ok peeps need a second opinion can you help please? how much t3 should i take?:)

I am currently taking 4 grain of pig thyroid and 20mg of t3. My t4 and t3 levels are low and so is my tsh level. I feel like I am not benefiting from the pig thyroid medicine and still experiencing symptoms of chronic fatigue. I am taking adrenal supplements and have been for a around 4 months I want to try t3 only medication. how much t3 should i take if i am currently taking ndt at 4 grain and 20mg of t3? ive been told that i should take around 100 mg but i just need a second opinion on this

[Clutter]

HypoHippo FT4 drops when you take NDT and synthetic T3 because there isn't the need for so much T4 storage for conversion.

4 grains is roughly equivalent to 300mcg T4. If you use the T3 to T4 3:1 ratio then 4 grains is equivalent to 100mcg T3. You should reduce your NDT a few days before adding so much T3 or you may become very overstimulated.

Why don't you drop a grain and add another 20mcg T3 to boost your FT3?

[shaws Administrator]

Dr Lowe and Dr Toft both said that some of us need suppressive doses in order to feel well and your TSH is low not suppressed.

But it appears that your 4 grains of NDT are approx equivalent to 400mcg levo plus T3 which don't seem to be having the desired effect.

It could be that there is a resistance in your cells which Dr Lowe says T3 may be the way to go. Personally, I would take 50mcg of T3 (equiv. to approx 200mc levo) initially and wait to see how you react to this as it is absorbed into bloodstream quickly and T3 goes directly into cells and gradually work up to a dose which makes you feel well and reduces your symptoms. If at any time you feel overstimulated, too hot, fast heartbeat etc. reduce your dose or miss a day. Make a record of your temps and pulse and how you feel. Take supplements 4 hours apart. I am not medically qualified but this is a link to Dr Lowe and read the last two paragraphs and this is an excerpt:-

It will take some years for physicians to learn about peripheral resistance to thyroid hormone and to understand the odd test values these patients have when taking effective dosages of thyroid hormone. Patients with peripheral resistance must take TSH-suppressing dosages of thyroid hormone to have normal peripheral tissue metabolism. But there is nothing whatsoever harmful to these patients in having their TSH suppressed by these dosages of thyroid hormone. In fact, it would be harmful for most of them not to take such dosages. The adverse consequences include conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and liver and cardiovascular diseases.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

In the following link he states:-

With Cytomel, if overstimulation occurs, it can be stopped with one or two small doses of propranolol. Or the patient can simply reduce her dosage of Cytomel the next time she takes it. I want to emphasize, however, that when our protocol is used properly, there is no overstimulation to be avoided by using timed-release T3. The protocol has safeguards against adverse effects.

And finally, why do I specify that the typical patient use one full dose of non-timed-release Cytomel for life? Because extensive testing has shown that this is safe, effective, and most economical—when used within the context of our entire protocol.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

I wish you success.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

thank you very much

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

Correction, take 60mcg T3 (I have realised you take 20mcg and not 25mcg).

[marmaris in reply to shaws]

I have tried this Shaws ie taking my full t3 nhs liothyronine at a.m. and also 20mcgs at a.m. and the further 10mcg p.m. I generally take the T4 50mcgs at a.m. too. I cannot say that I am feeling any better and still get the afternoon slump, and the weight gain is no better, bloated tummy and feeling like a beached whale. I just don't think it is working for me. Also I have started hrt progesterone patches and estrogen combined and I have been reading on several occassions that we have to up the dosage if taking this as it can block some of the thyroid medication. Great and just when my Endo reduced my T4 from 100mcgs to 50mcgs, I did feel the difference. Any advise and reassurance please?

[shaws Administrator in reply to marmaris]

I have always taken one full dose of thyroid medication first thing (I am on 30mcg T3), whether T4, T4/T3 and T3 or NDT. Levo made me very unwell. When I stopped it, I felt so much better. T3 and/or NDT made me feel well and all my symptoms have gone. I don't know why T3 isn't working for you or is it the levo which is the culprit? This is an excerpt and you may need another blood test, about 6 weeks after the Endo reduced meds.

"For women with hypothyroidism, it's important to remember one thing at this time. If you are using a lot of phytoestrogens in soy foods, or if you are taking hormone replacement therapy with estrogen, you need to have your thyroid rechecked and rebalanced. Estrogens, whether from plants or from hormone replacement, can interfere with thyroid hormones at the receptor site and cause hypothyroid symptoms. Even if your blood tests are "normal", if you have symptoms of hypothyroidism, particularly fatigue, bloating, headaches, and depression, you may need to get your dose increased a bit."

thyroid-info.com/articles/t...

[marmaris in reply to shaws]

Thank you for that article Shaws it is very interesting and just as I thought. I have been taking slightly more taking the 20mcgs T3 a.m and following on with half a 25mcgs cynomel(that I still had in stock), so a little bit extra than the 10mcgs ie 12.5. Still feel that I could up more and have gone upto 40mcgs with no adverse affects. Maybe I will try this, also I know the signs now, as I once took 2 x 25mcgs cynomel ie 50mcgs and was too much. I will continue with caution. Bloods will not be done until I see the endo in about 5 months time.

[shaws Administrator in reply to marmaris]

I hope it works for you. It is all trial and error.