This is possibly just me, but what is it you want to give up trying? The T3? Because, to me, you might be titrating a little fast (it varies from one person to another). Are you taking levo. and if so, at what dose? iirc, you were treated for Graves? Did you have an FT3 test before deciding to add T3 into your regimen?
Have you had full blood work done - more akin to BH or Medichecks, complete with your vitamin and mineral levels?
It's probably been great for your liver that you've eliminated the beer (judging by your liver enzyme results above).
However, a number of people here have only been able to shift their excess weight when they've established a good hormone panel for themselves - and that has happened with a well-rounded, non-calorie-restricted diet and a heap of patience because it can take time to achieve the vitamin and mineral levels that support appropriate use of hormone supplementation.
If you've never had your vitamins and minerals assessed, can you ask your GP to do them? If not, could you self-fund the requisite test bundle from a private source like BH, Medichecks or similar?
ETA: I x-posted with SeasideSusie and suggest that you ignore my comment and focus on hers.
Shon Sorry to say it but you're doing yourself no favours here. Before adding T3 you must get FT4 and FT3 tested at the same time otherwise you wont have a clue if you need it, or how much to use.
You should have had those tests done and if there was a conversion problem you should have started your T3 at 6.25mcg and gradually build up by 6.25mcg every 2 weeks until you reach 25mcg then retest. To start at 25mcg then 1 week later increase to 50mcg was sheer madness. I'm surprised you didn't have adverse reactions such as palpitations, high blood pressure, etc.
And please don't increase from 50mcg to 100mcg. 50mcg T3 is approximately the equvalent of 150-200mcg Lelvo, so doubling your T3 to 100 means that it's the equivalent of 300-400mcg Levo. How much Levo are you taking besides the T3?
Those results in June
TSH: 0.17 (0.3-5.5)
FT4: 18.2 (I think, or is it 16.2) (10-19.8)
On the face of it look excellent. However, unless you know your FT3 then you wont know if you're converting T4 to T3. If you're not converting then you wont lose weight - which I gather is what you want.
For good conversion we have to have the building blocks in place. We need optimal levels of vitamins and minerals (optimal is not just 'in range') so you need to have the following tested:
Vit D - needs to be 100-150nmol/L according to the Vit D Council
B12 - needs to be at the upper end of it's reference range, even 900-1000
Folate - needs to be at least half way through it's range
Ferritin - needs to be at least 70 for thyroid hormone to work and conversion to take place, recommended is half way through it's range
And if ferritin is low you need an iron panel and full blood count to see if you have iron deficiency anaemia.
So either ask your GP to test FT3 (which you wont get done if TSH and FT4 are in range, it's the lab that makes the decision even when the GP requests it), plus those vitamins and minerals, or get them done privately with a fingerprick test (or venous blood draw at extra cost) from Blue Horizon or Medichecks. Their best value is a Thyroid/Vitamin bundle
Thank you so much for the valued reply. To be fair I did not ask fir blood test before. As the doctors know less than me. The reason I decided to go with T3 is I have done a lot of study. Atheketes yse large doses if T3 to loose body fat. They are using from 100 to 150 mg..
So far I have had no reaction to taking the T3 no thyroid symptom changes, a few headaches, but that is it.
From the research I have done and the many videos on YouTube, there seems to be no real risk from taking it. I am intending to stop once I have lost 10 kilos.
I did try to send the other page of blood test which had the whole range but can not see T3, probkey because they don't want to test it due to cost.
Shon Athletes and Bodybuildlers take T3 for a completely different reason than thyroid patients. And they are playing a very dangerous game. They have very dodgy suppliers, have been know to have very dodgy T3 and a few have died. So I wouldn't take any notice of anything to do with T3 that is not to do with a thyroid patient who actually takes it because they have a conversion problem and they need it.
You obviously only want it for weight loss. 3 weeks later you've lost nothing. Now you're intending to double an already high dose of T3. If you do that then you are playing a very dangerous game. No-one here will advocate what you are doing.
Also, no thyroid hormone can work if nutrient levels aren't optimal.
You've now had 3 replies all saying the same. For your health's sake, please take notice of what the replies are telling you.
Do all the tests suggested, come back with the results, then listen to the advice of the experienced thyroid patients here.
Oh my Shon,I haven’t even continued reading this thread & I have to jump in. Often it’s food sensitivities that halt people from losing weight. Thyroid patients in particular tend to have weight loss & body improvements going gluten & dairy free. But everyone is different - there can be more to cause hinders. You mention beer - beer becomes sugar - it’s great you have given beer up but I suspect you may have a inclination to sugar. Insulin is another player regarding weight. PLEASE DONT INCREASE THE LEVO 🙏
You need testing for TSH ( only to discern hypopituitary) , FT3, FT4, Reverse T3, Thyroid Antibodies, 4 Iron Labs, Saliva Adrenal Cortisol (not blood) and B12 (and Folate)...(iron Cortisol and B12 need to be optimum.) You have not got enough info here to gauge where the problem lies.
Thanks fir you help. I so far have had no negetive effect. As I said to its above. Athekets use thus method to lose wieght. And judging from my last six month diet and ecpxcersuce, seems to me that I must need T3 or I would lose wieght.
Thanks so much again I am listening to you. Just feel I have no choice
There is always a choice - to risk serious implications for your health - heart damage is a very real possibility as those sort of doses for instance or to continue with the path you are on for the sake of vanity. So are you listening? Really? Why would you play russian roulette with your health for the sake of a few pounds?
Understood. But not just a few pounds. A few stone. Which in it's self leads to all sorts of health issues including diabetes and heart problems etc . I had my diabetes check (because I am border line, three days ago my blood pressure was perfect and heart rate 65.
Hi Shon, you say you haven't had a negative affect do you really know, silent damage can be done with no knowledge of the patient including cardiac, many people have a silent MI and never know until something shows up often randomly at a later date.
Are you sure that you are not putting your body into starvation mode by restricting your calorie intake so much and exercising with it holding on to all the calories it can get?
Athletes !!!! That should read body builders and they have for years abused their bodies with mega doses of all the hormone spectrum. As they age they all die of heart failure early.
The thing to remember with hormones is that the system is a huge loop and so when excess hormone is used other reactions take place to try and counteract the effects.
With thyroid if you take too high a dose of T4 or T3 you will create a blocking effect called RT3. You will still create Rt3 even when using T3 and MAYBE eventually this block will be overcome but i doubt it in my experience.
The way to approach this is with MICRO doses of hormone, so you top up your own production to an optimal level. This will not trigger the compensation mechanisms. Alberto Salazar is the USA long distance runner trainer and he has been applying this method secretly with many of his athletes. they are all using small doses of T3 and testosterone to improve recovery and performance.
So try and see what a small dose of T3 does to the metabolism first. The dose should be 1/8th of a tablet and so will be approx 3mg. See how this feels taken in the morning and maybe try another 3mcg dose in the afternoon. you don't want to use anymore than this.
Also a restriced calorie diet is a sure fire way to not loose weight. Cut out the beer, but aim to eat a balanced diet and exercise moderately. The Ray Peat forum has a really different approach to weight loss. Worth a look over there.
Bodybuilders take steroids to bulk up muscle and T3 to burn fat at the same time as doing intensive exercise training. They usually restrict high dose T3 to a few weeks pre competition.
T3 should not be used as a weightloss aid. Long term high FT3 can cause atrial fibrillation leading to stroke and osteoporosis. Overmedicating can also cause weight gain. thyroid.about.com/od/thyroi...
Absolutely. I used to be a compettitive bodybuilder and used T3 to get cut for shows - just for a few weeks - but I ended up damaging my adrenals and my thyroid, so now I need thyroid hormones all the time. Not a good way to go. On the plus side, I haven't died of heart failure and will soon be old enough to retire!
Well. Did I once say I was an athekete, I said athekets use it. It all over the net. I also said 6 months ago I cut out the beer. But cutting out the beer, eat only 1400 canaries of healthy food. And exersice 40 to 50 minuet 7 days a week
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have money off offers.
All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning and fasting and don't take Levo in the 24 hours prior to test, delay and take straight after. This gives highest TSH.
Shon , it’s me again- I follow the program that Dr.SaraGottfried has. I’ve lost 25lbs after20yrs of nothing that I used to do worked. HORMONES are huge - it’s NOT A FEMALE ONLY THING. My boyfriend does it too. Please read /look into this - thank you saragottfriedmd.com/how-you...
And if you are interested further- here’s the info how to do it. Read all to the bottom - PS. I AM NOT AN EMPLOYEE OR COMPENSATED. It simply WORKS - you get all the whys - including thyroid.
I wouldn't add any more T3 (already on a very high dose and reached too fast) before doing the following tests:
Repeat the T4 (near the top of the range in June). If you are a converter; then, too much T3 will make you gain weight.
T3 levels, Reverse T3, Thyroid antibodies, and Leptin resistance.
Your body has been going through lots of changes which pushes this resistance.
1400 calories is a bit too low and if they come from carbs as you'd be craving these due to the high T3 dose, then, you'll be going in circles.
Give up gluten and all sugars, if you have not done so, and add protein, vegetables, and good fat to your diet, and treat yourself with one fruit a day. Plus good supplements to top up any deficiencies and/or for maintenance.
Do 20 minutes cardio and 30 minutes stationary weight resistance.
There are many reasons why you are not loosing weight.
Food intolerances (gluten, dairy, candidida (sugar and yeast)
Too few calories - your body will more than likely be in starvation mode, storing fat asa fast as possible due to it feeling stressed.
You need to look at your diet to get you healthy, your weight will then naturally align itself and start to drop off.
Please read a book from Isabella Wentz, called Finding the root cause. I have lost nearly 3st in the the last 6months and it is still coming off. But more to the point I have normalized my TSH and T4 levels, I have real energy, no brain fog, my periods are normal and I feel absolutely amazing.
This is from following a change in my diet and adding in 1 supplement. I don't not take any other medication, this was with my Drs watchful eye but now my Dr is amazed by my results
Oh and I've never counted a calorie, and I've only just added yoga as exercise as I knew that anything else was too taxing to my reserves, although now I have more energy than most people around me!!!!!
UpdAte, thanks everyone for your advice, I have today stopped taking the T3.
Your time is really appreciated
Sean
Your weight loss has been tremendous. You must pat yourself on the back.
I think you have reached a weight plateau, where your weight suddenly sticks and you think
what's the point of this! As you have been on a calorie diet of 1400 calories, and have exercised
and have been to doctor for a thyroid prescription, the problem may be to do with your thyroid medication but it may also be because of the carbs in your diet and hidden sugars in foods and drinks.
The foods which are like dripping sugar into your system are rice, pasta, wheat, biscuits, breads, cakes, root vegetables especially potatoes and parsnips, turnips, swedes, squash, and milk as you know already. Hidden sugars are in sweeteners coming from natural fruit sugar in squashes and tonics even though they say they are calorie free. Some sweeteners convert into glucose in the liver and your blood sugar will go up.
So if you go on a high protein low carb diet, you will probably start to lose weight again.
You can eat as much fish eggs and meat, low fat cottage cheese especially chicken but red meat and bacon can affect
the kidneys or arthritis. You can eat any vegetables excepting root vegs or if you do
only have a tiny portion ie. a slice of beetroot, one small potato .
A daily diet could be a ryvita with a scraping of butter/flora with fish paste, or marmite for breakfast. Mid morning snack an apple or an orange. Lunch cottage cheese 40z with salad including tomatoes lettuce mixed salad without dressing or mayonnaise. Lemon juice mixed with
canderel sweetner can be a nice dressing.
Evening meal chicken with green vegs cabbage, broccoli, salad, French runner beans celery.
Evening snack an omelette made with two eggs with a bit of milk. Additonial vitamin supplements
can be taken eg vitamin c or b complex, but if you eat a normal diet this should be ok.
Stay on this diet for at least three weeks. The scales may stick due to thyroid, but am sure the weight plateau will respond to removing most carbs. You have to have a little carb in vegetables and in milk a quarter of a pint of green top a day, to sustain muscle function. Well done with your
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Giving up..
Giving up
Newbie - do I give up?
So confused by results - should I give up?
