T3

[Lellyb55]

Hi everyone hope your all well or getting there, I am off to Crete soon and not feeling Ace. Hair still falling out - weight pilling on and dry coarse skin, fatigue etc etc. Thinking about getting some T3, taking 125 Thyroxine at the moment but don't know how to take it x Any advice

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Yiu may or may not be able to get T3 over the counter in Crete. Our member who lives there has to show her prescription.

You would need to show your latest test results with reference ranges for anyone to help with dose. Results needed are

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

The nutrient results are essential as they need to be optimal before starting T3.

[Marz]

You may be lucky you may not. Please just ask for ONE packet. It was the greed of visitors in the past that brought about the current restrictions. Having been in Crete for almost 15 years I have witnessed the changes and have to show my prescription. Please be humble ... requesting in a loud voice has embarrassed me on more than one occasion as I shuffle out of the pharmacy. T3 is not a weightloss pill 😊 Pharmacists speak perfect English - sometimes the customers don't. 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

BEFORE considering adding any T3 it's essential to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

If vitamins are too low these need improvement first

Do you have Hashimoto's diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Do you Always take Levo on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after.?

Many take Levothyroxine early morning, on waking, but it may be more convenient and possibly more effective taken at bedtime.

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Other medication at least 2 hours away, some like HRT, iron, calcium, vitamin D or magnesium at least four hours away from Levothyroxine

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Though it is the only one for lactose intolerant patients

What vitamin supplements do you currently take?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post a month ago showed you needed dose increase in Levothyroxine and advised to get vitamins tested

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

If your GP will not increase your Levothyroxine you will need referral to endocrinologist

Email Dionne at Thyroid Uk for list of recommended thyroid specialists who will prescribe T3

But first you need dose increase in Levothyroxine and all four vitamins need testing asap

[Lellyb55]

My GP says my TSH is ok even though I still have very course dry skin on my face, nails breaking and hair still falling out. Cannot loose weight and really fed up. Asked for referral and no joy, think I will have to go private

[Marz in reply to Lellyb55]

Have you had vitamins and minerals tested as suggested by SlowDragon

[Lellyb55 in reply to Marz]

over a year ago they were within ranges

[Marz in reply to Lellyb55]

Within range does not mean optimal - do you have the actual results with ranges ? Was your B12 over 500 - Folate and Ferritin mid-range and VitD over 100. Sorry but GP's say normal when they mean in range - but it is WHERE you are in the range that is key T3 will NOT work unless your results are OPTIMAL ...

[Marz in reply to Lellyb55]

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

In the above post of yours you mentioned your vitamins and minerals were not tested - a month ago !

[Lellyb55 in reply to Marz]

I asked for copies of my blood tests from the gp

[Marz in reply to Lellyb55]

...and do you have them ?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lellyb55]

You are legally entitled to printed copies of your own blood test results

Easiest option is to request online access to your medical records if they also include blood test results (Many don’t yet)

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Lellyb55]

First step before considering seeing any endocrinologist, but especially if paying for private consultation, it to get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing

Getting vitamins optimal is first step

This often improves conversion of FT4 to FT3

If GP won’t increase dose of levothyroxine , then you will need to see endo for either dose increase in Levo or addition of small dose of T3

But vitamins optimal is always first step

All thyroid tests as early as possible in morning and fasting and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours prior to test

Come back with new post once you get results and ranges