Thyroxine T3

[Sherdan7]

When I was 25 years old I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer and was given a Thyroidectomy. Thankfully 6 Months later I was given the All clear. Thing is I am putting on so much weight and too frightened to take the T3 supplement that I've found online. I've spoken to my GP and Endocrine specialist but feel they are not interested in my weight gain and after a recent private blood test it showed my levels of T3 are at the lower scale of normal. I am now 41and now how i feel and i know I'm fed up of feeling overweight when i actually do look after myself. I am neither overactive or underactive i take 175mg of levothyroxine at night time but just feel rubbish. Any advice you guys can give me would be appreciated.

Thanks

Michelle x

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum and am sorry you are also increasing your weight. I am also sorry your thyroid gland was removed due to thyroid cancer and hope you've now recovered from op etc.

First, I am not medically qualified, I have my thyroid gland but cannot recover on levothyroxine. I recovered my health through T3 alone - which is now no longer being prescribed by the NHS. There is a Campagn at present with the following Support Groups:-

Thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/campaigns/T3-Campaign/T3-Campaign-Updates.html

Second, I have no idea why you are not on a T3/T4 combination as several research units have proven that many improve their health on the combination ( and that's also if they have their thyroid gland). The fact that you have no gland at all and the fact that your T3 is low shows you're not converting T4 (levothyroxine) into sufficient T3 so the additon of T3 is warranted.

Levothyroxine is an inactive hormone. It is supposed to convert to sufficient T3 but it is T3 which does the work in our body and our brain and heart have the most T3 receptor cells - we have millions of T3 receptor cells and they need T3. I doubt any endocrinologist or doctor is aware of this.

I was having tremendous palpitations and T3 resolved this. T3 is gentle as I think our body is desperate for the active hormone. Don't be frightened as some endocrinologists/doctors don't really understand how it works in our bodies and helps us recover our health.

The recommendation for a combination of T3/T4 is a 4:1 or 3:1.

Do you follow this method before blood tests:

Get the earliest possible appointment - fasting (you can drink water).

Allow a gap of 24 hours between dose of T4 and 12 hours for T3 before blood draw. I've always had a 24 hour gap so I haven't changed that myself for T3.

Stomach has to be empty when taking levo or lio (T4/T3) as food interferes with the uptake of the hormones, as does coffee. If taking bedtime dose allow about 3 hours between food and T4 or T4/T3.

We have to read, learn so that we can recover our health. This is possible although when not improving we wonder if it will every be - but, yes, it can be.

hormonerestoration.com/

hormonerestoration.com/Thyr...

restartmed.com/levothyroxin...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Sherdan7

T3 is not a weight loss drug. Many things need to be considered before starting T3. You need to know whether you convert T4 to T3 well enough.

You've told us your T3 is at the lower end of normal. What about your other results? If you're not optimally medicated then your T3 will stay low, you will continue to get symptoms and weight loss will be difficult. Sometimes it's just necessary to increase Levo to an optimal dose so can you post results, with reference ranges, for

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

and because vitamins and minerals need to be optimal for thyroid hormone to work - and this is particularly import before starting T3 - then you also need the following tested

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin