Hi I am new, I have what my endo calls TPO and TG antibody positive hypothyroidism. I was diagnosed with this 3 years ago.
I am considering adding T3 despite my endo saying he does not support it (previous endo supported it), is it possible to do when I am taking 50mcg of levothyroxine?
Most of my symptoms of puffy eyes, cold intolerance, hard stool, looking ill improved on T3 and other symptoms of joint pain, memory loss and clotty periods have appeared.
Thanks in advance.
Sep 2017 (50mcg levothyroxine)
TSH 6.10 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T4 15.7 (12 - 22)
Free T3 3.8 (3.1 - 6.8)
TPO antibodies 89.5 (<34)
TG antibodies 256.3 (<115)
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Elliej10
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For members to comment about whether adding T3 is right, we need to see results for FT4 and FT3 done at the same time. If you post the results, with reference ranges, we can also see whether Levo is at the right dose or whether that would need altering if you add T3.
How did you feel then? How much Levo were you taking with the T3. That seems to be an almost perfect set of results if you felt well.
Why are you only on 50mcg now?
Sep 2017 (50mcg levothyroxine)
TSH 6.10 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T4 15.7 (12 - 22)
Free T3 3.8 (3.1 - 6.8)
You are very undermedicated here. The aim of a treated hypo patient generally is for TSH to be 1 or below or wherever it is needed for FT4 and FT3 to be in the upper part of their respective reference ranges when on Levo. You need your Levo increasing for starters.
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TPO antibodies 89.5 (<34)
TG antibodies 256.3 (<115)
Your endo is calling it TPO and TG antibody positive hypothyroidism. They usually call it autoimmune thyroiditis. We call it Hashimoto's. This is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. The antibody attacks cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results. The attacks can cause hypo to hyper swings and then back again. These swings are temporary and dose adjustmens can be made, then readjustment when things get back to normal.
You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.
Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.
It would be a good idea for you to read and learn about Hashi's because I don't think your endo knows what he's doing if he reduced your Levo to 50mcg and left you there with those latest results!
I was taking 75mcg levothyroxine and 5mcg T3 twice a day at the time of the October 2015 bloods. It took me a while to feel as best as I had ever felt, about a year. I had levothyroxine increased over 2016, never reduced, due to rising TSH and symptoms worsening again.
By June 2017 I was on 200mcg levothyroxine and 10mcg T3, endo then stopped the T3 and I looked into adrenal symptoms thinking I had low cortisol (which I did have through private saliva tests) and because I worried about potential problems with low cortisol and being on a high dose of levothyroxine I reduced it.
Even if you don't get T3, you need a dose increase as your TSH is way over range and both FT4 and Ft3 are too low. Your antibodies show that you have Hashimotos, which your doctor calls "antibody positive" instead of the more usual "autoimmune thyroiditis", so gluten-free might help
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