Hello, I have just found out I’m likely to have Hashi’s and my T4 isn’t converting to T3. I’ve been on Levo for around 15 years but in honesty it’s never made a difference to how I feel.
I had private bloods done as my hypo symptoms were getting worse and of course my GP was no help, and now I have this news.
I haven’t seen the GP yet but from all the research I’ve done (this group has been very helpful!) I understand that the likelihood of getting T3 is very slim. So, for the short term at least, I want to explore getting it privately (if I can afford it - I have no idea of costs).
Can anyone advise how I go about finding someone to prescribe this for me? I have tried googling the answer to this but hit a brick wall every time. As I’m sure everyone reading this will know, when you’re feeling ill already, trying to search out help feels like such a mountain to climb ☹️
Thank you.
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Ilson23
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Can you add ranges on these results please, especially Ft4 and Ft3
Was this test done 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)
Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription
On levothyroxine TSH should always be below 2
So first step see GP for next increase in levothyroxine to 125mcg
Retest thyroid levels in another 6-8 weeks
Meanwhile get vitamin levels tested now
Have you tested vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
What vitamin supplements are you taking
You also need coeliac blood test done, if not yet on gluten free diet
if GP won’t increase levothyroxine to 125mcg as next step
Here’s link for how to request Thyroid U.K.list of private Doctors emailed to you, but within the email a link to download list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists
Ideally choose an endocrinologist to see privately initially and who also does NHS consultations so that might eventually transfer to NHS
hi there are you able to email me with contact info to buy T3 meds please 🙏 Thankyou in advance. I am retesting my bloods in a few weeks but my last one my T3 was dismal. Thanks again Lauren
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I wasn’t aware of this (all so new to me) so I’m very grateful for the information and education. So much to learn (not easy through the brain fog!!) thank you for the heads up 😊
- Keto/carnivore diet for the past 4.5 years so I don’t eat sugar/carbs/soy etc. Just meat/fish/eggs for the past 12 months with occasional dairy (maybe a slice of cheese twice a month)
- Ferritin 26 (13-150)
- Serum folate 5.68 (8.83-60.8)
- Vit B12 653 (145-569) - my understanding is low folate & high b12 indicates b12 deficiency??
- Prior to the bloods I was supplementing with iodine, magnesium, vit d, vit b. Since I have added selenium, insoitol & zinc.
- same brand of levothyroxine at each prescription
Truly thankful for all of the advice you have given. It all feels overwhelming but this forum is proving to be so very helpful and people are clearly very generous with their knowledge.
Igennus B complex popular option. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose and may need 2 per day and/or may need separate methyl folate couple times a week
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg)
Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.
It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test
If taking any iron supplements stop 3-5 days before testing
I tried Keto a number of years ago. I made myself very ill. It's not good for hypos. We need some carbs and we all need vegetables and pulses. I think your diet is making you ill. time for a rethink.
Perhaps it's worse for those of us with the genetic gene SNP on the Dio2 gene affecting conversion of T4 to T3. I have that problem going on.
I was fine eating meats, fish, eggs, dairy, fruit and veg. I had cut out gluten as an experiment at that time. But the moment I tried very low carb my world fell apart. It was horrible. I'd never recommend it. But I know it works for some.
Can’t see any ranges for T3 and T4 but a lot of private tests use the following ranges: T4 (12-22) and T3(3.1-6.8)Your T3 is coming in at just 2.1.You must have lots of symptoms with numbers this low.Madness you’ve been taking levo near 16 years now and never had dosage higher than 100mcg.Getting an increase to 125mcg would be my next move along with getting vitamins in order as the others have said.
Yes, some of us are bad converters of T4 to T3. The solution? T3 or NDT or some combination of T4 and T3 but good luck with getting T3 prescribed, it's a lottery.
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