Started on T3 only- chest pain

[Sampydoodle]

My T3 prescription finally arrived. Thybon Henning 20. I was told to take half tablet daily but decided to start with a quarter. Began dose on Thursday a.m

Saturday morning pulse around 50bpm, though don't know what it was prior to start of meds.(only read about checking pulse the other day) By evening didn't feel great, mild chest pain just generally not right. Decided to miss Sunday's dose. Sunday heart rate am was around 75. felt very lethargic, by evening breathing not quite normal but difficult to describe, not breathless but strange. Then came chest pain again.only happened 2 or 3 times between around 9-11pm. Not severe by any means but really scares me.

Don't seem to get the chest pain until evening, sat watching TV.

Only other change I have noticed is constipation lessening a little.

Pulse this morning is 68

Anyone else experience this? Should I try an eighth of tablet?

Not on any thyroid meds before so unsure.

My T3 was just below range so thought this was going to help!

Can T3 cause any harm.?

Any ideas ?

Got gp appointment tomorrow when I was going to tell her that consultant has prescribed this, pretty sure she'll tell me to stop. Fed up with feeling so rubbish all time but as far as she was concerned my TSH was normal so no further action.

I would like to continue with the T3 but get really anxious with heart related things. I've read conflicting things regarding T3 preventing/causing strokes and heart issues.

[Nanaedake]

Your thyroid produces T3 so how can it cause heart issues? However, if you take too much of any kind of thyroid hormone it would cause problems. That's why you need to monitor it through blood tests. Hopefully people experienced with T3 will respond to you.

[AnnaSo]

Hey! How were you prescribed T3 only if not on any thyroid meds before? That’s not a common approach, usually people start with 50mcg Levo.

Also do you have any blood results for thyroid panel (T4, T3, TSH, antibodies) and ideally iron studies, D3, folate as well as cortisol saliva test?

[shaws]

What does of levo were you taking before going onto T3? One 1/4 of a tablet of 20mcg of T3, is too low i.e. about 15mcg of levo so that maybe why you don't feel so good.

I take T3 only - one a.m. dose and I am fit and well with no symptoms. On levo I was forever in and out of A&E with severe palpitations that was due to something in the T4.

Levothyroxine is inactive and it has to convert to T3. T3 is the Active thyroid hormone and is needed in our millions of T3 receptor cells and therefore we need a reasonable dose to eliminate symptoms - but definitely not too much and increases should be gradual.

[Sampydoodle in reply to shaws]

Hi Shaws , I haven't had any levo, the consultant decided to go with T3 only.

I assume this is not the usual route then?

Over last few months I have been having palpitations anyway which has been investigated with ecg, echo and heart monitor with everything showing normal.

I have begun to wonder if this was all related to hypo symptoms.

Maybe I need to start on a lower dose of T3.

[shaws in reply to Sampydoodle]

My heart played up before being diagnosed. It is because we lack T3 which drives our whole metabolism and we have millions of T3 receptor cells in our body and all need T3. Our brain and heart have the most T3 receptor cells.

I am not medically qualified but too low a dose of any thyroid hormones can also cause symptoms. I think you are very lucky that Endo prescribed T3.

Levothyroxine (T4) is an inactive hormone - this is the commonest thyroid hormone to be prescribed. It has to convert into T3.

So I'd just take T3 - the active hormone which is needed in our millions of T3 receptor cells which run our whole metabolism from head to toe. I think I'd go with half a tablet swallowed when we get up with one glass of water on an empty stomach and wait an hour before eating for two or three weeks. Coffee should also be avoided for at least a few hours as it can interfere with the uptake of the hormone.

There's no need to be nervous but just take your pulse several times a day and temp. If either go too high, just reduce dose slightly but stay on half T3 if possible and every two weeks you can add 1/4 tablet.

Blood tests should be at the earliest, fasting (you can drink water) and allow a gap of 24 hours between dose and test and take afterwards.

[Sampydoodle in reply to shaws]

So do you think the chest pains etc will subside if I continue with T3?

Just feels scary to carry on.

[shaws in reply to Sampydoodle]

I cannot answer your question but I do know that so many scare stories abound by the professionals and it worries patients.

I assume because those who manage to take it whether it is added to T4 or within NDT find they improve. Just imagine, the BTA made False Statements about NDT which has been in use, safely, since 1892 and patients didn't die a horrible death from there on. They survived and were dosed until symptoms were relieved. There were also no blood tests at all.

I think blood tests were introduced along with levothyroxine as Big Pharma saw an opening to make money, i.e. give us blood tests to diagnose (before doctors made that decision and we got a trial of NDT - if we felt better we stayed on it) plus provide T4 only i.e. levothyroxine and gradually the withdrawal of NDT happened, now it has been T3, leaving only the inactive thyroid hormone, i.e. levothyroxine.

The following statement was made by one of our Advisers and despite three yearly reminders to the BTA et al, they never did respond before he died.

I am surprised lies are necessary as I was brought up to tell the truth. Regardless.

The fact that NDT was used safely for more than 100 years. I believe there was no Fibro, CFS or ME. These were named about ten years after the introduction of blood tests and levothyroxine. Scientist has now found that some people develop the three illnesses above due to being thyroid hormone resistant and need T3 to relieve symptoms. A bit difficult because T3 has been withdrawn in the UK although Endocrinologists can prescribe. Leaving levothyroxine the one and only replacement.

[adin]

Chest pain until evening? hmmm, same happened to me. Because T3 is short acting(few hours), try split your dose, 5mcg first in the morning and another one in the evening(around 6 o'clock). You take levo too or just T3?

[Sampydoodle in reply to adin]

No levo. I'm new to thyroid meds.

[shaws in reply to adin]

T3 is absorbed quickly into the T3 receptor cells but the effect of one dose lasts between one to three days.

[Marz]

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

The above link takes you to your first post of 5 years ago Did you manage to correct all the items flagged up - iron - B12 - Folate - Ferritin - VitD ? If these levels are sub-optimal then it can effect how we process thyroid medications.

You had so much great help from Hampster - gosh how we miss Hampster !

[Sampydoodle in reply to Marz]

Sorry marz, looks like my reply just came up as a post below.

[Sampydoodle]

Yes i agree, I was fortunate to had a lot of help from hampster. I ended up speaking to dr chandy about b12 and joined the fb group for PA/b12. I began self injections in 2014 and had relief of several symptoms over time. I have since moved area and my current gp is happy to give 3 months b12 which I wasn't previously able to get. I still do my own at home in between. I was also given a high dose of vit D and take folic acid. So now I have all the symptoms back my hormone consultant checked out levels to see if hrt needed altering and said things look ok but is thinking thyroid not great.

[Marz in reply to Sampydoodle]

Your dose is very small so after a week add in another quarter later in the day and see how that goes. The heart needs T3. Patients are given T3 to help recovery after heart surgery I have read. It was palpitations that sent me to the Doc back in 2005 - Hashimotos was diagnosed. I was T4 only - then T4/T3 - then T3 only and now back on T4 x 50mcg and T3 x 50mcg - seems to work for me.

I would add a GOOD B complex to compliment your B12 jab - maybe try Methyfolate rather than Folic Acid and see if you feel better - with the B complex. Thorne Research could be a possibility.

How is you Ferritin ? Do you take Magnesium ? Are you still supplementing VitD ? Were you tested at the end of your high dose ? Needs to be a 100 plus.

[Sampydoodle in reply to Marz]

I'm not sure about levels tho last time they were checked they were fine. Do you think I'm ok to continue t3 and the chest pain will stop once I get used to it?

[Marz in reply to Sampydoodle]

I am not a Doc ... how has the pain been today ? Does FINE mean VitD is over 100 ? Obtaining your results so you can monitor your progress is the key to wellness 😊

As your FT3 result was below range and your pulse is low it is possible you need to add another quarter. It could be things are waking up and that you need to increase ... try it and see. If its too much then stop and go back to one quarter ... please monitor carefully ...

[Gforsberg in reply to Marz]

How are you doing today?

How are your readings on 50 / 50 mg?

[Marz in reply to Gforsberg]

I am now T3 only - taking 62.5 daily. Last test back in 2019 so no current results. Feeling fine thanks.

[Gforsberg in reply to Marz]

How is your t4 on only t3 hormones

[Marz in reply to Gforsberg]

As mentioned above my last test was 2019 so do not know where the Ft4 is currently. When T3 only the T4 does reduce.

[Gforsberg in reply to Marz]

Yes ❤ Thats why I asked. My free t4 goes under reference with t3 only.

[Marz in reply to Gforsberg]

Going by how you feel helps. Some people need the T4 higher than that when T3 only. We all differ !

[Judithdalston]

Didn't see this post earlier. I added T3 to my T4 earlier this year- started with 1/8 th 25 mcg pill with 75 mcg levothyroxin, and got chest pain/ palpitations but took Bp/ pulse regularly. These were raised but had been before adding T3. Gradually increased the T3 to 25 mcg after 4 weeks, and suddenly overnight my Bp/ pulse dropped down to normal after about 3 weeks and has stayed there, even though since increased T4 too. Personally I just remained patient, you can drop down or miss doses if you feel too 'stimulated', but I presume some of this effect is the T3 getting to cells/ receptors that haven't had much for ages! Good luck.

[Sampydoodle in reply to Judithdalston]

So did the chest pain stop when you increased dose Judith?

[Judithdalston]

High pulse and high Bp stopped about 3 weeks into taking T3 so would be on about 20 mcg T3 at that point with 75 mcg T4, going up following week to full 25 mcg. So yes seemed to stop as dose increased.

[Kittylitter2]

I had a few reactions, very slight chest pain, the sensation of needing a bigger lung-full of air, a bit breathless, all of a sudden needing to lie down and sleep on the spot, and a general feeling of not being quite right. This was t4/t3 combo. I stopped the t3, waited 3 days and felt better, waited a few weeks and tried a different brand of t3, now 3 days in all is well, so far anyway.

[Sampydoodle in reply to Kittylitter2]

I've stopped the T3 for now as of last Saturday , things have settled tho I still have palms and some twinges in chest but maybe it's lack of treatment causing it! I have just started monitoring heart rate and temperature. I'm thinking I will re start the T3 in a few days and see how it goes. Just not sure what dose to start on but maybe go with half a tablet instead of the quarter I tried before, perhaps it wasn't quite enough.

[jjyankee]

After being on NDT for several years I I

[jjyankee]

After being on NDT for several years I suddenly started having chronic chest. Pain. I never attributed it to my medication so had a stress test done and doc said my heart was fine. I finally noticed that the pain started about 3 hours after I took medication . So I cut dose in half and still no relief. I went to straight t4 and felt horrible, But chest pain is completely gone. So now I’m trying to find ratio that provides symptom relief with no chest pain. I had to cut down so low on both meds- I’m currently taking 25mcg t4 and about 3mcg of T3 and trying to slowly increase. My chest pains are gone and mood is much better but still very tired. My doc says AF is the problem- I’ve also stated taking vitamins B complex, C, D, along with selenium and magnesium- I take low doses of all because of AF but I am feeling a little better so will continue to go slow with meds and supplements. My doc said Af can really interfere with how body responds to thyroid meds in a major way- something to consider. The only deficiency I have is vitamin D (was 29) which is much too low of course .