My nhs Endo has prescribed T3 trial

[Oakwood4321]

I’ve just had a phone consultation follow up with my nhs Endo. My first appointment was in June this year. She then referred me for a Short Synacthen Test which she said was fine. After my June appointment I posted about my disappointment that she ordered a blood test that didn’t include a full thyroid profile and that she made a comment about my difficulty swallowing ‘can sometimes be imagination’.

After that I did get a private b/t done in August and emailed my results to her for feedback but didn’t get a reply.

Today she said she will prescribe a 3-6 month trial of T3 (Liothyronine).

I asked about getting my bloods done before I start but she said it wasn’t necessary as my last ones were ok. I told her I’d really like to do this before I start but she said there’s also a shortage of blood containers so no b/t will be done.

She said she’d start me on 10 mcg T3 , half on waking and half after lunch. She would lower my Levothyroxine from 87.5 mcg daily to 50 mcg daily.

I feel really grateful to get this T3 trial but am concerned to just take it the way she’s advised without blood tests first plus, I don’t have confidence in her after management so far.

I do have the name of a recommended private Endo . I had planned to see how I get on nhs wise due to costs but, go privately, if needed. My instinct is to get a private blood test done and see the private Endo now before starting the trial.

Am I being over cautious?

Thanks 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just get tested yourself privately first

Either just TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 via Monitor My Health

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Previous test results from BH 3 months ago …vitamin levels pretty good

So probably just use Monitor My Health for TSH, Ft4 and Ft3

Remember only test early Monday or Tuesday morning

Always test as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Come back with new post once you get results

[Oakwood4321 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon, I’ve been taking Thorne Basic B,

Selenium, vitamin C, vitamin D ( &K2 separately from vit D). Magnesium at bedtime. Keeping supplements 4 hours gap from Levo. Have also been strictly gluten free to hopefully help hashimotos.

Thanks for your reply. 😊

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Oakwood4321]

So remember to stop taking vitamin B complex a week before all blood tests (as contains biotin)

Personally, I then take separate folate and separate B12 during that week (to stop levels dropping)

[Oakwood4321 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, yes, I stopped the B Complex last week expecting the Endo to order blood test. I’ve been taking B12 since but wasn’t sure of which folate to buy and felt too lethargic to research. I’ll have that in hand for next time.

I did ask in pharmacy for folate but she said they only sell folic acid.

Is there one you use you could recommend please?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Oakwood4321]

I use this one

amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Formula...

Plus this for B12

amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylc...

[Oakwood4321 in reply to SlowDragon]

Brilliant, thanks SlowDragon. Just ordered, delivery tomorrow! The B12 you mention are the ones I’m using so that’s reassuring….I must have searched on here for them.

[kittykat2020]

Shes the dr. If u dont trust her then dont go to a dr! Some get very upset when u question them

[goodoldan]

NO, you're not being over-cautious to get lab tests before starting T3. Liothyronine can be dangerous for people with sensitivities to it (myself included)... just 5 mcg put me into the hospital emergency department after the first dose with heart arrhythmia. FWIW... NP Thyroid (an NDT that contains both "natural" T3 and T4) was a solution for me... no adverse reactions.

[Oakwood4321 in reply to goodoldan]

Thanks for replying goodoldan. I’m sorry to hear you had that bad experience, must have been frightening. Glad you’ve found positive results with NP Thyroid. I’m definitely getting my own thyroid profile done as a starting point. I’ll also make sure to plan a quiet few days for when I start the T3.

[goodoldan in reply to Oakwood4321]

Sounds like a plan. I've noticed that even on the low amount of T3 in the NP thyroid I'm taking (about 3 mcg/day of T3) , I can still "feel" it after my doses (although the heart rate doesn't go up, etc). Slow and steady...

[JAmanda]

Yes good thinking to get private bloods done so you know where you are. Depending on how they are I would seriously consider whether you need to reduce your Levo.

[Oakwood4321 in reply to JAmanda]

Thanks for replying JAmanda. I’ll post my results when I’ve done them. It makes good sense to have a starting profile.