Re: Blood results on combination therapy

[Guest guest]

You go for the dose of thyroid hormone replacement that takes

away y our symptoms. Blood tests can give flawed results, no matter what is

tested. TSH is almost ALWAYS suppressed if you are taking either synthetic T4

or synthetic T3, or natural thyroid extract. Why would your pituitary secrete

any thyroid stimulating hormone when it recognises you have good levels of T4

and T3? It doesn't need to secrete any - that's why the level of TSH becomes

suppressed.

Did you take any thyroid hormone replacement on the morning you

had your blood drawn for your thyroid function tests? What symptoms do you

still have? It does appear that those taking natural thyroid extract do better

than those on synthetic T4/T3 combination. Probably because it has T2, T1 and

calcitonin in it, plus other unspecified enzymes. However, if your GP refuses

to prescribe NDT and you don't want to be left having to purchase this

yourself, you will have to play around with the titration of T4 and T3 until

you find the right dose where you feel good. I think you should stop thinking

that " it's down to doctors what dose …. " because doctors simply

don't know, and they ONLY go by blood tests - but we keep telling them that

their patients symptoms and signs should be taken into consideration.

Luv - Sheila

I know everybody has different

doses/combinations. But I am wondering if anybody has had similar blood

results, or what dose I may be aiming for.

Dose 75mcg Levothyroxine 60mcg T3 (divided into 3 doses)

TSH 0.01 (0.10-4.00)

T4 10.5 (11.0-22.0)

T3 6.5 (3.5-6.5)

I am just wondering what sort of plan I ought to be aiming for/pushing for at

the moment.

I know it's down to doctors what dose, but I'm just wondering from your

experience what springs to mind.

_,_._,___

[Guest guest]

Symptoms wise - can be low in energy at 17:00. Still don't go through whole days

without rests.

The thing is I had prior ME/CFS/atypical fibromyalgia diagnosis. I wouldn't have

said its crucial to be totally aware of when I rest as long as at some point,

I'm getting my rests and not overdoing it.

I am doing well for an ill person, but cannot live as a well person. Could do

with being a bit better. It's more background not feeling right and could do

with functioning a bit better, rather than specific symptoms.

I totally agree with aiming for optimum and whatever dose that gets rid of your

symptoms. That's certainly the objective isn't it.

No meds before blood test that day.

It's my job to try and convince doctors how I have been recently, if better or

worse than previous dose etc. I'm good at getting my point across in that way

and comparing to how I was before. But things ultimately rest with whatever

recommendations consultant is willing to suggest. Or how much trial and error

with different dose combinations he is going to do.

Plus from my perspective, how long is reasonable to try various T4/T3

combinations, before going to Armour/T3. I must have tried various T4/T3

combinations for a year. And it's not like I'm new to trying to sort all this

out.

I am under the impression it is very difficult to get both Armour and T3 from

GP. I am getting Levo and T3 from the GP, but I'm under the impression that few

people get both T3 and Armour prescribed by GP.

It would be worth paying for Armour, knowing that after all this, I did finally

get diagnosis and if I got T3 on an ongoing basis from GP. At least it wouldn't

be funding everything in the long run, like I have done before.

It has taken a lot of work on my part to get this far, and doctors certianly do

need convincing about this suppressed TSH. And need convincing that you still

have symptoms, or still not right etc. Overall I get the impression that as long

as a consultant is looking after this, and that I'm saying that I am better than

I was before, so far the GP has been open minded about prescribing the T3.

I have had say that they think T3 is a temporary thing, or that you shouldn't

have suppressed TSH in the long run. No doubt they are all under the same

pressure, even if they prescribe, they all seem under pressure to not like you

to have a suppressed TSH. I certainly know from my experience that if I have

been on T3, TSH has been suppressed. No amount of swopping doses around has

altered that.

Fiona.