T3

[Zita71]

Hi guys looking for a little advice please I have been putting weight on for no reason I am not a big eater at all. So I have decided to try t3 to see if that helps. So my main question is

Is it safe to take t3 with Levo I am on 100mcg

Thanks

[Marz]

Do you have any recent results for your Thyroid ? Are you converting the T4 into T3 ? Your results should indicate this problem. Also you need to know your levels before adding in T3 as in some cases there is no need to reduce T4. I am T3 only and have not lost any weight - but hey we are all so different.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Zita71 As Marz says, what are your latest thyroid test results? Looking back at some of your older posts your TSH was 6.8 on 75mcg Levo. Your now on 100mcg and my guess is you're still under medicated.

Your ferritin was also desperately low at 10. what is it now? It needs to be a minimum of 70 for thyroid hormone to work.

What you really need, before considering T3, is full thyroid and vitamin and mineral tests:

TSH

FT4

FT3

TPO antibodies

TG antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

If your GP won't do them you can get a private fingerprick test from Blue Horizon and the results will point the way forward, members will make suggestions if you post your results:

bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/T...

[Zita71 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi sorry I took so long to get back to you its like trying to get blood out.a stone asking for a copy of my results

Tsh 1.51mu/l

Free t4 18.1

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Zita71]

Zita71 Do you have the reference ranges for the results, usually in brackets, something like this, eg -

TSH: 1.51 (0.2-4.2)

Even without the results, the TSH isn't too bad, just slightly higher than most people feel best at which is 1 or below. Can't say about your FT4 without the range but it isn't likely to be over range. The results don't seem to indicate under medication.

There's no way of knowing if you're converting well enough without FT3 being done at the same blood draw as FT4.

There's a possibility the big difference in your TSH, with such a small increase in your dose, may be due to antibodies. You'd be best doing the Blue Horizon test I linked to in my previous post which will test everything and give a complete picture.

[Zita71]

Yeah I have arranged for that X X thanks

The ranges are

Freet4 18.1. (9.0 -21)

Serum tag 1.51. (0.20 -5.00)

Ast serum level 12ul (10-45)

[Ruthi]

Its safe to take T3 if you need it. The only way to know that is to have a free T3 test.

A TSH of 1.51 is close to optimal, and your free T4 is close to the top of the range, so optimal too. But neither of them tell you, on their own if your FreeT3 is low. Its unlikely though.

Even if you are not a big eater, if you are eating the wrong (from a weight gain point of view) foods you could gain weight. Otherwise there are many other (relatively unusual) causes for weight gain, and your first stop should probably be your doctor.