Latest endo appointment. Will not increase T3 as TSH now low!!!!!

[DandyButch]

About 6 weeks ago, because of a change in make of liothyronine I made a mistake and instead of taking 2 x 10mcg tablets, I took 2 x 20mcg.When I realised, I anticipated the worst. However, I was fine, in fact more than fine.

My prescribed dose was 30mcg daily. But, I started to take 20mcg twice daily and I have been feeling, gradually, slightly better on this increase.

I was hoping when I had my endo appointment that my dose would be increased further.....

Dr said no because TSH was 1.9. She said that she would not be allowed to prescribe an increase.

She did say that if I saw a psychiatrist, they may be able to prescribe more for the depression. But, 'may' being the word. I said OK, and she is referring me.

I also asked for my T3 and vitamins and minerals to be tested. She was surprised that no follow-up blood tests were done after my discharge from hospital 18 months ago.

She had asked my GP to test T3, but they didn't, on last two blood tests, requested by her. This was unknown to me until this conversation. Apparently, even though I can have the blood tests at the GPs surgery, they will only do what they will do!!!!! Therefore, she recommended for me to have blood tests taken at the hospital where all those requested will be done. It is so difficult for me to get to hospital for blood tests.

Hopefully the next blood tests, which I have to have done at the end of March, will give me a better idea of what's going on. This is taking forever. 3 years since diagnosis and still feel like cr#p. I know 3 years is nothing compared to some on this forum, but I have already lost 3 years of my life, don't want it to be more, and I'm not getting any younger.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

She had asked my GP to test T3, but they didn't, on last two blood tests, requested by her

GP could/should request Ft3 and Ft4 tested…..not just TSH

They need to make note on lab request that you are on prescription Liothyronine T3 and Ft3 needs testing

are you also on any Levothyroxine?

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)

T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

[DandyButch in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, I am now on T3 only. I was on levothyroxine to begin with, but despite showing TSH within range, I felt dreadful. Worse and deteriorating weekly.Soon much better on T3 only, although don't feel optimal by any means, but realise that vits and minerals can affect health. When I last had my bloods done, which was over 2 years ago, they were all very low.

I have been supplementing since last summer.

I know I have to stop b vits a week before blood tests.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DandyButch]

Absolutely essential to test

Folate, b12 and ferritin at least annually

And vitamin D twice yearly

What vitamins are you taking

[DandyButch in reply to SlowDragon]

VIT D3 and K2VIT B12 sublingual methylcobalamin

Thorne basic VIT B complex

Cod liver oil and malt, which I will be soon be changing to super fish oil capsules

Selenium via Brazil nuts 5 a day changing to selenium 200ug tablets

VIT C and zinc

Magnesium

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DandyButch]

That’s quite a lot of selenium

When did you last test selenium levels

Remember to stop vitamin B complex 5-7 days before any blood tests

Retest vitamin D twice year

[DandyButch in reply to SlowDragon]

I posted my last blood test results, but have not heard from you. Please can you advise?

[PinkSkittles]

If that were me and I felt better on the higher dose I would just take it and not tell the Dr. I doubt they would even notice that you are using your prescription quicker and getting more sooner.

If for whatever reason you can't do that I'd buy from turkey and top up the extra yourself with that.

[PinkSkittles in reply to PinkSkittles]

Would they notice if you used up your prescription quicker do you think?

[DandyButch in reply to PinkSkittles]

Not so much at the hospital, but my gp is really on the ball with it.

[PinkSkittles in reply to DandyButch]

Is it on repeat? Is so they don't authorise it so how would they notice?

[DandyButch in reply to PinkSkittles]

This works at hospital, but my repeats at the gp are currently monthly, so if I ask for it too soon, they won't do a repeat.

[DandyButch]

Selenium not tested. Others taken on 20th May 2022:

Vit d3 52nmol/L 50 - 174

Folate 12.4 ug/L

B12 345ng/L 180-999

Cortisol 579nmol/L

Ferritin 212 ug/L 30-400

Sodium 142nmol/L 133-146

Potassium 4 mmol/L 3.5-5.30

Urea level 2.9 2.5-7.8

Creatinine 59umol/L 44 - 80

Erythrocyte 3mm/h 1-20

Eosinophil count 0.00 10*9/L 0.10 0.40

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to DandyButch]

May 2022 is far too long ago to be relevant

[DandyButch in reply to SlowDragon]

OK, thankyou.