I have been taking thyroxine for the last 40 years with no problems and have received thyroxine on the NHS free !
Two years ago l was told my problem with my thyroid have developed in my pituitary gland and l have developed Hashimoto’s disease . I went to see an NHS consultant who told me l needed a drug called Liothyronine . But the NHS won’t find it . I now pay £1 per day to keep me alive ! I am a pensioner and can’t afford this . Please look into this .
Marian Cassidy
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MTC1
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Many members are prescribed T3 (liothyronine) through the NHS so I don't understand why your GP isn't prescribing.
Maybe he is ignorant and isn't aware of the fact 'levothyroxine' is T4 and 'supposed to convert to T3'.
I cannot tolerate 'levothyroxine' at all but being prescribed T3 (liothyronine) enables me to have a 'normal life' and have no symptoms. I just feel well
Liothyronine is also called T3 and it is the 'active thyroid hormone' and the brain and heart have the most and it enables our body to function normally.so what are you being prescribed Our brain and heart have the most T3 receptor cells.
I don't understand why you cannot get a prescription as the cost of T3 has been reduced recently and I am prescribed it by GP.
Did you request copies of your test results as I suggested, 11 months ago?
If so post them ( including reference ranges) and we will help.
Liothyronine is a replacement thyroid hormone, not a drug per se.
Having Hashi's does not mean you need Lio/T3
Was it established that your T4 to T3 conversion was impaired before introducing T3?
You now need to compare current labs with thosejust before T3 was added
A year ago your endo initiated T3 treatment...20mcg.
Ideally this should have been added more slowly.
Was this in addition to your 100mcg levo....or did he reduce levo dose?
You complained of feeling "hyped" and cross after T3...indicating overdose!
Have these problems been resolved?
You now say
Two years ago l was told my problem with my thyroid have developed in my pituitary gland and l have developed Hashimoto’s disease .
I suspect your endo is monitoring by TSH and since adding T3 your TSH will have naturally dropped and scared the socks off this endo whose knowlege sounds limited. Because TSH is a pituitary hormone he possibly wrongly assumed you had developed a pituitary problem because the level had dropped!
He must have tested your thyroid antibodies before concluding Hashimoto's exists....do you know the levels?
What I'm really getting at is that in order to unravel your thyroid problems we really need to have current results for a full thyroid test.
This endo's reasons for prescribing T3 are far from clear, and I would suggest questionable.
T3 is not prescribed for Hashi's....
So we have to assume your T4 to T3 conversion is poor, evidenced by high FT4 with low FT3. If this is the case then you will need some T3 and the endo should initially prescribe it before passing prescribing to your GP, after a trial period.
I'm not a medic but have a fair amount of experience re T3 and I suspect your medics have got their wires crossed.
If you have been prescribed T3, then that should have been for an established good reason...that reason is unlikely to change.
If you require T3 it should not be withdrawn but unfortunately the NHS are now reluctant to use it...partly rising cost and partly ignorance.
In your shoes I would refuse to have the prescription withdrawn before the endo does a full thyroid test to include..
TSH, FT4, FT3, vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin and if not already established thyroid antibodies TPOand Tg
Many of us test privately if NHS refuse!
If you need T3 then it should be available to you....but that is not guaranteed unfortunately...see other replies!
Medics are bound to discuss changes and to work with patients...not to dictate to them!
Apologies for the long winded reply but hope it helps you out of this problem
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