T3 only

[KateCora]

Hi, I finally got onto T3 only... I have no idea how to dose and even though it seems amazing at times, I also get extreme fatigued at times... Between doses... My endo prescribed Thybon at 10mg in morning, 5in evening... I feel zonked tnite. Any help much appreciated.

[Jazzw]

How long have you been taking that dose? Days, weeks? Might simply be a sign you’re ready for an increase (15mcg liothyronine isn’t a replacement dose - still rather a small dose actually).

[KateCora in reply to Jazzw]

Hey Jazz,

Just a couple of days... 3 exactly... I'm so tired... I thought it must be adrenally unhelpful to me?!

[Jazzw in reply to KateCora]

Possibly - but as you’ll know, that ain’t too easy to fix quickly. How much NDT were you on before you switched? Did you stop NDT one day and start the lio the next?

[KateCora in reply to Jazzw]

I was underdosed for sure... Only 25 NDT and yes, just stopped. 😔 Unsure what to do... I'm beyond wrecked. Thanks for replies 🌸

[Jazzw in reply to KateCora]

25?? Did you mean 2.5 grains or...?? Confused.

[KateCora in reply to Jazzw]

No... Like, actually only quarter of a grain because I felt so bad on 1grain.. 🙊

[Jazzw in reply to KateCora]

Ah, so 15, not 25. Hmmm. So 15mcg of lio is in fact a big jump up from a quarter of a grain (2.25mcg lio, 9.5mcg Levo). And I doubt a quarter of a grain was doing much at all, so what you’ll have done now is suppress your remaining thyroid function. Your pituitary gland will have sensed the T3 and switched off TSH completely so no thyroid hormones are being produced by you. At a guess, your thyroid will have been making much more than the equivalent thyroid hormone to 15mcg liothyronine. So yes, you’ll feel worse.

So... you can try either going up or going down! But I wouldn’t increase or decrease too quickly - 2.5mcg liothyronine changes, not 5mcg ones.

[KateCora in reply to Jazzw]

OK...probably more a third of a grain than a quarter but I was taking Thyrogold, so opening powder capsules is not so precise. My Endo prescribed Armour but the new pills make me feel worse. (did v well on old Armour).

So, this is all Japanese to me at this point but I'm listening and learning. ☺ I am just so eager to get better. I will maybe go down tmro and split doses... Will that help? TIA

[Jazzw in reply to KateCora]

Hard to know until you try it! I suspect you’ll need to go up in dosage eventually - hopefully some T3-only people will weigh in (post again if they don’t) as I think a full replacement dose using liothyronine tends to be between 40-60mcg a day (but you can’t just start there - the effects would be overwhelming!).

[Jazzw in reply to KateCora]

Some decent-sounding and sensible advice contained here (the part in the green box seems pertinent to your situation) stopthethyroidmadness.com/d...

[KateCora in reply to Jazzw]

Oh! Of course.. STTM. Thank you. I'm so fuzzy headed I can't think straight ☺ 😉

[zoobie in reply to Jazzw]

What a brilliant explanation Jazzw, thanks. I suspect this is what ive been going through. Ive just been to see a new Endo, I was on 100mcg T4 and 2mcg T3 and my TSH was 0000001. He said I was killing myself slowly with this dose (ive been on this for about 4 years now) but the past year my blood results have been all over the place. He put me on 100 T4 and 5 mcg T3 morning and night. Im beginning to feel a lot more "normal" apart from catching the Flu !!!

[stainglass in reply to KateCora]

Kate, Ones body converts T4 to T3 so be cautious how much T3 you take. Some people do very well on Levothroxine but others only on the natural desiccated because of fatigue

[KateCora in reply to stainglass]

Hi, thanks! Yes, I have tried Levo and many types of NDT. I was reacting to fillers and not converting any Levo to T3. With Thyrogold, it kept me alive but also weakened my adrenals. I am a real mess because of all this. I did awesomely on old Armour... Miss it 😉 So T3 only or even combination seems like an option. I'm starting slow and reading all I can.. Terrible fatigue when T3 wears off tho!!!! Slightly better tdy with dosing x3...

[Aurealis]

It’s quite tricky but very worthwhile when you get it right. Are you on T3 only or Levo also?

[KateCora in reply to Aurealis]

Just T3... I feel like I've a whole new battle to fight 😉

[Aurealis in reply to KateCora]

Have you read Paul Robinson’s book Recovering With T3 (circadian T3 method). Lots of useful info there

[KateCora in reply to Aurealis]

I've ordered it

[Aurealis in reply to KateCora]

There’s also an associated Facebook group ...

[KateCora in reply to Aurealis]

In it now!! 🙏