Can anyone advise me please.....just read article on Tap water.I

[rick2525]

I have been treated with Levo for Hasi Hypo since Aug last year and still suffer from symptoms. I spoke with GP today(again). and am going for blood test on Sat. I've also sent off for Medichecks kit as GP will not test vits etc.My last test showed T3 was only 27% through range but GP would not increase levo from 100mcg. I have just read an article tonight which states Tap water should be avoided for people on Thyroid meds due to the adverse effect Flouride and Chlorine has on TSH and T3 levels. Can anyone advise me on this as I dont remember seeing any other blogs on this.

[Lalatoot]

Only 10% of the UK drinking water has fluoride added. The levels of chlorine in UK tap water are considered low. Chlorine is used to make the water safe to use. A small level of chlorine is necessary in the water after it has been treated to ensure that it remains bacteria free on its journey from the treatment plant through the pipework to your tap.

[rick2525 in reply to Lalatoot]

Thanks for reply. I am hoping after bloods done GP will increase levo. When I told her 8 weeks ago my symptoms of fatigue and vertigo and clamp on my head she went off on a tangent and sent me off to rapid diagnostic centre for myeloma and serious illness tests. Pleased to say results negative but I've had an anxious time of it. I am convinced my symtoms are thyroid related and need increase in levo or intro of T3. My weight at 15stone suggests a dosage of 150 mcg per day of levo but I'm stuck on 100mcg. GP suggested I be referred to psychologist. I am in despair with going round in circles. I suggested been referred to endo but GP states no endo would recommend T3 in our area.

[dancingmaddnes in reply to Lalatoot]

Umm I’m not sure that’s true?

[dancingmaddnes in reply to Lalatoot]

The levels of fluoride and chlorine I mean ?

[Lalatoot in reply to dancingmaddnes]

cdn.dwi.gov.uk/wp-content/u... World Health Organisation has set a health based guideline maximum value of 5 mg/l for chlorine as a residual disinfectant in drinking water. The levels in tap water in England and Wales are well below this guideline and most water companies aim to keep the level below 1 mg/l.

For all water supplies, whether fluoridated or not, the Drinking Water Inspectorate checks that water companies comply with all drinking water regulations. This includes checking that water supplies do not contain more than 1.5mg/l of fluoride. If the standard of 1.5mg/l is breached then the Drinking Water Inspectorate has the power to take enforcement action to require the water company to rectify the breach. Fluoride occurs naturally in some water sources and enforcement relates to these situations as well as to artificial fluoridation schemes.

scottishwater.co.uk/Your-Ho...

Low levels of fluoride can occur naturally

in water. The regulatory limit is set at 1500

microgrammes per litre. We do not add

any additional fluoride to your water.

A disinfectant, usually chlorine, is the most

effective and reliable way of ensuring that

your water is safe to drink when it reaches

your tap. It is vital to ensure that there is

no risk from water borne disease. It has

been used in water supplies since 1897.

Chlorine is harmless to humans at the

concentrations we use in our supplies

[Jazzw]

If you type “is there fluoride in my drinking water” into Google, you should soon find evidence or not of whether your local water supply either naturally contains fluoride or whether it’s been added.

And even if it is, I really wouldn’t worry too much.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Look up your location on the website of your water provider. I think all of them provide analyses for quite small areas - and I think that might be true across all four nations of the UK. That will list lots and lots of detail - including fluoride level.

Checking only for fluoridated areas would miss areas with relatively high natural fluoride levels.

There have been many previous posts here about fluoride (not always water supply related). This search found 197!

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

I live in a non-fluoridated area and drink only tap water. That is, not bottled or filtered - but yes to wine and beer at times.

[rick2525 in reply to helvella]

Thank you so much for reply. It was just this report I stumbled on tonight in Google re avoid tap water if you have thyroid issues and just wondered if that was why I'm a poor converter of t4 to t3

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to rick2525]

I don't claim any particular knowledge or understanding.

Overall, I do not like the idea of medication (of any sort) via water supply. Chlorine is different as it is in practical terms just about the only way of ensuring safe water from reservoir to tap. There are options like ultra-violet sterilisation but that has problems at least between water main and tap. If water remains stationary in the pipes, it can accumulate a high microorganism level even if the water entering the pipe was originally totally sterile.

[rick2525 in reply to helvella]

Just looking for answers as to why my conversion of t4 to t3 was poor at last blood test and its amazing the more research you do it just brings up more questions on thyroid and its complications. The knowledge on here from people is wonderful. I have a blood test coming up tomorrow and meeting GP Tues so need as much ammo as possible. I have been reading about DIO2 gene. I start asking myself could this be a test I need doing. I wouldn't have known about this without this website. Do I ask my GP about it? Could it be relevant. ? My mother was on Thyroid treatment (Levo) for nearly 40 years. I read that the gene can be passed on. Is this why poor conversion?Sorry to ask so much.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to rick2525]

I suspect your chances of getting a GP to discuss it are thin - let alone order a test for you. (Might not actually be able to do so.)

For those who have a genetic basis, yes, it could be useful. But if you don't have the recognised genetic basis, it could make persuading a GP of your needs even more difficult.

[rick2525 in reply to helvella]

"If you dont have the right genetic basis" Can you explain this. How does one know if they have. Is it not passed on from parents. My mother had the radioactive "bomb" pill which then led to hypo treatment. Is this not the Genetic link. Do you know if some Endo's still test for this gene.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to rick2525]

If we assume that DIO2 variations are very important...

You get tested. If the test shows a known variation, fine, you have proved your case. But if the test shows you do NOT have a significant DIO2 variation, what then?

A medic might have accepted that having a DIO2 variation is a cause. But if you haven't got that variation, they are likely to regard your issue as being even less likely to really be an issue with conversion.

The logic should be that DIO2 variations are used as an explanation. But they are effectively being used to diagnose whether or not you have a conversion issue. Which is illogical. Having an issue but not knowing why is pretty much the same as having an issue and knowing why. After all, what can you do about the actual issue? Pretty much the only known option is to change from levothyroxine monotherapy to a regime which includes at least some T3. Knowing the genetic basis is interesting, and might well bring a sense of relief that you now know, but not much more than that.

[rick2525 in reply to helvella]

I see the point you make. I have obtained the list of Endo's from Thyroid UK. Some but not many according to the list do the DIO2 test. I cant see this been available on NHS only private route I assume. Have any members to your knowledge had this test. ? and reported on here. Also on Endo list it shows which Endos prescribe t3 and combination t3 /t4. My GP has told me that no Endo or GP in our CCG area will prescribe T3. I am at a loss really to know where to go from here if after next blood test (tomorrow) I am refused levo increase which SD said I would probably need or a t3 addition. This is why I'm looking for a way forward(I know from this site are many more)

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to rick2525]

If you are in a position to pay, DIO2 and other genetic tests are available:

thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

Might be less expensive to get it done yourself than to pay via a private consultant/hospital.

[Celestialbeing in reply to rick2525]

We kind of know if our issues are genetic w/o testing for the DIO2. That would be a high FT4 and low FT3. Of course, knowing formalizes the issue and can serve as something to go in our records for future use. For example, if i was incapacitated and in the hospital, they would not know that i require both T4 and T3 hormone replacement, nor that it must be desiccated thyroid extract, not synthetic. I often wonder if i should be wearing a medical alert bracelet.

[Hidden]

Hey Rick, my GP advised me in 2015 to stop using flouridised toothpaste and avoid tap water where the extra fluoride is added. There are multiple studies on fluoride action on thyroid. I am not sure how that affects conversion though. My conversion is not great and I avoid fluoride.

[Carys21]

I filter all my tap water with a zero filter as there are many other contaminants in it, including heavy metals and nitrates. I also add vitamin C to the bathwater to neutralize chlorine and use a vitamin C water filter.

[rick2525 in reply to Carys21]

Thanks for your replies. The article also said spring water is ok but NOT ordinary bottled water. I think I may invest in a filter. Worth a try!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to rick2525]

Most bottled water comes in plastic bottles - good enough reason in my view to avoid. There are considerable numbers of plastic nanoparticles in the product - let alone the issues of manufacturing and disposing of the bottles.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to rick2525]

Ah, an American article. Tap water over here is not the same as ours and many springs here contain so much calcium (or iron) that they are dangerous - think Mother Shipton's cave - so you need to know the analysis of the water. Some bottled water is just tap water in a bottle, some is spring water. The stuff in glass bottles in decent, but expensive. Get a good water filter.

[endomad]

I am an independent water engineer (not connected to water board) not all areas are fluoridated, check online but yes there are spikes in those areas of higher than average hypothyroid. There was an excellent article back in the 90's by Cherie Blair's friend, utter loony but was spot on with her report.If not chlorinated you would be drinking urine! See bbc2 program on catch up. The secret of sewerage, real eye opener for the layman.

My specialist area is infertility, cancer, Wilson's, hormones, eczema etc

Very few people drink enough water and certainly not enough if in reasonable health to cause harm. As rubbish as our water is, compared to most of the world it is excellent.

If in heavy fluoride area yes it will affect you. The chlorine is simple to remove by letting water stand 20 mins before drinking, the chlorine mostly evaporates or fit a inexpensive carbon filter which removes it, available in most diy shops and eBay. To remove fluoride you need reverse osmosis that also removes 95% of all contamination, again watch BBC program to see what is in your water.

Everytime you go to the toilet all excess of hormones, vitamins, medications, virus etc is out into the water system.

The mass of hormones is a factor in infertility and some serious illness but on the whole many more factors that contribute far more than water is a better place to start, like diet, supplements, exercise etc. Feel free to ask me if it's water related x

[Celestialbeing]

In the USA we have to be mindful of the source of water and the minerals in water. For example, there is a difference in water that is sourced from a spring versus a well.

Also, drinking bottled water that is “enhanced” with minerals that can be a component of calcium can cause lower absorption of thyroid hormone replacement pills. This was discussed at a few of the ThyCa conferences.