Hi had a private consultation on Thursday my TSH 2.86 and Free T3 4.1. Told it should be lower than this even though I thought T3 of 4.1 wasn’t too bad. I do realise that we should ideally have TSH of 1 or below. I am currently taking 75 mg of Lovothyroxine she wants me to increase to 100 mg given me a private prescription to increase. However just realised that my GP already tried me on 75 mg one day and 100 mg the other day and said that was too much! Also increasing is all well and good but forgot to ask if she would do a letter to my GP explaining my increased dose otherwise they may reduce my dose after the next blood test! Anyone any got any experience of how private GPs work?
She also mentioned trying natural thyroid hormone however not sure how I feel about such a drastic change especially as I would have to foot the bill. I further understand that it isn’t regulated. I was rather hoping that some T3 meds which might help if the extra Levo doesn’t work.
Any advice please thank you.
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Pebbles33
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Are you doing blood tests using the recommended protocol here?
Recommended blood test protocol: Test at 9am (or as close as possible), fasting, last levo dose 24hrs before the blood draw, no biotin containing supplements for 3-7 days (Biotin can interfere with thyroid blood results as it is used in the testing process)? Testing like this gives consistency in your results and will show stable blood levels of hormone. Taking Levo just prior to blood draw can show a falsely elevated result and your GP/Endo might change your dose incorrectly as a result.
In a way it is sensible to rule Levo out and you can't say you've done that until your TSH is at or just under 1. It's a lot more effort and sometimes cost to be adding in T3 unless you really need it.
What your GP says is too much and what is really too much are two different things.
You could contact her secretary and ask if a letter will be written to your GP.
At your next consultation you need to be clear with this GP as to what is affordable for you. They won't give a second thought as to the cost to you. If your preference is for T4/T3 (should this dose increase not be enough) then you need to state that very clearly.
How are you getting on raising your ferritin? What are you doing about that?
Do you know if you had positive thyroid antibodies? Many with autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's benefit from a gluten free diet. A smaller percentage of those also need to remove dairy from their diet to feel well. These are intolerances and will not show up on any blood test.
lab 'range' that comes with results Pebbles. ...some members will be confused by your post titles saying 'high T3' when it's not your T3 which is high (it's your TSH which is high and also in Dec your T4 was high , but it isn't anymore pennyannie )
" from these latest result it's logical to try increasing your levo dose first ,, BECAUSE on THIS test , your fT4 is lower at 16.9 so there is NOW room to increase levo dose . which there didn't seem to be in Dec
So, since there is room to increase levo and TSH is relatively high , it would have been a bit irresponsible of the private one to consider adding T3 at this point until they had first tried to increase levo to see if that would lower TSH and improve symptoms .
You can't compare their two decisions , because the decisions were made at different times and while looking at different results.
if the NHS GP sees the current results, they may well agree to increase your levo now even though they wouldn't in Dec.
if the private one had been asked in Dec , they may well have agreed that T3 was worth a try. whereas now there is room to try a levo dose increase first.
The right thing to do at this point is increase levo first, and wait and see how that goes . it doesn't matter who prescribes it , that is what needs doing.
you need to know clearly if the private one would EVER be wiling to consider prescribing T3 if / when results showed it is needed.... if not, there's no point continuing to pay to see them. .. if they would consider it , then you may as well continue with them for now , because your GP has already shown they are not willing to help you get it "
What is the normal range for your T3 reading? Was this total T3, or Free T3? With a TSH nearly 3, I don't see how any reasonable person could claim T3 was too high.
Natural hormones will be NDT. I have been on them for about 8 years as I never felt well on Levothyroxine. I feel much better on NDT, so there is no reason to be worried about them. A lot of evidence now suggests it’s probably better for us than Levothyroxine as the thyroid hormones are better balanced. It is as near we can get to what our thyroids once made.
You are lucky the private GP seems to have an open mind about what hormones they will prescribe.
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