To those who remain ill, Thyroid Expert Dr.John Lowe says this about t4 and proper thyroid treatment..

[faith63]

I documented some disturbing findings about T4-replacement: in five studies, it left hypothyroid patients suffering from hypothyroid symptoms.[14][15][16][17][18] And in one study, patients on T4-replacement used more drugs and had an increased incidence of potentially fatal diseases.[18]

Our long line of research shows that some patients with too little thyroid hormone regulation don’t benefit at all from T4-replacement or from T4/T3 combination therapy. Virtually all these patients, however, improve or recover with high enough doses of T3 alone.

On such patients’ behalf, we need to get word of these studies out to their doctors. I hope that doctors who’ve falsely believed that the brain gets T3 solely from T4 will consider the treatment implications of the study results. If so, perhaps they’ll then allow their patients who respond poorly to T4-replacement or T4/T3 therapy to switch to T3 alone, the only approach likely to work for them.

[Hidden]

Where are the sources for the citations?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

OK, I found an archive of the original (the website it's from no longer exists). Please include references when quoting journals. Here's the source...

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[sparkly]

Hi faith63,

I seem to be one of these people who only recover on an high dose of t3 only.

Wrongly i assumed i needed to drastically reduce my dose now the weather is warmer. As i find a very thin line between under and over medicated.

I found out the hard way that i do need to be on a large dose. I was on 100mcg then reduced to 50mcg then wrongly reduced again and my body was not happy at all. Luckily T3 is quick acting and can resolve my symptoms within a day.

I am not typical when it comes to thyroid but i know T3 only is the only medication that gives me my life back.

I wish i understood more of what my body goes through and why i feel so unique in this thyroid world.

Sparkly x

[rubyred in reply to sparkly]

Hi sparkly, I also take a large dose of T3. 165mcg I was intolerant to T4. I need what I take if I try to reduce I start to get symptoms back and my eyes sting. Please can I ask what is your TSH like. Mine is suppressed and always has been even on thyroxine. I am a graves and have had RAI. X😄

[sparkly in reply to rubyred]

Hi Ruby, yes tsh soon became suppressed on t4 also but it was only 4.27 when diagnosed. It was my physical signs that helped me get diagnosed.

My latest bloods in April were

TSH 0.01 0.35-5.50

FT4 3.4 10.0-20.0

FT3 6.3 3.5-6.5

This is the highest ft3 I've ever had and was on 106 mcg at time. Then reduced but having to up again as been floored last 3 days.

I am under a Endocrinologist but i buy my own uni-pharma T3 as Mercury pharma does not agree with me.

[rubyred in reply to sparkly]

Hi thank you, I also purchase unipharma. My endo doesn't know what I take and although fab is concentrating on my TSH. I don't have my latest bloods to hand. I think I posted them December January time. My T4 levels are odd looking as I don't have any thyroid function left. My T3 is suppressed at -0.01 the range I think is the same as yours.