T3

[BeeGee1962]

Hi All

Does anyone have Hashimotos and taking t3 ? My doctor told me it's dangerous to take with hashimtos , I also take lethyoxine 50 mg but I got the t3 from Mexico and I am starting to feel good but now scared to take it .

[Saggyuk]

Your doctor is a downright egotistical bleeping liar! There is nothing associating T3 with being bad for hashis. I'm hashis and my endo who's a professor in the field has had me on T3 only for nearly fifteen years.

That's not to say there may not be downsides or minor side effects/issues with T3 only BUT nothing at all in regards to being bad in this respect. I expect he's just really annoyed that you're self medicating and not listening to his clearly high and mighty "expert"and all knowledgeable opinion!!!!

I highly advise a new GP (assuming not an endo)!

[Saggyuk in reply to Saggyuk]

Apologies to any men - I'm not sure why I instantly assumed this lol

[Saggyuk in reply to Saggyuk]

Next time simply feign curiosity and politely inquire if he can produce the research or guidelines that inform him of this fact as you'd be definitely interested in reading this

[BeeGee1962 in reply to Saggyuk]

Thanks for replying Saggyuk 😀You have really put my mind at rest , yes HE lol was quite annyoid that I decided to self medicate but I read a lot of good things about t3 so decided to try it and I do feel a lot better in just two weeks my symptoms are a lot less so going to stick with it and go by how I feel 😀 Thanks again

[Saggyuk in reply to BeeGee1962]

I just think if a doctor is happy to physically lie to you because of his own ego or lack of understanding then he is def not a GP to go back to.

On the teeny off chance he really believes this, then his stupidity renders the same conclusion

[UrsaP in reply to BeeGee1962]

They hate that we get 'benefit' from T3, how can he stand there and say 'there is no evidence of benefit' when you are blatantly proving him wrong! Good on yer!

[Saggyuk in reply to UrsaP]

I understand many GPs say no benefit etc through lack of understanding or ignorance but to say it's "dangerous" for hashis is just a one step too far lol!

[encyclopedia]

BeeGee, what is your blood T3 level?

[BeeGee1962 in reply to encyclopedia]

My t4 was 18.60 and t3 3.00 that was about six weeks ago and my temp was 33 and resting heart rate always around 50-53 , the usual symptoms that most people get to much to mention lol , Now my heart rate is around 58-63 and temp is 36 and feeling a lot better with symptoms.

[encyclopedia]

Is the normal range 2.3 to 4.2 in the lab where you tested it? Then yes, your T3 was on the low

side. It's good that you are feeling better! How much do you take of the T3?

[BeeGee1962 in reply to encyclopedia]

Hi encyciopedia it was a blue horizon private blood test so the range was 3.1-6.9 and I've been taking 12mg half of the tablet I will wait another couple of weeks and get another blood test done and see how I am , The people on this sight are far more knowledgeable than my doctor so between coming and asking on here , getting my own blood tests done and listening to my body . I am not going back to my doctor for a while .

[hachiko in reply to BeeGee1962]

Good Idea to change the doctor entirely.

[encyclopedia in reply to BeeGee1962]

Thanks Beegee, please let us know the result of T3 level whn you do the test in 2 weeks. I am also on the same dose.

[Saggyuk in reply to BeeGee1962]

It's normally best to wait 6-8 weeks from start of any dose changes before taking a new blood test as it can take this long to take effect in your body so might be worth leaving it a little longer (unless you started them a month ago lol)

I was on T3 only for over 10 years but I have had a few difficulties recently since my own thyroid seemed to give up the ghost and stopped producing a little T4 so have had to add a little T4 back in. You wont be at that point yet I imagine as you were only on 50mcg T4 but it's just something for you to bear in mind in the future if you start having symptoms and no longer taking or producing T4.

Hope you start to feel better soon

[Heloise]

There is this myth that T3 will bring on a heart condition which is senseless since your heart needs T3. It is more potent than T4 but also fades a lot faster and you are seeing what it can do. Some of us take T3 only and no levo and others take a natural desiccated which contains T4 and T3, 2, 1 and calcitonin. You are probably splitting your pill but you may end up taking a whole tablet if they are 25 mcg. but take it slowly and see how the body reacts because that will be more than doubling what you take now in levo.

[Angel_of_the_North]

Your doctor is talking through his posterior. It's no more dangerous to take T3 with Hashis than with any other form of hypothyroidism. Dangerous in what way?

[Taurinegb]

The only down side would be if you were taking to much but if you are low like I am you should definately try it.

I can't see the correlation between T3 and Hashimoto's. I'm in the process of getting some from Mexico also and I have Hashimoto's. I would just start with a small amount a day and see how you feel after a couple of weeks. That's what I plan to do. Also I will be getting my levels checked again in a couple of months (paying for my own tests).

Maybe he is telling you that because apparently the NHS has stopped all their GP's from prescribing T3 because it costs to much unlike T4 which is cheaper. I'm not sure if this also relates to private doctors. Makes me mad because my Step Father brings home a carrier bag full of prescription drugs once a month and all I'm asking for is 5 mcg a day of T3!

Let us know how you get on.

[UrsaP]

Been on T3 only for 7 years, no heart problems -in fact GP's checked heart last year - suspect now that might have been looking for a reason to stop T3 - heart was fine!! How can we trust Dr when they com out with such rubbish!!

[EricaL]

Hi, I have Hashi's and take self-sourced T3 (12.5mg) and T4 (50mg) daily. I used to be on T4 only (75mg) daily. The important thing is getting the dosage right (and ratio if still taking T4) as if Take too high a dose of T3 in one go you can get heart palpitations etc so there is some risk and why it is recommended to be monitored by your GP or an endocrinologist- as many endo's in uk can no longer prescribe T3 some are keen to still oversee patients taking T3 and to research its effects. My endo takes 6 monthly blood tests and asks me to fill out a survey regularly. A good practitioner should want to monitor you rather than berate you for trying to get improved health. Good Luck.

[BeeGee1962 in reply to EricaL]

Hi Stical do you half your 12.5mg and take it at different times ? I haven't been having any palpitations so I think I will stick with this dosage for the time being . I think the next time I am there I will ask to be referred to an endocrinologist and see what she says . Thanks

[greygoose]

I have Hashi's - which has completely destroyed my gland. And, I've been on T3 only for several years. Hashi's people are often bad converters - my conversion rate was very low, plus I couldn't tolerate T4, it made me very ill. So, what would your silly doctor have me do? If I listened to someone like that, I'd be dead!

[dang]

I have Hashimoto's and take T3. Did your doctor give you any explanation as to why it's dangerous for Hashimoto's? Is your doctor just against T3 in general?

[BeeGee1962 in reply to dang]

Hi dang no explanation was given he was just surprised and annoyed that I was getting it from Mexico and decided to self medicate .I now think that after reading all your posts he was out of order and when I do go back I will be more informed and tell him solol

[Babette]

I have Hashi's and have been on T3 only for a couple of years. If it's doing me any harm then at least I'll have had some quality of life before I go instead of an existence of pain, fatigue, and brain fog popping the levothyroxine.

I wonder whether either your GP is worried about any repercussions if anything goes wrong and what he thinks is erring on the side of caution. Or it could be ignorance / cost.

[BeeGee1962 in reply to Babette]

Hi Barette I now think it's been ignorance /cost and a bit of annoyance that I am self medicating with the t3 are you not taking any Levo ?

[Babette in reply to BeeGee1962]

Nope. Adding in T3 meant I was overmedicated (that the was first time) so I stopped levothyroxine - it was 100 mcg - and cut my liothyronine in half from 40 mcg to 20 mcg. It was only when I stopped levothyroxine that I realised that it had caused headaches, general pains, and some fatigue. I refuse to take it now.

[Cup-cake7 in reply to Babette]

Hi

May I ask what your tsh is then

Or doesn't it matter as long as you have sufficient t3? What about your t4 ?

[Babette in reply to Cup-cake7]

My TSH at my last blood test was something ridiculous like 27 and my T4 is suppressed so only a blood test at the hospital can register a reading. I rely on how I feel.

When I was on 100 mcg levothyroxine my blood tests were "normal", although T3 was right at the bottom of the range, but I felt awful. I genuinely faced the possibility of having to give up work and struggled to get out of bed. Yet I have friends who take it and are fine. Someone I know is a very successful personal trainer and takes only levothyroxine.

It's a very complex matter of finding out what works for you. I think that's the part that doctors really struggle with.

[Julesb02]

Hi, I have finally persuaded my dr to test my t3. He says he will treat, but only if my level is not right. My tsh is in range so he won't increase. Do your doctors give t3 only if your levels are wrong?! Thank you