Northern Ireland prescription

[Slowlaura199]

Would anyone be able to provide advice on how I would obtain a t3 prescription in northern ireland?I have read somewhere before about sending the prescription to a different country as it is less expensive.

I understand names of doctors cannot be posted so if you could private message me name and place of work of consultant that will prescribe this.

About to be offered IVF and so fearful these unmedicated thyroid issues are going to ruin our chances. Thank you for your time.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Never start on T3

Always start on levothyroxine

Please add your most recent thyroid and vitamin results and ranges

Before considering TTC all vitamins need to be optimal as well as thyroid levels

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options and money off codes

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Link about thyroid blood tests

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Link about Hashimoto’s

thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

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

[SlowDragon Administrator]

pregnancy and hypothyroidism

Infertility is common when hypothyroid

Getting thyroid levels optimal may result in not needing IVF

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested for autoimmune thyroid disease (hashimoto’s)

Before considering TTC thyroid levels need to be stable

verywellhealth.com/infertil...

.

Pregnancy guidelines

thyroiduk.org/having-a-baby-2/

gp-update.co.uk/files/docs/...

See pages 7&8

btf-thyroid.org/Handlers/Do...

Also here - dose increase in levothyroxine as soon as pregnancy test confirms conception

cuh.nhs.uk/patient-informat...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

Low ferritin, low thyroid levels and miscarriage

preventmiscarriage.com/iron...

Low iron and hypothyroid

endocrineweb.com/news/thyro...

Folate and B12 and Neural tube defects and autism

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Standard STARTER dose levothyroxine is 50mcg

Dose is usually increased slowly upwards in 25mcg steps over 6-12 months until TSH is around 1 and Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50-60% through range

[Slowlaura199 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for all the information. It's been a long road and I'm quite familiar with a lot of your information but always good for a refresh and other bits are new so great to have all the information in one place!In short yes I have been on levothyroxine 100mg (TSH was 4.45 and TPO 70 from recall in Dec 2022) for approximately 6 months. My recent bloods showed TSH of 0.89 but T3 of 3.3. T4 was 16.6. I have been on high quality vitamins for over a year and no issues in bloods with things like ferritin or D3. I believe I have developed hashimotos and GP advised thyroid scan as I can feel goitre enlargement at times. Still waiting on that. Also following all the hashimoto protocols on gluten dairy free which I largely was anyway.

IVF has been offered and I am dealing with Dr.A in NI. I strongly feel I need some T3 support but the T4 has certainly helped with a lot of symptoms I'm not fully there. So trying to think about whether the introduction of T3 is possible for me to get and also what may be a helpful dosage given IVF time constraints. We have other issues affecting infertility (low AMH (v poss linked to thyroid) and male factor).

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Slowlaura199]

please add ranges on Ft4 and FT3

Did you test as advised

What are vitamin results and ranges

are you on gluten free or dairy free diet

[SlowDragon Administrator]

please also very helpful to put summary on your profile of your Thyroid journey so far

[SlowDragon Administrator]

ESSENTIAL to retest TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 BEFORE adding T3

And retest vitamin levels

Gluten free frequently essential - gluten affects about 86% of Hashimoto’s patients

Dairy Free about 50%

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Just in case your post attracts a PM offering a source of T3 without prescription.

When you receive a message with a recommendation, please do not assume it is genuine.

Scammers are joining the forum on a very regular basis and messaging members with their assertions that they have successfully purchased xyz medication from zyx source.

First, check the profile of the member that sent you the message. Are they a long term member with an active forum posting history? Or are they a recently joined member with little or no posting history?

Once you have what you think may be a genuine recommendation, please message a forum admin to ask whether the admin team have any feedback on the source you've been given.

Admins are not allowed to recommend sources, but we can tell you what, if any, feedback we've received about the source you've been given.

⚠️ Don't part with your much needed money until you are as sure as you can be that the source is genuine.

Scammers often join the forum and post a 'fake' story about their thyroid journey, that includes mention of self sourcing their thyroid meds. This is to encourage members to ask them where they purchase their medication without prescription.

Read the full post: healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...