CKD stage 4 underactive thyroid Feeling so tired . Will T3 Liothyronine help me ?

[eveebear]

I'm CKD stage 4 with underactive thyroid. I am feeling so tired even after 8 hour's sleep. I've been taking thyroxine for over 20 years and have been reading about T3 in the mail. Is anyone on T3 as I know doctors try to keep you on T4 thyroxine as it is cheaper to do so. With my kidney problem giving me a double whammy I think I should qualify. Any advice please?

[Jayhawker]

I’m not a physician so won’t give medical advice. However, my eGFR is 15 with creatinine coming in at 3.1. I have a hypothyroid condition and was recently also diagnosed with para hyperthyroidism. I’ve also got severe anemia due to my chronic kidney disease. And my BUN has elevated to 73 over the past 6 months. I’m not yet on dialysis.

I am definitely sleeping more than I did a few years ago. However my nephrologist thinks that is due to the elevated BUN. My primary care physician just ran full labs on me. My hypothyroid condition is under appropriate treatment. So that is likely not a contributing factor. My nephrologist started me on a medication to address the hyperpararhyroid condition. My most recent renal panel data showed that that is now back in the normal range with the new medication. So that is also likely not a contributing factor. As my hyperpararhyroid condition has been put under treatment I have felt modestly better and am not sleeping as much.

However, I’m still sleeping more than normal. Thus, it would seem that my nephrologist is likely correct (which is good news; he knows what he’s doing;); I’m likely lethargic primarily due to my elevated BUN.

This stuff gets pretty complex pretty quickly.

Jayhawker

[Sphynxgirl]

My experience- not a health professional! It's complicated. I was on T3 for years - thought it was wonderful. But it can be bad for bone loss/ osteoporosis. Now I take T4 50 mcg. and T3 5 mcg. This seems ok and dr. says its safe. You need a sympathetic endocrinologist. And try to get them to test your actual T3 & 4 levels, not just TSH.

[eveebear in reply to Sphynxgirl]

Many thanks for your post. I am seeing my GP on Monday so will ask if he can prescribe T3 + T4 or maybe test both levels

[Peggy76 in reply to Sphynxgirl]

Hi . I’m ckd stage 4 also have osteoporosis of my rib cage hip &knees &heart failure. They fitted a pacemaker which helped my breathing also anemia , &thyroid but worry about the amount of medication I’m on affecting my kidneys ,take oxynorm for pain relief I’m seen by my nephrologist regularly &cardiac dept. But does not help withy worries I 81 &housebound . Also need to loose wetter. Hones I don’t know where to start. Would appreciate any advice .regards Peggy x