So bloods by Blue Horizon in March showed T3 to be 3.11, , GP dismissed as "unimportant rubbish".
Wouldn't accept Blue Horizon's results and repeated via NHS did request T3 but lab overruled and didn't process.
So I am considering self medicating with T3 but don't know where to start. Where to purchase, dosage etc, all info gratefully received.
Polo before starting T3 it is best to get vitamin levels at least halfway through ranges and better in the top third. The body needs this to process the hormones efficiently.To tell you how to start T3 we need to have TSH, ft4 and FT3 results -recent ones. The TSH should be around 1 or lower and we'd expect ft4 to be somewhere over halfway through range at least. If this isn't the case then you need an increase in levo dose.
Only by knowing your thyroid blood levels on levo alone when TSH is 1 or lower can you gauge if you are a poor convertor. Then by looking at the ft4 result you can see whether you can just add in 5mcg T3 or if your levo dose needs to be lowered first.
So if you have thyroid and vitamin results please post them on here.
You also need to be aware that adding T3 is not necessarily a quick fix and that it can take a long time - for me 2 years - of gradually adjusting doses and 8-weekly blood tests until you find doses and hormone levels that suit.
Thank You for response, just recently got increase back to 150 mcg, SI B12 so that's high, GP just px another Vit D loading, now taking Vit D, K2 MK7 (Vegavero) , Magnesium glycinate, Thorne Basic B complex, need to get some Omegas I think and just found a box of unopened Selenium with vits A, C & E, maybe I should start them too.
Looking at previous posts
29 days ago
Blue Horizon results from 10th May
TSH 8.91 0.27 - 4.20 mU/L.
T4 total 106.0 86 - 181 nmol/L.
Free T4 17.2 12 - 22 pmol/L
Free T3 3.11 3.1 - 6.8 pmol/L .
Was test done early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
You had 25mcg dose increase in levothyroxine after these results
How much levothyroxine are you now taking
You need to get FULL Thyroid and vitamins retested after 6-8 weeks minimum on increased dose
Which brand of levothyroxine are you currently taking
Do you always get same brand
ESSENTIAL to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at next test
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
There’s no point considering adding T3 until TSH is around one and all four vitamins tested and optimal levels
If not already got a weekly pill dispenser, recommend getting one
Meanwhile Email Thyroid U.K. for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologist and doctors in case you need an appointment to get next dose increase/or T3 added
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
Yes bloods before 9 am, last dose 24 hours before. GP insisted on NHS bloods , done 23 rd May, Just after 9 am, TSH 5.3 0.27 - 4.20. Free T4 19.8, Free T3 requested lab rejected. PTH 5.5 pmol/L 1.6 - 6.9, Ferritin 117, ug/L 13 - 150, Iron 25 umol/L 5.8 - 34.5, serum folate 12. ug/L 3.9 - 26.8, Vit D2+D3 43, GP has given 6 tablets to take 1 a month, , Taking Accord 150mcg now , vit d, magnesium, B complex, K2 mk7, wondering about adding Omega's , the bottle of Selenium with A, C and E I found in cupboard and whether to add anything else like Iron
Polo22
and whether to add anything else like Iron
You definitely don't need iron, take iron and you risk going towards toxicity.
Your serum iron is 25 (5.8-34.5) which is 66.9% through range and optimal level according to rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_... is 55-70% with the higher end for males.
Your Ferritin is 117 (13-150) and it's recommended to be half way through range with some experts saying the optimal level for thyroid function is 90-110ug/L.
So you can see your iron levels are very good, many of us here will envy them!
Thank You
TSH 5.3 (0.27 - 4.20)
Free T4 19.8,
Free T3 requested lab rejected
What’s the range on Ft4 result
sorry it is 12.0 - 22.0
GP dismissed ( FT3 lab) as "unimportant rubbish".Good grief ...no wonder so many of us struggle.
A month ago you posted your FT3 as being 3.11 (3.1 - 6.8)
That is abysmally low
T3 is the active thyroid hormone and low T3 = poor health
Your GP should understand this
Unfortunately thyroid education in med school is seriously lacking!
Same test....Free T4 17.2 (12.0 - 22.0)
This is on the low side.
TSH 8.9 is high suggesting undermedication
I self medicate with T3-only and have a constant concern about availability and lack of the safety net the NHS provides....or should...if I need to go into hospital, or care!
Before jumping in at the deep end I'd suggest that first you optimise vit D , vit B12, folate and ferritin...all essential to support thyroid function.
It appears that your T4 to T3 conversion may be poor but I would want first to raise the FT4 result by increasing levo dose
Those 2 things should improve levels
You were supposed to have levo increased to 150mcg ...did you pursue this further?
If not you need to do so to start improving your health
If FT4 then becomes higher and FT3 remains low then you can assume your conversion is poor
High FT4 with low FT3 = poor conversion
If this is the case then you will probably need to add some T3 ... an endo will have to prescribe.
But it's too soon to add T3 when your FT4 is still low ...with a lot of room to raise level.
One step at a time....optimise nutrients and increase levo first
Wait 6 weeks and retest
Results will point the way forward.....post them WITH reference ranges and members will advise
Good luck
You can take a horse to the water but cannot make it drink!
The same with doctors who are ignorant about anything to do with a dysfunctional thyroid gland as they cannot admit that they know nothing at all and I think their comments confirm.
Mine phoned to tell me my TSH was too low, T3 too high and T4 too low.
Me: Yes doctor that's because I take T3 only so TSH will be low as will T4.
GP - but T3 converts to T4 - "no doctor that's wrong' it's the other way around".
its an NHS GP who runs blue horizon and they use very good labs, so your GP shouldn't dismiss it, if they dont believe the BH results should test it on the nhs, to dismiss it is neglect.
THIS ! even had an appointment with the boss (GP) yesterday to ask for a referral to Endo, queried the T3 not being done. He just said they don't let us test T3. I told him what the other Dr had said, he was non committal, then said there is no point referring to Endo it will be bounced back because there isn't anything else to be done. Tried to explain that without full results how can they say they are doing everything,,, his response was "it is what it is"
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