Two things. One. Hubby is not really any better, terrible sweats and tremors - do you think its too much T3? His T3 was very high and the doc told him to stop taking it all together and he hit the ground. Over the last few weeks we have built him back up slowly to 1 1/4 grains of Naturethroid (he was on 1 grain for a month) the added 1/4 grain did make a difference for a few days and then went back to the sweats, etc.
Two. I am taking him to Menorca (Spain) tomorrow for his 70th birthday - It's his birthday present!! I understand you can buy Levo over the counter in Spain, and I thought it might be an opportunity to try him on T4 alone as perhaps he doesn't need the T3 element as he has obviously got too much in his blood. The current amount of T4 in 1 grain of Nature Throid is 38mcg - any advice would be much appreciated!!
Love Sheenah xx
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sheenah
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I think there’s 9mcg of T3 in NT. depending on how much he’s taking if suggest getting T4 and a small dose of T3 separately. The T3 might be looking on his blood. I’m not sure if you can but T4 over the counter in Spain. Sounds like you need to start again on maybe 50-75mcg T4, and add T3 once he’s feeling better. Chopping and changing dose for less than six weeks might give a false positive but he needs to learn to listen to his body. One of our fabulous admin / more experienced members will hopefully be able to help more.
Do you have copies of his blood test results? Given that in 1 1/4 grains of NDT there's only 11.25 mcg T3, I very much doubt he's taking too much. More likely that he's not taking enough. You said that when you added the 1/4 grain he felt better for a while and then worse, that usually means that someone is ready for a further increase.
You said his T3 was 'very high'. How high? Do you have the exact number and the range? How much Nature Throid was he taking at that point? But it's impossible to tell whether he needs the T3 without seeing lab results, I'm afraid.
In August his T3 was over 31. In September it was 12.8 in a range of 4.00 - 6.60 - he stopped taking it in August under Docs orders, but went down hill so much we reinstated it in slowly, and he picked up. We are both wondering if he doesn't need the T3, and that T4 would be enough, hence the opportunity to get some while we are in Spain, which hopefully we can. The sweating is the worst thing.
You haven't told me how much he was taking, but I'm wondering if he's had his antibodies tested. If he has Hashi's, that would explain the sudden rise.
He had gone up to 3 grains per day. He is due another blood test next month and then we are seeing the Endo, also next month. Do you think I should get the T4 in Spain if I can? No they didn't test both antibodies - the thyroid peroxidase came up as 1.8 in a range of 0.00 - 8.00 KU/L. It was the rapid weight loss that flagged up the problem - he was due an op and the anethiatist refused because his T3 was so high, but we didn't get the read out of the full results as it was done at hospital. The op has been cancelled for the moment anyway. His weight varies by a few pounds up and down most days.
You cannot rule out Hashi's with one negative result of one type of antibody. In any case, you can have low antibodies and still have Hashi's. Has he ever had an ultrasound on his thyroid?
3 grain of Nature Throid gives you 27 mcg of T3. I find it hard to believe that that could have caused his FT3 to rise so drastically. Did you have any other tests on that dose that were more reasonable?
Do you know what his FT3 was when he was diagnosed?
Do you know how well he converts? To know that you would have to have FT4 and FT3 tested at the same time when on T4 only. Do you have any such results?
Why did he start taking Nature Throid in the first place?
He could, if he wishes, try taking T4 only and see what happens, of course he could. But, to know what's going to happen would probably be a long wait. Myself, I would be inclined to just increase the Nature Throid by 1/4 grain and see what happens with that. Then when you're back in the UK, you could get another, private, antibody blood test, testing both TPO and Tg.
Thanks Grey, I will let him read your response. No, no other tests that I can recall. He sees the Endo on the 12th November, and the blood test is on the 6th. I have specifically asked for antibodies to be tested, but at the same time I saw an ominous looking pig flying over next doors roof. Many thanks or your help and advice.
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