Conversion from T4/T3 combo to T3 only- experiences/advice?

[Judithdalston]

I have been on levothyroxin for 13 years with hypothyroidism/Hashimoto’s, and nearly two years ago diagnosed with fibromyalgia so started to self medicate by adding T3 too following Dr Lowe’s conviction that I must be undermedicated. Slowly got up to 100 mcg levo ( down from original 125, but raised from failed attempt at raising FT3 at 75 mcg dose) with 50 mcg T3 combo: bp, pulse ok, basal temp. stuck (rarely over 36C), and continuous pain and lack of strength probably no better to worse. Bloods show FT3 over range at 7.69(3.10-6.80 range). Forum members have suggested I should try dropping the levothyroxin all together as that might be part of the problem. How have those who have gone T3 only done this, from a high combo dose? Have felt better this week, but that might be the good warm weather rather than levo. leaving system!

[HashiFedUp]

I had a lot of muscle and joint pain with my Hastimotos so I’m on a Cox-2 inhibitor called Celebrex. Its amazing and my pain levels are so much reduced I can exercise which helps everything. Try them from your doctor. They’re expensive so they might be resistant. Not sure about the T3/T4 stuff so sorry on that front x

[Judithdalston in reply to HashiFedUp]

Can’t take NSAIDs long term as liver/ kidney function effected unfortunately, so need a solution that is more than painkillers. My initial T3 dose did lessen the hip stiffness almost immediately, so got more than a shuffle walk but not much more improvement over following 8 plus months.

[HashiFedUp in reply to Judithdalston]

Thats a shame. What about amitriptaline (spelling?!) at bedtime. That also helped by chronic pain.

[Judithdalston in reply to HashiFedUp]

Do have that for the fibro which I take nightly, only knocks edge off pain sometimes for sleep, but difficulty getting to sleep and frequent need to urinate are 2 of my worst symptoms of fibro that I am hoping to get rid off with the T3 dosing.

[dtate2016]

I didn’t catch how long you’ve been on the T3 the added T3 but it can take a while for it to somehow get stored in the cells and you start actually feeling the relief. Once I got off on a different medicine and a different line of treatment for my Hashimoto’s and it didn’t work - I had to go back to the T4 T3 combination which again, had worked well for many many years. But it took almost 18 months for me to get back to feeling good for the body to somehow get leveled out and re-calibrated. All of this to say you might actually be feeling better from the added T3. It’s amazing how long it takes but it does add up and it does begin working well it’s like you have to have some sort of reserve.

Anyway just a thought hope you feel better soon!

[Judithdalston]

Combo with levothyroxin gradually increased to 25 mcg T3 by May 2018, then 37.5 mcg combo Sept.; 50 mcg T3 combo Jan 2019. This last week dropped levo. completely to 50 mcg T3 only, added 1/2 pill T3 yesterday to start ‘replacement’ of what might be 50 mcg levo half-life of earlier dose.

[shaws Administrator]

Dr Lowe stated that if someone has Thyroid Hormone Resistance it would result in a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia (CFS or ME). That's when he found that patients' symptoms were relieved when they took T3 alone - some with higher doses than normal.

He would never prescribe levothyroxine for his patients. He only prescribed NDT or T3 for thyroid hormone resistance.