TPA is run by thyroid patients, for thyroid patients — we are all volunteers. We aim to help patients get a timely diagnosis and to empower them to seek the best treatment for their underactive or overactive thyroid.
Thyroid diseases are common and increase with ageing. The consequences can be decreased or increased secretion of thyroid hormones — hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
T3, the active thyroid hormone, is essential for the proper functioning of nearly every cell in the body.
Hypothyroidism is a complex disease, not a simple hormone deficiency, and is not always easily diagnosed.
Thyroid function is usually monitored by the TSH blood test, but a normal TSH does not guarantee that tissue-level functioning is optimal.
Levothyroxine (LT4) is the standard treatment, but the body must convert T4 into active T3. Simply increasing T4 does not always fix a deficiency of T3 in the cells.
Many patients do much better on a combination of T3 and levothyroxine, or on NDT. Some cannot tolerate the synthetics and only recover their health on NDT.
How the thyroid works — hormones, the HPT axis, conversion and the recycling gut.
The stress response, the HPA axis, allostatic load and effects on the thyroid.
The minerals and vitamins thyroid hormones depend on, and what can go wrong.
Symptoms, causes and why more women than men are affected.
Thyroid function tests, reference ranges and the categories of thyroid disease.
Levothyroxine, liothyronine, T4/T3 combination, NDT and more.
Illnesses linked to thyroid disease, higher-risk groups and NTIS.
Symptom checklists, drug lists, references, glossary, FAQs and the archive.
Thyroid Patient Advocacy (TPA) is an independent, user-led organisation established to ensure that everyone with thyroid disease (and thyroid-related disease) is given a correct diagnosis and receives effective treatment. TPA believes patients should have access to all relevant tests and all appropriate treatments, including the active thyroid hormone T3 (synthetic or natural). We base our information on scientific research, reviewed and updated as needed, and welcome everyone with thyroid-related symptoms on our forum.
Join a private, supportive community of thyroid patients sharing answers, experience and encouragement.
