My endo has put me on T3 only after trying levo and NDT. I started on 10 mcg and am now on 20 mcg T3 only.
My latest blood results show (no T4 tested)
Tsh 5.25 (0.35 - 5)
T3 4.6 (3.5-5)
I have a feeling that the endo will say your T3 does not look too bad. I still have a lot of hypo symptoms. Is there room for an increase in meds although their T3 range only goes up to 5 and my current reading is at 4.6. Why would my TSH be so high if in fact my T3 is ok. Could anyone shed any light on this.
Many thanks
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lizzie1
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Thanks shaws for your reply. Am a bit worried that even if the endo increases the t3 this will push my t3 over the top limit of their range as it is already up to 4.6 and their range only goes to 5.
I am on T3 alone and I only get a TSH test. If I took too much T3 I would have symptoms of overstimulation which I don't have, thankfully and feel well.
Some information and reassurance for you. Some excerpts and link:-
1.For someone taking 100 mcg of T3, we expect your pattern of lab results—a low TSH and high T3. However, your TSH and T3 levels are irrelevant to whether you're overstimulated or not. Two studies we just completed confirm other researchers findings: these tests are not reliable gauges of a patient's metabolic status. Many patients taking T3 have TSH and T3 levels like yours but still have severely low metabolic rates. Their metabolic rates become normal only when they increase their dosages further. Their metabolic rates become normal and they have no detectable overstimulation.
2.In some cases such as yours, the patient's Cytomel dose may need to be reduced. But symptoms such as occasional heart pounding and anxiety are usually not due to a patient's Cytomel dose. I say this because when Cytomel is solely responsible, symptoms of overstimulation are consistent, not occasional.
3.The studies show that T4-replacement leaves many patients suffering chronically from hypothyroid symptoms[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] and gaining weight they can't lose through dieting and exercise.[8] The patients are also likely to use more drugs and develop one or more of several potentially-fatal diseases.[9]
Potential harm from T4-replacement has thus been scientifically documented. In view of the risks, you must consider for yourself whether you'll permit your therapy to be changed from Cytomel to T4-replacement
Thank you shaws. Interesting article from Dr Lowe. Do you mind me asking what dose of T3 you are on and how long it took to get to that dose to make you feel well?
I am taking 30mcg T3. I began on levo - horrible experience then some T3 was introduced with a reduction of T4. I tried several NDTs but Naturethroid (NDT) I liked best. I just did a straight switchover to T3 alone.
Is it possible that since you are not supplying any T4 (or at least very little T4 if even you still have a thyroid) that your pituitary is trying to get your thyroid to produce it?
Yes! That is so, tsh is regulated more by t4 lvls then t3 this is selfprotecting mechanism, this way when you have infections body goes to lower metabolic rate to cope better with a disease....so slows down t4 to t3 conversion....if the metabolic rate would stay the same...you would never slow down to heal yourself............
I think the same applies to failing adrenal function. You are only making that worse when you rev up thyroid hormones. I'm beginning to believe a lot of Hashimoto's patients first began with adrenal/stress problems. Doesn't Dr. Peat always give adrenal support when treating thyroid patients?
From what i ve seen with myself it goes like this, metabolism problem like bad thyroid make blood sugar imbalances and low sugar lvl, and this uses up your adrenals , you basicaly live on cortisol! Which is antiinflamatory too...this then weakens your adrenals over the years.....fasting etc.....and you end up with adrenals problems, i dont think adrenal problems come first...ottom line is metabolism issue at the beginning......this was my experience since i was having thyroid problems much earlier when i developed adrenals issues i was allready in the late stage of my bad condition!!.....and my adrenals got better when i improved my blood sugar balance, and i got ridd of panick attacks, that i think are part of adrenals problem!!
Maybe but the modern diet of highly refined and processed food of which glucose is a major part causes these highs and lows. Dr. Clark points this out.
So balancing glucose would be a great help. I was just reading this from Dr. Lam.
What are some of the less commonly reported or unusual symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue?
In Adrenal Fatigue, the body can often exhibit multiple paradoxical reactions that one does not normally expect. These are more frequent when the condition is advance. These include:
A sense of fatigue or malaise instead of a sense of calm when taking steroids
A sudden onset of anxiety attacks and impending doom at rest
Sudden onset of heart palpitations despite normal cardiac function
Sudden onset of dizziness and lightheadedness at rest
Sudden onset of fluctuating blood pressure
Being constipated instead of having loose bowel when taking high doses of vitamin C or magnesium
A sense of getting wired up and anxious after taking Vitamin C, adrenal glandular, or herbs
A sense of well-being after taking selected nutrients, only to be followed by a "crash"
One can have any combination of the above. The exact reason of each of these symptoms is not fully known. Collectively, they point to an adrenal that has lost its ability to maintain the fine control necessary of a stable internal homeostasis environment. Self-directed recovery programs normally fail in such cases because normal healing tools do not apply. It is best to consult a professional for help if you have a significant number of these paradoxical reactions.
Your T3 result is relative to when you took it - i.e. if you took T3 the same day before you had the test (dose at 6am, test 10am), then the result may appear higher than if you had left it 24 hours before the test. As per Paul Robinson's book, the T3 test result is probably meaningless in this aspect, unlike levo test where it takes 6 weeks or so to affect bloods.
You need to be consistent with timings of your doses & tests to see how the dose changes your results, but I think that's all the T3 test can tell you. The most important thing to consider is the questions are you feeling better and symptom free. You will then know if it is working for you.
Also, how long have you been on your higher dose of T3? Don't worry about the test and the numbers - the objective is to feel well. They never quote the confidence interval of these tests, they're not an exact figure anyway. Ask for an increase, or try it on your own if not, I think they are guided by us to some extent - good ones anyway. Think of it as a partnership, not a dictatorship good luck
Btw i read the famous study that sealed the t4 recommendation for conventional medicine, and in it you can read evidence against it .........yes could well be, still i am somehow puzzled why is it so......in rats they found combination therapy helps them.....and they concluded that in humans its not doing the same ........i mixed it up this lyme disease patient was on t3 only..yes......she could not tolerate combination therapy.....but it was her who questioned weather t3 should be increased at all in certain conditions etc...its huge huge discussion on chris kesser blog.
So this makes it a whole different subject.......there are no studies about t3 only therapies or are there?...
Ivy, I don't know of any, which is not to say there are none. T3 was originally used to treat psychosis and depression in the 1950s and was found to be beneficial in treating low thyroid prior to the invention of synthetic thyroxine in the 60/70s.
I went to look it up! Guess what t3 was mainly used in treating depressions, and t4 not good at it! and it showed that it has better response then antidepresives......then its used for various surgery of heart problems and such things.....now i am thinking if this cheap medicine can kick out antidepresive drugs, maybe thats why they dont want people find out ........have to go to sleep now...but this is amazingly interesting to search through those studies none is done on the treatment of hypothiroidism with t3 only..or i have not find it yet...will report surely if i find something
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good luck
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