Thyroxine

[Cat-222]

I have been on 75mg thyroxine for 11 years. My levels are in the normal range. I do not like the side effects eg nausea, palpitations and acid reflux etc. I asked the doctor if I could try the liquid form as it doesn’t have so many binders and fillers. She said she would get into trouble if she prescribed it because it costs £128 a bottle. I said it’s really bad that we can only take thyroxine. Has anyone else experienced this?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Previous post shows poor conversion rate of Ft4 to Ft3

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Have you organised new testing via Medichecks yet

[Cat-222 in reply to SlowDragon]

I have used Thriva in the past and was thinking of using them again. I looked at Medichecks and they seem more expensive. I do need to check my bloods as my doctor will not. I am having daily headaches and sinus problems, I am really fed up and feeling low so it’s an effort to do much. Do you know if Medichecks is better and worth the extra money.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cat-222]

Members do use Thriva

Website is just more complicated….

Medichecks often on offer on a Thursday ….see if it is tomorrow

You want to test

TSH, Ft4 and FT3, vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Stop any supplements that contain biotin a week before all blood tests

Stop taking iron supplements a week before test if test ferritin levels

[Cat-222 in reply to SlowDragon]

Doctors do not recognise low acid. They are trying to put me on strong anti acid medication.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cat-222]

Low stomach acid can be a common hypothyroid issue

Thousands of posts on here about low stomach acid

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

But never assume you have low stomach acid

healthygut.com/4-common-bet...

How to test stomach acid levels

healthygut.com/articles/3-t...

Web links re low stomach acid and reflux and hypothyroidism

nutritionjersey.com/high-or...

articles.mercola.com/sites/...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

naturalendocrinesolutions.c...

meraki-nutrition.co.uk/indi...

huffingtonpost.co.uk/laura-...

lispine.com/blog/10-telling...

Protect your teeth if using ACV with mother

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Ppi

Like Omeprazole may lower vitamin levels even further than just being hypothyroid

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/p...

webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/ne...

pharmacytimes.com/publicati...

PPI and increased risk T2 diabetes

gut.bmj.com/content/early/2...

Iron Deficiency and PPI

medpagetoday.com/resource-c...

futurity.org/anemia-proton-...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

[Cat-222 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you I will have a read later. I did the bi carbonate acid test and it took my longer than 9 minutes to burp.I spoke to The Thyroid Foundation and they said I shouldn’t have to pay out for private blood tests because if my TSH is in range there should not be a problem, I said I don’t feel well and she said I could try stopping my thyroxine to see how I feel and in 6 weeks time have a blood test to see if there has been any change. Apparently that is what an endocrinologist would suggest if the medication is not helping and she said my thyroid might kick in and work again. I am so confused right now

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Cat-222]

That’s utter garbage …..likely make yourself extremely unwell stopping replacement thyroid hormones

Thousands upon thousands of U.K. thyroid patients are forced to test privately to make progress

Medichecks results

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Blue horizon results

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Monitor My Health results

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

Thriva

healthunlocked.com/search/p...

[pennyannie in reply to Cat-222]

Sorry to jump in - but 9 minutes is a similar time scale to when I tested and it is low stomach acid - a very common issue when hypothyroid as your whole body system is running slower and lower rather than optimal :

The only thing that isn't wrong, in the above advice is that we shouldn't need to pay for these blood tests - but we do if we want better health :

I wouldn't follow any of the advice offered above :

Do you have any T3 and T4 results and ranges you can share with forum members ?

Looking back at last year result your T3 was 4 and your T4 21.3 :

The accepted conversion ratio when on T4 monotherapy - Levothyroxine only is said to be 1 / 3.50 - 4.50 T3 / T4 with most people feeling at their best when they come in at around 4 or under :

So to find your conversion ratio you simply divide your T3 into your T4 and I'm getting yours coming in at around 5.3 so showing very poor conversion of T4 - Levothyroxine.

As we age conversion of T4 into T3 can become compromised and we also need ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D up and maintained at optimal levels.

There is liquid T4 - I think you may need a " proof of absorption issue" test before a NHS prescription will be written as it is more expensive but then, don't you start to question how much is the budget per capita that the NHS has on treating thyroid patients ?

The last time I looked, some 6 years ago, the cost of analysis of a TSH, T3 and T4 from the same blood sample was around a pound for each result - and currently we seem unable to even get these essential blood tests on the National Health Service.

You might like to ask or a referral to an endocrinologist from the list held by Thyroid UK ( it is recommended patient to patient list ) : thyroiduk.org - not sure if your doctor will see this as a fair use of the budget.

[Cat-222]

I will have a look thank you. They did state that doing the finger prick test is not accurate for folate and to go somewhere to have my blood taken but that’s not possible. The nearest place is more than 10 miles away and would cost £30. Shame but I will get everything else tested.

[DippyDame]

When will medics understand that " being in the normal range" is not a correct analysis of thyroid lab results!!We are all very different and there is a single point within the ref range that suits us best.

The aim is to find that point and a full thyroid test will help to do that

Not just TSH or TSH plus FT4 but...

TSH, FT4, FT3, vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin and if possible also thyroid antibodies TPO and Tg

Your conversion appears to be poor but GPs don't always understand the implications of that....full labs is the way to go.

You sound undermedicated and may need to add a little T3 but it's early days yet so post new labs if you can, and go from there.

Members will advise.

You need to feel better.