T3 Advice

[Catlady101]

Hi All,

Looks as though I need to start adding T3 due to poor conversion:

T4: 21.1. (12-22)

T3: 4.23 (3.1 - 6.8)

I’m after some advice on what my options are to go about getting some. I know my GP will not even consider it as he’s quite submissive. Am I better off self sourcing? If so where do I start? Or am I better off going through a private endo and getting a prescription if they allow it?

Any advice would be great.

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[SlowDragon Administrator]

I would try initially via private endo and prescription....even if you eventually self source

Starting on T3 via endo puts you in entirely different view with your GP

[Catlady101 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve got the list of endos from Dionne so I’ll have to go through and see if there are any near to me. It’s hard to know where to start with these things isn’t it.

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[Tinacros in reply to Catlady101]

I think I’m going to go down the private endo route. My last t3 results (private) we 3, 2.69, 3.4. I have some t3 but every time I try to self medicate I get a pain around my thyroid area ( even with teeny amounts)😟 so I’m sick of feeling rubbish. My daughter went to see a lady endo last week. She’s got a lot of autoimmune problems and she said she was fantastic! So I think I’m going to take the plunge 🙂

[Catlady101 in reply to Tinacros]

Hi Tinacros,

It must be worth the world to find a medical practitioner that you can rely on. I think I’m also going to go down that route and hope to find a good one.

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[fuchsia-pink]

It's possible - but tricky - to get lio prescribed on the NHS and this is much the cheapest option for you if you can get it.

It has to be prescribed by an endo - and not many will, because it's expensive, they don't understand it, and it has a very short half life so is difficult to measure.

I'd suggest (a) emailing Dionne at Thyroid UK - [e-mail] - for the list of T3-friendly endos to see who is reasonably close to you. You don't have to see the nearest person but must obv be reasonably convenient.

(b) a separate post asking if anyone can recommend anyone near-ish to you, or if they have any experience of an endo you've looked at

(c) if there's no-one really suitable, googling the hospital thumbnail biographies of the endos who are near-ish to you and seeing if any of them mention thyroid or of they're really all diabetes specialists.

Then you need a referral from your GP, who if he's submissive may give it to you to keep you off his back Explain that you have researched suitable endos and this is the one you want to see. You will need to show that you convert badly and still have hypo symptoms despite high in-range free t4 (which you have!) Worth taking someone with you to emphasise how you're still not properly well despite your T4 result.

Good luck x

[Catlady101 in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Hi Fuchsia-pink, thank you for all that info 🙂. I think I will try with the GP first, I do get nervous when I have to try and persuade him to help me. Then I’ll go down the private endo route I think. So much to take in but thank you for getting back to me.

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[SlowDragon Administrator]

If looking for an endocrinologist prepared to allow T3 during pregnancy can be especially tricky ...but not impossible

Pre 1970’s thousands of babies were born to mothers on NDT ....but now taking any T3 during pregnancy is extremely difficult

[Catlady101 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yeah I was thinking is this another battle I’ll have once I do conceive. This must be a silly question but are the benefits of adding T3 to T4 better than going down the NDT route all together? I’m never really sure how people decide which way to go if that makes sense?

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[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Catlady101]

Quite a few members found they managed to conceive naturally with addition of T3 or NDT ....even if they subsequently had to go back to just levothyroxine during pregnancy

Perhaps put up a post asking members who have had recent pregnancy on Levo plus T3 or NDT

As to which suits best ....its much harder to get prescribed NDT on NHS, and NDT doesn’t suit everyone...some find it has too much T3 compared to T4

Some research suggests only Ft4 crosses the placenta to baby. Is that true...who knows ....? On NDT Ft4 is often low

Many people find Levo plus T3 is more flexible, though often requires 2 or 3 small doses through day....but if it works well, that’s hardly inconvenient

Anecdotally a few people have said managed to conceive after going strictly gluten free

[Catlady101 in reply to SlowDragon]

Wow there’s so much out there isn’t there! That’s great info though thank you so much! I think I’m going to try the T3 route first and see how I feel since I’ve finally managed to get T4 up to where it needs to be so I’m hoping if I can get my hands on some it could make a difference to my overall health and chances of conceiving.

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[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Catlady101]

Roughly where in the UK are you ...re seeing an endocrinologist

[Catlady101 in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m in South Wales

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[Catlady101]

Hi Scrumbler, yes I’m going to do my best to find one within a reasonable distance to me. Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

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