Please advise me on timing of ferritin, T3 etc

[thyr01d]

Hello all, I have been advised to take T3 three times a day now but I have low ferritin and the ferrous fumarate has to be taken 4 hours away from T3. I work a strange pattern and cannot eat for an hour before work. I can't work out how to have three meals a day (on orders from NHS nutritionist to eat more and snack between meals) and fit in the meds.

I take T3 between 6.00 and 7.00 am, have breakfast around 8.00 am and start work around 9.15. Most days I can have a break at around 12.30 noon or 1.30 pm so can have lunch then and the second dose of T3, then, most days I need to eat before 6.00 pm and often leave for work within the hour and am not home again until 9.30 pm, often starving and need to be in bed by 10.30 pm on a good day, a lot earlier sometimes. In theory I could take the third dose of T3 at 10.45 pm but often I just cannot stay awake.

Can anyone see where I could fit in the ferrous fumarate that would be four hours away from the T3? I'm sure others of you must do this.

[greygoose]

Who advised you to take your T3 three times a day? I think we just have to accept that sometimes this just isn't possible. If your ferritin is low, it's possible that your body won't be able to use the T3, anyway, so it really is important to raise your ferritin - my opinion is that that should be a priority, and that for the time being, it won't hurt to take your T3 all in one dose, either at night or in the morning.

[thyr01d in reply to greygoose]

Thanks Greygoose, I've done well so far following your advice so I might do this. Your comment about the ferritin is interesting, I can't get my GP nor consultant endocrinologist to take this seriously and I thought that now I'm on T3 not T4 so not having to convert it would not matter. The ferritin has risen a little since starting T3 and the endos thought this was likely to happen, they think the problem may have been malabsorption which would improve on T3.

[greygoose in reply to thyr01d]

But, you still have to convert T3 to T2, and T2 to T1. I'm not sure T3 improves malabsorption - if you aren't absorbing properly, you wouldn't absorb the T3, would you. Depends why you aren't absorbing properly.

[thyr01d in reply to greygoose]

So logical Greygoose! I didn't know we had to convert T3 to T2 and T2 to T1. The endos were confident the ferritin would improve on T3 and I'd be on an ever improving spiral. It is higher now than for a long time, perhaps I'd better just be patient and see what happens.

Must dash or I'll be late to work.

[greygoose in reply to thyr01d]

OK

[Saggyuk]

I'm on the same - I can't take T3 all at once and also have three times a day. I am also often anaemic lol. I take any of my iron in the evening just before I go to bed. Porridge and vit C drinks help it not bother my stomach - works for me as don't need to take iron with anything other than Vit C unless bothers tummy. I often get a slightly higher dose one (ferrous fumerate 310mcg) to take once a day rather than a lower one twice a day often 200 odd mcg to try and help make up for not taking it twice

[Saggyuk in reply to Saggyuk]

Also if it helps, you shouldn't take T3 near food so I always take when get up, an hour before lunch at around 11.30-12 and and then again around 5pm. Take Iron after 9pm.

I must admit, I don't normally think about snacks in between meals when considering when to take T3, I generally just leave half hour if tiny snack lol - you can't do everything lol

[thyr01d in reply to Saggyuk]

Yep, it's that leaving one hour that makes it tricky, because I have to fit in a strange pattern of work - like now, I was home by 12.00 but have to leave for work again at 12.30 and won't be home again before 3.00. It's a choice now of no food and T3, or food and no T3. Then I have to be off to work again at 5.45, so I can fit in the second T3 and something to eat but then won't be home until about 9.30 pm and I need the third T3, something to eat and the ferrous fumarate.

I'm vegan which is why I have to eat frequently, we have to graze like cattle!

[thyr01d in reply to Saggyuk]

Oh thank-you Saggyuk, this is really helpful. Mine is liquid ferrous fumarate so fine for my stomach, could you be prescribed the same? Only trouble is I have to eat when I come in at around 9.30 pm or else I wake in the night, and I can't stay up another four hours, but perhaps I could leave it in the bathroom and take it when getting up in the night. I can see this is a good suggestion because the four hours afterwards is covered. Many thanks

[Saggyuk in reply to thyr01d]

Sorry a little confused lol. You don't need food after T3, I always have my T3 pills on me in pocket or bag so can pop them as and when while I'm out so you could take before you get home for lunch etc - 6-7am, 10.30-11.30 and 5pm for last dose. This means Iron can be taken at ninish before going to bed. Iron can be with or without food so shouldn't make a difference

[thyr01d in reply to Saggyuk]

Thanks Saggy, this is a really good suggestion for the 11.00 am ish one and most days I will be able to do the 5.00 pm as well.