HYPOTHYROIDISM AND T3

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was I am re sending due to previous posting being sent before editing.

Thanks.

THE ONE SHOW AND THYROID DISEASE.

Hi

I am doing some research into thyroid disorders .

I have been diagnosed with a sub clinical hyperthyroidism , thyroid nodules, non cancerous, and advised to have Radioactive iodine treatment as unable to have carbimazole due to cardiac issues.

I am tempted to go for it as I cannot tolerate feeling ill another day.

Anyway today someone with hypothyroidism asked me if there was any recent research findings to demonstrate that the TSH should never be relied on on its own because it has to be carried out in  conjunction withT4 and T3 plus antibody tests and reverse T3.

I further understand that the NHS is very reluctant  to do these tests  - not just to save money but for other reasons as well, NHS also reluctant to fund the prescribing of T3  preferring to prescribe much less expensive T4 despite it being proven to not help a significant number of patients stoimprove their quality of life and to suffer immenselymto thepointof contemplatig suicide.

Moreover to  put drs off further from prescribing T3 a certain pharmaceutical Company has jacked up the price of T3 on the well worn excuse that it is more difficult to manufacture hence more expensive. This despite strong evifence to prove otherwise.

NB

This was all discussed on the ONE SHOW a few days ago. Therefore obviously already in the Public Domain.

Barry Mannilow who has had thyroid cancer was also on the show and listening intently to the discussion.

?Thanks in advance.

 

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  • Posted

    Jane, the TSH test will tell if a person hypothyroid, so it's a reliable first step. The other tests may then be needed (T3 etc) and here in Canada they are done as a matter of routine. However our healthcare does not cover T3, marketed here as Cytomel, but it's not that expensive though you still need a prescription.

    Do not expect quick results from treatment and/or medication. Unfortunately for many people it takes weeks or months to see results, so it's a matter of resolve and patience, as well as keeping after the healthcare system. All the best.

    • Posted

      Thanks for your response Dave.

      With reference to TSH. I respect your views on this test but unfortunately from lots of research it appears that this  test is  unreliable in many cases unless done with T3 and T4. I could send you links so you can see the evidencebut they are not allowed onhere.

      ​Thanks for the info about the medication.Explanation as to why it takes so long to work can  also be  found  onvarious linkks some with famous endocrinologists who say that T3 and T4 be prescribed together as some people have been on T4 for years and are not feeling any  better but soon after taking T3 see a massive mprovement.

      Thanks for your reply. xx

      I have heard ottherwise from so many peopleincluding doctors. I am sure that the th

  • Posted

    I would say that T4 alone does work for a lot of people.. Works great for myself.  Though there is a handful that actually do need to add T3,  but as I read, it's not too common.  I think the reason, and this is just my opinion, of why some people still feel bad on T4, even though all their lab work is where it should be, is from symptoms of the autoimmune disease itself, which can cause a lot of inflammation.  Inflammation itself can cause a whole range of symptoms that are very similar to thyroid disease.  So, if you feel bad on T4 and lab work shows that everything is where it's supposed to be, then I would suggest to treat inflammation in the body.  This can be done by sleeping right, good eating habits, getting rid of stress..ect.  I also believe that most doctors won't test T3 because it's just not that common.  I believe it's mostly indicitive of parathoid disease?  Not definite on that though.  But.. if you really feel that you need your T3 tested, I would go and find a doctor that will do it for you.  

    • Posted

      Thanks for your reply.

      Thanks for your reply it is much apprecizted.

      T3 and parathyroid disease.Just to clarify.

      Drs check for parathyroid disease by checking the parathyroid hormone level , calcium level I understand.

      Thyroid hormone screening.

      There is a full scientific explanation about why tsh,T3 and T4 shoud be done at the same timein order to avoid a misdiagnosis.

      ?Also there is a hue and cry about drs relying too much on paper resuts without considering the patients signs and symptoms.

      ?Several endocrinologists have commented on the uselessness of doing the  TSH test on its own instead of the  T3 and  T4 plus antibodies at the same time.

       

    • Posted

      Jane, my post was intended to support the use of the TSH test as a first step in establishing whether a patient has thyroid problems. That's all.

      There is a whole raft of material on the internet and the media claiming where you go after that, and much of it is unsupported anecdotal claims, in many cases by vendors of various supplements and practitioners such as chiropractors who have no clinical qualifications but will be glad to take your money.

      Of course you can read claims of miraculous improvements resulting from natural thyroid products containing a combination of T3 And T4, or from people supplementing T4 with T3. Frankly we need to take it all with a grain of scepticism because everyone is different and there is no single wonder cure that is being kept from the public by the medical profession and the drug producers. 

      My endocrinologist began supplementing my T4 with T3  four weeks ago. So far no improvement in how I feel but he wants to increase the dose bit by bit. That's just how it goes and it makes sense to me.

      My sincere advice is to stop looking for someone to blame and work with your practitioners and turn them into allies if you can.

    • Posted

      Dave Thank you for your input. I trained as a nurse consequeently research comes veeery  naturally to me and please be assured that I rely on reliable sources for information.

      Toclarify the siuation the information about doing all the tests together does  come from endocrinologists !

      In fact I have a letter  in which the endocrinologist is asking/telling a GP to do the T3 and T4 plus antibodies.

      The tsh was low.

      CHIROPRACTORS.

      I do not know of any . I have osteoprosis so it would be inappropriate for me to see a chiropractor or an osteopath.

       

    • Posted

      Just sent a link by PM to a  qualified dr who speaks about the unreliability of just relying on the TSH to make a diagnossis.

      Have u heard of Dr Kendrick, he is a qualified dr.

      ​xx

    • Posted

      I believe that you can have 10 qualified doctors and still get 10 different answers...  unfortunately
    • Posted

      Have you heard of the thyroid register?

      ​A lot of people not a handful suffer immensely and needlessly due to not being prescribed T3 withT4.

      ​I am glad that T4 suits you but we all all different!!

       

    • Posted

      Hi Jane, I checked him out.

      He does not believe statins help prevent heart disease, which there is tons of sound evidence that they do.

      He does not believe Zoloft helps with depression, which there is tons of evidence that it does.

      He allowed himself to be interviewed on YouTube by the egregious Dr Mercola in the US who is a notorious purveyor of junk science.

      Draw your own conclusions.

      I certainly support giving people T3 if they need it, and as I mentioned, my endocrinologist is trying it with me. 

      Enough said.

       

    • Posted

      I am unsure who youare referring tto when you say that you checked him out.
    • Posted

      Jane, I was referring to a certain Scottish doctor you had drawn my attention to. His approach is to set up a straw man so he can knock it down. I hope you get to try T3 and it works for you. But as others here are suggesting, there is so much more to this whole business than T3. TV shows are well and good but have a habit of oversimplifying matters so they can find somebody to point a finger at and get people stirred up. Just sayin'.

    • Posted

      Thanks for your input Dave.

      I have also got links to medscape about the tsh, t3 and t4.

      But not allowed to  publish them on here.

      I think that thyroiddisorders affects people differently. Some are good converters of T4 alone, some are not and require a combination of T3 and T4. Ohers manage on either or. Just the way our body works!! 

      Take care xx

       

    • Posted

      The show was about a drug company ripping off the NHS by jacking up the price of T3.

      A lot of people need T3 as T4 alone is not effective.

      I understand that Parliament are looking into drugs companies who do this sort of thing.

       

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