Increased because of fogginess and tiredness but is this because T3 is too high? Also is T3 just showing high because it's only been 10 days

[Katoir]

I was on 2 grains of NDT (having reduced it from 2.5 grains which had sent my T3 too high) as was shown in September's results .

During this month I have felt foggy and tired and deduced I needed to increase my thyroid so increased it to 2.25 grains ( about a week ago) Seemed to feel better and pulses up ( although they're usually on the low side )

Then , I just got new results today showing my T3 is raised which was really unexpected . I've probably had about 10 days at the increased dose (2.25) in all. Back in September I accidentally took too much as well whilst T3 was high. Never to be repeated!

Guessing I need to go back down to 2 grains and the tiredness was because my T3 was still high? Does that sound reasonable?

Or is the raised T3 only on paper because it's been less than a fortnight on the raise and is what's reflected in the results ?

I was sure I needed more not less!

Just want to feel like I did when I first settled at 2 grains . I thought 2.25 would be my sweet spot and knew 2.5 was going to be too much.

[greygoose]

So what was your FT3 result?

[Katoir in reply to greygoose]

7.61 ( 3.1-6.8 range)

(12.0-22.0) ft4 17.68

[Clutter in reply to Katoir]

Katoir,

Did you take NDT before your blood draw?

[Katoir in reply to Clutter]

No - never do .

[Clutter in reply to Katoir]

Katoir,

In that case you are over medicated and should consider reducing dose.

[Katoir in reply to Clutter]

Yes that's what I think . Confusing though as the 2 grains was the reduced dose and had been on that for at least 4 weeks since the September reading when the T3 was right at the top .

It implies it was creeping up despite the reduction .

Back to 2 grains again then ....

[Katoir in reply to Clutter]

So the tiredness this past month must be due to overmedication ( albeit was back on 2 grains but must be the fallout of having been overmedicatedbefore the reduction from 2.5 grains )

[Katoir in reply to Clutter]

Hi clutter

Do you think will be best to not take med for 3 days as I'm feeling so muzzy and then start the reduced dosage ?

[Clutter in reply to Katoir]

Katoir,

Skipping a couple of doses before you reduce dose will speed up washout of the higher dose. You aren't very over medicated though so it may not be the over medication making you feel so muzzy.

[Katoir in reply to Clutter]

Thanks clutter - will skip a few days .

I thought maybe when I went hyper/was overmedicated a month ago and took that huge dose in the middle of it that this could be the aftermath of it.

My ft4 is very high (17.68) and ft3 7.61 so highest I've ever been . Me no likey !!

[Katoir in reply to Clutter]

Morning Clutter.

It's my second day of skipping my dose and I feel better ( not as foggy )

I would like to skip one more day - just checking that skipping 3 days will be alright ?

I'm going by how I'm feeling today .

Thanks .

[Clutter in reply to Katoir]

Katoir,

You can skip more if you wish but you may start feeling under medicated after 7-8 days.

[Katoir in reply to Clutter]

Ok: I think 3 maybe even 4 will be alright tops.

I realised that I have been taking some 2.5 grains so that totally explains it . ( need to watch this reckless aspect of self !) Doesn't really explain the foggy spells before that on 2 grains though ( aftermath of previous overmedicated spell a month on maybe?)

Such a steep learning curve!

Soon be back on an even keel I hope. Sometimes I think I felt better before the med but it's just getting the levels right isn't it . Wish I'd never increased to 2.5 in the first place but at least I'm learning what's right for me and to not blindly trust doc p without running it by my radar first. He is good and I trust him but no one knows everything.

Thank you Clutter. I've found you so knowledgeable and supportive. So glad I found you!

Have a great day !

[greygoose in reply to Katoir]

Yes, that is high. And the FT4 is higher than one would expect on NDT. I think you probably do need to go back to 2 grains.

[Katoir]

Will definitely do that .

I reckon instead of reading the tired foggy feeling as a need to increase I need to also consider that these symptoms hit me exactly 4 weeks from the ( awful) week of feeling/being over medicated plus I took 3.5 grains in error that same week.

It would probably make sense that I be experiencing the effects/symptoms a month later. There was a link describing this on here which explained it really well.

Thanks for your input Greygoose x

[Katoir]

Never heard of that .

Interesting ... thanks .

I temp and pulse but couldn't glean anything from them.

I feel bad ( super muzzy) today so I probably need to observe that the T3 is over range. Seems anything above 2 is too much which fits my experiences thus far .

Trying skipping 2 doses before going back to 2 G xx

[Katoir]

I think the blood tests on this occasion may have helped as when I went hyper before my T3 had increased to 5.7 and everything did tally for me It affirmed what I knew - that I was overmedicated and I couldn't reduce quick enough.

I had planned to continue on 2.25 but that would have been foolhardy I think so in a way I'm glad I had that info.

I was surprised as I'd only just increased really but I think it must have crept up beyond the 5.7 since last test .

The temps have been quite steady : a bit of an increase when I raised but not really providing much clarity !!

[Hidden]

You mention increasing NDT and going hyper. But presumably you feel hypo and hence try to increase. Is that right?

[Katoir in reply to Hidden]

Yeah I guess so .

But the muzzy fog/spaciness/headache that I've had and feel now was present when I went hyper in September as well (except I also had palps and short breath then)

All that resolved after a few days of dropping back down to 2 (but was still present when I'd dropped to 2.25 for a few days just beforehand )

[Hidden in reply to Katoir]

Ah, I see. So you're trying to increase from 2 grains as feel hypo. Did you increase by just 1/4 grain? How long were you on 2 grains for prior to attempting to increase?

[Katoir in reply to Hidden]

It's a long story -

Basically having been on 2.5 for a month (August) as there had seemed space to improve from 2 (although was ok on 2 I was trying for a brighter t4 - docs suggestion)

On 7th Sept or thereabouts my T3 shot up to 5.3 and was feeling hyper ( plus I mistakenly took 3.5 grains one day ) so I reduced back down to 2 grains which helped.

Throughout October for a month I've been back down at 2 grains but mid October felt muzzy and thought I must need an increase so began upping to 2.25. ( knowing 2.5 too high)

Then after about a week on 2.25 I self tested and found T3 was even higher - up to 7.61 and t4 was right at top of range !

So it looks as though I'm overmedicated although I had assumed I was under.

Read somewhere that the effects of your med can hit you some weeks along. Seems the 2 grain was still too high?

Argh ..... any thoughts ? What I do know is that I'm not right !!!

[Hidden in reply to Katoir]

Most thyroid stories are long!

How long were you on 2 grains for? How long in total have you been on thyroid meds? And which ones/doses? Obviously you're on NDT now but what dose did you start on and when?

I don't really understand the T3 shooting up to 5.3. From what level and when? FT3 of 5.3 doesn't seem very high but everyone's different. What's good for one person is bad for another.

[Katoir in reply to Hidden]

Hi Guthoo.

I started on ndt in June this year after trying to impact my thyroid holistically ( I had a very stressful time last year and had 2 miscarriages last November and January of this year. I got my thyroid tested in April this year and TSH was 15.9. A hair mineral test flagged up possible issues and I'd miscarried x2

Went on hol in May ( taking thyroid complex - support supplements advised by doctor Peatfield to try and get my thyroid going ) Felt great , ran everyday in the sun , rested , ate well and TSH on return was up to 26.9! Shock . We thought it was my pituitary over stimulated .

I had started consulting with doc P , checked out my adrenals and actually started ndt in June this year gradually increasing to 2 grains although I misunderstood instructions the first few days .

First blood test 3/8/15 showed me in range ! (4-6 weeks on 2 grains)

We decided to pop me up to 2.5 grains which was fine until about 5 weeks in when the hyper symptoms came and you know the story from there.

My main drive was to get thyroid sorted for another pregnancy . I'm 44 and the window is small !!!

[Hidden in reply to Katoir]

Sounds like you're in the right hands with Dr P. I noticed you're waiting on results or tests and will post them later.

Good luck with all things pregnancy and health.

[Hidden in reply to Katoir]

Good advice from humanbean below. I have similar problems to you and have high reverse T3 and high cortisol. High doses of NDT with continuing hypo symptoms. However, not being able to raise NDT sufficiently to eliminate hypo symptoms can be caused by low iron (not just measure of ferritin) and low cortisol. Sufficient levels of cortisol are needed otherwise hyperlike symptoms can occur. What have your temps been like? Even when you said you were hyper?

[Katoir in reply to Hidden]

Temps usually 36.6 to 36.9

[Hidden in reply to Katoir]

You temps seem very good. To a non-medic anyway. Certainly much better than mine.

[Hidden in reply to Katoir]

Sorry you tell how much you're taking in your post!

[Katoir in reply to Hidden]

No worries - these things are quite complex.

[humanbean]

Don't forget that you need good levels of nutrients for your body to make use of the thyroid hormones you are taking. Have you been tested for levels of ferritin, folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin D?

Also, if you have low or high cortisol then you may find it difficult to raise your levels of thyroid hormone high enough to eliminate hypo symptoms. Although in that case blood test results for Free T4 and free T3 would usually be too low.

[Katoir]

Those tests are coming .. I was thinking about progesterone too, adrenals are ok. Everything had been stable!

I take some supplements.

[Clutter in reply to Katoir]

Katoir,

You need to click on the green Reply tab underneath humanbean 's post so that she is notified you have responded otherwise your reply may not be noticed.

[humanbean in reply to Katoir]

Thanks Clutter .

Katoir Once you have the nutrient test results you should write a new post giving the results and asking for feedback. Make sure you get the reference ranges with the results and include them in your post.

I'm afraid I don't know anything about sex hormones other than knowing that bio-identical hormone creams help some people, and they are available to buy without prescription on the web.

[Katoir in reply to humanbean]

Thanks - you're all so helpful at a time when I'm feeling pretty crap tbh. X

I'm all over the progesterone issue and doctor p is a good guide to this - ( I will be tested on day 21 of cycle and working towards that)

I think I'm going to contact a company called foresight who I have been recommended .

I'm not giving up !!

[Katoir]

You too , you too

Nice to share .

I contacted foresight today who can do a hair sample so I use the right supplements .

X