Self medicating with T3 to clear RT3 - updated results but still not well...

[purplejuicy]

Hi there, so I've been doing the T3 protocol to clear my RT3 since beginning of December and now taking 25mcg of T4 and 50mcg of T3 (split in 4)

I was generally feeling ok but getting some digestive issues & chest pains along with bouts of depression and insomnia on/off but losing weight for the first time ever which is a bonus.

I've just had a blood test though and seems I'm very low in T4 and T3 still not optimal so can I get some advice on dosing going forward?

TSH 0.48 (0.3-5.5)

T4 4 (10-22)

T3 4.9 (3.1-6.8)

I posted these on a STTM group and was told it's normal for T4 to be so suppressed when taking T3 as it's not needed but I'm still not optimal on T3 so i should raise but that has caused symptoms like internal shaking, hot flushes and insomnia so if anyone has had any experience here or some advice then it would be appreciated

[Clutter]

Purplejuicy,

FT4 is low because you are taking a much higher proportion of T3 to Levothyroxine. You could try increasing Levothyroxine to 50mcg which will raise FT4 and FT3.

[purplejuicy in reply to Clutter]

yes this is what i suggested to the group but the response was that you don't need the T4 if you're taking T3? and also the T4 is what caused the high RT3 in the first pace so i shouldn't increase it? confused, yet again...

[Clutter in reply to purplejuicy]

Purplejuicy,

You don't need T4 if you are able to take sufficient T3, but you've said you can't tolerate more T3. Having cleared rT3 there's no reason to avoid taking T4. You are hardly likely to develop high rT3 on 50mcg T4.

[purplejuicy in reply to Clutter]

no i figured i wasn't tolerating the raise in T3 was because of my adrenals being under stress. getting to the bottom of that is expensive though so persevering with the raise for another few days.

I don't have proof of clearing the RT3 yet so can't say that's not an issue anymore.

I do however feel that increasing my T4 dose to 50 again may help so do you think i should drop back slightly on the T3 as i do?

[Clutter in reply to purplejuicy]

Purplejuicy,

Your rT3 wasn't very high so reducing from 100mcg to 25mcg should be sufficient to bring it into range. There's no point in reducing T3 dose if you want to raise FT3.

[purplejuicy in reply to Clutter]

No I just mean reduce and build up again just in case it's too much at once for my body, you know? If you don't think that's the case then I'll just go back up to 50 tomorrow. Thanks. Just double checking