I was diagnosed hypothyroid about 20 years ago with a TSH >100 . I've never felt well. Crushing tiredness and brain fog. A gp this week suggested antidepressants and this has made me quite angry. I was on them for years. She said anxiety causes tiredness. Hmm. It's the other way round.
Am getting Cortisol testing. Also waiting for results for thyroid and Fe, B12, D etc
I want to change my medication too, so asking could someone PM me with a supplier for T3, thanks.
They do love to chuck anti depressants at us!! Can I ask why you're trying to source T3? Are you not converting very well?.When you have your results, post them on here and one of the moderators will.look at them for you. It could be your not on a high enough dose of Levo (assuming you're taking this?) What dose are you on?
Yes, I do need to wait for test results. When I looked into it in the past I wasn't converting well, and added T3. But didn't help. So I gave up. Am on 150mg levo. Thanks.
I was having this discussion on another forum about CFS/ ME. Doctors always assume that antidepressants are the answer to everything, or they just hope you'll shut up and go away. What they fail to appreciate and which I have pointed out is that when you have a chronic condition anxiety, depression, low mood are in response to having it.
They arent the cause. I defy anyone at all to be constantly cheerful and upbeat about feeling crap all the time, especially when you were previously in good health. In my view antidepressants are dished out far too often and the evidence that they actually help is quite limited. Plus they can have very detrimental side effects.
Essential to also test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
What vitamin supplements are you taking
Is your hypothyroidism autoimmune
Lower vitamin levels more common as we get older
For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we must maintain GOOD vitamin levels
What vitamin supplements are you taking
Also VERY important to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 together
What is reason for your hypothyroidism
Autoimmune?
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)
If/when on 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
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
Post all about what time of day to test
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
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...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
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
Thank you for your replies. Am waiting for results for D, folate, ferritin and B12.
I'm not taking any supplements. Except a few days ago started algae oil hoping it'll help with brain fog.
Yes, the gp only did TSH and FT4 so will see what that says, then get TSH, FT4, T3 and RT3.
Yes, autoimmume. Only realized as I got the tests done, many years ago.
Haven't yet ordered the cortisol test. In the past it was baselined, then improved a bit. But again, that was a long time ago.
Will post again with results.
So as cause is autoimmune (hashimoto’s)
Hashimoto's frequently affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels
Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working
BEFORE considering adding small doses of T3 alongside we need to get all four vitamins to GOOD Levels
Vitamin D at least over 80nmol and many find it better to maintain vitamin D between 100-125nmol
Active B12 at least over 70
Serum B12 at least over 500
Folate towards top of range
Ferritin at least over 70
If ferritin under 50, get full iron panel test
Poor gut function with Hashimoto’s can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances.
Most common by far is gluten.
Dairy is second most common.
A trial of strictly gluten free diet is always worth doing
Only 5% of Hashimoto’s patients test positive for coeliac but a further 81% of Hashimoto’s patients who try gluten free diet find noticeable or significant improvement or find it’s essential
A strictly gluten free diet helps or is essential due to gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and may slowly lower TPO antibodies
If not had coeliac test
While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first as per NICE Guidelines
nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/c...
Or buy a test online, about £20
Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet
(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)
Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
drknews.com/changing-your-d...
Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/296...
The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported
nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...
In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned
restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...
Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.
Similarly few months later consider trying dairy free too. Approx 50-60% find dairy free beneficial
With loads of vegan dairy alternatives these days it’s not as difficult as in the past
Post discussing gluten
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Ideally try gluten free/dairy free first ….before looking at adding T3
Fine tuning levothyroxine dose, always getting best brand of levothyroxine that suits you, optimum vitamin levels and GF/DF will all often significantly improve conversion rate of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone)
Thank you. I'll print this off to refer to.
Still waiting for nhs thyroid test but got these results.Vit D 67.1
B12 400
Folate 9.9 (range 3.9-20)
Ferritin 47
They don't seem terrible, but from your post are a bit low. Seems I should get some supplements?
Algae oil? That’s a funny one to start with. Check if it’s got an iodine content. If so, I would avoid until you get other more important Vits and minerals in place. Iodine far from suits many hypothyroids.
Thanks. Checked. No iodine. Its omega 3 vegan version.
hi, i looked on line and got my T3 from turkey i can’t remember supplier as a yr ago i was reali ill and stopped al my meds apart from my pain meds for 3 months, yes stupid of me reali, but in the long run best thing i did, because when i restarted my levothyroxine starting dose 25mg or mcg which ever one it is, i increased gradually to 175 dose and ive been great ever since, no need to take T3 any more as stopping and restarting seemed to of kicked my body into absorbing the T4 and turning it into T3
just adding a link to this post as your reply mentions looking online for T3 sources, anyone considering this should read this post carefully :
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... purchasing-thyroid-medication-without-prescription-please-be-wary-repost
TSH and freet4 levels
T3 query
T3 sourcing 
T3 and food query 
T4/T3 Prescription Query
