Can I totally ignore the results of my blood test even if it's too high? And increase my T3 dosage until i don't feel overweight anymore.

[Anavie]

Hi can i ask here for help please. I had TT last year. I am currently taking T4(100mcg) 5x a week, and T3(25mcg) 3x a week. My blood test shows i am in normal high range in both T4 and T3. But i still feel i am overweight. I would like to increase my T3 dosage but i am afraid i will exceed the normal range in blood test. I read here that blood tests are not accurate. My question is how much can i exceed the normal range? Can i totally ignore the results even if it'll say i'm way above normal range? As long as i feel better with my weight. Hoping for help thank you.

[shaws Administrator]

I am sorry you had a thyroidectomy and I don't know why your endocrinologist doesn't prescribe a combined T4/T3 daily.

If you can post your results with the ranges it will enable members to comment upon them.

T3 is not a weight loss hormone, it is the only Active thyroid hormone required in all of our millions of T3 receptor cells. T4 has to convert to T3.

When you reach an optimum dose of thyroid hormones which suit you and make you feel well weight can reduce.

If you can get TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate tested and put the results on a new post for comments.

All blood tests have to be at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between the last dose of thyroid hormones and the test and take afterwards. This helps keep the TSH at its highest as that's all most doctors take notice of. Many think if it is somewhere in the range that we're on sufficient but we aim to have a TSH of around 1 or below.

[Anavie in reply to shaws]

Thank you for your reply. I know T3 is not a weight loss hormone. I read that gaining weight is a symptom of hypo thyroidism.

Right now my T3 is at 85% of normal range and my T4 is at 75% of normal range. I take T4(100mcg) Monday to Friday and T3(25mcg) MWF.

I stepped up my diet and exercise after my TT as i gained a lot of weight, but i'm still so big and even getting bigger. I plan to increase my T3 dosage.

My question is how much can i exceed the normal range of T3? Can i totally ignore the results of blood test even if it'll say i'm way above normal range? As long as i get to feel better. Hoping for help thank you.

[Clutter in reply to Anavie]

Anvie,

You would do better to take T3 daily rather than alternate days. I would take 12.5mcg T3 daily.

You should ensure that FT3 remains within range. Long term over range FT3 can cause osteoporosis and atrial fibrillation. Having FT3 over range can also increase weight rather than reduce it.

thyroid.about.com/od/thyroi...

[Anavie in reply to Clutter]

Thank you Ms.Clutter. Thank you also for posting a link. My endo prescribed me Monday to Friday T4 100mcg and MWF T3 25mcg. Ms.Shaws also pointed out my dosage intake schedule throughout the week. Is it better to take T4 and T3 daily including Saturday and Sunday? May I ask why.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Anavie]

Anavie,

In someone with a working thyroid, the hormones are released in small amounts throughout the day (and night!)

I can't understand why someone should go through a pretty substantial reduction in thyroid hormone levels from the highest on Friday, nothing through the weekend, to Monday when you start to recover the situation again.

Odd dosing patterns have been reported many times - but more often something like 100 every day and 150 (or 50) on Sunday. That is, a far less drastic variation.

Looks to me like they decided to dose you 500 micrograms of T4 and 75 micrograms of T3 each week. Then divided into standard tablets. For T4, you could take 75 a day, with 50 on Sunday (or any other day). For T3, 10 a day would be only slightly less, or 12.5 a day slightly more.

If technology in medicine were seriously to be applied to thyroid hormones, I think we'd end up with an implantable device dosing tiny amounts regularly. Anyone producing such a device would be totally scoffed at if they suggested it should get turned off at weekends.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Anavie]

T3 needs to be taken regularly as it only lasts a short time in the body so varying the dose causes a lot of stress to your system. It's less important to take the same dose of levo every day as it has a much longer half life, but it's easier for most people to take the same every day. T3 often works better taken in smaller doses several times a day. Exercise uses up T3 fast.

[Hidden]

I take my T3 every day my body then responses as though it still has a thyroid i.e. working every day to the bodies requirement.

It seems very odd to be told to take this as you have stated, your body won't know if it's coming or going.

[Anavie]

Thank you Helvella, Angel of the North, and Bunnyjean.

I will now take my daily dosage equally with the same total weekly dosage.

However i really want to increase my T3 dosage because I feel hypo. I have read in a lot of comments and posts that blood tests are often inaccurate.

I am wondering if i could still increase my T3 dosage even if my blood tests results show my T3 is in 85% of normal range? I would like to try to increase it until it reaches 25% above normal range?

Do you think this attempt is fine or is it too dangerous? Please help me..

[Silver_Fairy in reply to Anavie]

Why dont you try dosing as advised first. I think it would be irresponsible for anyone to advise you on how much you can exceed the normal range.

Is weight the only hypo issue you have?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Anavie]

Anavie,

I wouldn't knowingly dose myself to get above top of Free T3 range unless I had tried sticking to the range for a considerable time.

How long between taking your liothyronine and having blood drawn for the Free T3 test? Too soon and FT3 might look high when it isn't. Too long and it might not look as high as it really is. You might find that with even dosing through the week you end up with a different result on your next test.

[Joanneconnor in reply to helvella]

My free t3 bloods are 25% over range, it hasn't made me lose any weight or feel any different my docs couldn't care less if my t3 is high either 🤔

[Anavie]

Silver fairy Thank you for the advise. I also experience a lot of hair loss and unexplained feeling of depression.

helvella thank you for the useful information. Last time i had blood test i think I drank t4 and t3 at 5am in the morning and took the test at around 9am. May I ask how would you advise the timing should be, between taking meds and taking my blood test?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Anavie]

Anavie,

The usual advice is 24 hours for T4 and 12 hours for T3.

Trouble is, at least for hours after taking T4 or T3, the FT4 and FT3 levels in your blood are artificially high. For both T4 and T3 the peak is usually about two hours after taking the tablet - but this can vary somewhat both between people and between T4 and T3.

Having your blood drawn about four hours after, and on a day when you took T3, could certainly mislead anyone just looking at the numbers.

[Anavie]

helvella thank you i will take your advise.

Joanneconnor i am intrigued and interested to know more about what you are saying.

May i ask why you choose your FT3 to be 25% above normal range, and not lowering your dosage?

Do you have any source/s that say it's alright to be slightly above normal (25%) that can help us understand?