I've just been forced to have a blood test and as expected, I have been told to reduce my T4. I am on 125mcg (and 12.5mcg T3 that the docs don't know about! ) and it's been suggested that I take the 25mcg only every other day. What is likely to happen if I do?
My results from last month are:
TSH 0.027 (0.27 - 4.20)
T4 18 (12-22)
T3 6.2 (3.10 - 6.80)
Thanks 
I'd ignore that, your FT4 is not too high. They are only stressing about low TSH, but that's due to your undeclared T3!
If you feel OK it looks fine. The current guidelines keep most people on too low a dose - see Prof Toft article below
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, lowest FT4 and most consistent results
Did you do test this way?
Dr Toft, past president of the British Thyroid Association and leading endocrinologist, states in Pulse Magazine,
"The appropriate dose of levothyroxine is that which restores euthyroidism and serum TSH to the lower part of the reference range - 0.2-0.5mU/l.
In this case, free thyroxine is likely to be in the upper part of its reference range or even slightly elevated – 18-22pmol/l.
Most patients will feel well in that circumstance. But some need a higher dose of levothyroxine to suppress serum TSH and then the serum-free T4 concentration will be elevated at around 24-28pmol/l.
This 'exogenous subclinical hyperthyroidism' is not dangerous as long as serum T3 is unequivocally normal – that is, serum total around T3 1.7nmol/l (reference range 1.0-2.2nmol/l)."
You can obtain a copy of the articles from Thyroid UK email dionne.fulcher@thyroidUK.org. print it and highlight question 6 to show your doctor.
Prof Toft - brilliant article just published
rcpe.ac.uk/sites/default/fi...
You'll need energy for your move to Spain. Hope all goes well and enjoy all that sunshine.
What is likely to happen probably depends on the combination of how you feel and what are your levels before the reduction, and what you reduce to .... But speaking from my own experience, in September I was ordered to reduce from 125mg Levo to 75mg, and from 20mg T3 to 0mg. It is no exaggeration to say that I now feel like the living dead, and for instance can easily sleep right through to 6pm unless I set two alarms (and even then can sleep through them both!) ....... My levels pre-reduction/withdrawal were very similar to yours, and my latest TSH is 0.06, FT4 16 (12 - 22) with no FT3 tested despite having my T3 withdrawn.
Thanks for that. I feel OK-not 100% but then I doubt I ever will be, but managing OK...apart from bursting into tears every five mins during packing but that's the new me I guess!
I am thinking of trying what the GP says and taking the 25mcg every other day so I'll see how it goes 
You will need full testing including vitamins
When T3 is stopped Vitamin levels fall off a cliff
For full evaluation you ideally need TSH, FT4, FT3, TT4, TPO and TG antibodies, plus vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 tested
Do you have Hashimoto's?
Private tests
thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...
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, lowest FT4 and most consistent results
Hi Slowdragon, I'm not stopping T3, just considering lowering the dosage of T4?
I just had a medichecks test last month but only TSH, T4 & T3, which was the results as above. I didn't even bother to ask about the GP one as they never do T3.
I am just wondering what effect lowering my T4 from 875 to 800 mcg per week would have?
Reducing NDT add in T4
Free T4
T4/T3 levels
Whats the science behind reducing T4 when taking T3?
