Hi I am thinking of restarting T3, how much to start back on. I am currently gluten free and I was diagnosed hypothyroid 2011 taking 150mcg levo and supplement iron folate and vit D thank you
Free T4 12.8 (12 - 22)
TSH 5.2 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T3 4.0 (3.1 - 6.8)
Bluepink7272 You really need to get your TSH down to around 1 so you can see how your conversion is before reintroducing T3. With those results your first step should be increase Levo which should reduce TSH, increase FT4 and FT3.
Do you have any results from when you were taking T3?
Are you taking your iron 4 hours away from your Levo and 2 hours away from other supplements?
Are you taking Vit D 4 hours away from Levo?
Are you taking D3's important cofactors K2-MK7 and magnesium? Magnesium 4 hours away from thyroid meds?
Are you gluten free because you are Hashi's? If Hashi's, are you supplementing with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg daily to help reduce antibodies?
I take iron and other supplements 4 hours away from levo
Results on T3
TSH <0.02 (0.2 - 4.2)
Free T4 20.3 (12 - 22)
Free T3 5.3 (3.1 - 6.8)
This was about perfect. How did you feel?
Were you gluten free and supplementing then?
I didn't feel that good, I wasn't supplementing at the time thanks
Not taking k2 and magnesium
I think I have Hashimotos
TPO antibodies 503.5 (<34)
TG antibodies 366.3 (<115)
Thanks
Yes very definitely Hashimoto's
About 90% of hypothyroidism in UK is due to Hashimoto's. Medics call it autoimmune
Hashimoto's very often affects the gut, leading to low stomach acid, malabsorption causing low vitamin levels and leaky gut.
Low vitamins that affect thyroid are vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12. When they are too low they stop Thyroid hormones working.
Post your recent results including ranges
According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)
But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's is very poorly understood
Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms.
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...
chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...
drknews.com/changing-your-d...
Low stomach acid can be an issue
Lots of posts on here about how to improve with Apple cider vinegar or Betaine HCL
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
Other things to help heal gut lining
Bone broth
thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...
Probiotics
carolinasthyroidinstitute.c...
Infections can be underlying cause
hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...
Great film definitely shows why just testing TSH is inadequate
drbradshook.com/understandi...
You probably need to increase Levo first to get TSH lower before then cutting back some Levo for T3 instead
Bluepink7272
Yes, your high antibodies confirm Hashi's which is where antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it. The antibody attacks cause fluctuations in symptoms and test results.
This complicates things because crazy things happen to test results when the antibodies are attacking, TSH can go very low/suppressed, FT4 can go over range (as can FT3) so adjusting dose is often needed until the temporary 'Hashi's flare' is over and things settle down again. So a dose that suits you at one particular time might be unsuitable when having a Hashi's flare.
So you really need to do everything you can to stabilise the Hashi's. 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.
Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...
stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...
stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...
hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
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As Hashi's can cause gut/absorption problems, it's likely that nutrient levels are low, and if so thyroid hormone can't work properly, all levels need to be optimal. So if you have had them tested, post the results with their reference ranges for comment, saying what you are supplementing and the dose:
Vit D
B12
Folate
Ferritin
Iron Panel
Full Blood Count
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As for your D3 supplement, the cofactors are very important. 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 helps D3 to work and 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
naturalnews.com/046401_magn...
Check out the other cofactors too.
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So many things are needed to be optimal and balanced for thyroid hormone to work.
Were you self medicating or did an endo start you on T3? If so why was it stopped?
What dose were you on before T3?
How much T3/T4 when on both
An endo started me on T3, it was stopped after I became thyrotoxic. I was taking 175mcg levo before T3 and I was taking 75mcg levo and 10mcg T3 when taking both thanks
T3
Headaches and levothyroxine - safely restarting meds
Difference between Free T3 and T3?
T3 compared to Free T3
Thyroid below zero but free T4 & free T3 above range. What does this mean?
