t3

[thyroidnodules]

after having tried levo and not feeling any better plus more weight gain I have decided to try t3 only. My t3 and t4 were on the low side so after reading certain posts and obtaining t3 from a reliable site (obtained from a member on this forum) I am ready to take it. Can anyone advise when it should be taken. is it first thing on an empty stomach the same as t4? I am finding this scary - any advice welcome

[puncturedbicycle]

You can split the dose if you're afraid of side effects. Have you read Paul's book Recovering with T3?

Like you I was wary of side effects so I used to get up early and take 5mcg t3 alongside my t4 until I knew it was okay, then I upped it to 10, which I still take now. Some people advise taking it on an empty stomach but a lot of people don't bother. My doctor said it wasn't necessary so I don't do that.

Are you still on levo or have you stopped it?

[thyroidnodules in reply to puncturedbicycle]

I stopped the levo and the t3 I have is 25mcg. thank you for your reply.

[acunatang]

It is very much an individual thing with t3 you have to find the best way for you, but start with low dose and build over time! Some people, like me, need to take it 5 times a day but I have heard that some just take it the once! Maybe I need to take it more often because my body was completely depleted and I need loads to repair the damage caused during the time my body felt like it was shutting down! Be careful with it and write down a daily log of when you take it and how you feel and check your pulse regularly!

[shaws Administrator]

Hi thyroidnodules

I have looked on your profile but there's no history about your journey, i.e. when were you diagnosed or dose of levo.

If quite newly diagnosed it does take some months to reach a level of dose which makes you feel better. It probably took some years for us to be eventually diagnosed as hypo and I know that some of us do not feel better initially until on an adequate dose. Of course some of us don't find an improvement.

The problem with self-medicating is sourcing our thyroid hormones as the doctors/endos are reluctant to prescribe alternatives to levo. We will also have to pay (and I know it's worth it to have good health) . We might have to try a few alternatives before finding one that suits. Once on one you like you have to have a stock in case an occasion arises where there's a shortage.

T3 if it is 25mcg is equal to around 100mcg of levo. If 20mcg it is around 60mcg of levo.

Whatever dose of levo you take you can switch to T3 in an appropriate amount, I take one dose daily with a glass of water (just as with levo) and wait before eating.

There's a lot of 'hype' about T3 but it is just a synthetic thyroid hormone although the active one, so it enters your cells within a few hours but its effect then lasts between 1 to 3 days. I found it calmed my whole system.

Regards.

[thyroidnodules in reply to shaws]

thankyou for your heklpful reply x

[shaws Administrator in reply to thyroidnodules]

I forgot to say to take your pulse/temp several times a day before you begin T3 and thereafter until you feel better. Our pulse/temp can also be helpful in finding the correct dose. If hypo our pulse is usually low anyway as is temp. When improving they can rise sufficiently (maybe not back to what they used to be) for us to feel warm, and pulse steady at a reasonable rate. Sometimes we can feel very hot and guess we've taken too much hormones and reduce when that might not be the case. Also if pulse races may mean too much also (mine raced anyway even with a low dose of levo).

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions"

[shaws Administrator in reply to thyroidnodules]

Hi - I made a mistake on the above 20mcg T3 which is equal to around 60mcg levo (not 20mcg).

[Brubru in reply to shaws]

Shaws, in your post it's written 25mcg t3=100 Levo and 20mcg= 20mcg Levo? Is it a typo?

[shaws Administrator in reply to Brubru]

I am indebted to you - thanks very much. Yes it was a typo and should have read 20mcg of T3 equal to approx 60mcg of levothyroxine.

[Brubru in reply to shaws]

Trust me I'm much more indebted to you I've learned so much Your reply interested me because I'm considering trying t3 only. So I wanted to make sure about the conversion at the moment I'm on 3 grains thyroid s. Anyway I think I'm mixing all up. You kept the right one I misread it. Sorry

[shaws Administrator in reply to Brubru]

You were right I had made a mistake, it should have been levo and I put T3 so with your help I changed the mistake to levo.

You may be aware of how to edit/delete anything you you want to change. You go to the down arrow across from the green Reply and press and you will get options. i.e reply/delete etc and you are then able to add/remove or delete.

[Clutter]

thyroidnodules, why don't you try adding 6.25mcg T3 to Levothyroxine? This should raise your FT3. You can take T3 with your Levothyroxine dose.

_______________________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[thyroidnodules in reply to Clutter]

I am so confused. some people say both t3 and t4 and others say t3 only. I have only been taking t3 on its own for 2 days and feel better - more energy but I am starting to get pains in my arms and legs . am taking 25mcg but think I am going to half the tablets and maybe that will help. My readings were tsh 4.6 t3 3 and t4 11. I was put on 50 mcg levo but stopped it. my doc said to have a blood test in feb so will see what the readings are then

[Clutter in reply to thyroidnodules]

thyroidnodules, adding T3 to T4 works for most people. You were undermedicated on 50mcg as TSH was high, FT4 and FT3 low. Why not try 50mcg T4 plus 12.5mcg T3 which is equivalent to 87.5mcg T4. You will be undermedicated on 12.5mcg T3 only.

________________________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.

[thyroidnodules in reply to Clutter]

thank you for your reply = should I take them at the same time?

[Clutter in reply to thyroidnodules]

Thyroidnodules, you can do if you've been comfortable taking 12.5mcg and 25mcg T3.

___________________________________________________

I am not a medical professional and this information is not intended to be a substitute for medical guidance from your own doctor. Please check with your personal physician before applying any of these suggestions.