T3

[Weebella]

I've started adding t3 to Levo but I haven't told my gp and now it's time for the usual blood test.. Will he know by results i'v been taking t3 or not???? Or should I stop taking it until I've had blood test ty

[Hidden]

Weebella - your results will indicate that something is not right. Your choice is to either stop taking T3 although not sure for what period or to come clean and tell your GP.

How are you feeling which is the important point?

[Weebella in reply to Hidden]

Don't want to come clean at this moment I would rather wait a couple of months as i'v only been taking t3 for 2 weeks I'm not sure if it's doing anything yet but i'v had no side effects apart from headache first 2 days ☺️

[Clutter]

Weebella, The blood test won't show you are taking T3 but adding T3 will usually lower TSH and FT4 and raise FT3. YOU need to know what your levels are on T4+T3 to make sure you aren't overmedicating. Leave 24 hours between last dose and blood draw and you'll know what your normal circulating levels are.

If your TSH is very low or suppressed your GP may think you are overmedicated. It's normal to have low/suppressed TSH on T4+T3 and it doesn't indicate overmedication as long as FT3 is within range.

tiredthyroid.com/tsh.html

[Weebella in reply to Clutter]

Ty clutter but my gp won't do full thyroid test , I don't feel like I'm over medicated

[Weebella in reply to Weebella]

I was at hospital in June but they were running late too late to be able to do full thyroid bloods they said to go and ask gp to do them so I will try and ask him again if not I'm back at hospital in September

[Clutter in reply to Weebella]

Weebella, Just seen you've only been taking T3 2 weeks, probably not long enough to become overmedicated but long enough to lower your TSH. When is your blood draw?

[Weebella in reply to Clutter]

Have to make appoint just received note from gp , how long does it take t3 to start working if it's going to work clutter ??

[Clutter in reply to Weebella]

Weebella, Most people will feel some improvement within 3 or 4 weeks. I had improvement in brain fog within a week but it took months before physical symptoms improved.

How much T4 and T3 are you taking and did you reduce T4 when you added T3?

I'd be inclined to stop taking the T3 and restart after your blood draw as you aren't ready to discuss it with your GP yet.

[Weebella in reply to Clutter]

I reduced Levo from 125-75 and added 1 t3 cut into quarters a day , can my gp refuse to prescribe any Levo if I tell him I'm taking t3 ???? I'm bloody scared to tell him 😱

[Clutter in reply to Weebella]

Weebella, you reduced T4 too much. 6.25mcg T3 is equivalent to 18.75mcg T4. Unless your FT4 was at the top of range there was no need to reduce T4. If FT4 was high a 25mcg reduction would have been ample. You're probably a bit undermedicated and need to increase T4 or T3. If you increase T4 to 100mcg + 6.25mcg T3 you'll be on a dose equivalent to 118.75mcg so there's little chance your TSH will be low and your GP won't know you are self medicating unless you tell him.

I believe a GP has the right to refuse to treat patients who don't follow their treatment plans. It would be unusual to have treatment withdrawn without giving you the opportunity to comply.

Perhaps keep it to yourself until you know the T4+T3 is working. If you post your results we can advise whether dose needs tweaking and you should know by the time you see your endo in Sept whether the combination is working.

[Weebella in reply to Clutter]

Ty for ur help clutter I really appreciate it, I'm taking 25 mcg of t3 I'm taking 1 quarter 4 times a day I'm so confused now 😂😂

[Clutter in reply to Weebella]

Weebella, okay, I though you were taking one quarter T3 (6.25mcg) a day.

25mcg T3 is equivalent to 75mcg T4 so it's a good job you reduced T4 by 50mcg 25mcg T3 + 75mcg T4 will almost certainly suppress your TSH and may push your FT3 over range. Your GP may be confused about the results unless you explain.

75mcg T4 + 30mcg T3 suppresses my TSH <0.01, but FT4 and FT3 are within range.

[Weebella in reply to Clutter]

So perhaps I should just take 12.5 t3 daily then??? But what about Levo what do u think I should take of that , I don't want to end up feeling worse than I did before 😤

[Clutter in reply to Weebella]

Weebella, I think starting 25mcg was too much and 6.25mcg added to 125mcg or 100mcg T4 would have been more appropriate.

If you aren't feeling overmedicated stick with your current dose until you have the blood results which will show whether you are overmedicated. If TSH is <0.03 lab might test FT3. Otherwise you should order a private test to check FT3.

[Weebella in reply to Clutter]

Ty so much for ur help clutter I think I will stop t3 until I have bloods done or drop to 6.25 😏

[kathy1029 in reply to Clutter]

hi,

this question is for clutter, its not a reply to original poster.

clutter, could you do the math for me, i am taking 75mcg levo and my t3 has not arrived in the mail yet, but i want to know how to take is, i ordered thiroyd greater pharma at 60mg, do i stop taking my levo and just start the thiroyd? i also bought triyotex (mexico's cytomel) that is 75mcg t3 capsule form (i had ordered cytomel and they substituted it for capsules) after doing my own research, i see that it just isnt possible to split up a capsule and 75mcg is way too high for me to start on. i do not plan on taking the two together, i just bought one of each to see which one works for me.

thank you in advance

[Clutter in reply to kathy1029]

Arugala, post your recent results and ranges (figures in brackets) in a new question with the dose you're taking now. Could you be clear about whether you intend to take Levothyroxine + T3 or Thiroyd.

[kathy1029 in reply to Clutter]

hi clutter, i got a lab result and all it states is TSH (2.16mIU/L) not sure if this is enough, i had an antibody test done a couple years ago, if you need those results please let me know

thank you in advance

[Clutter in reply to kathy1029]

Arugala, it's enough to tell me you are undermedicated. Get a pillcutter from a high street pharmacy. 25mcg T3 can be quartered and you can add one quarter (6.25mcg) to your Levothyroxine 75mcg. You can increase dose to 12.5mcg after 2 weeks. Most people split the T3 into 2 doses taken 8-12 hours apart. Have a blood test including FT3 6-8 weeks later and before increasing dose further.

[kathy1029 in reply to Clutter]

hi clutter,

and happy friday!!! here are my labs results - Thyroid Stim Hormone (899), my TSH result is 2.16 mIU/L in a reference range of 0.40-4.50, i dont see an antibody result but there are lots of other results if you need more info. im waiting on Thiroyd NDT in the amount of 60mgs, what should i take on my first day? and i think starting in the morning is the way to go, your thoughts please,

thank you in advance

[Clutter in reply to kathy1029]

Arugala, do you have FT4 and FT3 results in addition to TSH? Are you intending to take Thiroyd in addition to 75mcg T4, or instead of Levothyroxine?

Please answer by starting your own post, not on this thread.

Weebella is sent email and on-site notifications every time we post on her thread. It is very annoying to have notifications for posts which are not related to your question.

[kathy1029 in reply to Clutter]

sorry weebella, i am just learning about how to use the site

[Weebella in reply to kathy1029]

Me too arugula I don't have much of a clue either 😊

[Weebella]

Ty fed up , my go won't reduce my Levo I don't think, I was reduced from 125 to 75 over year ago and felt really bad but he wouldn't out it Back up because of the dreaded tsh , hospital doc put it back to 125 but all my hair including body hair has not came in again so I'm hoping thus t3 will sort that out

[Spareribs in reply to Weebella]

Your GP reduced Levo from 125 to 75 so you're taking 25 T3 to feel better?- I would have thought you'd know if you were getting hyper symptoms.

T3 is 3 to 5 times 'stronger' than T4 so 25 T3 is more or less equal to 100 T4. (so you're taking equivalent 175 T4).

Just a suggestion not to take any more T3 until your blood test, T3 has a short 'half-life' & as you've only taken it for 2 weeks should be OK - you may get a bit jittery without it, well, I did - but I knew why.

Best of luck - I'll have the same dilemma in a few months time, whether to admit it helps or keep quiet... hmmm.... J x

[Weebella in reply to Spareribs]

My gp reduced Levo over year ago hospital put it back to 125 in February but still feel crap so I Thor I would try t3 myself but seem to have got dose all wrong , 😤😤😤will stop get bloods done then take it fro there

[Spareribs in reply to Weebella]

I don't know - but if your dose was really wrong you'd know.

Levo takes 6 weeks to kick in, but T3 is pretty quick...

I'm still juggling too, trying to get the right combination - I thought I'd got it right last year with NDT (and losing weight!) then had to stop for a blood(y) test - diagnosed Hypo/prescribed Levo - started all over again, square one... with GP permission to be ill this time...

sigh.. we'll get there

(now we know we have choices)

[Glynisrose]

In the first place NEVER let any doctor titrate your meds by blood tests alone EVER. If your doctor tells you you have to reduce your meds ask why, its usually that your TSH is 'in range'. So you ask why a pituitary hormone is being used to measure a thyroid response. You really must not take any thyroid meds 24 hours before a blood test. Most GPS do a TSH test only so no, they won't be able to tell you are taking T3. If you feel better then don't stop taking it.

[Weebella in reply to Glynisrose]

The glynisrose i'v been on thyroxine for 30 yrs and over all these years i'v had everything wrong with me but i'v never had the nerve to stand up to any doc they just make me feel like it's all in my head but i'v learned so much from people on this site the last couple of months that I'm not gonna stand for their crap anymore, gee ain't I brave, probably crumble when I get to docs tho😤😩

[SilverAvocado]

Weebella, if you have a blood test whole you've been on T3 for a very short while the results will be useless. You need to be nice and stable on the dose you're on to get good clear results. I think you have two choices:

1) Stop taking the T3 and go back to your previous dose for a few weeks (it takes T3 about 10 days to leave the body) , then have the blood test and get a result for this old dosage.

2) Carry on as you are, and wait 6 weeks from the time you started this new dosage, and then have the blood test. This will give you information on the new dose.

I think option 1 might not work out so well, as sounds like you reduced your T4 as well as adding in T3, so everything is up in the air, and if I were you I'd want to wait 6 weeks of having everything stable again before having a blood test.

Also, what you really want is results to see whether your new dosage is working out. If you've been taking the new dosage for 2 weeks, you've only got to wait 4 more weeks till the usual recommended time of 6 weeks. By that time you'll also have a good idea if you feel any better on this dosage.

[Weebella in reply to SilverAvocado]

Ty silver I think I will stop t3 and get bloods done in 2 weeks then take it from there 😊I def do feel better taking little t3

[SilverAvocado in reply to Weebella]

Glad it was useful I agree with you that it's much nicer being able to talk to the doctor when you can say 'actually I've been doing this for months and feeling much better'