symptoms relief. Doctors knew the clinical symptoms.

Your FT4 could be nearer the top of the range and your FT3 is too low and I believe low T3 will cause symptoms.

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

[Mary-intussuception]

I would ask for a referal to an Endocrinologist due to symptoms still present and FT3 being very low in range. Then ask Endocrinologist to start you on a low dose of T3.

Have you ever had an Ultrasound scan of your Thyroid and Parathyroids?

Ever had Vitamin D tested? Probably have deficiency or insufficiency. Also ask for Calcium, Phosphorus and PTH to be tested.

Also ask for Vitamins B12 & B9 (folate) and for Ferritin to be tested.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

So if your antibodies are high this is Hashimoto's, (also known by medics here in UK more commonly as autoimmune thyroid disease).

About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto's

Absolutely Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. Always get actual results and ranges. Post results when you have them, members can advise

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first




Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

[Carrie97]

Thanks all, I’ve had coeliac tests that was normal, never in 12 years have I had an ultrasound of thyroid or parathyroid, I’ll ask for the above blood tests and can request being referred to my endo but since he was beyond uselesss last time I won’t hold my breath. I’m going to ask about sourcing my own nature thyroid and see if I can try this.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need to get vitamins tested BEFORE starting on any T3 or NDT

Also many many find strictly gluten free diet is essential

Best to try it first

Roughly where in the UK are you

Email Dionne at Thyroid Uk for list of recommended thyroid specialists

please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

[Carrie97 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, ok I will get them tested I’m in Scotland

[helen_m in reply to Carrie97]

Hi Carrie, I'm in Scotland too and I am on combination T3/T4. I managed to get referred to endocrinology a few years ago and put on a trial for T3. It is possible up here. One health board started trying to move people off T3 and back onto T4 but there is an active thyroid petition (for adequate testing) that is still being considered by the Government (see on Facebook - Thyroid Petition Scotland) and there is also the UK-wide ITT campaign ( Improve Thyroid Treatment).

You may need to fight to get referred to endocrinology, but if you write a big long list of thyroid symptoms for your doctor and keep going back and saying I feel awful etc, they are more likely to refer you.

[Carrie97 in reply to helen_m]

That’s brill Helen, thanks for that, I’ll defo look into it. Hope your doing well and feeling good.

[silverfox7]

Carrie I would be tempted to try for more medication first as beening low in both suggested that. So in theory a rise should improve T4 and T3 levels. The down side of taking T3 is that you can no longer see if you have a conversion issue as adding in T3 changes howcthe results are read and means the only accurate one is the FT3 so you no longer can compare. This will only be apparent at the moment if you increase your dose and both don't go higher. It's possible as well that if that's the case then your body may not be happy adding in T3 though that's more unusual. I personally would go for the easier option and if that doesn't work and vits etc are also optimal-that helps conversion issues, then you have a much stronger case of getting T3