So, been to see the GP again today. Based on recent blood results, she was very insistant that I reduce Levothyroxine a further 25mcg. She is well aware I'm not happy about this as, previously, when reduced Levothyroxine, I've felt significant lack of energy/motivaton, poor mood etc.
Consequently, it's now time to see a T3-friendly consultant privately to see if some T3 might help.
Please can you advise re what preparation I need to do, such as blood tests?
Also, would you please message me with recommendations of consultants who are T3-friendly? I live in Suffolk, UK. I realise I will have to travel out of this area, unfortunately. Our local Consultant hasn't been helpful re NHS referral. I have had a couple recommended but I can't find my previous messages/posts at the moment. I'll try looking again over the weekend.
Thank you all very much. Any help is very much appreciated
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Thanks very much, greygoose. Good to see you're still here I really appreciate you taking the trouble to help me find my previous posts etc. I did manage to find my previous messages
I suspect most NHS GPs follow NICE guidelines which may or may not be up to date
I suspect you may need to see a functional medical practitioner who is also a NHS GP - my fiancé who lives in Midhurst knows of one near there who apparently has an interest in thyroid issues as they used to help his ex wife with thyroid issues. Whether or not the aforementioned FMP/GP has availability I wouldn’t know.
There is also a GP with issues in hormone issues in women including Thyroid issues whose last name is something like Lionhart or the German version of that name who is based in Petersfield who I saw in a presentation on YouTube (was a talk on hormonal issues in menopause).
Can ask if you are interested about the first one my fiancé knows of or you may be able to find either of them by Googling. Both of those should be drivable for you albeit quite a long drive.
There are also private GPs with a functional medicine approach- I live some distance from my fiancé and there are a couple within striking distance of where I live. It did however take quite a bit of googling to find them. You would likely have some down your way.
May I also suggest (if you don’t know about this already) information on Thyroid issues by Dr Weston Childs - he has a website and news letter you can sign up to along with lots of youtube videos on thyroid issues whilst there is also a book called Thyroid Issues - the root cause by Izabella Wendtz who is a pharmacist with lived experience of thyroid issues and a very in depth interest in it. Both of these individuals have a very pro T3 approach (where they think it could be of benefit).
First step is to get FULL thyroid and vitamin testing
Previous post only TSH and Ft4 tested - completely inadequate
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine
What vitamin supplements are you taking
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.
Do you know if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune
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)
On T3 - day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose 8-12 hours before test
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options and money off codes
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