I was on 200mcg thyroxine which didn't seem to be relieving all the symptoms. I know that T3 is about 4 times stronger than T4 so took 50mcg T3 yesterday (and am going to monitor symptoms closely). I am going to stop taking the T4 altogether. Does this sound right?
I understand that T3 only stays active in your system for 8 or so hours so you should split the dose. Is this correct?
I had medicheck bloods including rT3 taken a couple of weeks ago and still waiting for results but could not wait to start the T3.
Thanks
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Rhub4rb
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You should take a more cautious approach with adding T3 and if you post your Medichecks results then experienced members who take a combination of Levo and T3 will be happy to offer some guidance. I thought with Medichecks, they informed you of the results of tests already done and the rT3 result followed later on. Your other results would only take 24-48 hours to become available, maybe you could ask them about this.
When adding T3 to Levo, depending on what your current TSH/FT4/FT3 levels are, then you start by adding 6.25mcg T3 to a reduced amount of Levo (if FT4 is high enough to warrant a reduction). Then you add T3 slowly and gradually - 6.25mcg every 2 weeks, when you get to 18.75 or 25mcg T3 you wait 6 weeks and retest. Without knowing your results, you can't possibly know what you should be doing with your Levo and T3.
Some people split their T3 dose, others take it all in one dose (I take my T3 in one dose together with my Levo during the early hours of the morning). So that's something to experiment with, probably starting off by splitting it and see how you feel. T3 peaks in the blood 2-4 hours after ingestion, it's not detectable in the blood after 12 hours but will be in the cells for about 3 days.
I called medichecks yesterday and asked them if any results were back and they said that the lab sends them when they are all in (and two working weeks from when I had them done is thursday).
My T4 test usually comes back at about 24 - 38 hence why they keep wanting to reduce my levo (but noone had even mentioned T3 to me).
When I was first diagnosed with Thyroid problems I had gone to see a private doctor (20 years ago aged 19) who tested my TSH which was at the top end of 'normal' and because of my symptoms and family history he put me on 50mcg of levothyroxine. A week later I was admitted to hospital with multiple organs seemingly failing and my tsh was then 16 (I still do not understand what happened here.. was my body masking the disease?) and I was put on 200mcg levo. This seemed to help a little but the chronic fatigue never shifted and I've always had symptoms of being underactive.
I do not believe the thyroxine has been doing a lot to help and am scared about starting on too low a dose as I don't want my symptoms to get worse before they get better. At least I should have the blood tests in a few days.. maybe if I start on 25mcg T3 and 100 levo that would be more acceptable.
I think you should wait until you get your Medichecks results to see the full picture then make a decision on the way to go. Starting T3 at even 25mcg is not a good idea, advice here is always to start with 1/4 of a tablet and increase gradually, reducing Levo if necessary.
Adding 50mcg T3 was roughtly the equivalent to 150-200mcg Levo, on top of the Levo you were already taking.
You cannot know what you need until you see your results, and rather than possibly make a big mistake and make yourself unwell it would be better to wait a few more days.
You might find that there are problems with your nutrient levels which need addressing, it's all an unknown quantity until you get your results.
I think Medichecks may have made some changes. The website has changed in the reporting of results, so it's possible that they now no longer send other available results before the rT3 results are ready.
Everyone is different, and those ‘equivalent’ T3 to T4 are like many hypo stats. perhaps better suited to healthy individuals. I added T3 to T4 nearly a year ago, and still fine tuning; started with 1/8th of a 25 mcg pill and reduced my levo.from 125 down to 75 mcg. Almost immediately I felt this tiny amount of T3, and raising very slowly as Seasidesusie suggests, but had palpitations until I reached the full 25 mcg dose. Then on testing bloods found all, including FT3 had gone down...so had to reintroduce levo. back. Got upto 50 T3:125 T4 combo, and now going T3 only. T3 is nowhere as easy to take as T4, so take it slow...keep a dairy of your bp, pulse, basal temp., and note as how you feel, then if you start juggling doses, or go back a bit, you’ll have a better idea where to start from. Start with a full thyroid, mins/vits. result before you consider adding T3. Good luck
Yes full thyroid/vitamins/rT3 tests done.. my digestion and gastroparesis very bad so I think absorption of essential vitamins is probably bad too but will see in test results.
Glad for your receiving your T3 dose . Labs here are very important as are journaling Symptoms . Your FT4 FT3 TSH . Lowering slowly your T4 and holding it for 4 weeks and running labs each time with lowering T4 before adding low dose T3 . With each change you must allow your body to acclimate to the new changes .You don't want to over shoot your right dose for you . Sudden large changes are Not conducive for our well-being . Slow and Steady wins the race .
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