T3

[Barley66]

Hi..... my latest results are TSH 39.81 (very high) and T4 8.6 (normal). Do you think T3 can help as I am at a loss as to what to do....always tired etc. Many thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Barley66

As you are a new member and there is no history in your profile and no information in this post, can you please tell us if you have a diagnosis of hypothyroidism and are you on any thyroid hormone replacement at the moment?

The only way you can possibly know if T3 is going to help is if you have TSH, FT4 and FT3 all tested at the same time, and TSH needs to be down to 1 so that FT4 is at it's highest, then you can see where your FT3 lies and whether you convert T4 to T3 well enough.

[Barley66 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi....I was diagnosed in 2008 hypo.....due to hashimotos. I am on 300mg levothyroxine daily but still get a lot of symptoms. GP has not tested T3...cannot find it in any of my tests. The GP is not really interested and just thinks my results are "one of those things " 😁

[Treepie in reply to Barley66]

I suggest you have private tests .See Blue Horizon or Medichecks sites .The latter usually has deals on a Thursday.

You also should have D3,B12, ferritin and folate tested.

[Barley66 in reply to Treepie]

Thank you will do 😁

[SlowDragon Administrator]

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

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially as you have Hashimoto's

Have you had Coeliac blood test?

Got any vitamin test results and ranges to add?

What supplements do you currently take?

How do you take your Levothyroxine?

Always on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after?

Always same brand of Levothyroxine?

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

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

Low vitamins are especially common with Hashimoto's. Food intolerances are very common too, especially gluten.

[Barley66 in reply to SlowDragon]

Wow thank you... my TP antibodies was 611 I asked to be checked for B12 due to being exhausted and now inject b12 every 3 months.....no to the rest of the tests. I have been too passive but will definitely get the tests you suggest. Thank you 😁😅

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Barley66]

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

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

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet




(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)




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/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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

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

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

healthcentral.com/article/t...

Other gut issues due to being hypothyroid

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

But don't be surprised that GP (or endo) never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood

See GP and insist on coeliac blood test, plus vitamin D, folate and ferritin tested

Meanwhile email Dionne at Thyroid Uk for list of recommended thyroid specialists endocrinologists

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/About_...

You can ask about any endocrinologist you wish to see on here - on a new post. Replies need to be by private message not on open forum

Roughly where in the UK are you?

Ask GP for referral to NHS endocrinologist. You need full investigation into why Levothyroxine is not working. Likely poor gut absorption and low vitamins

Your FT4 looks extremely low

What's the range on FT4 result?

[Barley66 in reply to SlowDragon]

The normal range says 7.5 to 17. I live on the Isle of Man so have to travel for most specialists. Really interesting about the intolerance. I have been to gp about intestinal issues but no tests for gluten etc. Suggested. With all the information you have to given me I will be able to be look further...really appreciate the effort of your replies 😁

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Barley66]

So when on Levothyroxine the aim is to have high enough dose of Levothyroxine for FT4 to be in top third of range

So this suggests you are not on high enough dose of Levothyroxine

Obviously 300mcg dose of Levothyroxine is considered quite a high dose, but with gut issues you may simply not be absorbing much

See GP and request that vitamins are tested plus coeliac blood test

[Barley66 in reply to SlowDragon]

Will do ....makes more sense now 😁😁 thank you 🤞

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Barley66]

If your B12 was low enough for B12 injections it's likely folate is also low

Ask GP to test folate before starting on a good quality daily vitamin B complex

Supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in not folic acid may be beneficial.

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken in the morning after breakfast

Recommended brands on here are Igennus Super B complex. (Often only need one tablet per day, not two. Certainly only start with one tablet per day after breakfast. Retesting levels in 6-8 weeks ).

Or Jarrow B-right is popular choice, but is large capsule

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

[Barley66 in reply to SlowDragon]

Fab....thank you 😁

[Daisy1624]

Hi Barley 66, I just wanted to say hi I’m a fellow iom resident and sufferer, tried to message you privately but couldn’t for some reason