T3 source wanted: Hi I am looking for a T... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

141,181 members166,422 posts

T3 source wanted

lenovo1983 profile image
14 Replies

Hi

I am looking for a T3 source.

These are my most recent blood results, non-medicated.

Thyroid FunctionTHYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 2.28 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20

FREE THYROXINE 14.6 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00

TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 100.1 nmol/L 59.00 - 154.00

FREE T3 3.87 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80

Thyroid AntibodiesTHYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 12.390 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 14.47 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00

Thanks

Written by
lenovo1983 profile image
lenovo1983
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
14 Replies
SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Lenovo1983

As you are not diagnosed and not on any medication, why would you want to start taking T3? Your FT4 and FT3 are in balance, albeit quite low in range, so there is no indication at present that you need T3. If you needed to start on thyroid replacement hormone, Levo would be the first thing to use as that would increase both FT4 and FT3.

lenovo1983 profile image
lenovo1983 in reply toSeasideSusie

Hi Seaside

Basically because my BMI is over 35 yet I've eaten healthy food @ < 1500 calories a day for years, I don't drink alcohol and I was told on another board my results indicated I had an under-active thyroid.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply tolenovo1983

Lenovo

It sounds as though you want it more for a weight loss aid then, which it isn't.

Your results show that you are possibly on the way to hypothyroidism but as no-one knows what their normal levels are when well we can't say with any certainty that you are hypothyroid.

Low nutrient levels can give symptoms that overlap with hypothyroidism so the first thing you should do is test

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

It's possible that you may have autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's which is where the antibodies attack the thyroid and gradually destroy it, but at the moment your antibody results are negative. However, one negative doesn't rule it out, you would need a few negatives over to time to be sure. So it would be worth repeating the tests at some point.

lenovo1983 profile image
lenovo1983 in reply toSeasideSusie

I wouldn't say I want it as a weight loss aid, I really just want to understand why my body doesn't lose weight. By taking a therapeutic dose of T3, this would help me determine if my weight is down to my thyroid. I've gone as far as a 500 calorie a day diet for a couple of months at a time, with no weight loss although I understand this in itself can lower the metabolism.

I do also take ferrous sulphate for low ferritin.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply tolenovo1983

Lenovo

You need all those vitamins and minerals tested.

How low was your Ferritin and what dose of FS are you taking? Do you take your iron with Vit C to aid absorption?

lenovo1983 profile image
lenovo1983 in reply toSeasideSusie

I have no idea to be honest, the blood test was a couple of years back. I take 200mg a day, not with any Vitamin C. I have not had my levels rechecked since I started it. I'll order a test from medi checks and get them all tested.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply tolenovo1983

Lenovo

If your FS was prescribed then your GP should have been checking your levels. Too much iron can be as bad as too little so it must be retested. And not just Ferritin, serum iron is important as well as serum iron can go high but Ferritin stay low.

Do you take it as directed according to the Patient Information Leaflet which sats

"Ferrous Sulfate tablets with food and drink

Ferrous Sulfate tablets should not be taken within one hour before or two hours after eating or drinking the following products: tea, coffee, milk, eggs and whole grains. These products can reduce the absorption of iron. Meat and products containing vitamin C can increase the absorption of iron. Follow the advice of your dietician or doctor when taking Ferrous Sulfate tablets with any of the food or drink listed."

Come back with your Medichecks results, make a new thread and members will comment.

lenovo1983 profile image
lenovo1983 in reply toSeasideSusie

Thanks for the responses SeadsideSusie

lenovo1983 profile image
lenovo1983

Nothing really major, I get quite a bit of hair loss and suffer from constipation fairly often.

SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering in reply tolenovo1983

Lenovo

Hairloss can be due to vitamin deficiencies, check out this article

healdove.com/disease-illnes...

ShinyB profile image
ShinyB

Hi :) and welcome.

I'm just finishing reading a book called 'Hypothyroidism; the unsuspected illness" by Broda Barnes. It was written in 1976 by a USA doctor who used thyroid treatment on people if they had a low basal temperature, on a trial basis to see if it improved their symptoms. The book is available quite cheaply via places like Amazon.

Low basal (or at rest) temperature is one of the indicators of low thyroid function. Your inability to lose weight and the constipation and hair loss you mention can definitely be low thyroid symptoms but they can occur for other reasons too. If your at rest temperature is consistently below 97.8 degrees Fahrenheit (which equates to 36.55 Celsius), it would be worth looking into hypothyroidism as a potential cause.

Be aware too that if you're pre menopausal that you'd need to check your basal temp in the first few days of your period. Around ovulation it goes up so won't give you an accurate idea if you take it then. Also, if you have any infection, that would also make your temperature be raised so take that into account too!

Good luck and I hope you find answers soon :)

lenovo1983 profile image
lenovo1983 in reply toShinyB

Hi ShinyB, thanks for the input. My temperature is normally 36 - 36.5 C when measured with an ear thermometer.

I hope I'm not menopausal yet :-/

ShinyB profile image
ShinyB in reply tolenovo1983

I was really glad to get to menopause ;-) What a relief lol.

In his book he talks about using an old fashioned thermometer that can be left either under your arm or in your mouth for a full ten minutes when you're really rested and still, to get a really accurate reading. I think those ear ones might not give you long enough, but that does definitely sound on the low side....

lenovo1983 profile image
lenovo1983

Hi, I'm about to try the 8 week blood sugar diet which will match up to the diet recommendations you have made.

I'll have a chat with the doctor about switching to Iron Bisglycinate

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Time to add T3

These are my latest results. THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE * 0.155 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20...

Latest Medichecks Results -

ENDOCRINOLOGY Thyroid Function THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE 0.633 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20...

How to introduce T3

So we have been battling with the Endo for a while who is still reluctant to introduce t3! So we...
Sarahsmurfs profile image

Results

Please can anyone explain the ranges to me for these tests? Thank you in advance. TSH 2.23 mIU/L...
Loulou41 profile image

Increased my T4 and T3 levels, but TSH heading up?

Please see results. I'm unsure why my TSH is on the up when I've improved my T4/T3? TSH 2.02...
NealF profile image

Moderation team

See all
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator
Jaydee1507 profile image
Jaydee1507Administrator
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.