Increased dose of T 3 - how long might it take to get used to this?

[LizT10]

I was on a tiny dose of 5 mcg of T3 which has now been doubled to 10 mcg. I am feeling awful - palpitations, bad headache, indigestion, shaky, etc.

I am hoping this is temporary and my body will get used to the increase. Has anyone else experienced this? If so how long did it take to feel reasonably OK?

Could it be I do not suit these T3 pills (I had a bad year on Levo and came off that 8 weeks ago) and should switch to NDT?

My recent blood test showed

TSH 14.91, T 4 7.7, T 3 3.4.

Any advice welcome. I am supposed to be going on holiday on 23rd Sept and really can't face the thought of travelling etc whilst feeling so unwell.

Many thanks.

[Marz]

How long have you been on T3 only ? Your TSH is far too high for you to feel well. Did you have all the basics tested before starting T3 ? - Ferritin - Folate - B12 - VitD all need to be optimal for you to feel well and for the thyroid hormones to work well ....

How are you taking the T3 ? - Split doses ?

[greygoose]

How long were you on the 5 mcg? Maybe it would have been better to go to 7.5 mcg before 10. Give your body time to adapt. It's far too soon to know if T3 suits you at al! Give it time. And I agree with Marz, with a TSH that high, you're bound to feel unwell. l

[LizT10 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks so much for your reply. I was on 5 mcg dose for a month before the increase. Good idea to split the pills. Annoyingly I felt fine before the increase even though my TSH reading was so high.

I felt far worse on Levo even when my TSH was under 2.

Just need to get rid of this headache. I guess I can take paracetamol with the T 3.

Onwards and upwards ...

[greygoose in reply to LizT10]

Yes, well, the TSH is more or less irrelevant. It doesn't tell you if your T4 was converting to T3.

You can take paracetamol, but at least 2 hours away from T3.

[LizT10 in reply to greygoose]

Many thanks

[greygoose in reply to LizT10]

You're welcome.

[grumpyoldbean]

Hidden hi grace, your post was very very interesting to me.. you are lucky you have found a doctor that will work with you. my endo last week signed me off because after a year, my levels were 'normal' on levo and he said i should go back to my doc and find out what else is wrong.!!

i feel he has handed me a death sentence.. i begged him not to give up on me! my levels look good on paper. but i said,my symptoms are worse than ever, dont give up , he said 'your normal' go back to ur gp. I have cried all weekend.. i too feel levo is not right for me. . as soon as i stop taking it for a few days i feel fine.. we KNOW when something isnt right for us dont we?

I was trying a little T3 in with my levo.. levo wa 125 so reduced to 100 and added 6 mcg T3.. oh my felt worse.. i keep waking up every morning at the same time between 3-4, sweating.. not asleep but not awake.. weird feelings like tremours and funny sensations inside my back.. so i have stopped the T3.. i realise our iron and vits, and our adrenals need to be tip top... but how do we keep banging on to our docs when they dont listen? i know they are fed up with me.. but if u saw a pic of me a year ago, and now, i dont look the same person.. am dreadfully ill... any advice ?? thankyou xx

[Marz in reply to grumpyoldbean]

Show the pics to your GP and ask for them to be added to your notes. Years ago before blood tests were the norm - Docs had to diagnose by LOOKING and LISTENING to their patients.

I introduced T3 and at the same time reduced the T4 - until I was T3 only.

Hope you soon feel better

[Marz]

Hidden - great response

[LizT10]

Thanks so much for your reply. Will keep going with the T3 and hope for the best. I totally agree that Levo is poison to some people. I had a terrible time on it and felt much better when I weaned myself off it.

So glad you are now feeling better. I am hoping to soon. Currently just have a terrible headache but no other symptoms which is something.

Fingers crossed.

LizT