I have just seen my nhs Endo who has been prescribing T3 as a combo with T4 since Dec 2017. We have both tried to get my GP to take over prescribing T3 but I know my CCG don’t allow this in my area. He says only way to be successful would be to get a private one done (Regenerus I think I’ve seen on here) but it would need to be a positive result. He also said if it’s negative my meds could be withdrawn or reduced. I’m not sure that I would be positive as my T 3 hasn’t been very low like some people on here. Also are there any offers for this test.
My recent Thyroid results are on here somewhere. T4 and T3 have lowered since previous results.
Thank you 😊
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Flecmac
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My recent Thyroid results are on here somewhere. T4 and T3 have lowered since previous results.
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He says only way to be successful would be to get a private one done (Regenerus I think I’ve seen on here) but it would need to be a positive result. He also said if it’s negative my meds could be withdrawn or reduced.
So you could do the test with ThyroidUK as your practioner, you will get the results. You can post them on here, someone may be able to interpret them for you, or you can pay for the counselling they offer. If the result is negative you don't have to tell the endo you've done the test.
Also are there any offers for this test.
There are no codes for Regenerus like there are for Medichecks and Blue Horizon. Click on Regenerus to take you to their ordering page:
Many thanks.How do I know whether I’m converting well? I think I might be, so unsure if I should have the test.
My cholesterol is high and lately my blood pressure is too. Endo says I need to take statins and beta blockers too. I struggle taking tablets as it is, but it’s worrying. I’ve heard that these meds are not good with thyroid disease. I have Hashimotos. Cholesterol has been high for some time but blood pressure usually on low side.
This can only be done when on Levo only. It can't be done when taking Levo plus T3 because you'll be measuring the T3 you take and not just what's converting from the T4.
What were your results from when you were taking Levo only when the endo decided to prescribe T3? You can work out if you used to be able to convert well or not.
To know if you were converting well you would have needed to have TSH, FT4 and FT3 all tested at the same time from the same blood draw ensuring you followed our usual guidance:
* Blood draw no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, an increase in dose of Levo or to avoid a reduction then we need the highest possible TSH
* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the blood draw. This is because eating can lower TSH and coffee can affect TSH.
* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.
* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (most labs use biotin).
These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with phlebotomists or doctors.
Then you look at the FT4 and FT3 and work out how far through the range they are using this calculator:
These results were done 3 years ago before on Liothyronine levothyroxine combo.It looks like 5.1 is the answer when I divide T4 by T3, so maybe poor converter or should I look at more than one set of results?
Thanks
2018 .......
My latest bloods with 3rd Endo.
TSH 1.63 mU/L (0.27-4.20)
Free T4 17.5 pmol/L (9.0-26.0)
Free T3 3.4 pmol/L (2.8-7.1)
FSH 187 IU/L
B12 >2000 ng/L (H) (191-663)
Folate 10.0 ug/L (3.3-19.3)
DHA sulphate 1.3 umol/L (0.5-5.6)
Iron 20 umol/L (7-26)
Sex hormone Binding Globulin 159.5 nmol/L (H) (26.0-110.0)
I would look at all the results you have from before being prescribed T3.
Only include results from tests done as we advise. It's important to know that you took last dose of Levo 24 hours before the test which gives the measure of the normal circulating amount of hormone, otherwise you would have a false FT4 result.
thyroiduk.org/deiodinase-2-...Firstly, you need to know that everyone inherits two copies of each gene, one from their mother and one from their father.
To explain this paper briefly, the Deiodinase 2 gene activates triiodothyronine (T3) and the researchers found that a tiny change in this gene could mean that although the body gets enough T3, the brain doesn’t.
The patients on this study were given levothyroxine (T4) only for a set period and then combination treatment of both levothyroxine and liothyronine (synthetic T3). The patients who had normal genes did not feel any different on T4/T3 combination treatment. However, those who had one variant gene (inherited from one of their parents) felt better on the combination treatment and those with two variant genes (inherited from both parents) felt better still.
This means that there is a possibility that patients who are on levothyroxine alone, still have symptoms and have the variant Deiodinase 2 gene may improve with the addition of liothyronine .
Because this gene causes a deficiency of T3 within the cells, the usual thyroid hormone function tests will not show up a problem. This means that your TSH, FT4 and FT3 blood tests will look normal.
Thank you so much for the reminder!! I have read that before. I will forward that to them to support my claim. I have quoted NICE and RMOC guidelines but this will be good too. Where did you get the real figures from please? Of course the amount I take is half of the price!
Not a good CCG .. they're not following national guidance, despite having links to some. They also have out of date links on there, yet their position statements have been reviewed quite recently. And their costings are not correct. Mixed messages. They could be challenged on it. nottsapc.nhs.uk/media/1327/...
Thanks. Yes I knew Notts CCG to be bad. I have the template and compiled a letter partly but it all sounded very harsh with all the links etc. Didn’t think that would help me at all. I’ve re written it several times. My PC is out of action and I can’t access it at the moment. It took a lot of time trying to write it early this year (which made me feel even worse with symptoms). I’ve been told that s positive DIO2 test may help, but doubt mine would be. I’m having reoccurring migraines associated with gut problems etc which wipes me out a lot of the time. Also high BP and cholesterol. Docs want me to take statins and change to beta blockers. I’m so fed up with so many tablets and struggle swallowing some. Difficult to guage when to take each one too.
I'm sorry you haven't been able to use the template. Obviously you can use bits of it if you wish, but if you write to official bodies, you do need all the official info and links. It's what they understand! So I'd suggest at least quoting the official guidelines and including the links.
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