Taking t3 and stopping it 3 days before your test has just muddied the waters. You cannot rely on the blood results. T3 suppresses tsh and can lower t4. Stopping t3 for 3 days will not correct the effect that it has had. That would take much longer and by that time you could be poorly on no lio and much reduced levo.
If you take T3 then your blood results need to be interpreted differently and FT3 levels need to be checked as well.
It is the ft4 and ft3 levels and where they are within the ranges as well as how you feel that is the guide to the optimum dosage of levo and lio.
At least your doctor admitted she couldn't help as she didn't know but unfortunately by using TSH as her guide and doing her doctoring she will make you unwell.
Did she actually test the FT3? If not, there was no point in stopping the T3 for three days because it wouldn't make your TSH any higher in that short time. Although I really don't think it's muddied the waters, I don't think it's made any difference at all.
Your doctor is dosing by the TSH, because the FT4 didn't suggest you needed a reduction in dose. This is very, very wrong, and the way doctors keep patients sick - especially if they're taking T3. I think you need to have a strong word with her and explain that taking T3 suppressed TSH, and it does that for a very good reason: you don't need it! She said herself she knew nothing about it - doesn't know much about thyroid in general, in my opinion - so unless she starts to learn about it, you are always going to be locked in battle to keep your health.
Taking any dose of T3 will almost ALWAYS lower TSH
Obviously most GP’s just freak out at lowTSH
On any dose of T3 you need to look at Ft4 and FT3
Most people on levothyroxine plus T3 need Ft4 at least over half way in range
Ft3 similar
So your Ft4 is too low....due to inappropriate dose reduction in levothyroxine
You either have to persuade GP to increase dose ...or get an extra supply of levothyroxine
There’s no point testing if don’t test correctly
Strongly suggest you get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing after 6-8 weeks in constant unchanging dose of levothyroxine Plus T3
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test
Perhaps at 75mcg levothyroxine per day
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies
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
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )
Thanks for your advice. I will continue on 75 and take my T3 for 8 weeks then get my own blood test and take the results to the doctors and hopefully try to make her understand
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Results please help
Blood test results
Help with test results please
