T3?

[mummytina]

Why do lots of people go on about T3 why is it so important, i have never had mine checked should I? Is it more important than your TSH level I am so confused, and what about Vit D I have never had that checked either, I do have PA which was diagnosed 3 months ago and also Hypothyroidism whic I have had for 18 years but only in the last year have I been suffering with tiredness, brain fog, muscle aches, blurred vision, headaches etc etc....

Also what is Armour? I thought the only thing you took for hypo was Levo, obviously i'm oblivious to alot of things.

I have an appointment to see an endocrinologist in a couple of weeks.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There is so much to know!

I suggest that you hop over to the main Thyroid UK site here:

thyroiduk.org.uk/

And have a good read around. The pink menu at the left has lots of entries to pages of information. If you still have questions -and that is very likely - do asked away.

[Dannia]

Also take a look at this site, it is anti thyroxine (T4) treatment and pro NDT (Natural Dessicated Thyroid Hormone such as Armour) but has lots and lots of info on it, and take note of the recommended labs for when you see your endo, who will probably be useless anyway, but maybe you will get lucky!

stopthethyroidmadness.com/

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Dannia]

Actually that is one of the things I do not like about STTM. I am pro-patient and if it takes levothyroxine (T4), liothyronine (T3), desiccated thyroid, vitamin pills or anything else, so be it. Being pro-patient includes ensuring patients get desiccated thyroid if that is the best option for them. But I have no brief for desiccated thyroid in and of itself.

At present, I seem to do fine on plain levothyroxine so can see no sense in my changing to desiccated thyroid for doctrinaire reasons. Some of the ranters against levothyroxine would have me changing because of their antagonism to levothyroxine not because it would be better for me.

Yes - STTM has lots of good points.

[PinkNinja in reply to helvella]

I agree. All of the people I personally know with hypothyroidism are very well on levothyroxine only, which is why I didn't think my continuing ill health was down to my thyroid. I now know that it is, at least in part, the reason and am finding a considerable improvement in my health due to a change in thyroid replacement. I am but one person out of the six of us; the others all respond well to levothyroxine

[Stourie in reply to PinkNinja]

I was on levo and so are four of my work colleagues and NONE of them are very good on levo but their doctors won't give them anything else. I am just lucky to have good doctor. I now take t3.

Jo xx

[Dannia in reply to helvella]

Totally agree with you, everyone is different and reacts differently to different meds, but it would be nice if we all knew what options were available to us.

The thing I like about STTM is the information about what being Hypo means for the majority of us, the details of required lab work is also excellent and the site is very informative.

I'm on T4/T3 treatment and doing ok, I didn't do well on T4 only, but will be trying out NDT for myself soon, fingers crossed

[PinkNinja in reply to Dannia]

Good luck Dannia. I am finding NDT a great improvement on T4 only. I still have a way to go but I am getting there. The advise to doctors on treating with NDT on the STTM website has worked well for me. I am on 2 1/2 grains and due to increase again in another couple of weeks

Mummytina, if levothyroxine works for you on the correct dose then stick with it (you may not be on the correct dose if your GP is going by TSH only!). If not, it is worth investigating the other options but it is a good idea to make sure iron, ferritin, B12, folate and vitamin D are at good levels first If you have PA, this could be causing a lot of your symptoms. It is important to get this treated first and get your B12 levels back up above 500. If you are still having the same symptoms after this then you may find that NDT or T3 may suit you better. It really seems to be a case of trial and error for many people.

Carolyn x

[Dannia in reply to PinkNinja]

Thanks Carolyn good to know, but I'm very nervous about trying it I must admit, but I was the same on T3 just taking 6.25mcgs now I'm up to 25mcgs

Great advice about checking all your levels, and I think this is one of the most important things that Dr's should be telling all patients to be aware of as it seems to make a big difference on how the meds work.