Info on t3

[Cuddles100]

Hi folks am new to this. I got my thyroid removed just over a year ago and have put on a St and half of weight. I asked about T3 but they said the levo dies all that.??? Any info would be great

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum,

I am sorry you had your thyroid gland removed.

We have to read, learn, and ask questions in order that we recover our health. It is possible but we have to do it ourselves.

Levothyroxine should convert to T3, but doesn't always do so efficiently and they do not test Free T4 and Free T3 so that we know whether or not we are converting to an optimum.

What you have to do is to have a proper thyroid hormone blood test. (Your GP will probably not do all of these) but we need:-

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies. GP should test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate.

All tests for thyroid hormones have to be at the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take afterwards. This keeps the TSH at its highest as that's all doctors take notice of and not our clinical symptoms.

We have private labs which will do all of those the doctor or lab wont. Your GP should test B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate as everything has to be optimal.

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

The popular labs are Blue Horizon and Medichecks. You have to be well-hydrated a couple of days before and they are pin-prick tests.

Post your results with the ranges on a new post for comments from members.

[Clutter]

Cuddles100,

Levothyroxine doesn't always 'do all that'. Some people have poor conversion from Levothyroxine to T3 which can be a particular problem for thyroidectomised patients as they have lost the ability for thyroidal conversion to T3.

If you post your recent TSH, FT4 and FT3 results and ranges (the figures in brackets after results) members will advise whether you are optimally dosed and whether you are a good or poor converter.

If FT3 is low you may benefit from the addition of Liothyronine (T3) to Levothyroxine.