T3 with T4 problems

[Nellups]

Please can you help am on T4 at 100mg with T3 at present 10mg, while things like acid reflux, brain fog and aches and pains are a lot better, but I am suffering more and more with palpitations and feeling of being stuffed up all the time, I was due to see the Endo end of last month for check up and bloods but never received appointment, obviously due to the virus problems at the moment. I also can not get through to the doctors have tried nearly everyday for the last two weeks. Could I be over medicated ? What should I do? Can’t do private bloods as live in Northern Ireland and they don’t send the DIY ones here, have to see a nurse that has to do a blood draw and there Is no one at the moment.

I take the following vits etc.

Vit D with K better you

Vit C

Zinc

B complex

Thank you

[Eton]

Hi Nellups

I am in NI too and I have had some tests done by Medichecks. Just the fingerprick ones, rather than having blood drawn by nurse.

You should be able to do this too.

Can I asked if it was an NHS endo who prescribed the T3? My T3 and T4 have been low for several years yet I have not managed to have T3 prescribed by NHS. I have been given Levo which raises my T4 a bit but makes little difference to T3 levels.

Feel horrible most of the time- cold, dry skin, constipated, nausea, reflux, low mood, dry skin.... to name a few of my symptoms.

I am due to see NHS endo early June but its quite likely my appointment will be cancelled too if the current crisis persists as it is likely to do.

Good luck with Medichecks.

[Nellups in reply to Eton]

That’s funny because I asked medichecks and it was them that told me they cannot do the fingerprick tests had to be drawn ???

Yes it was a NHS Endo, I have no thyriod and my T4 isn’t converting to T3 very well have very low TSH with high T4

Don’t know what to do now

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Nellups]

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 third of daily 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?

Very important to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 when on thyroid hormone replacement

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 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 then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3 £29 (via NHS private service )

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

[Eton in reply to Nellups]

Nellups can I ask for the name of your Endo please. There are so few here in N I receiving T3 under NHS. Not sure if this should perhaps be done via PM.

Many thanks

[jamesal0]

Hi Nellups. Bearing in mind you dont have current bloods, but just going on your symptoms you sound over medicated. I'd stop for a day or three and see if you feel better. Then go back on 50 levo and 10 T3 split morning and night. Some people cant do Levo with a TSH 1-4 and need to run around 5. Also get your B12 up into the 900-1000 bracket.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to jamesal0]

Never, ever heard that you need an over range TSH - that would generally mean that you are severely undermedicated and at increased risk of dementia and heart disease. Most healthy people have a TSH around 1.

[Nellups in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I’m not over range TSH was last test 0.09

[jamesal0 in reply to Nellups]

You have a suppressed TSH at 0.09

We carry about 5-7 days of Thyroid in our organs, blood, bone etc

[Batty1 in reply to jamesal0]

She has NO THYROID she can not stop her meds.

[Batty1]

Take 1/2 of your T4 and T3 in the morning and the other half in the afternoon ......I take same dose and split my meds and havent had any issues.

[Nellups in reply to Batty1]

I’ll give that a try thanks

[LAHs]

Keep an eye on your blood pressure and heart rate (pulse). They should give you an idea of whether or not you are overmedicated. You do have to jiggle the dose around, that is one of the big draw backs, we cannot just take what the doctors say and expect it to work - btw, this is not the doctors fault it's just a matter of fine tuning. The doc gives you a "first estimate" (if you like) it's then up to the patient to jiggle it around to get the perfect dose. I would guess with that TSH you are overmedicated so your jiggling should be in the downward direction to start with - and then you might overshoot! Don't get discouraged, we have all had to do this, keep trying slightly different levels of both your T4 and T3.