T3 working wonders

[Harthill42]

Dear friends of Thyroid UK,

I would not of been able to get to where I am today without the support of thyroid UK of you all I must’ve been some symptomatic for a number of years, brain fog etc put it down to menopause. I ended up having a lumbar puncher advised i have depression, no !! obviously wasn’t the case started on 50 mg of levothyroxine in November increased to 75 in January still no difference still feeling dreadful till I took advice about T3 which I sourced myself. I started as advised with five MCG and now three months later I am on 12.5 MCG and still have hitting the wall but that’s after a full in day which is natural. I have just received my blood test results , I am still awaiting Vitamin D. They have come back as normal!! Apart from my cholesterol which is been high for number of years and to me is an indicator of my Hashimoto’s & auto immune disease — under active thyroid

I follow a good diet good fats etc. I would be grateful for some help with diagnosis of my results please. The T3 i take has not as yet been declared to my GP.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Harthill

A good GP might be able to guess from your results that you are taking T3. I saw a new one at my practice for a non-thyroid related issue, they all, without fail, look at and mention my thyroid results because my TSH is always suppressed. My FT4 was about mid-range, FT3 a little higher and he asked me if I was taking T3. Mind you, this new doctor is German, Swiss or Austrian maybe, none of the British doctors have ever asked me this question!

Now that you are taking T3, if your surgery isn't testing FT3 then that really is something you should be keeping an eye on by doing a private TSH/FT4/FT3 test. It should really stay in range, but also you will be able to monitor and tweak doses and see where you need your FT4, as well as FT3, to feel your best. I have found, through trial, error, a lot of tweaking and time, that I need both around 75% through range. I can't function with a low FT4.

[Baobabs in reply to SeasideSusie]

SS I hope you don't mind me asking what your symptoms were on a low T4? I am in this situation now and steadily increasing my Levo rather than T3 meds. The stiffness and burning pain/aches are unbearable.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Baobabs]

Presumably you are supplementing for low vitamin levels. Bone pain is very often low vitamin D. Stiff muscles can be low magnesium

[Baobabs in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for your response. Low vit/min levels are not the issue.

[Harthill42 in reply to Baobabs]

Not at all glad to respond. I was not functioning at all. It was like my blood had been drained from my body. Tiredness as I couldn’t begin to imagine but without the need or want to sleep. Fog, constipation,lethargy hair like a Barbie doll still in abundance though. Such improvements since I added the T3 let me know how you get on.

[Baobabs in reply to Harthill42]

Sorry think there is a cross wire? I do take T3, my issue is very low FT4, feeling horrid and waiting for my Levo increase to possibly take effect.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Baobabs]

It took 3-4 months for my symptoms to fade after I put Levo dose back up (endo had reduced it from 125mcg to 100mcg when started on T3)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Baobabs]

Baobabs

My main symptom is fatigue, so, so tired. I go back to feeling as though I need a sleep in the afternoon, but I actually can't sleep in the day so I just resort to lying down on the sofa for an hour or so.

[Baobabs in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks, just worried as my Endo thinks I could have another autoimmune condition causing muscle pain and weakness. I will just have to have auto immune screening for antibodies and be done with it. Just can't face another disease to add to the list.

[LAHs in reply to Baobabs]

Just a small heads up. It is very common for Endos to suggest you have some other condition when they cannot cure the symptoms you have due to hypothyroidism. This is because it takes a lot of tenacity to pull a hypo patient back to normality. This is why we have to educate ourselves to this condition. I am not biological at all and it was very difficult for me to learn all this, however... if I can do it anyone can. The patient has to step in and demand blood tests and changes in medication - it will take months and most docs cannot keep the records in their heads or don't write previous results down. It's such a shame, if docs would use their expertise and help it would all go a lot faster for everyone.

[Baobabs in reply to LAHs]

Thank you for your response LAHs. I have read everything I can on Hashi's and am onto my 6th Endo as If nothing else I need them for bloods every 8 weeks BUT none are perfect, some good, some sh.. and I know where you are coming from. Perhaps I just must face the fact I have another or other autoimmune conditions causing the bone/muscle pain. Some of course are not easy to ID or even possible using a test. In the last 2 years I've discovered I have Hashi's and osteoporosis and all friends and family see is my fabulous skin and forest like lustrous hair that I've never really had ( due to impossibly good diet and supplements) but from my horizon I feel rubbish. Sorry but feeling dreadfully sorry for myself. How many more unknowns do I have to encounter before there are some answers out there?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need to test FT3 and both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies

Do you know if you have Hashimoto's? High antibodies

Also when were Vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested. Add results and ranges if you have them

Your FT4 is very low, you may benefit from dose increase in Levothyroxine

Many levels of us need good levels of both FT4 and FT3

[Baobabs in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, yes I have Hashi's. I increased my Levo just over 3 weeks ago but not feeling any better. Not patient! Vit/mins all upper range.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Baobabs]

Takes 6-8 weeks minimum for each dose to take effect and often you can feel a bit worse before seeing slow improvements

Best to evaluate month to month, rather than week to week

[Baobabs in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks. I feel ghastly and have no patience. A fatal combination.

[Baobabs in reply to SlowDragon]

I also think it is the long term effect of never feeling much better since diagnosed almost two years ago despite various meds. Yes, I am aware some unfortunate folk have been in this situation for years.