Here'so hoping...

[t3warrior]

OK so I've taken the plunge and sourced some t3. For those who have seen previous posts I am convinced I have a conversion problem. Brief history... partial thyroidectomy 10 yrs ago. Put straight on levo. Put on weight gradually then about 4 stone when pregnant and have never managed to lose. T3 was 3.8 bottom of range. I toOK myself down to 50mcg levo from 150 over 2 months and t3 went to 4.2 suggesting own thyroid was compensating. Endo put me up to 150mcg and 175mcg on alternate days with introduction of vit d and t3 has come up to 4.8 but tsh is 0.05 - bottom of range is 0.35. Also parathyroid hormone is now above ref range. So to taking high levo to get decent t3 is throwing other things out so they now want to reduce t4 which takes me back to square 1.

So I've bought some t3. I've taken my levo down to 100mcg and introduced t3 25mcg split into 2 doses. One about 930 am post breakfast. 2nd about 4pm. Levo on waking. Feel fine and have no problem sleeping. Will have bloods done in about 6 weeks.

Last set of bloods prior to starting t3 and on 150/175 levo were

Free t4 21 (9.0 - 23.0)

Free t3 4.8 (3.5 -6.5)

Parathyroid 8.3 (1.1 -6.4) above range

Tsh 0.05 (0.35 -5.5)

B12 315 (190 - 910)

Any thoughts, dosing advice appreciated. Also curious where my tsh and parathyroid levels might go. One positive - though it is very early days a couple of lbs have gone off the scale already...

[Clutter]

T3warrior,

Your TSH level will not affect your PTH level. Parathyroid glands are nothing to do with thyroid. The 4 parathyroid glands are so named because of their proximity to the thyroid gland. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) should always be tested with calcium to check the balance between the two.

labtestsonline.org.uk/under...

Your TSH is below range because your FT4 and FT3 levels are good. As long as FT4 and FT3 remain within range it is unimportant that TSH is suppressed. Your TSH may drop now that you've added T3 even though you have adjusted Levothyroxine dose.

B12 315 is low, 1000 is optimal. Supplement 1,000mcg methylcobalamin with a B Complex vitamin.

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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.

[Marz]

As your B12 is so low I am thinking that your Ferritin - Folate and VitD are also low. All are involved in the conversion of the T4 you are taking. If all those are optimal it may help you to feel better.

[t3warrior in reply to Marz]

All agreed b12 low... all except gp that is. Same old same old. Its in the normal range! So I've started with the methylcobalamin myself also along with 10000 d3 twice per week.

[Marz in reply to t3warrior]

Also take a good B Complex to keep all the B's in balance.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest when next test, you ask GP to check levels of vitamin d, b12, folate and ferratin. These all need to at good (not just average) levels for thyroid hormones to work in our cells.

your parathyroid could be high due to low Vit D - secondary Hyperparathyroidism. Was your calcium checked?

parathyroid.com/secondary-h...

Make sure you get the actual figures from tests (including ranges - figures in brackets). You are entitled to copies of your own results. Some surgeries make nominal charge for printing out. Alternatively you can now ask for online access to your own medical records. Though not all surgeries can do this yet, or may not have blood test results available yet online, but all should be doing this with couple of years.

When you get results suggest you make a new post on here and members can offer advise on any vitamin supplements needed

If you can not get GP to do these tests, then like many of us, you can get them done privately

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Blue Horizon - Thyroid plus eleven tests all these.

This is an easy to do fingerprick test you do at home, post back and they email results to you couple of days later. Usual advice on this test, is to do early in morning, no food or drink beforehand (other than water) don't take Levo in 24 hours before (take straight after).