what to do: very hypo TSH 13.7 (0.38 - 5.33) FT... - Thyroid UK

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mandy72 profile image
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very hypo TSH 13.7 (0.38 - 5.33)

FT3 4.9 ( 3.7 - 7.0)

taking 25mcg T3 split in 2 doses and feeling better than i was while taking 40-50 (was suggested i was pooling hence the decrease)

i know i need to increase but i allso know my body just cant cope

do i just stick to what im doing until i get cortisol results or try and add an extra small dose

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mandy72
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Clutter profile image
Clutter

Maandy72,

Your FT3 is mid-range so you aren't pooling according to STTM's definition. stopthethyroidmadness.com/p...

TSH is high because you are undermedicated. It's likely you were undermedicated on 40-50mcg T3 because it takes time for TSH to rise to 13.7 and your symptoms are likely due to undermedication.

_______________________________________________________________________________

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.

mandy72 profile image
mandy72 in reply to Clutter

see thats where im doomed, i cant increase im actually feeling better on a lower dose, im starting a dose right before i get into bed on the hope im sleeping when my heart pounds

im beginning to thing T3 just aint for me

but im testing adrenals tuesday so fingers crossed that will shed some light on matters

mandy72 profile image
mandy72 in reply to Clutter

im now taking 25mcg, 12.5 mcg 12.5mcg and a further 6.25mcg at bedtime

so far so good

will hold for a week then add another 6.25mcg at bed

i take melatonin to sleep so hoping that will stop me be woken by the raising heart rate

i guess when im so used to a pulse in the 50'6 and 60's i need to accept the fact that a raise is good but it gets me so anxious because it feels too fast

i take 20mg propranolol at 9pm as my heart rate does increase in the evenings

mayvbe i need to mess with my dose a bit and see if i can decrease pulse with T3

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to mandy72

Mandy72,

Gradually increasing dose until TSH is 1-2 is a good idea.

mandy72 profile image
mandy72 in reply to Clutter

would adding T4 be any good where im struggling with T3?

9 still have bititron here that are 50mcg T4 and 12.4 T3

i could maybe add that at my lunch time dose instead of just 12.5mcg T3 and drop the 6.5 of T3 before bed

so id be taking 25 t3, 50t4 and 12.5 t3 then 12.5 t3

i just want to feel better and not doing well today racing heart and anxiety (because of the increase)

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to mandy72

Mandy72,

Why did you stop taking Bititron?

mandy72 profile image
mandy72 in reply to Clutter

i think it was because i couldnt tweak the dose

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to mandy72

Mandy72,

It will take up to a week to absorb the 50mcg T4. If you feel over medicated reduce your T3 dose slightly.

mandy72 profile image
mandy72 in reply to Clutter

thankyou

fingers crossed this works as i still have T3 doses i can tweak

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to mandy72

Mandy72,

Perhaps you could use up the Bititron and then replace it with Levothyroxine which makes it easier to tweak doses with T3.

mandy72 profile image
mandy72 in reply to Clutter

i see endo 21st october so im hoping by then i will find a dose that suits me and i will show her the tiromel and bititron and tell her doses ect and hope she prescribes levo, if not ill have to continue buying my own

my endo is not keen on T3 T4 treatment she sees no point in in

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to mandy72

Mandy72,

T3+T4 combination suits me better than T3 only. I wish endos would listen to patients instead of making up their mind that there is no point in T3+T4.

mandy72 profile image
mandy72 in reply to Clutter

i dont understand these endos

they treat by the book

not a care in the world for how we are feeling

we get low and they say we need antidepressants

i thought of adding the bititron because i have struggled increasing T3 im not sure if its adrenals or just simply too much for my body to cope with but i know i need an increase of something so figured the T3 in the bititron is th dose im taking in the afternoon and 50mcg T4 seems quite a reaasonable dose to try

mandy72 profile image
mandy72 in reply to Clutter

im still feeling awful and im feeling like im breathing through a pillow all the time and no energy

25 t3 morning

12.5 t3 50t4 (bitiron) lunch time

12.5 t3 tea time

should i try and hold off a few days for T4 to kick in?

i feel like i just want to sleep all the time, anxiety allmost constant and depressed

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to mandy72

Mandy72,

It takes 7-10 days to absorb the T4 before it starts working and then up to six weeks to feel the impact of the dose. I wouldn't make any more changes for a few weeks.

mandy72 profile image
mandy72 in reply to Clutter

ok thank you

humanbean profile image
humanbean

I think I have the same problem as you. I need more T3, but I can't raise high enough to feel well. Anything with T4 in doesn't really work very well for me, although I can tolerate NDT (just).

I'm 100% convinced that my problem is high cortisol. I reduced my cortisol a few days ago by stopping my 5-HTP.

5-HTP is known to increase cortisol. So I've stopped taking it for a few days and my tachycardia and other hyper symptoms have dropped a lot. (Thankfully 5-HTP doesn't have much in the way of withdrawal effects, so stopping it cold turkey hasn't had any unpleasant effects on me. It would be a very bad idea with any prescribed ADs though!)

I'm planning on doing a saliva test soon - when I can get my act together!

You might be interested in these two lists :

rt3-adrenals.org/does_it_af...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/s...

They both give lists of drugs and supplements that are known to affect cortisol. Unfortunately they don't specify whether they raise or lower it, so you have to research each one that is relevant to you.

mandy72 profile image
mandy72 in reply to humanbean

its horribe my TSH clearly states im undermedicated

i can just about cope with 50mcg split

the 6,25 at bedtime has increased my pulse but its not keeping me awake

i contacted genova ages ago regarding melatonin and they said to just pop a note in with test so they know

allso on beta blockers mainly when needed (prescribed 20mg twice a day for anxiety and pulse) so had to take 1 last night but will pop a note in

melatonin actualy lowers cortisol but has a short life

i think i might add the bititron and see how it goes that way im still only on 50mcg with small amount of T4

if i get worse than ill drop that tablet

hopefully this test will shed some light

humanbean profile image
humanbean in reply to mandy72

I take a beta blocker as rarely as possible. I hate the things. They make me feel really exhausted because they reduce my blood pressure too much. But when my heart is going much too fast I find that exhausting too.

I hope the bititron helps you.

When I had my last cortisol saliva test (ages ago) my morning cortisol was by far my biggest problem. It was far too high. I have found that I do best with my thyroid meds if I avoid taking them, or only take a small dose, when my cortisol is at its highest. I do much better taking my biggest dose at lunchtime when my cortisol is closer to normal.

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