What was your tsh ft4 and ft3 levels when u started t3 and what was your reason for starting t3?

[ThyroidObsessed]

Hello all.. just wondered what your levels were when u started t3?

Iv found everytime i try to increase my levo past 75mcg i get herrendous mental side effects and ft4 goes over range but ft3 stays lowish..

[Daffers123]

I think that indicates that you are probably not converting T4 to T3 very well. You will get lots of replies from people who know all about this .

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to Daffers123]

Hi Daffers123 been reading your posts, Can i ask what your levels ft4 ft3 and tsh were on 88mcg of levo?.. as thats the only dose i can tolerate too without getting mental issues...

[shaws Administrator]

It would be helpful if you could post your results with the ranges. The reason being ranges enable members to respond.

Do you have your blood tests at the very earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and do you allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take it afterwards?

I started T3 when I wasn't improving on T4. I cannot remember what results were but I just felt so awful. As soon as some T3 was added it was a huge difference and after a number of months and the Endo getting nervous about my TSH I decided to do my own thing.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to shaws]

Yes always have blood drawn fasting and no levo till after.. ft4 always comes back highish no matter what dose im on unless i stop levo altogether then it drops low.. was ok on levo alone for 9 years, then something changed i started with panic attacks and anxiety and depression for no reason and thyroid levels revealed my ft4 slightly above range tsh at 8 and ft3 lowish... tried to increase to 100mcg of levo 3 times and ft4 just goes over with ft3 mid range and herrendous side effects that i cannot put myself through again!

Latest results on 87.5 of levo are :-

Ft4, 20 (11.0- 23.0)

Ft3, 4 (3.1- 6.8)

Tsh 10.1 (0.27- 4.5)

Thanks

[shaws Administrator in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

You are not on an optimum dose due to your very high TSH you must feel awful. a FT3 near bottom of range .You need an increase. If you can source some T3 privately - just to see how you feel with T3 added, it might be worth it. To be unwell for so long and having awful symptoms - many doctors haven't a clue that some patients' bodies cannot improve on synthetic thyroid hormone.. One of our Researchers and his Team have proven that many need T4/T3 combo.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to shaws]

I was ok (ish) for 9 years on levo alone.. but the past year and a half has been hell!!.. each time i see endo she just puts dose up and down between 75 and 100 and still is oblivious that ft4 goes over range on 100 and ft3 low to mid range, she says thats just how it goes sometimes.. but its not stabalised for a year and a half now!.. levels were stable for 9 years so something has changed!??..

[shaws Administrator in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

It seems that most cannot get well if they listen to or take notice of Endos or doctors.

The worst thing doctors can do is adjust the dose according to the TSH. The fact that "she says thats just how it goes sometimes" shows that she has no knowledge to make her patient well so its a waste of patients' time and health. They can relieve symptoms if it is a prescription dose that suits the patient or you may have to try to source some T3 and one of our Advisers and his Team have found that many need a combination of T4/T3 to get their health back.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to shaws]

I sat there and poured my heart out to her telling her how it has been mental torture for a year she didnt even flinch... im physically fit and dont get tired and im not in pain like lots on here but im suffering mental torture! Im not asking much just to feel normal again to go back to 2015 i miss it ☹...

I have ordered some t3..

Also my gp has contacted yet another endo to see what they think of all my bloods..

So theres a very small possibility they see i need t3..

[Mamapea1 in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

So sad ~ disgusting how we're treated by these uncaring and indifferent docs! I wonder what does make them flinch? The mind boggles! If they aren't forthcoming when they've had their little chats regarding your well being, I wouldn't worry ~ yes, it's inconvenient and unnecessary, but this forum is great, and it will enable you to safely treat yourself. Thank various gods for it!

I've been in terrible physical pain on T4 for years and unable to work, but I managed for 9 years, although exhausted, to scrape a living together ~ then, back to square one! Now I'm depressed because I'm so ill ~ only like you in that it no longer works at all. Maybe our bodies and brains can only hobble along making allowances for the inadequacies of T4 for so long, who knows? I don't think it matters as long as we make the necessary adjustments to regain our health.

I wish you the best of luck with your T3 when it arrives. There are enough caring and knowledgeable members on here to compensate for the poor treatment you have received so far. Good luck :0) Mamapea x

[Clutter]

ThyroidObsessed,

My FT3 was 3.1 (3.5 - 6.5).

[ThyroidObsessed]

Thanks clutter what levo dose was u on?

[Sybilla14]

I have just added a starter dose of t3 in addition to 150mcg of Levo. My ft3 was 4.5(3.1-6.8) earlier this month but not feeling good. My ft3 was 5.7 on a different brand of Levo before but I had unpleasant reaction to the fillers in it I think.

[Daffers123]

hi I will look out my results later but what you write is exactly what happened to me. I think my underlying problem was Hashimotos which showed up in tests but no medical professional was prepared to discuss this possibility. my Levo was up and down over 3 years and ONLY just stabilised when I went Gluten Free. have you tested anti bodies ?

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to Daffers123]

Yes anti bodies are very low at 10 point over range.. iv been told i have hashis because of slight antibodies.. iv also been tested for celiac but came back negative.. i believe i have become intolerant to levo over the years and my conversion has got worse hence my high tsh and high in range ft4 and low ft3.. was fine for 9 years on levo with my ft4 high and tsh under 1.. then over a year ago started suffering with panic attacks and depression and thyroid test came back to show slightly over range ft4 and high tsh!. Gp was stumped so referred me to an endo and here i am ....

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to Daffers123]

I was on 100mcg at the time of the test.. my doctor reduced me to 75 as she couldnt understand the test results then referred me to the endo... from then on everytime i try to go back up to 100 i get bad depression and anxiety iv tried 3 times over a year and a half.. i refuse to try anymore.. its obvious to me that my body doesnt need all that t4.. i have ordered some t3 and hoping for the best..

[Marz in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

How are your levels of VitD - B12 - Folate - Ferritin ? Maybe I have missed them Thyroid hormones we swallow do not work well in the body if the vitamins and minerals are low in range ....

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to Marz]

All vitamins are high in range as i supplement and also eat liver once a week for my iron x

[Marz in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

WOW x

[ShinyB]

Have you had your rT3 levels checked at all? Forgive me if this has already been covered but T4 can be converted to either T3 or Reverse T3. Reverse T3 has an important biological function but it may be that yours is too high. I would imagine it is, from how low your FT3 is compared to your high FT4. Carrying on taking T4 when you are not converting it well will not help you.

I doubt very much you'd get RT3 checked on the NHS but you could try asking. I bypassed the angst and arguments by getting mine tested privately through thyroid profile test from medichecks.com. THis is the one I had medichecks.com/thyroid-func... but I think there were a couple of others that were less comprehensive, so a little cheaper too.

[ThyroidObsessed]

No ive not got it tested yet, but im just waiting for an appointment with my 3rd nhs endo and hoping they actually look into things furthur in why a high ft4 and high tsh.. i can imagine the rt3 is gonna be high and thats why i cant increase..

I really wish i could increase to 100 and stay just on levo and go back to normal and levels go back to normal, for 9 years my ft4 was always middle then top of range and tsh always below 1 and i was always great, i can only presume over the years that my absorption has got better but conversion has got worse...