Should I start taking t3 again: Hi , just had my... - Thyroid UK

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Should I start taking t3 again

Sharon-1152 profile image
13 Replies

Hi , just had my latest t3 results

5.23 reference (3.10 - 6.08)

My last test was 8.51 , at medichecks , which was done 6 weeks ago , which was too high , so I stopped taking my t3 for 6 weeks , so I don't know whether to start my t3 again or not . My t4 and tsh results are not due till end of this week . But t4 was also too high so I reduced my dose to 125 from 150

I will be so grateful for any replies , thank you

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Sharon-1152 profile image
Sharon-1152
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Clutter profile image
Clutter

Sharon-1152,

FT3 5.23 is just shy of the top third of range. If you feel okay with your current level there is no need to resume taking T3.

Sharon-1152 profile image
Sharon-1152 in reply to Clutter

Thanks for your reply clutter , does this mean I'm converting well , I'm still a bit confused with all this

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to Sharon-1152

Sharon-1152,

Your FT3 level is good so you do appear to be converting well. Of course, if FT4 is still very high that would enable good conversion. The best way to check conversion is to have TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested at the same time.

startagaingirl profile image
startagaingirl

Not to contradict Clutter, on the other hand you dropped the t3 because of a Hashis flare rather than over-medication. So if you are feeling hypo you could re-instate it.

Gillian

Sharon-1152 profile image
Sharon-1152 in reply to startagaingirl

Hi thanks for your reply , the thing is I don't know if I had a hashis flare or not , my symptoms didn't change , and I don't feel any different now , just my ongoing symptoms of anxiety, brain fog and a Aching legs

Thanks

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to Sharon-1152

Sharon-1152,

High FT3 can make anxiety worse. FT3 5.3 is good so you shouldn't be having hypothyroid symptoms. Aching legs can be due to low iron or low vitamin D. Have they been checked?

Sharon-1152 profile image
Sharon-1152 in reply to Clutter

Hi thanks for reply , think I'll just leave t3 out for now . Docs says vit d was a bit on the low side even though I supplement with 1000 daily she says everything else is fine

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to Sharon-1152

Sharon-1152,

If vitD is a bit low you need to take more than 1,000iu daily. Do you know what your vitD result is? It's better to ask for your results rather than rely on an opinion of 'fine'.

startagaingirl profile image
startagaingirl in reply to Sharon-1152

Well there is no way to prove it. I looked back through and saw an earlier post with ft4 of 25 (12-22) on 150+10 taken 6 hrs after t4 dose, so your later results of ft4 33.9 (12-22) seems unlikely to be due to normal dosing and likely a flare. Also, a drop in FT3 from 8.51 to 5.23 sounds to be due to more than would be considered normal from a dose reduction of 25mcg t4 and 10mcg t3. So I would think you could go ahead and raise one of them again at a time.

Your symptoms could well be down to nutrient deficiencies and food intolerances. I don't see any results anywhere for vit d, vit b12, folate and ferritin - deficiencies (often severe) in these are almost universal with Hashis. You really need to be sure these are all optimal rather than assuming they are ok as in range.

Also I see that you say you have struggled with gluten free a few times and don't think it made any difference. How long did you do this for (strictly not nearly) at any one time? It took upwards of 6 months gluten free for me to heal enough to show really quite bad symptoms when accidentally glutened - it doesn't happen quickly.

It really does take a bit of commitment to get rid of symptoms - I feel at times that I would rattle if you shook me and dietary restrictions can make life difficult. But the result is that I feel much better now than I have at any time since my early 20s (49 now btw).

Gillian

Sharon-1152 profile image
Sharon-1152 in reply to startagaingirl

Hi thanks for your reply

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to startagaingirl

Startagaingirl,

FT3 dropping from 8.51 to 5.23 is entirely normal when dose was reduced by 25mcg T4 and 10mcg T3. I would have expected it to have dropped further.

startagaingirl profile image
startagaingirl in reply to Clutter

ok - thanks

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to startagaingirl

Startagaingirl,

A couple of years ago my FT3 dropped from 8.4 to 4.5 when I reduced T3 by 10mcg. This year it rose to 6.0 without a change in dose. I have no thyroid so I was a little surprised that it rose.

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