Should I increase levo. or add in T3

[lucylocks]

Hi

I changed back to levo. from NDT. eleven weeks ago.

I had been taking 125mcg. for six weeks when I had my levels checked through Medichecks.

I took my last dose of levo. approx. 23 hours before blood test and fasted for approx. 9 hours.

Results

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE *0.014 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20

FREE THYROXINE 19.4 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 91.4 nmol/L 59.00 - 154.00

FREE T3 5.04 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 103.000 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00 (up from 95.7 on last test)

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 20.8 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00

(down from 32.2 on last test)

I still have some hypo. symptoms, mainly fatigue, anxiety, mind racing, and constipation.

I have waited to see if the symptoms improve before deciding what to do, but they have not.

Do you think from my results I should increase my levo. to bring it up to the top of the range or should I add some T3.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

Many thanks.

[greygoose]

If I were you, I would add T3. Your conversion will become poorer if FT4 too high. Why did you stop NDT?

[lucylocks in reply to greygoose]

Thank you

I did not feel much better with NDT. I then suddenly developed eczema and hives whilst taking it which I have never suffered from before.

My T4 was a few points under range whilst on NDT and I wondered if this had caused the eczema and hives to appear.

[greygoose in reply to lucylocks]

I really shouldn't think so. FT4 is often low when taking NDT, because of the T3 it contains.

[lucylocks in reply to greygoose]

How much T3 should I add?

Thank you.

[greygoose in reply to lucylocks]

Depends if you intend to reduce the levo. But, if you're keeping the levo the same, start with a quarter tablet.

[lucylocks]

I was thinking about the article where Doctor Toft. said about some people need T4 at the top of the range or slightly above.

Would this cause poor conversion.

[G2G2]

I can only speak from my experience. I was on a slightly lower NDT dose & my FT3 was also consistently low. I didn't feel better until adding T3.

[lucylocks in reply to G2G2]

Thank you,

happy to hear you feel better.

My T3 was quite good on NDT but T4 below range. Some say it does not matter T4 is low when on NDT but I felt I needed it higher.

[G2G2 in reply to lucylocks]

My T4 is below halfway on the range.

[lucylocks in reply to G2G2]

I think the ratio of T3/T4 in NDT does not suit everyone. I obviously needed more T4 and it sounds as if you need more T3.

[G2G2 in reply to lucylocks]

Agree.