At last the BH results have come back. Advice really appreciated.

[Scoobylou]

My doc reduced my Levothyroxine back in March from 125mcg to 100mcg even though I said I was gaining weight, crazy tired, brain fog and no energy at all to the point of exhaustion.

So I decided to try T3 after reading about it on here. I have been taking a magnesium supplement 250mg per day, vitamin d at 25 ug and a b6 50mg. I have been taking these daily.

I would really appreciate your advice on what to take (or not to take) and the quantities that should be recommended.

I have already started taking a t3 first thing as I wake up at 6.25mg (started with this as it makes up the missing 25mcg of levothyroxine) as I am not usually very good with meds and wanted to see how it settled with me. I have found that as long as I take it away from anything else I am fine if not I feel very nauseous and have thumping headaches.

I take my Levi before bed at least 2 hours after eating. My vitamins I take at lunch time.

I have got my older TSH result I will pop this onto an additional comment so it can be compared to the current one if it helps.

Thank you all again for taking time from your day to read this.

[Scoobylou]

These were my results in March

SERUM T4 LEVEL XaERr 14pmol/L (9.0-20.0)

SERUM TSH LEVEL XaELV <0.01mU/L (0.35-4.94)

SERUM FREE TRIIODOTHYRONINE LEVEL XaERq 4.4pmol/L (2.4-5.7)

25-hydroxyvitamin D3 level XaXHs 22.6nmol/L

25-hydroxyvitamin D2 level 11.5nmol/L

Combined total D2 and D3 level 34.1nmol/L (50.0-220.0)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Scoobylou]

Hello Scoobylou Well, your results still aren't brilliant are they? Any form of T3 will suppress your TSH and lower your FT4 so it's the FT3 that you take note of when taking T3, T4/T3 combo or NDT. Your FT3 is only 23% through the range and should be a lot higher. How do you feel on this combo?

As for your vits and mins - your Vit D was very low at 34.1. but looks good now at 120. Continue with your current dose (25mcg = 1000iu). It's recommended to retest Vit D a couple of times a year. You may find in the winter it drops, if it does then increase your maintenance dose to 2000iu daily.

Whilst taking Vit D you also need to take K2-MK7. Vit D aids absorption of calcium and K2 directs that calcium to bones and teeth rather than arteries and soft tissues.

Your B12 is far too low at 318. The Pernicious Anaemia Society recommend 1000. You can supplement with Solgar or Jarrows sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges 5000mcg for a couple of months then reduce dose to 1000mcg.

When taking B12 we need to take a B Complex to balance the B vits. B complex contains Folate and although yours is not dire it's recommended that folate is half way through range so that would be about 26. The B Complex will help raise your folate level, look for one that contans methylfolate which is natural rather than folic acid which is synthetic. Methylfolate is the active form, folic acid would need to be converted into the active form.

Check how much B6 is contained in the B Complex you get. It's recommended to not go above 100mg so make sure that you take that into account if you are going to consider taking the separate B6 as well (it may be best to leave it off when you take a B Complex as it could unbalance the rest of the B vits).

Continue with your magnesium, most of us are deficient anyway.

I'm sorry I can't comment on your reverse T3 ratio, I don't understand much about rT3.

[Scoobylou in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your great reply. I only started the t3 after I had my bloods taken so I've only been on them a week so too soon to tell if they have made a difference. I was just on levothyroxine 100mcg at the time of the bloods.

I agree with the vit d. Especially as I spend a lot of time outdoors from March to October.

Also I am changing my diet to gluten free, again it's early days so we will wait and see.

What's your opinion on the ferritin levels?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Scoobylou]

Ah yes, I missed your ferritin. Far too low at 32.1. You need at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work, 100+ would be better. If you can tolerate Ferrous Fumarate or Ferrous Sulphate you can buy that OTC at some pharmacies, Asda pharmacy I think, or Amazon. When prescribed it's usually 1 tablet x 3 times a day. Always take iron with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation. If you find it upsets your tummy or causes constipation then look for Iron Bisglycinate which is more gentle and non-constipating.

Looking at your March results, it seems as though your GP reduced your dose based on TSH alone, your FT4 and FT3 didn't warrant that reduction. Your BH results, even though the ranges are different, show that the lower dose of Levo has lowered your FT4 and FT3 and they are far too low in range.

When I started to add T3 to my Levo, I dropped my Levo dose by 25mcg but my FT4 was way over range. As those BH results were from when you were on Levo only and your FT4 was that low in range I would be inclined to put your Levo back up to 125mcg but leave your T3 at 6.25mcg for now. Let the adjustment in Levo take effect for a few weeks and maybe then add another 6.25mcg T3. Then I'd leave it at that for a few weeks and see how you feel and retest before you do any more tweaking of meds.

That's just my opinion and how I would do it, I am not medically trained. Please be careful with the T3, it is potent so you need to increase slowly, watch for any adverse effects and keep your eye on FT3 levels.

Are you keeping your GP in the loop or not?

[Scoobylou]

Great thank you so much seaside susie,I will be shopping today to get vitamins. My doc despite my battling with him refused point blank to leave me at 125mcg. Even though I had requested the bloods as I was starting to feel unwell again. Tiredness and weight gain. Said my bones will be a mess and better to be fat and tired! Charming. So no way of getting him to increase my t4. Do you know if you can buy it like I do my t3? If so where can I buy it from. Needless to say I am self medicating without his knowledge.

I am being super cautious of the T3. What would be the key symptoms I should look out for if I'm taking too much? I noticed that I had severe nausea and headaches when I took it at first but that has settled especially after starting to take it first thing way before any food.

Anyone else out there got an opinion on the reverse T3 result?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Scoobylou]

Scoobylou If you haven't already gone shopping, I would suggest avoiding H&B own brand and cheap supermarket brands, they tend to contain the cheapest, least bioavailable/least active ingredients. You tend to get the better brands online. PM if you want more suggestions.

I must get ready and take my dog for a walk before it gets too warm (looks like a nice day here). I will come back and answer your other questions later.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Scoobylou]

Hi Scoobylou 'Fat and tired' - what a charming doctor! Yes, I do know where you can get Levo, I will PM you that info.

I haven't taken too much T3 (I'm cautious too ) so don't know what too much feels like, but I think another member mentioned how she had increased too quickly and had palpitations and generally felt too wired, etc.