I am at a crossroads here not sure what is going on. Started taking T3 Tiromel, 3 weeks ago, starting as suggested very slowly 6.25. I did this for two weeks then upped to half a tablet. I lowered my Levo from 100mcg - 75.
I take Levo before bed N T3 early morning. i also stated B12 mornings and D3 + k2 with main meal early evening.
Up side my brain seems to be more with it, i am tired but much less than before with more energy than I have had for a long time.
I am still getting aches N pains, dry scalp hair falling out, hot cold flashes but the most upsetting thing is I have gained weight this was one of the main reasons I started self medicating.
I am grateful for the positives but wonder if I have to resign myself to this misery of gaining weight at the rate of knotts. Or will it settle as T3 is raised to an optimal level?
Do I need to drop Levo further?
Has anyone else experienced this or know what is going on.
Dr is not supoortive of me using T3 so I cant ask him, he is insisted I stay on 100mcg of Levo.
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Mishy12
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Mishy12 It's still early days, you need to be patient.
In your first post you said you started Tiromel 3 weeks ago, 2 weeks at 6.25mcg daily, now half a tablet. Then your second post says 2 weeks at 6.25 and two weeks at 12.5. So not sure how long you've been taking it.
And as you haven't posted your results for TSH, FT4 and FT3, then no-one can say whether you need to reduce your Levo any more, or if you needed to reduce it in the first place.
If you post your results, with reference ranges, members can comment.
I realised after I posted it was four weeks not 3.
I have been taking the T3 for a month in all, 2weeks quarter 2weeks half just adding another quarter from today for two weeks until I get up to a full tablet.
I posted my results below before I started T3 and was helped by the very knowledgable greygoose. I didnt want to keep harrasing her with my questions hence the new post which you very kindly responded to.
Your vitamin B 12, folate and vitamin D are all too low.
See lots of SeasideSusie vitamin replies to others as to how and why to improve. How much vitamin D are you taking? Magnesium recommended too
B12, if supplementing then also vitamin B complex
But if taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results
Definitely address the Hashimoto's with a strict gluten free diet as SlowDragon has suggested, also supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies.A couple more links for information
I have read (but not researched so don't have links) that BCSH, UKNEQAS and NICE guidelines recommend:
"In the presence of discordance between test results and strong clinical features of deficiency, treatment should not be delayed to avoid neurological impairment."
And an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:
"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".
"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."
Sublingual methylcobalamin lozenges are what's needed if you self supplement, along with a good quality B Complex to balance all the B vitamins.
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25 OH VITAMIN D 58.2 nmol/L 50.00 - 200.00
The recommended level, according to the Vit D Council, is 100-150nmol/L. You can supplement with D3 softgels like these bodykind.com/product/2463-b... and I suggest taking 5000iu for 8 weeks, reduce to 5000iu alternate days, then retest 3 months after starting supplementing. When you've reached the recommended level you'll need a maintenance dose which may be 2000iu daily, it's trial and error so it's recommended to retest once or twice a year to keep within the recommended range. You can do this with a private fingerprick blood spot test with City Assays vitamindtest.org.uk/
There are important cofactors needed when taking D3
D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems.
D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds.
Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds
Ferritin level is fine, to keep it there you can eat liver regularly.
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I think to know if you need to reduce Levo any more, you'll have to do another test for TSH/FT4/FT3 and I suggest you do that 6 weeks after reaching 25mcg T3.
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