Advice re T3 please: THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

137,149 members160,830 posts

Advice re T3 please

KatherineM_PBC profile image
2 Replies

THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 3.94 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20

FREE THYROXINE 17.6 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 96.6 nmol/L 59.00 - 154.00

FREE T3 *2.54 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY <10 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 29 IU/mL 0.00-34.00

I posted this last week and got a couple of replies that I am under medicated. I am going to my GP this afternoon and want to be 'armed' with information. She will no doubt just suggest I 'up' my Levothyroxine? If I ask her for T3, what would be the dose I need to take please?

I'm anxious about self medicating, but if I suggest I will buy T3 online and my GP advises the dose, what do you think she will say to that....you know GPs don't like being questioned! Im thinking instead of going up 25 Levo, add 10 T3???

Written by
KatherineM_PBC profile image
KatherineM_PBC
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
2 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

You really just need to increase your Levothyroxine at this stage by 25mcg and retest in 6 weeks. Further 25mcg dose increases until TSH is around one and FT4 towards top of range and FT3 at least half way in range

But you do also need to know if you have high thyroid antibodies. Have they been tested?

Also likely you have low vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Request these are tested too

If you already know you have high antibodies then request coeliac blood test

If your vitamins are low then you won't make improvements on T3 or T4

Just seen your results from 7 days ago

There's no vitamin D test

Folate and B12 are on low side

You could try adding a good vitamin B complex and possibly daily sublingual B12 too

aafp.org/afp/2003/0301/p979...

drjockers.com/warning-signs...

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Clutter profile image
Clutter

KatherineM_PBC,

You are undermedicated to have TSH 3.94 and FT3 so far below range. Increasing Levothyroxine dose will raise FT4 and FT3 but probably won't raise FT3 sufficiently.

The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.2 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_... Email dionne.fulcher@thyroiduk.org if you would like a copy of the Pulse article to show your GP.

Your GP may not be able to prescribe T3 without recommendation from a NHS endo. It may be worth asking for a referral because I think it is unlikely FT3 will respond sufficiently to 25-50mcg Levothyroxine dose increases.

Dose adjustments are usually in 25mcg increments for Levothyroxine or 6.25mcg - 10mcg T3.

You may also like...

Advice re referral for T3 please

of 0.2-2.0 miu/L, suggesting adequate thyroid hormone replacement. These results suggest that T3...

Advice Please Re Results

seeing privately has suggested that I get my iodine checked and have a thyroid ultrasound. Sadly my...

Advice need re T3 before hospital appointment

Jan 16 Serum free T3 level 4.3 pmol/L 2.5 - 5.7pmol/L 22 Mar 16 Serum free T3 level 4 pmol/L 2.5 -...

Advice please re gluten free

gluten free due to these antibody results. THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODY 338.5 (<34) THYROGLOBULIN...

T3 Supplementation Advice Please.

you Thyroid experts can help, as you all did for me recently :) My partner has had a few thyroid...