Hi, so it transpaires my T3 is in the low normal range - it is not optimal. What is the name of the drug which is prescribed to replace T3? What dosage are patients usually started on. Thanks so much for your help in advance.
Best wishes, Wennieflower
Wennieflower, I have looked on your Profile and there's no info re thyroid gland problem.
Looking down a couple of your posts, I guess you have hashimotos.
When were you diagnosed, what dose of levothyroxine do you take. Can you post your latest blood test results.
Low T3 can usually be improved by an increase in levothyroxine. T3 need not be at the top of the range but near the top is usually sufficient.
Hi Shaws, in the middle of getting diagnosed - seeing endo next week. When I was well it turns out I was hyperthyroid now TSH in normal range but 4 times higher for me and my T3 is in the middle of the range not the upper quarter. I feel dreadful now - I have gained so much weight (despite only eating 1000 to 1200 calories), I am really down and tearful, can't cope with mornings, my hair has changed and become coarse, my periods have stopped, I am plagued with migraines and double vision. I have Crohn's and full blown Lupus (no-one has tested my thyroid antibodies) and my basal temp is on average 34.5 Celsius - I just know things are not right. What dosage of Levothyroxine are people usually started on? Thanks so much for your help, Wennieflower
Thanks for information. Hyper is worse than hypothyroidism (which I have). I am glad you are seeing an Endo and sometimes you've to wait quite a while before you actually see someone. You are a poor soul right enough with Crohns, migraines etc to cope with. When we feel so poorly and doctors might try their best we are left floundering.
Sometimes hyper patients symptoms can be eased and one of our members who has/is hyper will respond. I will put below an extract from one of the Senior member's comments of the BTA.:-
5 Patients with hyperthyroidism often ask for advice on drug treatment versus radioiodine therapy. Can you summarise the pros and cons of each?
The three treatments for hyperthyroidism of Graves’ disease – antithyroid drugs, iodine-131 and surgery – are effective but none is perfect.4
Iodine-131 will almost certainly cause hypothyroidism, usually within the first year of treatment, as will surgery, given the move towards total rather than subtotal thyroidectomy.
There is no consensus among endocrinologists about the correct dose of thyroid hormone replacement so patients may prefer to opt for long-term treatment with carbimazole. Standard practice is that carbimazole is given for 18 months in those destined to have just one episode of hyperthyroidism lasting a few months.
But there’s no reason why carbimazole shouldn’t be used for many years in those who do relapse. Any adverse effects such as urticarial rash or agranulocytosis will have occurred within a few weeks of starting the first course.
Iodine-131 treatment for toxic multinodular goitre is the most appropriate choice as hypothyroidism is uncommon. Surgery would be reserved for those with very large goitres and mediastinal compression.
Once hyperthyroidism has developed in a patient with a multinodular goitre, it will not remit and any antithyroid therapy would have to be lifelong.
(I hope this reassures you a little - bear in mind I'm not medically qualified).
Some people swing between hyper and hypo.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
I posted on your previous thread - about your test results. I asked you about your B12 - Ferritin - Folate - VitD - have they been tested and what were the results with ranges. As yet there has not been an answer.
Absolutely no point in considering T3 if the above vitamins and minerals are not optimal in your body. I noticed a huge improvement once my B12 and VitD were optimal. I too have Crohns. If you have good levels of the above vits and minerals - then the Levo you take will convert into T3 more efficiently ....
T3 is not a quick fix if you do not have all the basics in place ........
Hi Marz,
sorry for delay - I didn't have all of the results.
My protein is low 59 (range 60 - 80) gastro likes it in middle and thinks I am leaking it from my gut as have a very high protein diet. My haemoglobin shows I am anaemic 106 (normal 120-160). Ferritin 29 (normal 13-150), calcium 2.25 (normal 2.1-2.5), folate 9.2 (4.6-18.7) and B12 406 (normal 180-866). TSH 0.870 (normal 0.27-4.2), Free T3 4.9 (normal 3.1 to 6.8) and Free T4 18.5 (normal 12-22). NB all are my most recent results apart from the ferritin is a 2015 result and B12 and folate 2014 - they are the most up to date results I have. Just so you know I take a prescription only strong multi-vitamin, folic acid and calcium and vitamin D daily - all prescribed. Despite those my results are all quite low normal and I do have a low magnesium level as well (I don't have the results to hand). I have been anaemic for years - I cannot take oral iron and I am only prescribed it IV when my haemoglobin drops to 8 which it periodically does. I hope that information helps Marz - what would you think and do if you were me?
Thanks, Wennieflower
Oh dear - that is a tough question .... we are all so individual. Not sure about a multi-vit - I think it would be best to take the B12 as an individual tablet and accompany it with a GOOD B Complex to keep all the B's in balance. I would go Gluten Free - and see if that improves the absorption of the vitals. Healing the gut seems to be the key .....
Wennieflower,
TSH 0.87, FT4 18.5 and FT3 4.9 are euthyroid. FT4 and FT3 aren't low and don't indicate thyroid dysfunction.
As you can't tolerate iron perhaps you try cooking with the Cambodian Iron Fish to raise iron levels.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....
Sorry I made a typo my T3 was 3.9 (normal 3.1 to 6.8) - it was my understanding from the articles you sent me that T3 needs to be in the top 25% of the "normal" range to be optimal which means it would need to be over 5.8 (according to the hospital ranges) - isn't that correct - have I misunderstood what I have read? Thanks for your help, Wennieflower
Wennieflower,
I'm sorry if any articles I sent misled you to think that everyone should have FT4 and FT3 in the upper ranges. I may have assumed that you were taking Levothyroxine. Advice that FT4 should be in the upper quadrant, and FT3 towards/in the upper third of range is for patients who are taking Levothyroxine to target optimal medication levels.
FT3 3.9 is within range and your TSH is low and FT4 very good which I think rules out thyroid dysfunction.
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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.
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