Advice on t3 please: Hi, I would like to try... - Thyroid UK

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Advice on t3 please

Vicky789 profile image
10 Replies

Hi, I would like to try reducing levo and introducing small amount of t3. I would appreciate advice on how to do this and where to source t3 without prescription please.

Latest results are tsh 0.191 (0.27 - 4.2)

Total t4 109 (54 - 154)

Free t4 21.2 (12 - 22)

Free t3 4.79 (3.1 - 6.8)

I am currently taking 125 levo

Thank you for your time x

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Vicky789 profile image
Vicky789
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Marz profile image
Marz

Have been reading through your previous posts and am wondering about your levels of B12 - Folate - Ferritin. Still no results posted 😊 - when these are optimal your conversion of T4 to T3 could well improve.

Being gluten free can improve the gut so you can absorb your meds better - including nutrients from food.

I only mention the above as you may not find the addition of T3 the success you are hoping for. Sorry not able to help with sourcing T3.

How are you feeling at the moment ?

Vicky789 profile image
Vicky789 in reply to Marz

Thanks for the reply! I asked my Dr's for a print out a couple of weeks ago but have not yet received it. They are only booking appointments for emergencies at the moment due to staffing so feel bad harassing them but will try again Monday.

I have not gone gluten free. I really want to avoid that.

I am feeling a lot better in general, but still not right. I am a nurse and still not able to work two days in a row as I am so exhausted the day after a long day it's ridiculous. I'm only 43 and should be able to work a full time job, but I work on an agency so that I can fit work around my life/ health and currently am only managing 17-24 hours a week.

I spend at least half of my life feeling like I have a hang over.

Marz profile image
Marz in reply to Vicky789

I thought in the UK you can see your results on-line 😊 They are legally yours so keep pressing !

From reading this forum you know that without results and ranges it is difficult to support members.

Low Iron - Ferritin - B12 - VitD can cause fatigue and many other issues .....

Hope you soon feel stronger.

Lozzer66 profile image
Lozzer66 in reply to Vicky789

I can't find a solution to this 'hangover 'feeling...Ive had it for several years 24/7 that came along with hypo/hashi diagnosis. I've tried gluten/dairy free/low sugar/levothyroxine to ndt/adressed vitamins etc ,ao many other things have been looked at and tried .I am considering going back on levothyroxine and adding t3 so I am interested how you will go on ,good luck!

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

You definitely need to know your vitamin results and be supplementing so that they are very good levels, before trying T3

And if gluten is causing hidden problems, which is highly likely, then you need to go gluten free first too. Or at least try it 3-6 months.

Leaky gut and gluten intolerance go hand in hand. You don't need to have any gut symptoms at all

See Myth 2 in this post

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

siobhanmt247 profile image
siobhanmt247

How long should you be using supplements for before trying t3 please? My reverse t3 is is high but my b12, vitamin d and folate-deficiency are low so I've been on high quality supplements. I've had them a week so far

ITYFIALMCTT profile image
ITYFIALMCTT in reply to siobhanmt247

Interesting question! And, I've no idea. It's obvious that supplementing skews our blood test results so it's hard to know at what level it would indicate that we're replete or ready to start on maintenance level supplements, IYSWIM.

I'd probably give it a good 6 weeks tho' - probably longer. I realise that we all want to get well faster but it's in our interests to start out low and slow with a number of things like T3. That said, loading doses for items like vitamins D and B12 can be very helpful. :)

No help at all really, sorry - :) I"ll be interested to see what SeasideSusie says.

siobhanmt247 profile image
siobhanmt247 in reply to ITYFIALMCTT

Thanks for the info. I'm tempted to ask my GP for a loading dose of b12 and d if possible. I just want to start feeling better and I'm also trying very hard to lose weight and train for triathlons with not much success

ITYFIALMCTT profile image
ITYFIALMCTT in reply to siobhanmt247

If you haven't already, you'd be well advised to post up your blood test results and ask for advice from the likes of SeasideSusie

tbh, while you're getting things sorted, I'm not sure if you're adding to your problems by loading on physical stress through trying to lose weight at the same time as training for triathlons.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply to siobhanmt247

How long's a piece of string :D

I think we're all different in how long it takes to get to optimal levels. Absorption issues can cause problems, poor quality supplements will mean very slow progress, the amount of dose you can tolerate with some supplements (eg Vit D, iron).

For example

I had a Vit D level of 15nmol/L (severe deficiency), I raised it to 200 in 2.5 months (self supplementing) by taking very large loading doses daily for 2 weeks then lowered to a reasonable dose. When I tested at 200 I reduced and now maintain between 100-150 but prefer the upper end of that range. I used Doctors Best D3 sofgels.

My folate was very bottom of range for folate. Again, in 2.5 months I was at the very top of the range. I used Thorne Basic B.

I wasn't too bad at all with B12, so just use 1000mcg sublingual methylcobalamin and maintain it now at the top of the range.

Ferritin was way too low but I couldn't tolerate iron supplements. This is the one I struggled with but now eating liver regularly has increased my level from 35 to 91 and I still eat it every 7-10 days to maintain my level.

So basically, it's a case of what are you levels, supplement at a appropriate dose with good quality supplements, retest after 3 months to see how things are. And once optimal, adjust the dose to maintain the level, don't just stop the supplements or levels will fall again.

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