How much Tiromel should I take?

[Jenny583]

I will be getting a blood test on Monday via GP. I am not likely to be offered any levothyroxine but I still have to go through the motions - just in case.

I cannot now get blood test results, but I was told that the tsh & t4 is still under range from the last test when I was taking 130mg metavive & 6.25mg Tiromel.

Since the last test around 4weeks ago? I have been taking just the metavive no T3.

I have put on 331bs in last year, so will need to try & guess how much Tiromel to take. I will try T3 only & not buy any more metavive for now as I need something stronger, so My question is should I take just 12.5 mg of tiromel & (no metavive) after Monday & then see how I feel & maybe titrate up by increments of 1/4 tablet i.e. 6.25mg every 2 weeks until I feel human?

I need to tell GP on Monday what I will be taking, I assume she will be testing me from time to time, but I want to take enough to not put me in coma & not too much to give me palps, as I have very low BP & fast Heart now. I have been self medicating for neary 3 years but am still very hypo.

Would half a tablet be enough?

Thanks.

[Lalatoot]

Jenny Before anyone can suggest dosage we would need to know your blood levels TSH, Ft4 and Ft3. As you have been taking products which contain T3 you should be having your FT3 blood levels measured. This is essential if you are going to work towards an optimal dose.

[Jenny583 in reply to Lalatoot]

Thank you for replying Lalatoot. I have a new GP, I hope to persuade the practice to let me have a copy of the last result when I go there on Monday, but it sounds like the T3 & T4 are on the floor as usual. I do not produce TSH so it will be 00.2 as usual I expect.

I appear to have almost no signal from Pituitary or Hypothalamus which results in almost 0 TSH, but DRs here only seem to recognise TSH as a marker of good health, so I rely on self bought external hormones to get me to supermarket once a fortnight!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jenny583]

Taking almost any thyroid medication that contains T3 will very often suppress TSH

It’s essential to always test Ft3 and Ft4 when taking any T3 or NDT

Thousands of members on here get all tests done privately

[Jenny583 in reply to SlowDragon]

They did test me many times but ignored FT3 & FT4, they are obsessed with TSH!

even though I was very low or under range - they still ignored that & even left them of a chart they printed! The Endo wrote that I was over range when I was very low!

I am going down in all 3 every year & the TSH does not recover if I stop.

The TSH was going under range B4 I started taking T3 anyway. I had no choice to start self medicating I was very ill, & I had all kinds of complications which affected whole body.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Jenny583

I cannot now get blood test results,

Why can't you get your results? In the UK it's our legal right, the surgery has to provide them. Does this not apply in Jersey?

It's essential to have TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested, especially FT3 when taking Metavive or T3. If necessary you may have to consider private tests like hundreds of us here have to do.

Only then, when we've seen your results with their reference ranges, can anyone help with suggestions.

[Jenny583 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks SS Yes I know, but GP is new & has likely heard how evil I am from notes!

The last GP sent printouts because she couldn't be arsed to phone, but ignored out of range results! The new GP at least is making an effort & discussing my health., also helped me get referrals too.

I was hoping to take enough T3 to enable me to get well enough to go to UK to get private testing, but with the lockdown & having no £ left that's a non starter now.

Once you start taking T3 Dr's here won't acknowledge central - or any other kind of hypothyroidism. I was going to ask a lawyer what the law is regarding copies of results, but they are in lockdown too. I am prepared to go by temperature & symptoms if nessessary, to ascertain how much to take, but 12.5 mg is a tiny dose, so I'm not taking any risks. I am confident of obtaining a copy of results from last month on Monday though.

If it turns out that I need much more than I can afford & or run out of Tiromel, then I will press for Levothyroxine - with or without Endocrinology blessing. No private blood tests available here BTW.

Thanks