NHS, T3 and pituitary issues.

[crazykoala]

Hello! I'm wondering if any of you lovely lot can help me. I'm wanting to go through the NHS and hope to try synthetic T3 and have some pituitary testing done.

I know there is a list of recommended doctors on here but I am unable to go private at the moment - I should add that I have been private before and tried Erfa a few years ago which I didn't get on with.

My TSH is under 1, T4 is on the lower side and my T3 is slightly below range. I have a diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease and after a recent MRI have discovered that I have a squashed pituitary gland which may or may not be relevant to my symptoms.

While my doctor is unable to treat my low T3 I believe an NHS endocrinologist will, or so my doctor believes. It's been a while since I've been here and I'd really appreciate knowing if anyone has had T3 prescribed through the NHS for a slightly low test result?

Many thanks!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Vast majority of endocrinologists are diabetes specialists

Email Thyroid U.K. for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologist and doctors who will prescribe T3 if necessary

NHS and private

[e-mail]

Please add most recent thyroid results and ranges

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine

Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Meanwhile GP should test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Have you had coeliac blood test done

Are you on strictly gluten free diet

[greygoose]

If your pituitary is squashed, it's probably not producing the amount of TSH it should. Which means that TSH is unreliable as an indicator of thyroid status, and should not be used to dose by. You don't say if you're actually taking levo, and how much, but if you are, you sound like you need an increase in dose.

However, having a low TSH - for whatever cause - could affect conversion of T4 to T3 - which is what affects your symptoms, not the TSH itself. If this is explained to an NHS endo (doubt they could work it out for themselves!) it would possibly give you a better chance of obtaining T3.

[heathermr]

I have pituitary failure caused by a head injury and encephalitus many years ago and have struggled for well over 15 years to find an Endo who has some idea about pituitary problems. In the end I took some recommendations from the Pituitary Society Helpline and found an NHS Endo who had some idea about the problems that I have beeen facing although he is about 50 miles away its well worth travelling to see him. I take T3 as T4 just does not work for me as my TSH is undetectable (and was years before I started on T3), I am now on Hydrocortisone and am about to start on Growth Hormone. My local NHS Endos just have absolutely no clue as to how to treat Pituitary problems and think that by shutting their eyes it will all go away. Good luck with your search.Heather