hi all
I have my thyroid removed( overactive) about 15 years ago and have felt tired and generally low mood and put on 2 stone I also feel like muscle aches and joint ache I have explained this on many occasions to my GP and they dutifully arrange my bloods to be done and come back ok although I take vitamins b12 and d daily I’m wondering if going down the T3 route would help but need advice I can attach my blood results for those who understand the readings as I haven’t a clue
Thank you
Do you have any blood tests with ranges that include any of the following?
TSH
Free T4
Free T3
And possibly
Ferritin
B12
D
Folate
I only have this
These bloods are not sufficient to advice on your thyroid hormone replacement. You will need to get those listed above for starters.
Can you tell us what your are taking, the doses/frequency, including your vitamins .
What thyroid hormone replacement are you taking?
Noting: Other post has TSH 0.13
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
I’m taking 125 mg of levothyroxine
Pangersa so, in order to answer your question, we need at least a TSH, FT4,and FT3 result, ideally those vitamins too.
Others on this board have detailed info and links about suggestions for going private, like medichecks, if you can’t get from your GP.
But you really do need those tests, without them you won’t be able to make any effective decisions.
Thank you I will try and get the blood test I need from medichecks
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested
Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum
Low vitamin levels are extremely common when on Levo/ hypothyroid
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
Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing
Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/testing/thyro...
Symptoms of hypothyroidism
thyroiduk.org/signs-and-sym...
Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test
support.medichecks.com/hc/e...
Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee
come back with new post once you get results
Hello Pangersa and welcome to the forum :
I'm with Graves but had RAI thyroid ablation back in 2005 and became more unwell around 10 years after drinking this toxic substance but found no help nor understanding and when refused both T3 and Natural Desiccated by my surgery and hospital decided to self medicate and am now much better than how the NHS would have me.
We do need a full thyroid panel to include a TSH Free T3 and Free T4 inflammation, antibodies and the core strength vitamins and minerals - ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D and generally referred to as an Advanced or Full Thyroid panel and around 10/11 blood analysis.
A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin plus a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg plus a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg - with T3 said to be around 4 times more powerful than T4
The thyroid is a major gland responsible for full body synchronisation from your physical ability through to your mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, your inner central heating system and your metabolism.
Some people can get by on Levothyroxine - T4 monotherapy.
Others find T4 seems to stop working as well as it once did and that by adding in a little T3 - likely a similar dose to that lost when they lost their thyroid - they feel better and able to restore T3/T4 hormonal balance.
Some can't tolerate T4 and need to take the active hormone Liothyronine - T3 only :
Whilst others find their health restored better taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid which contains all the same known hormones as that of the human thyroid gland and derived from pig thyroids, dried and ground down into tablets, referred to as grains.
No thyroid hormone replacement works well until your core strength vitamins and minerals - those of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are up and maintained at optimal levels.
Just being in a NHS range somewhere is not optimal and without a fully functioning thyroid - let alone no thyroid - we do need to build and work on achieving optimal blood tests so our bodies are able to support us through having Graves - an Auto Immune disease for which there is no cure and living without this very major gland.
If you go into Thyroid UK - the charity who support this patient to patient forum you will find a page dedicated to Private blood test companies - thyroiduk.org
Stop all supplements around a week before the blood draw - so we measure what your body is holding rather than that just ingested - and ideally at the beginning of the week so your results are finalised by the coming weekend.
Similarly on the day of the fasting blood test just take in water and do not take your Levothyroxine until after the blood test so having left around a 24 hour window from last dose - and arrange an early morning appointment by around 9 am.
I think ' that's it ' in a nutshell - start a new post when you have back the readings and ranges and you will be talked through what it all means and your next best steps back to better thyroid health.
Thank you so much I will get this done asap as feel now there’s light at the end of the tunnel
T3 timings. Advice please. 
Advice starting T3 please 
T3 Advice and THANK YOU 
Advice on increase of T3
