Adding t3 - high cortisol

[Jefner]

From advice on here, because my t3 levels are always low and i am not converting properly, i intend to start adding some t3 tonight with my t4.

Some of you will know about my apprehension in trying it because of my high daytime cortisol levels (especially in the mornings. My endo frightened me off trying it as he said it might make my symptoms worse because of the cortisol.

Anyone been in the same situation as me and added t3? Gonna start on 5mcg at bedtime.

Would love to hear of experiences please. Feeling very very poorly today with severe anxiety, not eating properly again and am very weak. Still fearing trying it! need some encouragement and support please

[shaws]

T3 is a natural thyroid hormone - the active one required in all of our receptor cells. I had severe palpitations with levo and was forever in and out of the A&E. T4 has the job of converting to T3.

T3 was a godsend for me and immediately I took 10mcg my whole body calmed and I haven't had palpitations since. Needless to say I only take T3 nowadays and am fine.

I wish you success in your trial.

[Jefner in reply to shaws]

I have had any probs with my levo in the 10yrs i was taking it until my crash last autumn. Did you have adrenal probs?

[Raali in reply to shaws]

Hi shaws what dose of t3 are you on?

[shaws in reply to Raali]

I take 1 and a half tablets of Unipharma T3. which is 25mcg and 12.5. I halve one 25mcg into two. On now reading the comment from Ruthi below, T3 doesn't have a half-life. It is absorbed into the T3 receptor cells within a number of hours and it's work then lasts between one to three days for that one dose by sending out 'waves'. That's the ony way I can explain it. I of course take one daily dose.

[Raali in reply to shaws]

Thanks Shaws! Do you split it up or take it all in one dose. I was having severe heart palpitations as I think I have a problem with my adrenals so I experimented with the t3. As soon as I took 5mcg my body calmed down. I had another surge later on in the afternoon so I took another 5mcg and again felt better within 20 minutes of taking it. I am still experimenting and don’t know how much to take and when to take it. Please see that I had a partial lobectomy and was not placed on any replacement therapy. I got worse since and every time I tried to take t4 I would feel worse so I decided to take matters in my own hand and take t3 only. Well yesterday was the first day and everything went well. I hope I get some relief from all my symptoms. Are you on t3 only too? And how has it helped you?

[shaws in reply to Raali]

Yes - T3 resolved all my awful symptoms. I take one daily dose as suggested by Dr John Lowe who was also an Adviser to TUK before his accidental death. One daily dose - the T3 then disperses into our millions of T3 receptor cells and it is T3 which is the Active Thyroid hormone, whereas T4 - which seems to suit many - is inactive and has to convert to T3.

Dr Lowe suggests taking one daily dose and when introducing to increase by 1/4 tablet every two weeks but as your dose of 5mcg is very small I think you could add 5mcg every two weeks. Please bear in mind that I am not medically qualified but it is my own experience with all of the possibilities I've tried, i.e levo, NDTs, T4/T3 and T3 only.

When titrating doses you've to take notice how your symptoms are being relieved. If heart or pulse increases too much you've to drop back to previous dose.

[Ruthi]

Why at night time? T3 is almost immediately effective, and by morning only half will be left in your blood stream. It should be in the cells doing its work, of course.

I have high cortisol throughout the day and recently increased my NDT because I was only mid range on free T3. I feel better, no untoward effects.

[Jefner in reply to Ruthi]

Mornings are my worst for symptoms cus of the high cortisol. Nausea and anxiety is debilitating. U were already having t3 though with your cortisol levels, i will be starting afresh. Just read on here that some people do better with their meds at night

[shaws in reply to Jefner]

Dr Lowe, who was thyroid hormone resistant, took his 150mcg T3 dose in the middle of the night, so that nothing interfered with the uptake. Also T3, although absorbed quickly into our receptor cells, it's work for that one dose then begins and the effect lasts between one and three days.

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

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Hi Jefner

I agree with Ruthi about timing. Some people find that taking T3 at night time keeps them awake. I take mine either when I go to the loo early morning (if it's near enough to getting up time) or before I get up, around 7-8am, then breakfast about 10am. Second dose is late afternoon, maybe 4-5pm. Why not experiment, start with an early morning dose first and see how it goes, you can always change the timing later if you feel it's not right.

I know it can be daunting but don't fear trying the T3, it's a very small dose and exactly the right way to start. If you feel 'funny' in any way it will soon wear off and you don't have to take the next one.

Sorry you're feeling poorly today ((hugs)).

[sulamaye]

You don't want to take it at night because our bodies make cortisol around 4am so you are giving the body more energy for making cortisol. Take it in the morning, play around with wen, shift it slowly toward mid day, see what makes a difference if anything.

[Jefner in reply to sulamaye]

Clutter said to leave off my t4 for a couple of days cus had gone over range (see prev post). The start back on 100mcg ( from 125) and add 5mcg t3

[Jefner in reply to sulamaye]

Thats what i am worried about, cortisol levels, cus morning are so bad for me until late afternoon. Its not helping not eating properly cus of the nausea. Do you mean play around with just the t3 on timing? What if i take t4 at night and t3 late morning?

[sulamaye in reply to Jefner]

Yes play around with the t3 timings. Your body has made the majority of its cortisol for the day by breakfast time roughly, sometimes are bodies make a lot as it struggles with the stress of being hypo, trying to compensate, we also make adrenaline sometimes to compensate for low cortisol. this can lead to burn out and adrenal insufficiency. It's what happened to me. My first stress test when I was first I'll with m.e/CFS showed high early morning cortisol and dhea low, three years later all the worst adrenalin symptoms had gone, startle reflex on high, horrible feeling in my chest etc, and my stress test showed my cortisol was below range on every sample, it had crashed.

I took t3 at 4am to support cortisol production, my early morning sample came up, but everything else got worse.

Have you had a saliva cortisol stress test?

[Jefner in reply to sulamaye]

Yes last one in march. Have another one to do but as i feel so bad in the mornings i dont want a longer day by getting up early.....poor excuse i know. My morning is in the 80's!!! What time is breakfast time to you?

[puncturedbicycle]

Just want to add that 10mcg t3 (plus levo) was a godsend for me. I also have adrenal problems, which didn't really respond to treatment. I started on 5 which had no effect, so I raised it to 10. It has required a little tweaking over time, but in general t3 restored my energy, strength, good mood and hair and eliminated my bloating, palpitations and constipation. I don't want my gp to stop prescribing it, but if they do I will buy it myself. I now feel like I can't live well without it.

My mum was on levo for years and now takes Armour, which agrees with her. Some people just do better with some t3 in the mix.

I promise in the unlikely event you get any untoward side effects (eg if you took far more than you should), they won't last long. Once I took a little too much and my face got hot and my heart raced a bit. After an hour or so it went away. If my t3 levels go too high over time I may find myself clenching my jaw or being a little more irritable than usual.

I suffered with depression for many years and between my levo, t3 and ldn, I feel much more cheerful now than I used to.

Good luck! I hope it helps.

[Jefner in reply to puncturedbicycle]

Thank u xxx

[puncturedbicycle in reply to Jefner]

No probs. When you feel ready, give it a try. xx

[Yvette65]

Hi Jefner, Did you take the T3 in the end ? If so was there any improvement ??? As i am thinking along the same lines... have Cortisol problems which is high throughout the day, suffering from sever anxiety, nausea , depression etc

Thanks

Y

[mistygrey in reply to Yvette65]

Hi Yvette, did you find out what caused your high cortisol? I have a similar position and needing advice with t3 and high cortisol in mornings/Afternoon

[Elsjie in reply to Yvette65]

Hi Yvette. I am experiencing exactly the same as you. Have you also gained weight, no matter what you eat? Ive noticed caffeine makes it worse. Caffeine causes my cortisol to spike and then creates water retention... are you also experiencing this?

[mistygrey]

Hi Jefner did you find out what caused your high cortisol? I have a similar position and needing advice with t3

[Raali in reply to mistygrey]

Hi there I have the same issue and it probably happened because I had a half lobectomy. Not on any t3 at the moment but can’t wait to try it!

[Jefner in reply to mistygrey]

just stress

[Raali in reply to Jefner]

Hi again are you taking t3?