20mcg T3 is never going to be enough, if only taking T3
20mcg T3 is the dose you would be likely to be on if also taking 100mcg levothyroxine (or higher levothyroxine dose)
If your endocrinologist thinks just 20mcg T3 and nothing else is adequate, you need different endocrinologist ASAP
20mcg T3 is only about a 1/3rd of daily dose required if only on T3
Are you in the U.K.
You are legally entitled to printed copies of your blood test results and ranges.
The best way to get access to current and historic blood test results is to register for online access to your medical record and blood test results
UK GP practices are supposed to offer everyone online access for blood test results. Ring and ask if this is available and apply to do so if possible, if it is you may need "enhanced access" to see blood results.
In reality many GP surgeries do not have blood test results online yet
Alternatively ring receptionist and request printed copies of results. Allow couple of days and then go and pick up.
Important to see exactly what has been tested and equally important what hasn’t been tested yet
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
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)
If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or quarter 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?
Essential to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
These all need to be at GOOD levels
Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better
Folate and ferritin at least half way through range
B12 at least over 500
Email Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists who will prescribe T3
NHS and Private
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
The aim of levothyroxine is to increase dose upwards in 25mcg steps until TSH is under 2
When adequately treated, TSH will often be well under one.
M
ost important results are ALWAYS Ft3 followed by Ft4. When adequately treated Ft4 is usually in top third of range and Ft3 at least 60%-70% through range (regardless of how low TSH is)
Extremely important to have optimal vitamin levels too as this helps reduce symptoms and improve how levothyroxine works
Hi SlowDragonIn live in the UK and have no choice withe the Endo.
Communications are through her secretary and blood test was done at the hospital so it doesn't appear on my patient access records. These results were sent by the secretary.
I can not tolerate Levo.
Yesterday I had another blood test at the hospital with my Respiratory Consultant which included thyroid test by that time I had not taken any t3 for for 3 days.
Hi ScrumblerThank you. I was on t3 30mcg daily. I took 20mcg morning 16 Feb and no more blood test on 17 Feb at 9am haven't eaten before test. Strange thing is that few months before I had blood test at clinic that morning had taken 20mcg before blood test and results were same.
These results are from Hospital i asked for there is no range in them.
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