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[SueLW]

I think it's common knowledge that a woman on thyroxine, who starts HRT, will need a dose increase in thyroxine.  HRT can cause a raise in sex hormone binding globulin.

So rather than reducing your oestrogen to suit the thyroid meds, you might do better to raise the thyroid meds to cope with the oestrogen.

I don't convert T4 to T3 properly due to a faulty Dio2 gene inherited from 1 parent so it's a struggle, I really need T3 but I can't get it as doctors don't have a clue what they are doing with thyroid.  But I will retest my oestrogen level in a week and a half and do my thyroid again at the same time (I just pay and do them myself now, no more fighting GP's for T3 tests) and see if it's dropped further with the increase in oestrogen.  If it has I know I have to add either more T4 (which makes me feel worse) or I'll have to buy T3 and add some of that.  Nightmare.  We suffer, we loose ourselves and become shadows of who we were and at the same time we have to train to be doctors, specialists and fight for the treatment we need!

[Wrensong]

BK I'm glad you have been able to decide on a plan & that you feel you have other options if need be.

SueLW, I was thinking of Thyroid Binding Globulin (TBG) rather than SHBG.  It's usually said that only oral oestradiol increases TBG meaning we will likely need an increase in thyroid meds.  But several of us on here have found the same seems to apply to transdermal methods, which was my point to Blue Kingfisher.  Sorry if that wasn't clear.  And yes, agreed, it's usual to increase thyroid meds to accommodate HRT.

I'm so sorry you are one of the significant minority of patients who need T3 & can't get it prescribed.  I'm another, but have been lucky to have the relatively recent support of a very good Endo consultant who knows I need T3 & kindly intervened on my behalf when it was withdrawn from NHS dispensing a couple of years ago.  I have to see him privately though.  Like you, though we are not that comfortably off,  I now pay for my TFTs & other endocrine bloods as the NHS won't usually analyse anything other than TSH.  I agree it's not right that if we fall into this subgroup we often have to advocate for ourselves.  It can take so much time & mental effort to keep on pushing for the treatment we need, which I've also found really stressful over far too many years.  Is it not possible for you to see an Endo who would prescribe the T3 you need?  If you are known to have the conversion defect surely the need for it is clear, as it is with me?

[Blue Kingfisher]

Yes, I think you’re right Sue about probably not needing to reduce the oestrogen at the moment....

I think I should focus on applying the gel away from my thyroid meds and bedtime as much as possible for the time being as that seems to help.

I was on 75mcg before starting HRT and I’m now on 125mcg. I’m going to get bloods done in six weeks or so to see what everything is up to (also have to do this privately like yourself and Wrensong because the NHS is very touch and go about measuring T3 as you know). I have a low conversion issue also but haven’t responded well to T3 historically so have parked that avenue for now. It might be that I need more T4 (150mcg) to get enough T3 to make me feel better but will see what the bloods reveal.

Yesterday and today were more bearable due to applying the oestrogel in the middle of the day.....so I’m hoping this will enable me to trial the Kyleena for longer.

Blue x

[Blue Kingfisher]

75mcg and 125mcg Levothyroxine that is!