Mercury T3 not working with short date or HRT affecting thyroid meds?

[CarolineAnne]

Hi Everyone

Hope you are all well. I am just wondering does HRT impact our thyroid medication in any way? I was doing well on T3 but since December 2020 I have gone downhill. I started HRT probably about two years ago.

I am trying to work out if it’s the meds not being effective ( they are dated June 2020) or if the HRT is impacting the thyroid meds.

I am on Estrogel - 2 pumps in AM and PM and Utrogestan ( progesterone) 100 mcg for days 15-28.

I have not been able to get a copy of my blood test results from my Endo. I keep ringing and they keep fobbing me off. Today I have rang again to explain how I am feeling and the receptionist has said she will try to fit me in with a telephone appointment.

My symptoms are lack of energy, extreme hair loss, bumps in nails, constipation, lower back pain and pain and instability in joints. I tried to do some light housework today and my muscles at the back of my neck and shoulders feel ripped to bits. These are all symptoms I had before treatment and had gone away.

Anyone had any experience of taking HRT and thyroid medication with a worsening of symptoms?

I have been in touch with the manufacturer and I have to send a sample to them for analysis. They are Mercury Pharma.

Any thoughts appreciated

Carolineanne x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Obviously you need to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing done

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?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

[CarolineAnne in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you. Yes that is how I do my tests. Just waiting for my Endo to telephone. Luckily he does the Frees too. My GP never used to.