Asked to drop levo dose??

[SAUK]

Hi all.

I'm new to taking T3 so hoping those with experience can advice me.

My GP gave me my recent blood tests and is worried I am now hyper rather than stable/ hypo. I do not feel hyper and never felt better. She wants me to drop my levo dose from 100 to 75

I am currently on:

100mcg levo OD (once day) ; 10mcg T3 am and 10mcg noon.

My last bloods were:

TSH 0.05 (0.35-5.00)

FT4 10.8 ( 9-24)

FT3 3.9 (3.50-6.50)

Any advice will be great

[greygoose]

Silly woman! If anything you need an increase in dose! Your FT3 is very low considering how much T3 your take. But, your doctor is only looking at the TSH and has no idea how it all functions! Taking 20 mcg T3 a day, you can expect your TSH to be suppressed. She should know that.

But, I'm surprised you feel well with that low FT3. How do you take your thyroid hormone? Do you always take it on an empty stomach and wait at least an hour before eating or drinking anything other than water? Do you take any other medication or supplements at the same time?

Don't worry about being hyper, it's a physical impossibility! Once you are hypo, your thyroid cannot suddenly regenerate and start producing too much. It can't happen. You could be over-medicated, but you aren't. You are actually under-medicated.

[SAUK in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for the advice. So so appreciated!

My FT3 has improved minimally. It was 3.6 but my FT4 was 11.4 which has dropped

I take my T4 at night 2-3 hours after any food or drink; T3 I take in am about 30-45min before breakfast, then take vit b and probiotic and vit d spray. I then take T3 at 12pm about 30min before lunch. Does T3 also need to be on an empty stomach?

I'm not sure if I go against my GP advice and cont. with the 100mcg levo as I have enough or just change how I take/ how much T3 I take

Sorry for all the questions

[greygoose in reply to SAUK]

Well, for a start you could try taking your T3 the same way you take you levo, on an empty stomach and leave at least an hour before eating. That way, you will get maximal absorption of your dose. But, personally, I would not take your GPs advice. As a general rule, doctors know next to nothing about thyroid. They do not realise how wrong it is to go by the TSH, which is bound to be low when taking T3. And that they should be looking at the FT3, which is always the most important number, but especially when you're taking T3. Dosing by the TSH is guaranteed to keep the patient sick.

FT4 is also going to drop when you start taking T3. You might need more, but first of all, you need to raise your T3.

[SAUK in reply to greygoose]

Thank you. I will try take it earlier and see if the absorption is better to raise the FT3. ALWAYS so helpful advice. Thanks

[greygoose in reply to SAUK]

You're welcome.

[Angel_of_the_North]

No, you need an increase in T3 so that your free T3 is around 5.5.

[SAUK in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thanks. It has never been over 5. Best was 4.9 in summer!