Re: Testing vs. Taking Thyroid Hormones

[Guest guest]

Hi all -I've not tried any blood tests since taking T3 only . Does it have to be

as long as 24 hrs to get it out of your system ,considering its half life ?

Exactly how does one feel ? I am totally dependant on T3 and if I miss a dose I

definitely notice it and often get a migraine . Do the adrenals take over {I

read this on one doctor piece?] I see 's point of getting it out of your

system to get an accurate blood test but how do you feel and is it one long

headache !!! Medicine should be doing better than this !!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I've not tried any blood tests since taking T3 only . Does it have to beas long as 24 hrs to get it out of your system ,considering its half life ? When you are on T3 only therapy, then you can't really hide that from your doctor when it comes to a blood test..... if he does not know what is going on, s/he will either be totally confused or freaked out looking at the results, or s/he will work it out (least likely scenario). Unless the doctor is a total dummy, you can't conceal what you are doing. When a patient is on T3-only, the TFT will most likely look something like that ... suppressed TSH, extremely low or low normal FT4 and the FT3 figure will depend on when you last look your meds – so could be low, "normal", high or over the top, depending on dose and time of ingestion. Without knowing what is going on, a doctor would interpret the suppressed TSH as a sign for Hyperthyroidism or (if the TSH were low but not totally suppressed) "normal" thyroid function, possibly in conjunction with a non-thyroidal illness.

My advice to anyone on T3 only therapy would be to either tell your doctor what you are doing and give your reasons for doing so and not allow your doctor to intimidate or scare you into submission. Anyone going onto `T3-only' will have a good reason for doing so, and should be able to explain that to his or her doctor..... alternatively – avoid thyroid blood tests.....

Best wishes,

[Guest guest]

Hi - thanks for your comments - yes I have told the GP amongst others

what I take. He will not perscribe it under the NHS unless an endo agrees -he

doesn't :

Any tests I would do would be done privately . I take 100-110 T3 so on that

dose I expect not to be left with very much if any T4 in my system if I stopped

the T3 for 24 hrs I only have less than half my thyroid left after surgery

[they did not put me on levo after because of the 'questionable'TSH blood test]

and it seems to have almost stopped working after I had a major 0p . I am

interested in the question- if I no longer produce T4 what happens if I stop

all T3 for 24 hrs as it has such a short half life ? I have not had a blood test

since I took levo and no T3 tests were done after I took levo only before and

they were pretty dire. Thankyou

[Guest guest]

if I no longer produce T4 what happens if I stopall T3 for 24 hrs as it has such a short half life ? I have not had a blood testsince I took levo and no T3 tests were done after I took levo only before andthey were pretty dire.

Hi ,

On the basis that half your thyroid gland has been taken out, and the other half is not working and you are only taking T3 ..... if it were me, I would not stop the T3 24 hours before a blood test, but would just not take the morning dosage before the blood draw. You must, however, take into account your personal circumstances and look at the resulting figures bearing in mind that you have not stopped your medication.

I don't know how you split your T3 dosage throughout the day, but assume that you divide it at least into 2, perhaps 3 doses. So if it were me, I would take the medication as usual, but not take any on the morning when the blood is drawn (take it immediately after). If you were to do that, I would guess that your TFT result would show a suppressed TSH, most likely a very low FT4 (way below the ref range) and it should ideally show an FT3 around the top of the ref range or very slightly above. If the FT3 figure were only mid range or lower, then you may need a little more T3, if it were very much above, then you'd need less. However, the most important guide should be how you feel, not what the lab results show.

The reason I would not stop the T3 is because it is your body's only source of thyroid hormone. To stop it just to make the figures look better would be silly and IMHO not necessary in your case, since your doctor is aware of what you are taking. As T3 is used up very quickly, you would "dip" unnecessarily if you stopped it. Presumably you would usually take your last dose of T3 in the afternoon sometime, and if you did that, then by the morning your FT3 will no longer show peak levels. It should, in fact, show a good true average figure of your FT3 level.

To my mind the above makes common sense, although this is my personal opinion and not based on any guidelines. I do know how to massage the figures if need be, but in your circumstances I do not see why that should be necessary. As long as you know what to expect, you can then use the resulting figures as confirmation that your dosage is right for you – or not as the case may be.

Love,

[Guest guest]

Hi thankyou for your help I can see getting blood tests without the T3

being done gives a false impression . Also, no I most definitely take kindly to

anybody trying to bully me.

I think it is important to realise that Drs are no different to any cross

section of the population . If they want respect it needs to be earned- there

are no " gods " amongst them . It was interesting to listern to one of the Drs

who attended the " Bus bombing " -he was in his 50's - but said that if it had

been todays Drs he wondered if they would cope as todays Drs specialise so

early. If we understand what is going on maybe they will start catching up and

find the holes in the endos arguments-some of them don't like their patient to

know more than they do . Best wishes

..

[Guest guest]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00xzzt3

Today programme including the Dr that described (who gav evidence at the London Bombings enquiry.

>> Hi thankyou for your help I can see getting blood tests without the T3 being done gives a false impression . Also, no I most definitely take kindly to anybody trying to bully me.> I think it is important to realise that Drs are no different to any cross section of the population . If they want respect it needs to be earned- there are no "gods " amongst them . It was interesting to listern to one of the Drs who attended the "Bus bombing " -he was in his 50's - but said that if it had been todays Drs he wondered if they would cope as todays Drs specialise so early. If we understand what is going on maybe they will start catching up and find the holes in the endos arguments-some of them don't like their patient to know more than they do . Best wishes > .>