Feeling pretty well on T3, what shall I do with Levo?

I started selfmedicating with T3 almost a month ago. So far I take 25 mcg (1 tablet). While I was increasing T3 every week by 1/4 of tablet I was lowering my Levo. Now I am still on just 25 mcg of it. So 25 mcg of T3 and 25 mcg of Levo. I feel warmer, there is definitely less pain and fatigue and more energy to do things around. I also lost 4 lbs. I am now sure that this was the right way to go but I somehow feel that I need even more of T3. Should I increase it further and stop with Levo completely or keep at least 25 mcg of Levo, I guess I can't take less? Thanks.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Hidden What you need to do now is test your FT4 and FT3. You have increased fairly quickly, up to 25mcg in less than a month, you now need to stay at that dose for a few weeks and see how you are.

I would wait a month then do a Blue Horizon fingerprick test. You can get a basic one that tests just TSH, FT4 and FT3 for £49 and ThyroidUK will get a small donation bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/e... or Medichecks do the same test for £39 medichecks.com/find-a-test/...

Once you have the results you will see if there's room to increase T3 further. You should wait a few weeks after each increase then re-test to check your level.

You need to keep your FT3 within range, long term over range FT3 can cause health problems.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Shaws suggested that I increase 1/4 of a tablet each week. That's what I did. I didn't feel that this was too soon. No side effect whatsoever. Do I get all test 3 tests for £49 or £39 or each one is that much. Sorry never did tests privately before.

[Rhsana in reply to Hidden]

Not sure what is going on with the BH website, it seems to be even more confusing than before! This is a good test, it includes TSH, T4, T3 and antibodies; bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/e...

[Hidden in reply to Rhsana]

Thank you. Do you know why they do tests on both T4 and FT4?

[Rhsana in reply to Hidden]

verywell.com/thyroid-blood-...

"Free T4 / Free Thyroxine

Free T4 measures the free, unbound thyroxine levels in your bloodstream. Free T4 is typically elevated in hyperthyroidism, and lowered in hypothyroidism.

Free or unbound T4 levels represent the level of hormone available for uptake and use by cells. Bound levels represent a circulating hormone that may not all be immediately available, because it is affected by other drugs, illness, and physical changes such as pregnancy. Because the free levels of T4 represent immediately available hormone, free T4 is thought to better reflect the patient's hormonal status than total T4 (below).

Total T4/Total Thyroxine/Serum Thyroxine

This test measures the total amount of circulating thyroxine in your blood. Thyroxine, a hormone produced by the thyroid, is also known as T4. A high value can indicate hyperthyroidism, a low value can indicate hypothyroidism. Total T4 levels can be elevated due to pregnancy, and other high estrogen states, including use of estrogen replacement or birth control pills."

[Hidden in reply to Rhsana]

Thanks for explaining. Nobody ever tested me on T4 only FT4, is test on T4 really necessary?

[Rhsana in reply to Hidden]

I can't really tell you if its 'necessary' or not, that's for you to decide. For me, the more info that can shed light on what my personal make up is the better understanding I have of where I am at and how to proceed. R x

[Hidden in reply to Rhsana]

Okay, I understand. Many thanks.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Hidden]

Hidden If you click on the links I gave, it tells you exactly what is included in the test, both clearly state that all three are included.

Blue Horizon has a page showing what's included in the kit and how to do the fingerprick test, there is a pictorial guide if you click on the link to the PDF bluehorizonmedicals.co.uk/F...

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks, I didn't see. I always had thyroid tests done from vein before, never heard that it can be done from finger.

[Clutter]

Stakiboy,

It takes a few weeks to feel the full impact of a T3 dose just as it does for Levothyroxine. I would stick with your current doses for another 2-4 weeks and have a thyroid test including FT3 before increasing further.

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

I will stick to this dose for a while to see what happens but somehow I feel I could add more of T3. Are tests always showing the realistic picture, I mean how much of meds we need?

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hidden]

It's how the patient feels on a particular dose which is the main guide as to whether you decrease/increase or stay on the particular dose someone is on at present. I shall give you a link which may be helpful.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Thanks and thanks for the link. It sounds very logical. Most important in how I feel, not what some lab machine says.

[Clutter in reply to Hidden]

Stakiboy,

If you mean does an optimal or high FT3 level guarantee you will feel well the answer is no. It takes time for FT3 levels to build and metabolise and symptoms can lag behind good biochemistry by several months.

[shaws Administrator]

You can stay on levo and increase T3 by a small amount every week until you feel you have no clinical symptoms. If at any time you feel hyper drop to the previous dose.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Yes, that's what I did, I was following your advice and it worked great for me. Thank you.