I have side effects -a tight chest - with Armour so I've cut doseage down to 1/2 grain per day as I am scared without much guidance from Endo. although I would be quite regular on 1grain per day. I now take 100 thyroxine, again as I have been on this for 30 years without much trouble in the bowel department. What to do as I'm thinking I have gastroparesis..
My t3 has not been tested . When it was four tears ago it was 3.8. Do I really need t3 and can I get different make other than Armour???
Your likely under treated
Some people find the T3 levels too high in NDT.
Other options are to add levothyroxine alongside NDT
Or try levothyroxine plus T3
Essential to regularly test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 too
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 you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Ask GP to test vitamin levels
Do you have hashimoto’s?
You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose or brand change
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, or NDT 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
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
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
For thyroid including antibodies and vitamins
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 )
monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...
Under treated???
Yes on too low dose of Armour?
Extremely common for conversion of Ft4 to Ft3 to get worse the longer we are on levothyroxine
Low Ft3 is extremely common
100mcg levothyroxine is not very high dose
Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Obviously constipation is very common hypothyroid symptom
Folate and ferritin are ok so shall I try splitting 1 grain of Armour into 2 doses am and pm??
The reason I only take 1/2 a grain am. Is because I was having a tight chest on 1 grain without the thyroxine added in.
Previous post
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
As others have said ...single grain of Armour is tiny dose
Brain and heart can’t cope without T3 and can’t convert Ft4 to Ft3
Your B12 was also extremely low
Are you now on B12 injections or supplements?
Vitamin D needs testing
What about ferritin levels?
B12 was. In range, I had intrinsic factor test which was negative and methy test also for pernicious aenemia but i dont have that. I am going to take sublingual b12 when I go into town.
I was feeling strange eg. Shaking when I took 1/2 grain Aromour last evening to top up 1/2 grain in am plus 100 thyroxine.
I realise I need to have a test in 6 weeks. Thanks
Also 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
Igennus Super B complex are nice small tablets. 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. Available online
Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules
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...
Low B12 symptoms
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
Thanks, I'm going to order Igennus super b but are they all the same strength??
At last going to the loo but only when I started taking 100 of thyroxine and 30 grain Armour. I didnt realise that I needed more t3 than the 1 grain of Armour that endo put me on was just inadequate and I had terrible left eye pain and headache every day for ages.
I'm still having some pain in eye and I'm seeing neuro. next week. He's already injected my neck and head with steroids last year but they didn't help. This is such a big deal and he may even say there's nothing else he can do for me as I have allergies to bop and linalool. I've sent away my blood to medichecks for t3 t4 and tsh test. Can't wait to get the results.
Only do the test in a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
Ideally test after been on constant unchanging dose for 6-8 weeks
Make sure to do blood test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before blood test.
Split dose of Armour so that last grain is 8-12 hours before test
Remember to stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before any blood tests. Eg any vitamin B complex (including Igennus)
Hello, today I've had my results back from medicheck.
Tsh low. 0.073
Free t3. 4.71
T4 22.8.
They've advised that tsh too low and t4 too high, out of range. This was after I only took 100 of thyroxine and a tiny piece of armour 1/2 grain???
I feel ok though.
Medichecks doctor’s are just regular medics who follow standard NHS guidelines
Taking any dose of NDT will substantially lower TSH
How long have you been on this dose
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, Or NDT make sure to take last 1/3rd of dose dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test
Is this how you did this test.
Obviously you need vitamins tested too
Have you had thyroid antibodies tested
Bloods should be tested after minimum of 6weeks on constant unchanging dose
liothyrinine stopped from ccg 
Stopping Levothyroxine
Stopped meds they don't work
Stopping carbimazole?
Stopping t3 advice needed
