Hi I am new and I am a 30 year old female with autoimmune thyroiditis/Hashimotos which was diagnosed in 2012. I have recently had my dose of 150mcg Levo and 10mcg T3 reduced to just 150mcg Levo and then again to 100mcg Levo and I am now feeling like I have been hit by a bus, periods have gone back to being heavy and clotty, feeling more tired, burning in backs of my legs, dry skin, hard stool, loss of appetite, feeling cold, concentration worsening and I don't know what to do next. T3 was stopped 3 months ago, dose reduced to 100mcg 2 months ago. Feedback welcome.
(result below on 150mcg Levothyroxine/fasting/leaving 24 hours between dose and draw/early morning)
TPO antibody 378 (<34)
TG antibody 285.3 (<115)
TSH 0.02 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T4 20.6 (12 - 22)
Free T3 4.0 (3.1 - 6.8)
Written by
Shannen
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Do you have results from when on T3 too. They were probably perfect.
You now need testing for low levels of vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12.
Your antibodies are very high this is Hashimoto's, (also known as autoimmune thyroid disease). About 90% of hypothyroidism in UK is due to Hashimoto's.
Hashimoto's very often affects the gut, leading to low stomach acid, low vitamin levels and leaky gut.
Low vitamins that affect thyroid are vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. If they are too low they stop Thyroid hormones working.
Have these been tested, if not ask that they are. Always get actual results and ranges.
As you have Hashimoto's then hidden food intolerances may be causing issues, most common by far is gluten. Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms. Very, very many of us here find it really helps and can slowly lower antibodies.
T3 has been withdrawn in the UK, due to the cost rising exessively from about £50 to over £300 per pack. Of course, it is a perfect excuse to stop prescribing but it was stated that if patients have a 'clinical' need it should not be removed.
I think they've been lookng for an excuse for a long time, especially as more people have been requesting a T4/T3 combination and scientists have also stated that we do feel better.
So, at one stroke your dose was reduced by 80mcg of levo (equivalent of T4/T3).
Your blood tests were fine except that your FT3 could be nearer 6. Doctors are apt to only look and adjust according to the TSH and is yours is low that's why they've reduced but that is the very last thing they should do.
When we add T3 into T4, it reduces the TSH (doctors seem to be unaware of this fact) and a doctor has written about the Tyranny of the TSH - meaning we don't recover if dose is adjusted frequently to keep the TSH 'in range'.
You have an Autoimmune Thyroid Disease called Hashimoto's (hashi's) and going gluten-free can help reduce the attack of these on the thyroid gland which renders you hypothyroid eventually.
I'd go back to your original dose if you felt well. You can source your own T3 and to get information you'd have to put up another post asking of where to source it. No information is permitted on the open forum.
Look on the Pinned Posts on the r/hand side and please sign as we are on a Campaign to restore T3 to patients who have a need.
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