If adding T3 worked or didn't work for you?

[Syd35]

How long before you knew it either helped or didn't?

Currently on 100/125mcg alternate days as advised by private endo but the increase has not improved my symptoms. The letter to my GP advises to trial T3 if symptoms haven't improved so hoping to be allowed to and wondering what others experiences have been? Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Yes amazingly so.

But vitamin levels needed to be at very good levels for a long time first and, for me with Hashimoto's, strictly gluten free diet for over a year before introducing T3.

Endoscopy confirmed as definitely gluten intolerant (possibly coeliac- specialists couldn't really agree) and tested positive for heterozygous DIO2 gene

Tried T3 (and Armour) about 12 years before, without success. Didn't know then that had gluten intolerance (no symptoms) and vitamin deficiencies

[thyroidrose]

Syd I added T3 but too much of it, without being advised to reduce my Levo. I went hyper and that was heinous. So make sure whatever you do, if you add T3, that you are reducing your Levo at the same time. T3 is equal to three to four times the strength of T4.

[ShootingStars]

Hi. I take T3 and T4 for Hashimoto’s. When diagnosed, bloods confirmed both my FT3 and FT4 was too low, but doctors wouldn’t prescribe any meds. 4-5 months later, I finally was started on both T3 and T4. I was on T4 just a few days (immediately helped immensely) before starting T3 (immediately helped unbelievably and was the missing link!).

If your body is lacking one or both hormones, you must replace those hormones immediately to start feeling and functioning better. There is no need for your vitamin levels to be optimal before you start medication. If you need T3, you need T3 today. T4, same thing. Vitamins are a separate issue. Supplimental thyroid hormones will still be absorbed and used by your body. Your bloods will reflect this if you are on the right dose. Then, if you’re deficient in vitamins, you work on that too. It can take a long time to raise some vitamin levels. Your thyroid can’t wait for delayed meds if it needs them today.

[silverfox7]

Have you any results with ranges you can post from only taking T4? That is a good place to start as if FT4 and FT3 tested we can see if you are converting properly. You can't tell this one taking any form of T3 so I would advise getting that sorted first so if you need to get tests done to include FT3 then pick the one that includes Vit D, B12, folate and ferritin as if optimal, not just in range then that helps your thyroid to work better, can improve conversation though it takes time. I took 5 months butcthe time depends on how low things actually are. And they also can get rid of some symptoms for you as well. Socan be sensible to go back to basics and ok at the end of the day you may need a little T3 but if you are paying for it yourself then you may well save some money. I reversed my conversion issues and I was wanting to go back on NDT so also reasoned that the small amount of T3 in that would help if I dipped till I was sorted again. I've finally had a positive conversation with my GP to routinely test the four thyroid helpers!

[Babette]

My bloods showed that I wasn't converting T4 to T3 so the endo added T3 (20mcg) without reducing T4 (100mcg). I felt amazing within a couple of days but within 2 weeks was overmedicated so stopped taking T4. I found that T4 was making me ill I'm now on T3 only (30mcg).

I would get your T4 and T3 tested to see whether your converting.

If your GP will do it, it might be a good idea to get vitamins and minerals tested. I was deficient in D and zinc, and B12 was fairly low. I now take a concoction of vits and probiotics and this has helped.

Before going gluten free, ask to be tested for celiac disease. If you have a problem and self-diagnose using an exclusion diet (as I did), you can't get prescriptions for any gf medication (some meds contain gluten in the fillers) as they're on a named patient basis.

It might be worth keeping a food / symptom diary to see if there's a connection there too.

[AlisonL]

Hi. I went from 250mcg of levo to 200mcg levo and 40mcg of T3. I felt a huge difference after about a week and still feel better on this despite some ups and downs.

[Syd35]

Thanks for all the replies, going to start a new post with my latest results just in today.