Can I now take T3

[ladyabosso]

Sorry about last post, something went wrong.

I have posted before and had very good advice from greygoose , Clutter , and many others. I now have a B12 reading of 1133 Previously 311(range 180-900)

Folate is now 20 . Previously 4.2 (RANGE IS >3.8)

I don't have ferritin result as this wasn't tested this time but back a few months it was 28, However I had a private iron status test which shows my iron level is 24.9 (Range is 6.6 - 26). They weren't able to test ferritin levels as my blood sample wasn't perfect. (finger prick) I have been supplementing my iron as rheumy stated by 200mg ferrous sulphate twice a day. I am also taking D3 and MK7. I have RA and osteoporosis as well as hypothyroidism and B12 def.

I do realise that folate should optimally be 70-90 and I have been supplementing with methylfolate. (5mg every day) for around 6 weeks. I fear that I have an absorption issue with B12 as I have to take NSAID's and PPI's to protect my stomach.

I believe my problem with folate def. could be because I take methotrexate 10mg once weekly. My GP said I wasn't anaemic but I was terribly short of breath and I believed ferritin was low at 28, hence the supplementing with ferrous sulphate.

My Red blood cell distribution width is increasing every month and is now at 18%(High)11.5-15 is the range.

Do you think things are not quite ready for me to start taking T3?

Thank you

[Clutter]

Ladyabosso,

I think you have confused folate and ferritin. It's ferritin which is recommended 70-90 not folate. As folate is 20 you do not need to supplement folic acid or methylfolate.

B12 is high in range, presumably due to B12 injections or supplementation.

Iron is almost top of range so I would stop supplementing iron. Ferritin is just stored iron. As long as you have adequate iron it doesn't matter that ferritin is low. In any case you should avoid having iron over range.

What are your TSH, FT4 and FT3 results and ranges and how much Levothyroxine do you take?

[ladyabosso in reply to Clutter]

Thank you Clutter, Last test for TFT's end Oct. 2017 were as follows

TSH 0.57mU/L (0.27-4.20)

FT4 18 pmol/L (11.0 -25.0)

FT3 unfortunately lab is not keen on testing FT3 and has not taken since Summer 2017 and no printout available) but I remember it was 4.2 (range was something like 3.8 - 6+)GP agreed it was on low side but couldn't prescribe T3 so I have bought my own from Germany. They are 20 mcg tabs and I was going to cut them into 4 and start low.

I am taking 100mcg levothyroxine

[Clutter in reply to ladyabosso]

Ladyabosso,

I would add 5mcg T3 to 100mcg Levothyroxine and take a second 5mcg T3 dose at bedtime. Hold at 10mcg for 6-8 weeks and have a thyroid function test including FT3 before increasing further.

You can order thyroid tests via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin... Medichecks offer #ThyroidThursday discounts.

[ladyabosso in reply to Clutter]

Thank you so much Clutter. It's ok to take bedtime dose together with levo then? I have taken your advice on which supplements to stop taking. Extremely grateful for this advice. xx

[Clutter in reply to ladyabosso]

Ladyabosso,

It can help improve sleep when taken at bedtime but if you find otherwise make sure you take the 2nd dose by 4pm.

[ladyabosso in reply to Clutter]

thanks again, wishing you all the best for Christmas and New Year xx

[ladyabosso in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter thoight i would update u on my first 5mg (quarter tablet)

When i woke up this morning i was getting the palpitations i was getting when i was short of ferritin and it worries me. Consequently I didn’t take another and the feeling has gone away now. My pulse after rising at rest was 84 but before i got up i felt it was racing but didn’t have a clock to monitor it. Maybe my t3 has kicked in as a result of all my good levels now?

[Clutter in reply to ladyabosso]

Ladyabosso,

A dose of T3 can raise heart rate within an hour to half and a half but it will usually subside within another hour or so.

I don't know what you mean about T3 kicking in. Improving vitamin and mineral levels may aid better T4 to T3 conversion but isn't likely to raise FT3 from 3.8 to high in range.

It won't hurt if you just take 1 x 5mcg daily for a few days to get used to it.

[ladyabosso in reply to Clutter]

Ok Clutter i will give it a few more days. What i meant was perhaps now that other levels were optimal my t4 has started to make more t3

[Clutter in reply to ladyabosso]

Ladyabosso,

Perhaps. Only way to tell will be to have a FT3 test.