Time to Retest - T3 Advice Needed

[FancyPants54]

Hi

I need to run another blood test later this week to check on things. I am not sure how to do it.

I am currently taking 125mcg Levo + 6.25 Liothyronine T3.

I know to leave 24 hours from last dose of Levo. But what to do with such a small dose of T3.

NOTE: I am not looking to keep levels as low as possible where T3 is concerned, rather looking for what my actual levels might be during the day because I have developed the dreaded Atrial Fibrillation.

In the past I have had random episodes of Afib that have resolved spontaneously. Sadly this one has got stuck in the "on" position for 5 weeks tomorrow. I had to go to hospital last week as my pulse was 135. They have changed my meds and now I wait, exhausted, for my cardiac appointment on 24th April. But already the hospital doctors have focussed in on my T3 usage. When the Afib started I was taking 12.5 T3 a day with the 125 Levo. But I cut the T3 in half just in case that was doing it. I don't think it's the T3 because reducing the dose hasn't helped at all and has made me feel more tired in myself. But the letter for the cardiologist states I was reluctant to stop T3 but that if the Afib is hard to control then I will need to stop it.

To say this is all a blow is putting it mildly. So I want my blood test to best reflect the status of my blood so that I can decide what I think. I'm not taking T3 if it's doing this to me. But I don't think it is the culprit really. For a time in the past I was T3 only and on quite a high dose per day with no Afib to speak of.

[FancyPants54]

CORRECTION:

When I was on 12.5mcg T3 I was taking 100mg Levo.

I reduced the T3 to 6.25mcg when the Afib started and added 25mg T4 to make up the shortfall.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

To get the normal circulating level of FT3 then take your last dose of T3 8-12 hours before the blood draw.

[FancyPants54 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Even though it's the only tiny dose I'm taking a day?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to FancyPants54]

Yes.

It's equivalent to about 25mcg Levo.

If you take it too close to the blood draw your FT3 will show as a false high as the test will measure the dose just taken.

If you take it too far away from the blood draw then as it starts to become undetectable in the blood after 12 hours then you will get a false low.

[FancyPants54 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you.

I still have no energy or stamina. And now they have given me a beta blocker and drug for the Afib that both slow me down more!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to FancyPants54]

What are your latest results? Full thyroid and vitamins?

[FancyPants54 in reply to SeasideSusie]

That's what I need my new test for. I had got into a bit of a mess with the T3 and by reducing T4 earlier in the year. I suspect, if I could do it again, I should have left the T4 alone and added in the T3. But I didn't, I reduced T4 and added in T3 and then things didn't go so well.

So this will be 5 weeks on a stable amount and will be a full test with the necessary vitamins and minerals. I suppose I should wait until next week really, which will be 6 weeks. I was trying to get a new result before I visit my HRT specialist next Monday. But perhaps I should hold off and test next Wednesday to be sure.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to FancyPants54]

Ah OK, I should have realised that, you mention retesting at the beginning of your post