T 3 question

[Hormone-mess]

I recently had my labs drawn. My TSH is 0.57 range 0.32-5.5. Free T3 is 2.9 range 2.3-4.2. Free T4 1.3 range 0.70-1.80. I'm still quite fatigued. Would I benefit from a T3 addition and lowering of T4? I'm on 75 mcg of Synthroid. 

[Marz]

I think it is important to ensure you have the body/thyroid well supported before embarking on taking/adding T3.  Do you know your levels of FERRITIN - FOLATE - B12 - VITD ?  They need to be optimal for you to feel good and for your thyroid hormones to work efficiently.  Yes your FT3 looks to be towards the bottom of the range - but they tested your Total T4 and not the FT4 - so it is difficult to tell if you are converting well.

Have you had thyroid anti-bodies tested ?

Am not a medic - just a Hashi's girl with B12 issues....

[Hormone-mess in reply to Marz]

Hi Marz! I have had my antibodies tested. My TPO is around 118 down from 186. My Tgab is now 3 down from 8. 

The test also showed both free T3 and free T4.

I've been supplementing with B12, d, magnesium Glycinate and Omega 3 since September of 2015. My b12 is up to 482 from 312 where I started. I take a chewable methyl b12. Unsure of D at this point, my Dr. Said it takes quite sometime to get that level up. I was taking 7000 I u of liquid D3 for two months, and now I'm supplementing with 5000 it a day. My ferritin is good although I can't remember the number. I also take a 50 billion probiotic daily.

I have recently started bio identical hormone replacement for horrible menopause symptoms. I just turned forty and was diagnosed with premature menopause before my birthday! 

Between the symptoms from menopause and my hypo, I'm fairly miserable.

[Marz in reply to Hormone-mess]

Once supplementing B12 - further testing is of little importance as the results are skewed.  You need your B12 around a 1000 - so I would stick with the 5000mcg for the forseeable future.  You also need a GOOD B Complex to keep all the B vitamins in balance.  Maybe one with Methyfolate rather than Folic Acid.  B12 works with Folate in the body.  Folate is natural - folic acid is synthetic.

You haven't mentioned your Levo dose so it will make if difficult for people to advise on the addition of T3.  If your Iron or Ferritin is low - then that could be the cause of your fatigue - and not the low T3.

I am not anti-T3 - I take it myself - after years of not converting T4 adequately.

[Hormone-mess in reply to Marz]

Thank you for your insight Marz! I am on 75 mcg of Synthroid. 

I will add a good B complex with methylfolate. 

I will also request to have my ferritin and iron checked again.

If the iron and ferritin are ok, do you think I would benefit from T3?

[Marz in reply to Hormone-mess]

I am a little cautious in commenting as I have noticed a big upturn in people on this forum requesting information about buying T3 on-line.  Equally there are many people saying that T3 is not working for them.  Not the same people I might add !  The only way you will know if it is right for you - is to try.  Start LOW and SLOW ....

[Hormone-mess in reply to Marz]

I understand Marz. I however, I am not residing in the UK. I am in the U.S.. I suppose my question is more referencing to whether or not my free T3 levels indicate a need. Thank you for replying to me! 

[Marz in reply to Hormone-mess]

...and I live in Crete !  Hope all goes well for you !

[Eddie83]

You likely would benefit from T3.  I am in a similar position.  Your FT3 is below mid-range of ~3.3, as was mine.  After I got onto T3+T4=15+75, my FT3 rose to about 3.6 and I am doing well.  Also, that dropped my TSH to 0.5.   You could start adding T3 in small increments (2.5 or 5 mcg) and see how you feel.   If you start feeling hyperthyroid, then back off on the T3 immediately as it has a short half-life; then drop your T4 down to 62.5, wait a few days, then try bringing T3 up again in small increments.  I wouldn't worry about TSH, unless it goes below 0.1.  BTW, I don't worry about spreading T3 out over the day, I take my 15mcg all at once, at bedtime; some will tolerate it better taken in the morning.

[Hormone-mess in reply to Eddie83]

Thank you for your reply! I have been doing a lot of research since being diagnosed. There's quite a bit of information out there to study. Do you live in the U.S. As well? I'm in Colorado.

[Eddie83 in reply to Hormone-mess]

I live in Colorado also, specifically, Boulder.

[Hormone-mess in reply to Eddie83]

We live really close to each other, I'm in Broomfield.

[Eddie83 in reply to Hormone-mess]

Love to hear doctor horror stories!   Do you have any good ones to tell?

One of the worst endos I've come across: David Podlecki in Longmont.  Ended that relationship after about 3 appointments.  Authoritarian, and opinionated against all reason.

[teenarocks]

I was on T4 for 20 years and felt lousy.  Now I have an endo who added T3 and things are better.  My T3 is low in the range also.  The endo doesn't really care and wouldn't even test T3 if I didn't insist on it.  She goes by TSH alone.  But for some reason she has been cooperative with giving me the T3.  At my recent visit she reduced my Levoxyl from 88 to 75 mcg. six days a week and raised my T3 to 7.5 mcg. from 5 mcg.  seven days a week.  It has made a difference.  So I'm waiting to see what my next bloods show.  My goal is to continue these adjustments until my T3 is in the top 1/3 of the range.  I'm hoping she will cooperate.  How long have you been on thyroid hormone?  It's possible you have not yet received the full benefit.  But if you have been taking it long term, from what you have reported, and if your experience is anything like mine, I think you would benefit from T3 supplementation.  You are very low in the range.

[Hormone-mess in reply to teenarocks]

Thanks for the reply! It's great hearing that people are feeling better after adding T3 when their levels were low. I know everyone is different, I'm just looking forward to the day when I feel somewhat normal again. A combo of menopause symptoms and thyroid symptoms is not fun. I've been on thyroid hormone since January 2015, so a little over a year now. I started on generic Levothyroxine and felt really bad. I made the switch to name brand Synthroid six weeks ago, and it's better, but not great.

[teenarocks in reply to Hormone-mess]

My hypo showed up around the same time as menopause.  This is not unusual.  A terrible double-whammy!  I did not do well on Synthroid.  Have now been switched to Levoxyl and it seems better for me.  Wish you all the best!