T3 doesn't seem to be working any more.

[fortunata]

I've been taking Cytomel and then Uni Pharma T3 when the Cytomel source dried up, for almost four years. Lately, I have had to raise my dose as it doesn't seem to be working anymore. I have pushed the dose as high as 100mcgs but my temps and heart rate continue to drop. Yesterday, my heart rate was 48 on waking and temps got no higher than 36.2.i have spent most of last week feeling freezing cold. Also, my weight is creeping up by about a pound a week, even though I walk around 20 miles a week and eat healthily.

I'm beyond dismayed as things had been going so well and I thought I'd got this thing as licked as I was ever going to get it. My boundless optimism seems to have crashed and I no longer know what to do.

[fortunata]

Sorry. Minor error. I've been taking it for three years, not four.

[shaws Administrator]

I also take Unipharma T3 and have no problems. When you say you take 100mcg I assume you take 4 25mcg tablets?

[fortunata in reply to shaws]

That's right, Shaws. I take them in one go at seven am and then wait an hour before eating or drinking.

[shaws Administrator in reply to fortunata]

I take mine once daily too but it is a mystery why your dose isn't working at present.

I wonder, and it is only a guess, to drop your dose to 50mcg tomorrow to see what your body's reaction is and maybe your dose at 100mcg is too high or you've become resistant in some way. The signs of low pulse are signals but sometimes our temp doesn't come back to what was 'normal' and 36.5 is adequate and you should feel warm but not cold.

Are you sourcing your T3 from a reputable site?

[fortunata]

Hi Shaws. Yes, I'm sourcing it from a reputable site. It's the contact I got from this website.

I'll certainly have a go at dropping my dose tomorrow to see what happens. Thanks for your response.

[shaws Administrator in reply to fortunata]

Let me know how you get on as I'm curious. Sometimes it's difficult to tell if we're on to much or too little.

[fortunata in reply to shaws]

Hi again Shaws. I've had 125 mcgs T3 today. (75mcg Triyotex and 2x 25mcgs of Uni Pharma) Temp has just hit 36.5 degrees and I feel like I'm just starting to come round.

[shaws Administrator in reply to fortunata]

I'm glad you feel a bit better but do you split your doses?

[fortunata in reply to shaws]

No. I prefer to go with John Lowe on this. I'd tried splitting them but taking them all in one go seemed to work better. It gave me better sleep at night.

[shaws Administrator in reply to fortunata]

I was thinking that with 4 x 25mcg is equal to approx 400mcg of levo. I take 1 x 25mcg plus 3/4 tablet.

I am a bit worried that you are overdosing on T3, maybe not being aware that the strength is about 3 times more than T4.

i.e. One 75mcg of Tryotex is equivalent to 225mcg levo

plus

Two x 25mcg of T3 equivalent to 200mcg of levo

Total today of combined T3's is 425mcg of levo.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[fortunata in reply to shaws]

I don't feel in the slightest bit overdosed though. I spoke to a medic friend of ours who said that 48 is practically bradychardic. He said he's never heard of T3 making the heart rate low.

[shaws Administrator in reply to fortunata]

I am glad you don't feel overdosed and my husband has a pulse of 32 (but that's because he's done a lot of sports).

Mine's average now - around 60mcg to 65mcg.

Hypothyroidism makes our pulse low until on optimum level.

I wonder if you are Hormone Resistant and I'll give you a link:

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

[fortunata in reply to shaws]

Thanks, Shaws. I'll have a read. 😊

[fortunata in reply to shaws]

Also, I am aware of the T4/T3 conversion rate.

[MarsBar12]

I take small amounts of T3 in addition to T4. 1/4 tablet twice a day. Have to say - sometimes I forget to take the 2nd one, but I don't feel any the worse. I've changed to the T3 from cyprus a month or so ago and I feel they're not as strong as the tiromel I was getting from turkey before.

[Hidden]

I agree with both eljii and buzz. Something similar happened to me. After a big improvement I achieved on T3 I noticed that something is going bad again and it was adrenal fatigue. So I decided to take Hydrocortisone and see what will happen. It worked and I feel fine again and my T3 has purpose again. I am not saying that you should jump and buy HC but should first consider that adrenal fatigue could be a problem in your case. I also agree with buzz that Uni Pharma is much stronger than Tiromel (I haven't tried Thyro3 though, so can't say anything about it).

[bear10 in reply to Hidden]

Interested that you took hydrocortisone for your adrenals be grateful if you could PM me if necessary where you got that from and how you used it.

Many thanks.

[fortunata in reply to bear10]

I'm interested as to where you got the hydrocortisone from too. Would you on me too, please?

[Hidden in reply to fortunata]

I will send you link on PM but please first check is this the problem is your case.

[fortunata in reply to Hidden]

I will, don't worry. 😊

[Hidden in reply to bear10]

Sent you PM where I am getting HC from. I take 20 mg per day, all at once (1 tablet) in the morning.

[fortunata]

Thanks for your replies. I'm seeing an endo in Sheffield on Tue so will ask him if I canhave adrenal function tested. X