When to retest?

[Ga_Ling]

My dose has been reduced because I've been having palpitations, shortness of breath and anxiety. Endo suggested waiting at least 6 weeks before retesting. Is she correct?

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Yes, 6-8 weeks is normal, it takes that long for any change in dose to fully take effect.

[shaws Administrator]

Ga_Ling, has your Endo tested both your FT3 and FT4? These should be done because I doubt she is aware of how much FT3 is circulating and how much is going into your cells.

I had more symptoms when on levothyroxine than I had before being diagnosed. Some T3 added helped a lot.

You will see from the link below why it is good to know both FT4 and FT3 and if GP wont do them, you can get them done privately with a home test kit.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Levothyroxine is T4 which is inactive. It's job is to convert to T3 the only active thyroid hormone required in all of our receptor cells.

[Clutter]

Ga_Ling,

6-8 weeks is the usual time to wait.

[Ga_Ling]

I always get TSH, FT4, FT3, Vit D, etc tested. I was hoping that retesting after two weeks would be enough.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ga_Ling]

No, two weeks will be a waste of time. Levo has a half life of 6-7 days, so if testing two weeks after reducing your dose you will still have a fair bit of the original dose left in your system. You need to wait 6-8 weeks for an accurate result on your new dose.

[Ga_Ling]

I take T4 and T3.

Since T4 is inactive and my body does not convert T4 to T3, do I still need to take levo?

Also, can I take T3 as a single dose first thing in the morning?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Ga_Ling]

I take my T3 as a single dose, some people need to divide the dose into 2 or 3. We're all different.

Has testing shown that you don't convert T4 to T3 at all? If so, why is levo being prescribed?

[Ga_Ling in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yes, testing has shown that I am not converting. When I was on T4 only, my Ft4 was way out of range and my Ft3 was within range.

I don't know why levo is prescribed. Once my gp told me that I need levo to have enough T4.