Research on TSH test useless when taking T3? Endo wants me to reduce Levo as TSH is suppressed. I don't.

[TaraJR]

Endo advised me in writing to reduce meds (TSH is suppressed). I haven't. In fact I actually upped it a tad 😯

I have another appointment on Wednesday. Any advice on what to say?

From January I was taking 125 Levo with 25 T3.

For the past 5 weeks I've alternated 125/150 Levo with 25 T3.

Recent results early morning and fasting:

TSH 0.01 (0.35 - 3.5)

T4 16 (8.0 - 21.0)

T3 4.9 (3.8 - 6.0)

Vit D 127 (50 - 200)

Vit B12 155 (37.5 - 188)

Ferritin 72 (13 - 150)

Folate 14.96 (2.91 - 50.0)

I do have a life now on T3. Though I think I could even increase Levo and T3.

I'd like to have a research link to TSH test being useless when on T3. Any ideas? Thank you

[greygoose]

You don't want to increase your levo anymore. It's bound to be low when taking T3, but that's ok. The body just hangs on to what it needs. Your FT4 is already over mid-range, and that's fine.

On the other hand, you could do with increasing your T3. Your FT3 is only just over mid-range, and most people need it up the top of the range to feel well.

It's not so much that the TSH is useless when taking T3, it's equally as much use as when taking T4. You just shouldn't dose by it, because a low TSH doesn't automatically mean that you're over-medicated. You could have a low TSH but also low FT3, and it's the low T3 that causes symptoms. If the TSH is high, it does mean that you're under-medicated, but the converse is not true. The most important number, when taking either T4 or T3, is the FT3, because that is the active hormone.

[Baobabs in reply to greygoose]

Why can't qualified well paid Endos speak to us like this? I know, because they either don't know what to say and or think we wouldn't understand anyway. Is this just the kind of dialogue we would yearn to engage in with doctors?

[greygoose in reply to Baobabs]

They just don't have the knowledge or the interest.

[silverfox7 in reply to greygoose]

That was politely put GG! My line would be more like They can't understand the __________ obvious!

[greygoose in reply to silverfox7]

That, too.

[silverfox7 in reply to greygoose]

That made me chortle!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How about this

jeffreydachmd.com/2015/05/t...

Here's research saying suppressed TSH due to taking replacement thyroid hormones doesn't cause osteoporosis

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/825...

[Judithdalston]

You could have more T3 to get your FT3 to 5 or over. Don't obviously need more levothyroxin. Yes you can ignore the TSH and FT3 results as you are effectively by passing the need for the pituitary to send messages to the thyroid to produce T4..... as you are adding the T4, but also the end result artificially with the T3 dose. Your folate is low- should be at least half way through range. Ferritin should be higher, especially if menstruating age, at 100-130.

[TaraJR in reply to Judithdalston]

Thanks. I'm nearer 70 than 60! How to increase folate..?