After several years of treatment with Levothyroxine (T4) and years of feeling unwell, my GP proposes to refer me to the local NHS Consultant Endocrinologist with a view to determining if I meet the criteria for a trial of Liothyronine (T3) in combination with Levothyroxine.
I am aware I have the right to choose which hospital or consultant-led team my referral is sent to and would obviously like to choose one most likely to look sympathetically on my request for this trial.
I am based in the West Country and wonder if any of you kind people can give me any advice?
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weewillywinkie
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The “West Country” is quite a large area and it’s definitely a postcode lottery when it comes to help with combination therapy. If you could say what Hospital is your main one for your area, it would help people to give you advice.
I am in the states so I can't help as it relates to you local medical facilities, however, I started with levo and it was horrible and I have a post from when I first had my thyroid removed if you'd like to see/read the experience/responses.
I went through a few doctors that didn't listen when I told them of the side effects I had and they would only modify the dosage. I found out about Amour after posting on this site and I found a doctor that was more than happy to change my prescription and I've never had any of the side effects I had with levo. I do know that everyone's experience will be different.
Hello! Find out what fillers your levo contains… ask your endo to find a med with the least possible fillers. One of the best ones is Tirosint (different name in different countries). It is available as a gel cap or liquid packet. I hope this helps a bit!
Your current levels of T3 AND T4 would determine if you are a candidate for other/more meds in this area of medicine.
I always ask for a copy of my complete lab results and then investigate online what my levels should be ,if I dont remember from previous readings and from the health range they give you on lab results.
If your current dr didn't ck all all thyroid related levels , if he must refer you to have the levels checked by orders of an endocrinologist, then I would certainly go.
You should get a full thyroid panel lab test to determine anything and the dr will go from there, that result.
There can be many reasons you feel unwell. Unwell is a very general term. If you feel unusually tired and consistently lack energy (I could barely lift my arms up before I started levo), then I would go for further testing especially if your current thyroid med Is not helping your numbers go into optimal range.
I would certainly go. It can only help to get further medical advice. I went to an endocrinologist and I'm glad I did.
hi, I think you should go ahead with the consultation. A lot of gp’s have not got a lot of knowledge re thyroid They give you the first steps but have no advice if you have symptoms.
Hi, Go for it. You are quite lucky in that your GP is willing to refer you onto a NHS consultant who will prescribe T3 / Liothyronine. You may be limited in choice, as there are consultants who will not consider prescribing T3 at all. I have felt much better since I started a combination of T3 and T4 and continue to be monitored every 3 months, checking my blood T3/T4 results. The dose needed to be tweaked for a little while until the right dose was found. I have now been on this for 3/4 years. Hope this helps
I was prescribed Levo, about 7 years ago. Just 50 mg. Since then, I’ve changed my diet to organic, cut out most sugar, all gluten n dairy so inadvertently I went on keto type diet. A month in, I began shedding pounds feeling a little more energy.. and forget to take Levo, most days! I feel NO different, if not a little more energised!
I am now pretty anti big pharma drugs and feel herbs, vits and minerals more controllable! Good luck 😉
good luck and keep us posted, I’ve not been on this site for while, I became very despondent re-thyroid medication after spending years looking at functional health practices ( sadly only available privately which I can’t afford) goes against the conventional approach of thyroid issues obviously depending on what they are as everyone’s experience is individual ( stress, environment, toxins and chemicals used in our water and huge quantities of food production, gmo, pesticides) are playing a heavy role in the these health problems! Though not really being acknowledged in mainstream due corporate investment in these huge industries ( with the recent legal ongoing inquiries going on with lies and abuses re-covid and vaccine! My trust in the pharmaceutical industry has been completely obliterated!
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