New to T3 but not new to Hashimotos

[elaine2447]

I was wondering if anyone would be kind enough to advise me about taking T3. I have 25mcg so I did intend being very wary and taking one quarter for say 5 to 7 days and then perhaps upping it gradually. I am nervous as a functional medicine gp prescribed some NDT a couple of year ago, only a quarter grain but didnt agree with me and she just disappeared and didnt bother to contact me to see how I was getting on. So I am on my own now. The endocrinologist at my local hospital has more or less dumped me, not interested in Hashimotos or hyperparathyroidism so I am venturing out on my own. I wondered when would be the best time to try this quarter of T3 and if it interferes with any supplements. In the morning I only take a probiotic, bamboo silica, and homocystein, lunch times ferrous fumerate with vitamin C and night time magnesium, a combined K1, K2 mk4 and mk7 plus a vitamin D spray. I can't take any calcium for my severe osteoporososis because of elevated calcium and parathryoid levels in my blood. To be honest I feel so under the weather and ache from head to foot which someone has suggested fibro myalgia rather than just the pain I get from the T5 compression fracture but my muscles feel so tight almost as though they are shrinking. I occasionally pop a valium and the muscle ache dies down a little. Anyway, suggestions would be most appreciated. THank you.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

elaine2447

Before anyone can help with how to introduce T3 and whether or not you need to reduce your Levo, we need to see your latest test results, with reference ranges, for

TSH

FT4

FT3

Also tell us how much Levo you are currently taking.

Before adding T3 it's essential to know that vitamins and minerals are at optimal levels so you also need current levels for

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

[elaine2447 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for your quick response. I am not on any Levo that is what I meant when I said the endo is not a nice worman and has ditched me and wants visits made yearly now instead of six monthly. According to her my calcium 2.69 and PTH 11.02 is "mildly elevated" so is obvious she doesnt have a clue.

My gp surgery did the tpo antibodies back in September 2016 and so I went gluten free for 2.5 years but never felt any better since then, then in January of this year they did another test and still the same >1300 (range 0 - 60) The 1300 is the further the lab measuring goes.

At this time they just did

TSH (not first thing in the morning 4.12 mU/L (0.35 - 5.5)

Serum free T4 Level 14.0 pmol/L (10.0. - 19.8)

Vitamin D3 - 84.1

Vitamin D2 - <5

The Medichecks is from last year and has fluctuated over the years and I have to say I feel a lot worse in the last six months. I had another 4D neck scan in September and I wonder if the liquid they used has upset my thyroid.

Medichecks

TSH hormone *4.83 - 0.27 - 4.20

Free Thyroxine 14.5 - 12.00 - 22.00

Total T4 72.8 - 59.00 - 154

fREE t3 4.19 - 3.10 - 6.80

THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 91.700 - 0.00 - 115

THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES *373 - 0.00 - 34.00

b12 502 - 140.00 - 724.00

fOLATE (SERUM) 19.98 - 2.91 - 50

crp - HIGH SENSITIVITY 1 - 0.00 - 5.00

fERRITIN 32.2 13.00 - 150

Sorry this looks messy.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to elaine2447]

Your results clearly show you have Hashimoto's and need to be started on Levothyroxine

Suggest you email Dionne at Thyroid Uk for list of recommended thyroid specialists


 please email Dionne at

[e-mail]

It's usually best to start on Levothyroxine. Only adding T3 many months /year or so later if it's found you are a poor converter. Which you won't know until Levothyroxine is increased slowly in 25mcg steps until TSH is around one and FT4 in top third of range

Getting vitamins optimal is essential

High antibodies do often lower on strictly gluten free diet and/or dairy free diet

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Understanding Hashimoto's

hashimotoshealing.com/under...

Your ferritin is low. Eating liver or liver pate or other iron rich foods plus daily vitamin C should help improve

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist

approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

Ideally ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first




Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

Others find dairy free helps as well or instead of gluten free

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

scdlifestyle.com/2014/08/th...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...