Blood test results

[Pig4u]

Just had my latest results

TSH 6 (0.27. -4.20)

T4 3.0 (12.0--22)

T3 5.8(3.1--6.0)

Previous results six weeks ago TSH 0.04. T4 21.7. T3 5.1

So T 3 hardly changed but other results very different .My new Endo has me on 40 Mcg T3 raised from 20mcg 5weeks ago . He said he was aiming to get my TSH well over range to get me feeling better. But as I feel worse daily it is clearly not working!

Trying to see Dr but as booked up for a week am hoping for early request tomorrow morning . I want him to contact Endo and am wondering whether I might go better on T4/ T3 mix ?

Any kind person out there with a similar experience please . I have tried everything else over the last 8 years!

[shaws Administrator]

It can takes months to find a dose or hormone that suits you. It took me about 5 years. The fact that your Endocrinologist is happy to prescribe T3 and also to get your TSH under the range sounds good.

The T4 will be extremely low as is to be expected when we take T3 only as our gland isn't producing much and you are not supplementing with it as in levothyroxine. T4 is only good if it converts to T3 as it is a pro-hormone. Your T3 is good.

Some people also have something called Thyroid Hormone Resistance and if a person has that they need much higher doses of T3 than someone who doesn't. You could phone his secretary and ask if you can email your lastest results and he might suggest an increase in dose. Slow and gradual is always best.

It can be trial and error but switching too often might not do the trick either. It's probably taken years for the thyroid gland to fail sufficiently for us to be diagnosed as hypo so it stands to reason it can also take a while to find a dose/hormone to improve our health.

40mcg of T3 is not too high and some people take higher doses but that doesn't apply to everyone.

"I am not medically qualified in any way. I am qualified through my own personal experience with hypothyroidism and the statutory treatment regime of the BTA and their guidelines which didn't make me well. - in fact I had even more symptoms and pain but finally recovering my health with the help/advice of Thyroiduk.org.uk. and alternative hormone to levothyroxine and comment is not given in my capacity as an Admin of Thyroid UK or endorsed by TUK. Information on the forum is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor."