A few weeks after a total thyroidectomy and on levothyroxine only I did some research and found that adding t3 would help me to feel better, asked my gp for a prescription only to be told she didn't have the authority to prescribe it as it was so expensive!! She had to refer me to the top Consultant in Endocrinology (based in our local hospital) and only then was I prescribed it and what a great difference it made!! (greetings from Scotland)
Yes I've no thyroid either and had to do my own research. We lose the conversion because we've no thyroid no longer and as Levothyroxine is only a storage hormone and lack the ability to convert this is why T3 is so important. It took years to sort out my levels even after having my thyroid removed, but once I introduced T3 my thyroid levels were gradually changing. It was the best thing I ever did. T3 changed my life. I would keep an eye on your b12, as thyroid issues are linked to low b12 and Pernicious Anemia. I've PA and self inject now. It's been great. You have to be your own advocate. Glad you're getting where you need to be. X
Lol. Look up the prices of liothyronine(t3) from factories in china. You can literally get it for 1$ per kilogram. They are lying to or have been lied to. If you run into problems with your doctor again you can get thyroid extract from klaire labs which i think contains also t3. Its over the counter. Also look into the cutler protocol.
I’ve been in t3 only for 9 years. 35-40 mg daily. After a complete thyroidectomy. I fight my doctor every 3 months for this. Also been great to eliminate depression❤
35-40mg or mcg? I know many people on T3 only and their heart and bone health have improved. The whole thyroid "standard of care" - which just means: As long as your doctor gives you the same shitty treatment he's giving everyone else, he won't get in trouble" - is just a fraud. Edited to add- I wrote that before watching the video. lol
You know I also get the sense that most doctors just assume that if you have Hashimoto's or are hypothyroid or have a thyroidectomy that you should honestly never expect to feel completely well again. I have had 2 different endocrinologists tell me to adjust my expectations when complaining that I haven't felt right since my thyroidectomy and I wanted to adjust meds. They expect that I'll always feel hypo so they don't want to even try to optimize meds. That mindset is awful to me. Like... Sorry if I haven't given up yet, sir! I still want to feel better!
I am currently taking levothyroxine and i have been for years, but i'm still having many symptoms. I have talked to my doctor about them many times and I have also requested a full thyroid panel but he refuses to test for anything other than TSH, which always comes back in the normal range. I practically begged him to send me to an endocrinologist to which he replied. "That's not how it works. You don't have diabetes" I feel as if i am always dealing with a doctor's ego and that they're personally insulted if i question their decisions. i am now moving on to my third doctor in 3 years and i'm at my wits end! Ive probably been labeled as a difficult patient because i read up on my condition and dare to request blood tests that werent offered. So very frustrated with it all.
TSH in the average range does not mean normal. If your lab considers 1 to 5 to be the normal range, and you have 4 it would not be considered high but most people need under 2 to feel alright and some function OK with 3. If your T3 and T4 are in a decent amount, your dose of Levothyroxine might not need to be upped by much, like taking 2-3 times a week some 25mcg more than usual. Even black seed oil might help.
You can do your own testing via ownyourlabs, ultalabs, jasonhealth and others. Many docs now do distance consultations. If you are in USA I know that Dr. Robert Cywes (Florida) is very well regarded.
Sadly, you might need to get a naturopathic Dr and pay out of pocket. Some insurance companies work with them, but not all. They (the Drs) do usually charge you an adjusted rate if you are paying out of pocket though. Your health is worth it.
My endocrynologist & primary Dr would not give me aT3 medication. I asked both of them for 10+ years they refused cause my levels were normal even though i still felt crappy; Finally 2 years ago my primary Dr was retiring & said ok i have nothing to loose. Since then I feel more & more like a "normal" human. I get my information from you it just took a long fight to get it. Now i got to work on weight loss.
Most Drs he is saying some will and it’s a life changer, best to find a Dr that will that’s what I did because the Dr that did prescribe he retired and the Drs that were my dr were in the Dark. I have a functional Dr now who knows a great deal. I feel blessed.
Ive been taking T3 only medication for over 10yrs as any form of T4 medication doesn’t agree with me. I had to go to a private doctor for help who treated me with T3 and I haven’t looked back since. Unfortunately he passed away so I’ve been left to either pop over to Greece to buy T3 over the counter or risk buying it online. My NHS GP knows I take T3 and knows I can’t tolerate levothyroxine but the doctors practice managers have refused to prescribe me T3 on the NHS due to costs. If I go to Greece, a months supply of T3 would cost me around €9 but if I had it prescribed on the NHS by my doctor it would cost them over £1000 a month! Crazy!! (I take 75mcg split 3 ways a day)
The price to the NHS has come down slightly since the price gouging case. Might be worth re-asking if only for the benefits of other sufferers to come. I have to have a similar discussion at some point, but currently working on my fitness having only just got my health on the level after three years of grief.
@@51monw thank you that’s really good to know, I will ask them. In 2020 I couldn’t get any online or going abroad (covid) and my gp referred me to an endo who prescribed me 6 months of T3 on the NHS to tide me over but said it was a one off. So they can easily prescribe it but it’s just the matter of cost for them. I will definitely ask again as it would save a lot of stress. I hope you continue to see improvements with your health
Tsh 0.50 T4 11 T3 -4-5 ,not sure Prescription 100 Euthiroxs 20 lyothironine Not sure if this is right dose? I was forced to switch from compound ndt to this synthetic drugs even do I have problem with parathyroid…all this because I can’t travel to another country to buy medicine and can’t afford private dr. I did it for 6.5 years I can’t do it anymore.to expensive and stressful
T3 was added to supplement my depression medication and it has helped, even though my thyroid tested normal. Even now I still am prescribed T3, without antidepressants and this makes a difference. I learned that T3 is assumed to be Tylenol 3, and you have to say Cytomel to avoid drug seeking on your file.
This is very interesting. I had to have most of my thyroid removed from a goiter. I've been on t4 and recently my endocrinologist added a small bit of t3.
I'm willing for my Endocrinologist to play around with dosing T3! I want to feel better! Playing around with dosing my Unithyroid for 3+ years hasn't helped. Thank You for this video. I've taken notes, and if I don't lose my nerve, I'm asking about this at my May 2023 appointment.
Currently taking NP thyroid 60mg BID. I introduced your T2 - 1 capsule a day & noticed a huge increase in my energy level. A bit jittery but much better.
My dr has had me on liothyronine for several years- it has made a HUGE difference! He was smart enough, when I continued to have low-thyroid symptoms, to ALSO test for T3, not just TSH. I take 5mcg in morning with my levothyroxine, and 2.5 mg at night.
Wow, lucky you that you only need 5 mcg, no wonder my doctor looked at me like I was insane when I told her I was taking 100 mcg per day, but I was only taking t3. I heard 1 grain of NDT can be compared to 25 mcg of t3, and that we all absorb thyroid hormone differently.
@@ksharpe8137 Honestly It’s hard to tell I’m pretty sure I’ve gone undiagnosed -misdiagnosed for years so I think I may have Hashimotos disease ??? Time will tell and I’m going to do some other stuff this summer like red light therapy 🙏💝 Good health to you.
Although I am glad information on this is going around, I unfortunately can't finish watching your videos because of my experience with Graves' disease and an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic; I am reminded of what was said before being guilt tripped by both the Dr and my family into getting it removed because it was "too swollen for anything else to work, and nothing else will work even though you are hesitant because you want to explore other possible outlets" (yes my neck was noticeably swollen and my eyes were bulging, but I was still holding onto hope that something other than removal could be done), and remembering everything that lead to my thyroid being completely removed just angers me with frustration and wrath to no end thinking of what could have been. Having to take 175 mcg levothyroxine every day sucks because I have read what could happen if I don't take it or some form of supplement; I want to know how to improve my life after having a part of my body be removed and destroyed, but I am both too angered by the surgery and because of that I don't know where to start with your videos.
So sorry. I was 26 in 1980 when I was diagnosed with Graves disease. I relied on the doctor and my parents to take I131, radioactive iodine, which wiped out my thyroid. Synthroid was adequate until 2006 when menopause and chronic pain whacked me out. I went a little hyper - joyfully- and got down to size 6. I’ve switched to Armour but haven’t seen an improvement. All the doctors want to reduce my medication 💊. It’s discouraging.
I hear you I feel you 100 percent - also graves also thyroid removed when I really didn’t want to also have had my life destroyed !!! Expect I was 40 …I’m now 66 … it should be ILLEGAL auto remove the thyroid …..!!!!! illegal !!!!! …saying this, after the 25 years of horror …. I have eventually !!!!! Found a way to…I’m waiting till 6 aug to pray with me - get the T3 added …. I’ve listened to loads loads of info and then watched patients comments….. I do encourage you to do same, l feel good with listening to dr child’s…also read patients comments … you might ! Need T3 … I hear you …may you find a way to help your body with functi8ning without the thyroid . Can’t trust a docter they know NOTHING LESS THAN NOTHING even thyroid specialists are shocking … I do like dr. Child’s …but keep researching
I wish you were my Dr! And my daughter's Dr! She is suffering terribly with hypothyroidism, although on levothyroxine. My initial thyroid diagnosis was Graves.
After a total thyroidectomy and 10 years later my doctor and I finally discovered that for me 30 mg NP thyroid and 37.5 mcg levoxyl seems to work really well for me. Means I have to split my levoxyl but finally something that works.
Thank you for your informative videos. I’ve been on Levothyroxine on and off for about 11 years, mainly off, and tried Armour Thyroid for a short time. For a long part of all this time I was sub clinical and didn’t take it seriously or understand the implications. For most of that time I didn’t know I had Hashimoto’s and then I didn’t know the implications of that either. Now it’s overt, and I could tell it was worse so I’m back on Levothyroxine and trying to educate myself this time. It feels so bleak to me, like a life sentence that I could have avoided. I’m wondering if you have any thoughts on Adthyza. I may ask my doctor about it. It sounds like most likely nearly all doctors will say no, but if I go in armed with an informed request maybe I’ll have better chances.
I have been on thyroid meds for more than 20 years. Changed my general practitioner to one who also has thyroid problems. Still not be able to get T3 meds. I am very .. no extremely frustrated. I am from Cape Town South Africa
You’re painting with a broad brush there. My doctor prescribed it for me when I told him I would like to try it. All doctors aren’t averse to the idea. I tried it for a few months, but it didn’t work for me. Just went back to the Synthroid I had been taking for over 40 years.
I’ve had Hashimoto’s for 15 yrs that we know of. Most doctors don’t check anything but our tsh levels. I was having all the symptoms but my levels were in The normal range. Fast forward 8 yrs and I come across a nurse practitioner that ran the full panel on my thyroid and found it. Been struggling with doctors since to even properly test me every year.
@@DennisBolanos: There’s not a whole lot in this world that is representative of ALL scenarios. But that doesn’t prevent the “doctor” from trying. Besides, he gets more money from RUclips when he tries to make everyone in the world believe T3 is best for everyone, that Synthroid is evil, and that doctors who prescribe it have no clue about what they’re doing. 😏
My Dr. had no problem prescribing T3 but did not want to prescribe SR T3 because it isn't regulated. I couldn't tolerate T3. SR T3 I find is much gentler. I have had changes, different symptoms in my treatment each week but continue to improve slowly. Am much better off now that in December when I started. Taking Tirosint also.
I take Armor for a long time and it worked better than anything else. And now my insurance covers it, mynissue was T3 not as much T4. Before I used to pay myself. It was worth it. It actually stopped my heart palpitation and anxiety.
I have generalized thyroid hormone resistance. My body converts like 99% of levothyroxine to rt3. The only way to bypass is t3 only and Cytomel is the only t3 that works for me and i need doses of 200 mcg or more.
It would be great if you could recommend a few doctors for us to see since you can't practice anymore. I live in the Tucon area and would drive up to Mesa to see you.
Sounds like a lot of lazy doctors! They are more worried about their time and not about how the patient is feeling. I have had a thyroid problem for over 25 years and still waiting for the "new" thinking on how to treat by doctors. Funny how most of these conditions thyroid and pregnancy are women's issues. Maybe that is part of the problem, they don't listen to us!
Why don't you try to Change the standard of care!? You have our support you go to these conventions do you speak about this topic over there do you go anywhere else besides RUclips and enjoy the enrichment that RUclips provide for you by clicking I would like to see advocate for this change I really believe you can do it!?...
The hope is always that the system will change for the better. But the system likes the situation the way it is. The situation sucks for us, by design, not by mistake.
I had my thyroid removed and parathyroid 30 years ago and the doctors have never prescribed T3. Only T4 and colecalcipherol and my thyroid hormones have never been balanced. Now, I'm 39 years old, after 2 miscarriages , I'm consulting with a nutritionist and a naturopath that are helping to supplement Iodine, T3, and others...
When I worked at the hospital years ago as a pharmacist, I worked on Friday nights. I remember every 30 minutes preparing pitocin and epidurals. Yes, the doctors wanted to go home for the night. It was gross.
This my second day on 10mcg t3 liothyronine. I was suffering with symptoms for about 4 years and the nhs endocrinologist wouldn't presctibe t3. Finally after seeing 4 differents private endocrinologist I got the medication. And my question is now how long does it to feel improvement?
Currently on Armour and I have a rT3 problem and was thinking of asking but why bother when it's hard even getting full thyroid panel, and TPO or TG with hashimoto
Dr. Westin - I recently read a study showing that T3 had less impact on bone density issues than T4 and that the studies on T4 were outdated leading doctors to be afraid of T3? Have you read anything about this? Also - do you accept patients?
Had Total Thyroidectomy eight years ago. T4 - 137 mcg was prescribed to me originally which was reduced to 125 mcg after five years as I lost weight voluntarily, again reduced to 112 mcg six months later. Never had any problem all the while using just T4. However on my request endo allowed me to use T3 i.e. 5 mcg of Cytomel along with 100 mcg of T4 once every morning empty stomach. Blood work showed slight positive changes according to Endo, however I did not feel anything different. My Endo says, it does not matter whether you use T4 only or combo. Only difference is you pay considerably more money if you are taking T3. When I asked whether I can take Naturally Descicated Thyroid as it has all T1, T2, T3 and T4. Also I asked whether I can have another 5 mcg in the evening with a further reduction in T4, he said, he can prescribe it but I should take the risk, he will not be responsible. Never had any problems no matter what hormone replacement I took so far.
5mcg of cytomel daily sounds like a dose to get the patients to stop asking for T3, as it is equivalent to about 15mcg of levothyroxine. I mean you might feel a difference but it is around the noise level, if you were short of T3 before, you are probably still short. If you've not had problems with levothyroxine not working then why ask in the first place? Levothyroxine dosing is supposedly based (initially) on "lean body weight", that is the body weight you'd have if your BMI were 25. You make it sound like weight was a factor in the dosing? 100+5 is a small dose for total thyroidectomy, but maybe you are petite.
@@51monw Thanks for the reply. I asked to add T3 because 1. through media I learned that it is a potent hormone to have 2. I suspected my conversion rate might not be optimum 3. I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis despite being an active muscular man which I think might have a link to my not having a Thyroid gland. Do not know whether the DEXA Scan is a reliable indicator of bone health or whether there was an error in the scan. Currently I am researching about Bone health a lot and have some insigts already. My BMI when I was prescribed 137 mcg of Synthroid was 25, however now it hovers around 21 to 23. This must be the reason why I was prescribed a lesser dosage. All the while I felt fine no matter what dosage or brand of Hormone replacement I am taking. I am somewhat tall athletic lean man weighing 67 kgs. My endo tests TSH only once a year, after listening to videos like these I asked for Reverse T3, Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D etc.
@@johnutube5651 interesting, they've thyroidectomised me three times, so you know its been a journey... Have to say I went with a much larger dose of Liothyronine and within a couple of days had benefits to symptoms and energy, so it was pretty clear it worked. I did stop it briefly and go back to levo only, and the symptoms started returning, not exactly precise science but convincing enough for me. But really I felt quite hypothyroid still on levo, despite enough Levo to get TSH and fT4 fine. Having had thyroid problems for a long time I knew hypothyroid well enough to say it just wasn't working well. That said bowel problems and sweating too much went on adding some T3, which I'd assumed were thyroid related but wasn't sure if that was too much levo, or being hyper, or hypo. I had the bowel and sweating issues when I had a suppressed TSH and raised fT4, and the GP and endo were claiming I was hyperthyroid and I was like "it doesn't feel like hyper". If you don't have a lot of lurking health issues despite "adequate" replacement with levo, maybe you just don't need the T3. I also had borderline folate levels, bringing those up was my first big breakthrough.
@@johnutube5651 the big question on bones would be if the thyroid surgery affected the parathyroids, but sounds like you are on top of things even if having trouble with prescribers.
I was so broke after my third thyroid operation. But because I'd been ill for three months before the operation it wasn't immediately clear that it was the thyroid operation what done it to me. Literally the lump of ectopic thyroid tissue they were due to cut out got infected about the time they postponed the operation to cut it out due to the pandemic. As soon as I was well enough they cut it out, but really it would have been better if they'd discovered and treated that lump back in 1991 rather than 2020.
I’ve been taking Armour Thyroid 30 mg . I don’t like the side effects. Rapid heart beat. And throat feeling tighter plus it makes me more tired. My question I wonder is is it the T3 in the armor or something else? Anybody else have these kind of problems when taking armor
What I did was call my pharmacy and ask them which doctors prescribed T3. Then I found out which of those doctors was covered by my insurance. Good luck.
It's not an approved or funded medication where I live. Literally the only option is T4 meds, which is utterly useless if you can't convert T4 to T3 (me). But as long as The Stupid Hormone is in range, they don't care. I actually feel worse & am more symptomatic on T4 meds - more eye swelling, more fatigue, more hairloss, slower gut, etc etc. It's not just how you feel & those things above, it's all the other knock on effects from unmanaged hypothyroidism (esp hashis), like worsening liver health, worsened digestion, increasing hardening of the arteries & CV risk, increasing BP. Not meeting standard of care is an extremely generous way of putting it!
My Dr finally started t3 and t4 combination therapy. I just started my 2nd month but the script was filled by a different pharmacy than the 1st and the medication is from different manufacturers. I noticed the difference right away. The 1st month was the best I felt in a year. Now with just less than a week with the different medication I'm not feeling the same. The tablets are bigger than the 1st script. Could this be because they used more fillers that why they are bigger and I don't feel like I did with the last script
I've had that issue with other meds ... when they switch manufactuers ... fillers and I have also heard that some have more or less of the main ingredient you need ... or were on. Maybe you can shop around and find the original .... All the best!
Same thing happened to me. I was allergic to an inactive ingredient in a generic drug. Now, before I fill the script, I ask the pharmacist if they have the manufacturer of the medicine I want. If not, sometimes they will order it for you. If they can't do that, I call other pharmacies till I find one that carries it. Though, I know some insurance plans only allow you to use specific pharmacies. Then I'd call the insurance company. Good luck to you.
Hi Steve this happened to me with T3. I take the smallest tablet available and had no issues. Then at the pharmacy they switched to a different manufacture/bigger tablet T3 and was horribly nauseous the whole day for the time I took it- about a week. Didn’t have this side effect with small pill. My Endo communicated with the pharmacy to leave a note in the my pharmacy profile to not switch my medication due to the side effects.
I've been on T4 only for nearly 18 years, I have asked many doctors over the years to add T3 or even just switch to Armor thyroid. It's always "no" and they always say because heart side effects. I've given up trying and just accept that I have to live feeling miserable every day.
So sorry to hear Dawn, I suffered for a very long time as well. Please do not give up hon, you owe it to yourself to live a better life! I started calling Naturopaths, and they seemed more willing to work with me. I eventually switched to Nature-throid (which is no longer available) which helped me feel a lot better. Fast forward, I have healed my thyroid, and am now taking half the dose per day I was put on about 15 years ago. The sky is the limit Dawn, you've got this!
@@couragethecowardlydog6784 Since Nature-throid is no longer available was wondering if you could share how you healed. I was on Nature-Throid for quite a few years and did well. But since can't get that, I'm been totally off any Thyroid medication since beginning of 2021... my energy has kept going down down down ... I am going to have Thyroid testing this week and then will see what happens. I had to get the lab order from an MD since my insurance wouldn't cover it if ordered by my ND (naturopath). He's the one that originally got me on Nature-Throid ... but have no idea between the 2 doctors what I will be 'put on' as I KNOW my Thyroid is really off. Depression, fatigue, cold, hair loss , pulse rate down a lot of the time .. etc. One other issue is I have had anxiety disorder (even with med for that) and have been super anxious going through feeling so bad ... and afraid if one of the docs puts me on some thyroid I will have 'more' anxiety ... feels like a 'catch-22' . Thanks for any help or suggestions you might have that helped you. I'm older now ... over 65 .... ;) So I think they have to be more cautious ...
I was taking Thyroid extract for 6 years. Feeling pretty good and then had m 12 month blood test and the Doctor called me in to say I was converting too much T3 , it was really dangerous and I could have a heart attack! With a lot of resistance on my part I agreed to try T4 only meds. @ weeks in and I feel ok but the fatigue is back. I agreed to 6 weeks and then another test.
Where can I make appointment with you to get my t3, do you have online consultation? Do you sell t3 online? How can I get it ? I have been suffering from low thyroid for 10 years
Why/when would levothyroxine cause hair loss? I had no side effects with cytomel and did gain an increase of energy. Discontinued levo because of the very noticeable hair loss which occurred immediately when starting the medication.
I lose a lot of hair when my thyroid is hyper, due to too much synthroid. I've also lost hair when I was hypo, for the same reason, wrong dose of synthroid. I lost half of my hair when taking too much synthroid. It just came out by the handful. Terrible feeling.
I’ve always been told my body will convert it. And it doesn’t with out a thyroid. I just pray the plan of care changes to suit the needed of the individual patient. My body doesn’t convert the t3.
I. Find that doctors will do TSH and T4 but not do T3. and if they do take T3 and it’s a little high they don’t do or say anything about it. I’m on Armour after severe reaction to Levothyroxine after having a tracheotomy non cancerous.
Whats the starting dose of t3? Im on 5mcg a day how much do I need? I was on armour but they changed the formula & now Im trying to replicate it. Armour has 9mcg of t3 so I think I need double?
I had my thyroid removed when i was 16, 9 (i'm 30 now)i had graves disease and it was leading to heart problems, so they did that young. I've read all the literature and gone to many doctors and can't find some one to prescribe T3. Help!!! I'm so exhausted all the time even though my levels are normal. I'm so tired of struggling :(
i have never had any luck on t3 meds. i have been on multiple doses of armour as well as a t3 only med but i felt so terrible. i am currently on tirosint (t4 only) and wonder if there are others don't do as well on t3 only or ndt meds?
I've been on T4 only many years but never felt good. Recently, I've been trying to do T3 only and I feel a lot better for a couple of weeks and then I just hit a wall and I get terrible fatigue symtoms. Increasing the T3 dose does nothing.
I am 66 years old had thyroid removed at 16 I have had to manage my side effects from day 1 doctors have done nothing literally nothing I would love some T3 but I might as well blow in the wind. The UK now has very low standards.
Not learning about meds that help patients who arent healthy on other protocals, is DOING HARM and against the oath they take. the standard of care is failing us.
I took Nature-Throid after having bad effects from Synthroid. But have not been on NT since they stopped making it and need to get it compounded or ? Is taking Nature-Throid or similar - like taking T3 (like Cytomel) or is it less risky as far as heart, etc .... I think Nature-Throid had both T3 and T4 ... seemed to work well. Thank you!!
I did something stupid and took Cytomel without my doctors knowledge or supervision...about 1/2 pill per day for approx. 8 weeks. I felt better and had energy and was actually able to lose weight for the first time in years but stopped (titrated off slowly) because my heart seemed to be pounding and I was having dizzy spells. It's been over 2 months and those symptoms still haven't gone away. Sometimes my heart even hurts. I hate 5o even tell my doctor since I know he's going to be furious with me and I'm afraid he will want to send me in for radioactive iodine or something to kill off my 5hyroid now because my TSH showed up as nearly non existent when he was doing routine tests a couple of months ago. Is there any way to reverse these side effects I have now? 🤔 They seem worse at night and I'm getting worried that my heart has been damaged. 😔
My doctor suggested and quite willingly prescribed T3, and I took it with my levoxythyrone for awhile. I already have PVCs and an extremely slow heart rate (if you don't count the incomplete beats,) that started almost as soon as I started taking the levoxythyrone, but I (initially) felt so much better, I didn't say anything. In time, the PVCs and slow heart rate became their own issue that occasionally can be quite debilitating, but for the most part, I've just absorbed it into my package of things I've learned to work around. Still, I struggle with fatigue and depression, so my doctor prescribed the T3. And boy howdy, it did pop up my energy. But every three days or so, I wouldn't sleep. Normally, not sleeping just makes me more tired the next day, but on T3, it was like I was actively sick, and utterly miserable. And it started to be such a regular event, (not sleeping,) that I decided to quit taking it.
I had radioactive iodine treatment just over 20 years ago.. & have been on levothyroxine ever since my dose I feel is extremely high I take 225mg daily sometimes I have to increase to 250mg for several months as my levels are lowering with symptoms also present. I only get checked by a GP doctor & have never been back to endocrinologist.. not for the want of trying. I now have a nerve condition after Nike accident so have other medication I need to take. I try to do things naturally & eat really well but I feel this dose is too high with not best results & can’t seem to get information anywhere to help or see if T3 would be better suited to me. How can I get more info & is it ok for people who have had radioactive iodine treatment to try T3?
Your body is converting to rt3 which is the case for most. T4 only makes people more hypo. Have your rt3 checked if it’s high you likely need to be on NDt or t3 only
@@blondebeautylush no options to do that sadly. I could spend a few hundred € to check rT3 in a private lab, but knowing would mean nothing cause there's no treatment besides Levothyroxine from two brands available. A few days back I started taking black seed oil pills (Nigela Sativa). Thyroid Specialists and Internal medicine specialists (and endocrinologists) here consider T3 irrelevant, they only consider T4 and TSH as important.
I take 1.5 GR of NP Thyroid, but my feet/hands are still cold. So I tried 1-2 mcg of Liothyronine, but got thyroid nodule pain during sleep. (My feet/hands are warmer though.) What gives? Maybe I don’t need the T3.
Can you talk about hypothyroidism and pregnancy? I'm pregnant now, and I have a lof fears 😢 I'm on my medication and my Dr increased my dose. How will my pregnancy go?? How to deal with it please help . I have been trying to conceive , and I can't lose it.
I had been supplementing iodine, selenium and zinc for years now. I have been watching your videos and now realize that was not a good idea. I have stopped iodine supplements. How long will it take to get it out of my system? I am probably iodine overloaded??
@@drwestinchilds should we stop the iodine several days before taking our Thyroid Panel? Thank you so much! I take a dropperful of Iodine Oligo by Professional Formula's ... no thyroid medication at this time. But with how I'm feeling I'm sure I will be soon. I was on Nature-Throid for quite a few years until couldn't get it anymore - I 'think' that had T3 in it ? or both T3 and T4 ...?
I think I need more med (t4 /t3 combo) in the winter then less in the summer. I get jittery around June, lower my dose, achy and lethargic around Dec, increase my dose. I can’t get my dr to see things the way I do and have to go behind her back to manage my symptoms. Is there any research to support my observations? AND is there a patch for thyroid meds?!?!?
Oh my goodness, you have just confirmed what I’ve long suspected. My thyroid symptoms switch up during winter and summer. From hyper to hypo-vise versa.
Dr. Childs, I’ve switched over to DT (90 mg) and I’m feeling great, however, my blood work shows a TSH of 8, T4 just a little below the normal range and my T3 is sitting at optimal levels. I have no fatigue, no pain, and I have energy. What is going on here? My doc increased the dose to 105 mg but it was too much for me. So now I’m at 97.25 mg, and i’m feeling great again. Why is my TSH high if I’m feeling great? Lol. I used to be on 150 mcg Levo.
How long have you been on the new dose? It takes a solid 6-8 weeks for blood levels to stabilize after changing your dose. If it hasn't been that long it could explain it.
@@drwestinchilds I made the switch to 90 mg DT on February 22 and got tested March 30. Started 105 mg April 15 but then it got lowered because it was too much for me. Started on 97.25 mg yesterday. I’m back to feeling great!
Lots of options, here are a few: www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-adrenal-reset-complex/ www.restartmed.com/product/essential-t2/ www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-daily-essentials-thyroid-multivitamin/
Can you say how long to wait after having a dose change to experience positive or negative results of a dose change? And how long after dose change should new labs be done to make sure levels are optimal?
I have an enlarged adrenal (no growth found) and scar tissue/lesions around my pituitary. I also had a pituitary tumor removed in 2021. My general doctor prescribed unithroid but I read on their website not to take unithroid if you have pit/adrenal issues. My unithroid is just sitting there, I haven't touched it, don't know what to do about my hypothyroidism. Oh yes, I have a goiter and other growths on my thyroid.
Standard of care will not change because of patients so called attacking their pride.. Patients are becoming educated on their conditions , this is attack on some doctors pride thinking they have all the answers and we as lambs to slaughter should just accept the slights of lack of care. I'm through with that attitude. They do this with women more so.
Nobody's going to sue a doctor for doing the right thing they don't do anything that's the problem is so worried about covering their ass from a lawsuit that they're not even doctors anymore maybe it's not their fault but it's not mine either I'm the patient so it's better not to see any patients then to do nothing😊
@@51monw I'll never say anything bad about you again!! What a great reply!!!... And I think we should definitely do that!... They are compelled by the law of the land, to save lives you can't save I've been treating the patient...!
You did a show with a guy from London, who takes t3 wrote a book on it. Quite frankly I don't know why you're defending the doctors first off they don't listen to I had my hormone thyroid hormone 10 times higher and even had a nodule probably cancerous and I got rid of it with iodine and red light therapy within six days I shrunk it from an egg-sized to normal and lab work was normal I did this on my own he refused to do anything for doctors don't listen to patients they go buy lab results which are false and they go by year the standard that should get out of business then we have to pay if they make a mistake and we have to pay if they don't make a mistake it's become a lose-lose situation with doctor!!! I found alternative ways this is a good thing for me because I no longer rely on them only not for diseases anyway the friendly thing like that we can cure ourselves okay we can't fix bones I'm not saying we Don't need them, but we don't need the ones that are not real doctors and I'm pretending to be and they take our money and let us go out of the office out of the hospital sick!!!
Reason number 5: The doctors actually HAVE tried it, done lots of research on it, and talked to their colleagues….and found that it typically doesn’t do a whole lot. Methinks you’re just pitching this idea in order to make money off of RUclips. I think that’s the most likely thing of all.😏
Poco you are so wrong. Glad you can just take the synthetic stuff but for many of us we are still in bad shape. Speak for yourself and not for the rest of us who it helps tremendously.
You are entitled to your opinion but in my situation, I cannot live without T3. My body will not convert levothyroxine well at all and no MD was testing me properly to ensure my thyroid was functioning properly. My TSH was just above the normal range and I was told it was fine. I kept saying I wasn’t feeling well at all but I was given antidepressants instead. It wasn’t until I passed out during a nursing shift in the operating room unable to work because things got so bad before T3. I finally was given a full thyroid lab panel and found to have very bad autoimmune thyroiditis. The ER doctor actually gave me T3 because I was heading towards a coma state. Fast forward 5 years later and I can tell when it’s time to take the T3. It’s an absolute crime that patients are not tested beyond TSH and only given levothyroxine as an option!! I’m a registered nurse for over 10 years and I had no idea I had an autoimmune disease going on. Things need to change in the healthcare system!!
adding t3 worked for me. I have learned in the last twenty years that most doctors know very little about the thyroid disease. They do only follow the standard of care.
A few weeks after a total thyroidectomy and on levothyroxine only I did some research and found that adding t3 would help me to feel better, asked my gp for a prescription only to be told she didn't have the authority to prescribe it as it was so expensive!! She had to refer me to the top Consultant in Endocrinology (based in our local hospital) and only then was I prescribed it and what a great difference it made!! (greetings from Scotland)
Yes I've no thyroid either and had to do my own research. We lose the conversion because we've no thyroid no longer and as Levothyroxine is only a storage hormone and lack the ability to convert this is why T3 is so important. It took years to sort out my levels even after having my thyroid removed, but once I introduced T3 my thyroid levels were gradually changing. It was the best thing I ever did. T3 changed my life. I would keep an eye on your b12, as thyroid issues are linked to low b12 and Pernicious Anemia. I've PA and self inject now. It's been great. You have to be your own advocate. Glad you're getting where you need to be. X
@@m27carroll thanks for this advice I'll certainly take that on board... Knowledge is power for sure! X
You mean to tell me this b******* goes on in Scotland to are you kidding me!?.... Is this really real or you just joking!?
Lol. Look up the prices of liothyronine(t3) from factories in china. You can literally get it for 1$ per kilogram. They are lying to or have been lied to. If you run into problems with your doctor again you can get thyroid extract from klaire labs which i think contains also t3. Its over the counter. Also look into the cutler protocol.
I’ve been in t3 only for 9 years. 35-40 mg daily. After a complete thyroidectomy. I fight my doctor every 3 months for this. Also been great to eliminate depression❤
35-40mg or mcg? I know many people on T3 only and their heart and bone health have improved. The whole thyroid "standard of care" - which just means: As long as your doctor gives you the same shitty treatment he's giving everyone else, he won't get in trouble" - is just a fraud. Edited to add- I wrote that before watching the video. lol
Do you feel a difference?
So, no T4 at all? That doesn't sound right.
@@moreland01many do well on t3 only treatment.
See Paul Robinson's books and videos for more info on T3-only treatment.
My dr says t3 is like speed and he refuses to prescribe it. Time to upgrade my dr.
You know I also get the sense that most doctors just assume that if you have Hashimoto's or are hypothyroid or have a thyroidectomy that you should honestly never expect to feel completely well again. I have had 2 different endocrinologists tell me to adjust my expectations when complaining that I haven't felt right since my thyroidectomy and I wanted to adjust meds. They expect that I'll always feel hypo so they don't want to even try to optimize meds. That mindset is awful to me. Like... Sorry if I haven't given up yet, sir! I still want to feel better!
They absolutely believe that. From their perspective, it's a chronic condition that will be around forever.
If you were a man you would be listened to, so sad our world as come to this neglect because of insurance.
I am currently taking levothyroxine and i have been for years, but i'm still having many symptoms. I have talked to my doctor about them many times and I have also requested a full thyroid panel but he refuses to test for anything other than TSH, which always comes back in the normal range. I practically begged him to send me to an endocrinologist to which he replied. "That's not how it works. You don't have diabetes" I feel as if i am always dealing with a doctor's ego and that they're personally insulted if i question their decisions.
i am now moving on to my third doctor in 3 years and i'm at my wits end! Ive probably been labeled as a difficult patient because i read up on my condition and dare to request blood tests that werent offered. So very frustrated with it all.
You need to find a better doctor.
TSH in the average range does not mean normal. If your lab considers 1 to 5 to be the normal range, and you have 4 it would not be considered high but most people need under 2 to feel alright and some function OK with 3. If your T3 and T4 are in a decent amount, your dose of Levothyroxine might not need to be upped by much, like taking 2-3 times a week some 25mcg more than usual. Even black seed oil might help.
You can do your own testing via ownyourlabs, ultalabs, jasonhealth and others. Many docs now do distance consultations. If you are in USA I know that Dr. Robert Cywes (Florida) is very well regarded.
Sadly, you might need to get a naturopathic Dr and pay out of pocket. Some insurance companies work with them, but not all. They (the Drs) do usually charge you an adjusted rate if you are paying out of pocket though. Your health is worth it.
Get over the counter thyroid extract from klaire labs it contains t3 i think. Also there are ways to get your meds through semi legal ways....
I couldn’t even get an endocrinologist to test and treat me properly.
Endos are the worst!
😢
Me too. 🤨 I guess they don't want grown up women around.
BTW, I've had a total thyroidectomy in 2016, and have been feeling worse ever since. Thanks Dr. Child's.
My endocrynologist & primary Dr would not give me aT3 medication. I asked both of them for 10+ years they refused cause my levels were normal even though i still felt crappy; Finally 2 years ago my primary Dr was retiring & said ok i have nothing to loose. Since then I feel more & more like a "normal" human. I get my information from you it just took a long fight to get it. Now i got to work on weight loss.
Are you on Cytomel or taking a Natural Thyroud that is like Armour ...?
@@mahimagabriel3798 Cytomel 5mg in the am & 5mg in pm
@@suziferrante2782 thanks so much!
@@suziferrante2782thank you
What do you mean by 5mg ?
How many tablets ? Based on CYNOMEL 0,025 mg
Thank you so much
Most Drs he is saying some will and it’s a life changer, best to find a Dr that will that’s what I did because the Dr that did prescribe he retired and the Drs that were my dr were in the Dark. I have a functional Dr now who knows a great deal. I feel blessed.
Ive been taking T3 only medication for over 10yrs as any form of T4 medication doesn’t agree with me. I had to go to a private doctor for help who treated me with T3 and I haven’t looked back since. Unfortunately he passed away so I’ve been left to either pop over to Greece to buy T3 over the counter or risk buying it online. My NHS GP knows I take T3 and knows I can’t tolerate levothyroxine but the doctors practice managers have refused to prescribe me T3 on the NHS due to costs. If I go to Greece, a months supply of T3 would cost me around €9 but if I had it prescribed on the NHS by my doctor it would cost them over £1000 a month! Crazy!! (I take 75mcg split 3 ways a day)
The price to the NHS has come down slightly since the price gouging case. Might be worth re-asking if only for the benefits of other sufferers to come. I have to have a similar discussion at some point, but currently working on my fitness having only just got my health on the level after three years of grief.
@@51monw thank you that’s really good to know, I will ask them. In 2020 I couldn’t get any online or going abroad (covid) and my gp referred me to an endo who prescribed me 6 months of T3 on the NHS to tide me over but said it was a one off. So they can easily prescribe it but it’s just the matter of cost for them. I will definitely ask again as it would save a lot of stress. I hope you continue to see improvements with your health
Tsh 0.50
T4 11
T3 -4-5 ,not sure
Prescription 100 Euthiroxs
20 lyothironine
Not sure if this is right dose?
I was forced to switch from compound ndt to this synthetic drugs even do I have problem with parathyroid…all this because I can’t travel to another country to buy medicine and can’t afford private dr.
I did it for 6.5 years I can’t do it anymore.to expensive and stressful
T3 was added to supplement my depression medication and it has helped, even though my thyroid tested normal.
Even now I still am prescribed T3, without antidepressants and this makes a difference.
I learned that T3 is assumed to be Tylenol 3, and you have to say Cytomel to avoid drug seeking on your file.
Mine prescribed it along with T4. Taking T3 twice a day
This is very interesting. I had to have most of my thyroid removed from a goiter. I've been on t4 and recently my endocrinologist added a small bit of t3.
I'm willing for my Endocrinologist to play around with dosing T3! I want to feel better! Playing around with dosing my Unithyroid for 3+ years hasn't helped.
Thank You for this video. I've taken notes, and if I don't lose my nerve, I'm asking about this at my May 2023 appointment.
Currently taking NP thyroid 60mg BID. I introduced your T2 - 1 capsule a day & noticed a huge increase in my energy level. A bit jittery but much better.
I'm on levothyroxine 175mcg. Feel dizzy and forgetful. Its absolute rubbish. I'm researching T3 this is a great channel
Have you tried T3?
My dr has had me on liothyronine for several years- it has made a HUGE difference! He was smart enough, when I continued to have low-thyroid symptoms, to ALSO test for T3, not just TSH. I take 5mcg in morning with my levothyroxine, and 2.5 mg at night.
Wow, lucky you that you only need 5 mcg, no wonder my doctor looked at me like I was insane when I told her I was taking 100 mcg per day, but I was only taking t3. I heard 1 grain of NDT can be compared to 25 mcg of t3, and that we all absorb thyroid hormone differently.
Thanks Doc added 5mcg generic CYTOMEL to 60 mcg NP THYROID I’m Praying This will Improve my health Thank You for All You Do 🙏💝🙏
How’s that working for you? My Dr just recently put me on the same meds.
@@ksharpe8137 Honestly It’s hard to tell I’m pretty sure I’ve gone undiagnosed -misdiagnosed for years so I think I may have Hashimotos disease ??? Time will tell and I’m going to do some other stuff this summer like red light therapy 🙏💝 Good health to you.
Although I am glad information on this is going around, I unfortunately can't finish watching your videos because of my experience with Graves' disease and an endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic; I am reminded of what was said before being guilt tripped by both the Dr and my family into getting it removed because it was "too swollen for anything else to work, and nothing else will work even though you are hesitant because you want to explore other possible outlets" (yes my neck was noticeably swollen and my eyes were bulging, but I was still holding onto hope that something other than removal could be done), and remembering everything that lead to my thyroid being completely removed just angers me with frustration and wrath to no end thinking of what could have been. Having to take 175 mcg levothyroxine every day sucks because I have read what could happen if I don't take it or some form of supplement; I want to know how to improve my life after having a part of my body be removed and destroyed, but I am both too angered by the surgery and because of that I don't know where to start with your videos.
So sorry. I was 26 in 1980 when I was diagnosed with Graves disease. I relied on the doctor and my parents to take I131, radioactive iodine, which wiped out my thyroid. Synthroid was adequate until 2006 when menopause and chronic pain whacked me out. I went a little hyper - joyfully- and got down to size 6. I’ve switched to Armour but haven’t seen an improvement. All the doctors want to reduce my medication 💊. It’s discouraging.
I hear you I feel you 100 percent - also graves also thyroid removed when I really didn’t want to also have had my life destroyed !!! Expect I was 40 …I’m now 66 … it should be ILLEGAL auto remove the thyroid …..!!!!! illegal !!!!! …saying this, after the 25 years of horror …. I have eventually !!!!! Found a way to…I’m waiting till 6 aug to pray with me - get the T3 added …. I’ve listened to loads loads of info and then watched patients comments….. I do encourage you to do same, l feel good with listening to dr child’s…also read patients comments … you might ! Need T3 … I hear you …may you find a way to help your body with functi8ning without the thyroid . Can’t trust a docter they know NOTHING LESS THAN NOTHING even thyroid specialists are shocking … I do like dr. Child’s …but keep researching
Honestly dr child’s always helps me he is awesome thank Godfor him
I have Hashimoto's and I'm on 120 mg of NP. I switched from 174 mcg Levothyroxine to 120 NP a few months ago and I feel much better.
I wish you were my Dr! And my daughter's Dr! She is suffering terribly with hypothyroidism, although on levothyroxine. My initial thyroid diagnosis was Graves.
After a total thyroidectomy and 10 years later my doctor and I finally discovered that for me 30 mg NP thyroid and 37.5 mcg levoxyl seems to work really well for me. Means I have to split my levoxyl but finally something that works.
Thank you for your informative videos. I’ve been on Levothyroxine on and off for about 11 years, mainly off, and tried Armour Thyroid for a short time. For a long part of all this time I was sub clinical and didn’t take it seriously or understand the implications. For most of that time I didn’t know I had Hashimoto’s and then I didn’t know the implications of that either. Now it’s overt, and I could tell it was worse so I’m back on Levothyroxine and trying to educate myself this time. It feels so bleak to me, like a life sentence that I could have avoided. I’m wondering if you have any thoughts on Adthyza. I may ask my doctor about it. It sounds like most likely nearly all doctors will say no, but if I go in armed with an informed request maybe I’ll have better chances.
Doctors don't prescribe it because they would be cutting off their own supply. Drug dealers don't ever like to share their stash.
I have been on thyroid meds for more than 20 years. Changed my general practitioner to one who also has thyroid problems. Still not be able to get T3 meds. I am very .. no extremely frustrated.
I am from Cape Town South Africa
You’re painting with a broad brush there. My doctor prescribed it for me when I told him I would like to try it. All doctors aren’t averse to the idea. I tried it for a few months, but it didn’t work for me. Just went back to the Synthroid I had been taking for over 40 years.
I’ve had Hashimoto’s for 15 yrs that we know of. Most doctors don’t check anything but our tsh levels. I was having all the symptoms but my levels were in The normal range. Fast forward 8 yrs and I come across a nurse practitioner that ran the full panel on my thyroid and found it. Been struggling with doctors since to even properly test me every year.
Your anecdote is hardly representative of all scenarios.
@@DennisBolanos: There’s not a whole lot in this world that is representative of ALL scenarios. But that doesn’t prevent the “doctor” from trying. Besides, he gets more money from RUclips when he tries to make everyone in the world believe T3 is best for everyone, that Synthroid is evil, and that doctors who prescribe it have no clue about what they’re doing. 😏
My Dr. had no problem prescribing T3 but did not want to prescribe SR T3 because it isn't regulated. I couldn't tolerate T3. SR T3 I find is much gentler. I have had changes, different symptoms in my treatment each week but continue to improve slowly. Am much better off now that in December when I started. Taking Tirosint also.
I take Armor for a long time and it worked better than anything else. And now my insurance covers it, mynissue was T3 not as much T4. Before I used to pay myself. It was worth it. It actually stopped my heart palpitation and anxiety.
I have generalized thyroid hormone resistance. My body converts like 99% of levothyroxine to rt3. The only way to bypass is t3 only and Cytomel is the only t3 that works for me and i need doses of 200 mcg or more.
It would be great if you could recommend a few doctors for us to see since you can't practice anymore. I live in the Tucon area and would drive up to Mesa to see you.
Sounds like a lot of lazy doctors! They are more worried about their time and not about how the patient is feeling. I have had a thyroid problem for over 25 years and still waiting for the "new" thinking on how to treat by doctors. Funny how most of these conditions thyroid and pregnancy are women's issues. Maybe that is part of the problem, they don't listen to us!
That's way my doctor is
My doctor gives me all the T3 I want, but I can't tolerate it.
Why don't you try to Change the standard of care!? You have our support you go to these conventions do you speak about this topic over there do you go anywhere else besides RUclips and enjoy the enrichment that RUclips provide for you by clicking I would like to see advocate for this change I really believe you can do it!?...
The hope is always that the system will change for the better. But the system likes the situation the way it is. The situation sucks for us, by design, not by mistake.
I had my thyroid removed and parathyroid 30 years ago and the doctors have never prescribed T3. Only T4 and colecalcipherol and my thyroid hormones have never been balanced. Now, I'm 39 years old, after 2 miscarriages , I'm consulting with a nutritionist and a naturopath that are helping to supplement Iodine, T3, and others...
When I worked at the hospital years ago as a pharmacist, I worked on Friday nights. I remember every 30 minutes preparing pitocin and epidurals. Yes, the doctors wanted to go home for the night. It was gross.
It's hard to imagine unless you've worked in the field.
This my second day on 10mcg t3 liothyronine. I was suffering with symptoms for about 4 years and the nhs endocrinologist wouldn't presctibe t3. Finally after seeing 4 differents private endocrinologist I got the medication. And my question is now how long does it to feel improvement?
Currently on Armour and I have a rT3 problem and was thinking of asking but why bother when it's hard even getting full thyroid panel, and TPO or TG with hashimoto
My doctor has me on Armour Thyroid (120) Cytomel (10) T3.
Dr. Westin - I recently read a study showing that T3 had less impact on bone density issues than T4 and that the studies on T4 were outdated leading doctors to be afraid of T3? Have you read anything about this? Also - do you accept patients?
Had Total Thyroidectomy eight years ago. T4 - 137 mcg was prescribed to me originally which was reduced to 125 mcg after five years as I lost weight voluntarily, again reduced to 112 mcg six months later. Never had any problem all the while using just T4. However on my request endo allowed me to use T3 i.e. 5 mcg of Cytomel along with 100 mcg of T4 once every morning empty stomach. Blood work showed slight positive changes according to Endo, however I did not feel anything different. My Endo says, it does not matter whether you use T4 only or combo. Only difference is you pay considerably more money if you are taking T3. When I asked whether I can take Naturally Descicated Thyroid as it has all T1, T2, T3 and T4. Also I asked whether I can have another 5 mcg in the evening with a further reduction in T4, he said, he can prescribe it but I should take the risk, he will not be responsible. Never had any problems no matter what hormone replacement I took so far.
5mcg of cytomel daily sounds like a dose to get the patients to stop asking for T3, as it is equivalent to about 15mcg of levothyroxine. I mean you might feel a difference but it is around the noise level, if you were short of T3 before, you are probably still short.
If you've not had problems with levothyroxine not working then why ask in the first place?
Levothyroxine dosing is supposedly based (initially) on "lean body weight", that is the body weight you'd have if your BMI were 25. You make it sound like weight was a factor in the dosing?
100+5 is a small dose for total thyroidectomy, but maybe you are petite.
@@51monw Thanks for the reply. I asked to add T3 because 1. through media I learned that it is a potent hormone to have 2. I suspected my conversion rate might not be optimum 3. I was diagnosed with Osteoporosis despite being an active muscular man which I think might have a link to my not having a Thyroid gland. Do not know whether the DEXA Scan is a reliable indicator of bone health or whether there was an error in the scan. Currently I am researching about Bone health a lot and have some insigts already. My BMI when I was prescribed 137 mcg of Synthroid was 25, however now it hovers around 21 to 23. This must be the reason why I was prescribed a lesser dosage. All the while I felt fine no matter what dosage or brand of Hormone replacement I am taking. I am somewhat tall athletic lean man weighing 67 kgs. My endo tests TSH only once a year, after listening to videos like these I asked for Reverse T3, Calcium, Magnesium, Vitamin D etc.
@@johnutube5651 interesting, they've thyroidectomised me three times, so you know its been a journey... Have to say I went with a much larger dose of Liothyronine and within a couple of days had benefits to symptoms and energy, so it was pretty clear it worked. I did stop it briefly and go back to levo only, and the symptoms started returning, not exactly precise science but convincing enough for me.
But really I felt quite hypothyroid still on levo, despite enough Levo to get TSH and fT4 fine. Having had thyroid problems for a long time I knew hypothyroid well enough to say it just wasn't working well.
That said bowel problems and sweating too much went on adding some T3, which I'd assumed were thyroid related but wasn't sure if that was too much levo, or being hyper, or hypo. I had the bowel and sweating issues when I had a suppressed TSH and raised fT4, and the GP and endo were claiming I was hyperthyroid and I was like "it doesn't feel like hyper".
If you don't have a lot of lurking health issues despite "adequate" replacement with levo, maybe you just don't need the T3.
I also had borderline folate levels, bringing those up was my first big breakthrough.
Could you please tell me what the name of the naturally desiccated thyroid medication is?
I want to see if it's covered by my insurance.
@@johnutube5651 the big question on bones would be if the thyroid surgery affected the parathyroids, but sounds like you are on top of things even if having trouble with prescribers.
My doctor put me on with levothyroxine but it just didn't work for me after my total thyroidectomy and parathyroid ectomy so now I take armour thyroid
Wow !I wish I could try too, after thyroidectomy, but the attitude is "if t ain't broke-----"
I was so broke after my third thyroid operation. But because I'd been ill for three months before the operation it wasn't immediately clear that it was the thyroid operation what done it to me. Literally the lump of ectopic thyroid tissue they were due to cut out got infected about the time they postponed the operation to cut it out due to the pandemic. As soon as I was well enough they cut it out, but really it would have been better if they'd discovered and treated that lump back in 1991 rather than 2020.
I’ve been taking Armour Thyroid 30 mg . I don’t like the side effects. Rapid heart beat. And throat feeling tighter plus it makes me more tired. My question I wonder is is it the T3 in the armor or something else? Anybody else have these kind of problems when taking armor
How do you recommend going about finding a doctor who would be open to potentially prescribing T3?
What I did was call my pharmacy and ask them which doctors prescribed T3. Then I found out which of those doctors was covered by my insurance. Good luck.
Try a functional doctor
@@jrowlove7328 thank you!
@@sandrafranks1854 thank you!
Mostly naturopath or functional doctors will prescribe it.
It's not an approved or funded medication where I live. Literally the only option is T4 meds, which is utterly useless if you can't convert T4 to T3 (me). But as long as The Stupid Hormone is in range, they don't care. I actually feel worse & am more symptomatic on T4 meds - more eye swelling, more fatigue, more hairloss, slower gut, etc etc. It's not just how you feel & those things above, it's all the other knock on effects from unmanaged hypothyroidism (esp hashis), like worsening liver health, worsened digestion, increasing hardening of the arteries & CV risk, increasing BP. Not meeting standard of care is an extremely generous way of putting it!
My Dr finally started t3 and t4 combination therapy. I just started my 2nd month but the script was filled by a different pharmacy than the 1st and the medication is from different manufacturers. I noticed the difference right away. The 1st month was the best I felt in a year. Now with just less than a week with the different medication I'm not feeling the same. The tablets are bigger than the 1st script. Could this be because they used more fillers that why they are bigger and I don't feel like I did with the last script
I've had that issue with other meds ... when they switch manufactuers ... fillers and I have also heard that some have more or less of the main ingredient you need ... or were on. Maybe you can shop around and find the original ....
All the best!
Same thing happened to me. I was allergic to an inactive ingredient in a generic drug. Now, before I fill the script, I ask the pharmacist if they have the manufacturer of the medicine I want. If not, sometimes they will order it for you. If they can't do that, I call other pharmacies till I find one that carries it. Though, I know some insurance plans only allow you to use specific pharmacies. Then I'd call the insurance company. Good luck to you.
Same happened to me. Trusting the US medical industry is like gambling with your life. All we can do is pray.
@@GoodVibesNewlevel2023 Trusting most of the endocrinologists definitely is. They just don't want the patients input. Just the lab work.
Hi Steve this happened to me with T3. I take the smallest tablet available and had no issues. Then at the pharmacy they switched to a different manufacture/bigger tablet T3 and was horribly nauseous the whole day for the time I took it- about a week. Didn’t have this side effect with small pill. My Endo communicated with the pharmacy to leave a note in the my pharmacy profile to not switch my medication due to the side effects.
I've been on T4 only for nearly 18 years, I have asked many doctors over the years to add T3 or even just switch to Armor thyroid. It's always "no" and they always say because heart side effects. I've given up trying and just accept that I have to live feeling miserable every day.
So sorry to hear Dawn, I suffered for a very long time as well. Please do not give up hon, you owe it to yourself to live a better life! I started calling Naturopaths, and they seemed more willing to work with me. I eventually switched to Nature-throid (which is no longer available) which helped me feel a lot better.
Fast forward, I have healed my thyroid, and am now taking half the dose per day I was put on about 15 years ago.
The sky is the limit Dawn, you've got this!
Please find a doctor who will prescribe it for you
Do some research on L-Tyrosine supplements.
@@couragethecowardlydog6784 Since Nature-throid is no longer available was wondering if you could share how you healed. I was on Nature-Throid for quite a few years and did well. But since can't get that, I'm been totally off any Thyroid medication since beginning of 2021... my energy has kept going down down down ... I am going to have Thyroid testing this week and then will see what happens. I had to get the lab order from an MD since my insurance wouldn't cover it if ordered by my ND (naturopath). He's the one that originally got me on Nature-Throid ... but have no idea between the 2 doctors what I will be 'put on' as I KNOW my Thyroid is really off. Depression, fatigue, cold, hair loss , pulse rate down a lot of the time .. etc. One other issue is I have had anxiety disorder (even with med for that) and have been super anxious going through feeling so bad ... and afraid if one of the docs puts me on some thyroid I will have 'more' anxiety ... feels like a 'catch-22' . Thanks for any help or suggestions you might have that helped you. I'm older now ... over 65 .... ;) So I think they have to be more cautious ...
Integrative, holistic, or naturopath Doc. Try them
I was taking Thyroid extract for 6 years. Feeling pretty good and then had m 12 month blood test and the Doctor called me in to say I was converting too much T3 , it was really dangerous and I could have a heart attack! With a lot of resistance on my part I agreed to try T4 only meds. @ weeks in and I feel ok but the fatigue is back. I agreed to 6 weeks and then another test.
Bullshit
Don't listent to this idiot. Going solely of of labs is really stupid. Everyone has an individual optimum.
Where can I make appointment with you to get my t3, do you have online consultation? Do you sell t3 online? How can I get it ? I have been suffering from low thyroid for 10 years
What’s your opinion on Barnes basal temperature test for thyroid?
It's a lot more accurate than blood tests
I have the same problem, they didn’t give me t3, still looking for doctor who can prescribe me t3, if not I might find street drug online 😢😢😢
Why/when would levothyroxine cause hair loss? I had no side effects with cytomel and did gain an increase of energy. Discontinued levo because of the very noticeable hair loss which occurred immediately when starting the medication.
I lose a lot of hair when my thyroid is hyper, due to too much synthroid. I've also lost hair when I was hypo, for the same reason, wrong dose of synthroid. I lost half of my hair when taking too much synthroid. It just came out by the handful. Terrible feeling.
Same thing here but I have noticed it has slowed down which is what the Dr told me would happen. But I thought I would be bald if it kept falling out.
I’ve always been told my body will convert it. And it doesn’t with out a thyroid. I just pray the plan of care changes to suit the needed of the individual patient. My body doesn’t convert the t3.
I. Find that doctors will do TSH and T4 but not do T3. and if they do take T3 and it’s a little high they don’t do or say anything about it. I’m on Armour after severe reaction to Levothyroxine after having a tracheotomy non cancerous.
My wife is on 2.. 75 mcg levothyroxine and her TSH is 11 and the doctors won't even check her T3 levels and refuses to try desiccated thyroid!
It's probably time to look for a second opinion!
Ty Dr Childs
Whats the starting dose of t3? Im on 5mcg a day how much do I need? I was on armour but they changed the formula & now Im trying to replicate it. Armour has 9mcg of t3 so I think I need double?
I had my thyroid removed when i was 16, 9 (i'm 30 now)i had graves disease and it was leading to heart problems, so they did that young. I've read all the literature and gone to many doctors and can't find some one to prescribe T3. Help!!! I'm so exhausted all the time even though my levels are normal. I'm so tired of struggling :(
Do you do consultations?
I do not. If that ever changes I will send out an email to my mailing list!
Can you address hypothyroid due to pan hypopituitary?
i have never had any luck on t3 meds. i have been on multiple doses of armour as well as a t3 only med but i felt so terrible. i am currently on tirosint (t4 only) and wonder if there are others don't do as well on t3 only or ndt meds?
I've been on T4 only many years but never felt good. Recently, I've been trying to do T3 only and I feel a lot better for a couple of weeks and then I just hit a wall and I get terrible fatigue symtoms. Increasing the T3 dose does nothing.
I am 66 years old had thyroid removed at 16 I have had to manage my side effects from day 1 doctors have done nothing literally nothing I would love some T3 but I might as well blow in the wind. The UK now has very low standards.
Not learning about meds that help patients who arent healthy on
other protocals, is DOING HARM and against the oath they take.
the standard of care is failing us.
i wish your offices were in Sun City area or Peoria area
My endonsaid she doesnt prescribe t3 bc its an old treatment.
Dr. Child's, you're absolutely right. What do I do? He only checks my TSH and keeps reducing it, I feel miserable. Help.
See a naturopathic dr if you can. You may need to pay out of pocket.
I took Nature-Throid after having bad effects from Synthroid. But have not been on NT since they stopped making it and need to get it compounded or ? Is taking Nature-Throid or similar - like taking T3 (like Cytomel) or is it less risky as far as heart, etc .... I think Nature-Throid had both T3 and T4 ... seemed to work well. Thank you!!
I did something stupid and took Cytomel without my doctors knowledge or supervision...about 1/2 pill per day for approx. 8 weeks. I felt better and had energy and was actually able to lose weight for the first time in years but stopped (titrated off slowly) because my heart seemed to be pounding and I was having dizzy spells.
It's been over 2 months and those symptoms still haven't gone away. Sometimes my heart even hurts.
I hate 5o even tell my doctor since I know he's going to be furious with me and I'm afraid he will want to send me in for radioactive iodine or something to kill off my 5hyroid now because my TSH showed up as nearly non existent when he was doing routine tests a couple of months ago. Is there any way to reverse these side effects I have now? 🤔 They seem worse at night and I'm getting worried that my heart has been damaged. 😔
Are there any problems , like heart attacks, if you have higher T3 than T4. I would love to go back to my doctor loaded with information.
My doctor suggested and quite willingly prescribed T3, and I took it with my levoxythyrone for awhile. I already have PVCs and an extremely slow heart rate (if you don't count the incomplete beats,) that started almost as soon as I started taking the levoxythyrone, but I (initially) felt so much better, I didn't say anything. In time, the PVCs and slow heart rate became their own issue that occasionally can be quite debilitating, but for the most part, I've just absorbed it into my package of things I've learned to work around.
Still, I struggle with fatigue and depression, so my doctor prescribed the T3. And boy howdy, it did pop up my energy. But every three days or so, I wouldn't sleep. Normally, not sleeping just makes me more tired the next day, but on T3, it was like I was actively sick, and utterly miserable. And it started to be such a regular event, (not sleeping,) that I decided to quit taking it.
I had radioactive iodine treatment just over 20 years ago.. & have been on levothyroxine ever since my dose I feel is extremely high I take 225mg daily sometimes I have to increase to 250mg for several months as my levels are lowering with symptoms also present. I only get checked by a GP doctor & have never been back to endocrinologist.. not for the want of trying. I now have a nerve condition after Nike accident so have other medication I need to take. I try to do things naturally & eat really well but I feel this dose is too high with not best results & can’t seem to get information anywhere to help or see if T3 would be better suited to me. How can I get more info & is it ok for people who have had radioactive iodine treatment to try T3?
I have 2:1 fT4 to fT3 and my TSH is 4+. I either need more T4 or less T3. Levothyroxine is my only option.
Your body is converting to rt3 which is the case for most. T4 only makes people more hypo. Have your rt3 checked if it’s high you likely need to be on NDt or t3 only
@@blondebeautylush no options to do that sadly. I could spend a few hundred € to check rT3 in a private lab, but knowing would mean nothing cause there's no treatment besides Levothyroxine from two brands available. A few days back I started taking black seed oil pills (Nigela Sativa).
Thyroid Specialists and Internal medicine specialists (and endocrinologists) here consider T3 irrelevant, they only consider T4 and TSH as important.
I take 1.5 GR of NP Thyroid, but my feet/hands are still cold. So I tried 1-2 mcg of Liothyronine, but got thyroid nodule pain during sleep. (My feet/hands are warmer though.) What gives? Maybe I don’t need the T3.
Can Liothyronine cause water retention?
I live in Canada, how can I get T3 ???
Can you talk about hypothyroidism and pregnancy? I'm pregnant now, and I have a lof fears 😢 I'm on my medication and my Dr increased my dose. How will my pregnancy go?? How to deal with it please help . I have been trying to conceive , and I can't lose it.
Yes, check out this video: ruclips.net/video/oeDu_jpUp_Y/видео.html
I had been supplementing iodine, selenium and zinc for years now. I have been watching your videos and now realize that was not a good idea. I have stopped iodine supplements. How long will it take to get it out of my system? I am probably iodine overloaded??
All of those are fine to take as long as you don't take too much.
@@drwestinchilds should we stop the iodine several days before taking our Thyroid Panel? Thank you so much! I take a dropperful of Iodine Oligo by Professional Formula's ... no thyroid medication at this time. But with how I'm feeling I'm sure I will be soon. I was on Nature-Throid for quite a few years until couldn't get it anymore - I 'think' that had T3 in it ? or both T3 and T4 ...?
Is T3 available for purchase at health food & supplement shops ?
no
I think I need more med (t4 /t3 combo) in the winter then less in the summer. I get jittery around June, lower my dose, achy and lethargic around Dec, increase my dose. I can’t get my dr to see things the way I do and have to go behind her back to manage my symptoms.
Is there any research to support my observations?
AND is there a patch for thyroid meds?!?!?
Same thing happens to me, less meds in summer and more in winter.
I think it has to do with vitamin D3 level
Oh my goodness, you have just confirmed what I’ve long suspected. My thyroid symptoms switch up during winter and summer. From hyper to hypo-vise versa.
Dr. Childs, I’ve switched over to DT (90 mg) and I’m feeling great, however, my blood work shows a TSH of 8, T4 just a little below the normal range and my T3 is sitting at optimal levels. I have no fatigue, no pain, and I have energy. What is going on here? My doc increased the dose to 105 mg but it was too much for me. So now I’m at 97.25 mg, and i’m feeling great again. Why is my TSH high if I’m feeling great? Lol. I used to be on 150 mcg Levo.
How long have you been on the new dose? It takes a solid 6-8 weeks for blood levels to stabilize after changing your dose. If it hasn't been that long it could explain it.
@@drwestinchilds I made the switch to 90 mg DT on February 22 and got tested March 30. Started 105 mg April 15 but then it got lowered because it was too much for me. Started on 97.25 mg yesterday. I’m back to feeling great!
What is out there as far as thyroid support that doesn’t contain ashwaghanda?
Lots of options, here are a few:
www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-adrenal-reset-complex/
www.restartmed.com/product/essential-t2/
www.restartmed.com/product/thyroid-daily-essentials-thyroid-multivitamin/
Can you say how long to wait after having a dose change to experience positive or negative results of a dose change? And how long after dose change should new labs be done to make sure levels are optimal?
6 weeks minimum.
@@drwestinchilds thank you!
I'm on 75 mcg on Armour thyroid...I'm still chunky and in pain
Have you changed your diet?
@@Sirie7206 I just recently started fasting for 18 hours and only eating within a 6-hour window and doing my best to cut out Dairy and carbs
@@jessj.jesusistheonlyway Try Paleo. It helped me lose a lot of weight.
In this game !!!!!!
As if patients are just to play with …
I have an enlarged adrenal (no growth found) and scar tissue/lesions around my pituitary. I also had a pituitary tumor removed in 2021.
My general doctor prescribed unithroid but I read on their website not to take unithroid if you have pit/adrenal issues.
My unithroid is just sitting there, I haven't touched it, don't know what to do about my hypothyroidism.
Oh yes, I have a goiter and other growths on my thyroid.
Standard of care will not change because of patients so called attacking their pride.. Patients are becoming educated on their conditions , this is attack on some doctors pride thinking they have all the answers and we as lambs to slaughter should just accept the slights of lack of care. I'm through with that attitude. They do this with women more so.
Nobody's going to sue a doctor for doing the right thing they don't do anything that's the problem is so worried about covering their ass from a lawsuit that they're not even doctors anymore maybe it's not their fault but it's not mine either I'm the patient so it's better not to see any patients then to do nothing😊
I think we have to sue them for doing nothing... it is going to be the only way....
@@51monw I'll never say anything bad about you again!! What a great reply!!!... And I think we should definitely do that!... They are compelled by the law of the land, to save lives you can't save I've been treating the patient...!
You did a show with a guy from London, who takes t3 wrote a book on it. Quite frankly I don't know why you're defending the doctors first off they don't listen to I had my hormone thyroid hormone 10 times higher and even had a nodule probably cancerous and I got rid of it with iodine and red light therapy within six days I shrunk it from an egg-sized to normal and lab work was normal I did this on my own he refused to do anything for doctors don't listen to patients they go buy lab results which are false and they go by year the standard that should get out of business then we have to pay if they make a mistake and we have to pay if they don't make a mistake it's become a lose-lose situation with doctor!!! I found alternative ways this is a good thing for me because I no longer rely on them only not for diseases anyway the friendly thing like that we can cure ourselves okay we can't fix bones I'm not saying we Don't need them, but we don't need the ones that are not real doctors and I'm pretending to be and they take our money and let us go out of the office out of the hospital sick!!!
🫶🙏🙏
If you want to live as long as you can please do not read all the bull shit on RUclips
Reason number 5: The doctors actually HAVE tried it, done lots of research on it, and talked to their colleagues….and found that it typically doesn’t do a whole lot. Methinks you’re just pitching this idea in order to make money off of RUclips. I think that’s the most likely thing of all.😏
Should me MY option to try on MY body
Poco you are so wrong. Glad you can just take the synthetic stuff but for many of us we are still in bad shape. Speak for yourself and not for the rest of us who it helps tremendously.
@@j.c.kuenne3219: Actually, T3 is known to benefit only a very small percent of the population. Of course he won’t tell you that.
You are entitled to your opinion but in my situation, I cannot live without T3. My body will not convert levothyroxine well at all and no MD was testing me properly to ensure my thyroid was functioning properly. My TSH was just above the normal range and I was told it was fine. I kept saying I wasn’t feeling well at all but I was given antidepressants instead. It wasn’t until I passed out during a nursing shift in the operating room unable to work because things got so bad before T3. I finally was given a full thyroid lab panel and found to have very bad autoimmune thyroiditis. The ER doctor actually gave me T3 because I was heading towards a coma state. Fast forward 5 years later and I can tell when it’s time to take the T3. It’s an absolute crime that patients are not tested beyond TSH and only given levothyroxine as an option!! I’m a registered nurse for over 10 years and I had no idea I had an autoimmune disease going on. Things need to change in the healthcare system!!
adding t3 worked for me. I have learned in the last twenty years that most doctors know very little about the thyroid disease. They do only follow the standard of care.