How much T3

[Papillon100]

Hi. I am hashimotos/hypothyroid on alternating 125mg/100mg levothroxine. My levels are optimal and to be fair I have been lucky with it. My remaining symptoms are very dry skin, brain fog - (feels like I have dementia sometimes) and sugar cravings. I was thinking of buying some T3 online from unipharma to see if this would help but I am not sure what would be a suitable starting dose? I am thinking 25mg but not sure what others take?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Papillon100

Before anyone can offer any suggestions, we would need to see your current results, with reference ranges, for

TSH

FT4

FT3

Thyroid antibodies

Vit D

B12

Folate

Ferritin

It would be extremely unwise to take T3 unless you know you need it. So if you post your results/ranges then members will be happy to help.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also extremely important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw). This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Is this how you do your tests?

Get GP to test vitamin levels

Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

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

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet




(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)




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

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

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

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

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

But don't be surprised that GP or endo never mention gut, gluten or low vitamins. Hashimoto's gut connection is very poorly understood

Essential to get vitamins optimal and address foods intolerances before even considering adding any T3

[Papillon100]

Thanks for all the info so far. Here are my latest results from March. I did them first thing in the morning before levo:

CRP HS 0.24 <5

Ferritin 42.1 (13-150)

Folate 15.49 (>3.89)

B12 77 (37.5-188)

Vit D 50.5 (50-175) - have start vit D supplement now

TSH 0.414 (0.27-4.2)

Free T3 3.91 (3.1-6.8)

Free Thyroxine 18.9 (12-22)

Thyroglobulin Antibods <10 (<115)

Thyroid Peroxidase Andibods 79 <34

In addition to the above I did go COMPLETELY gluten free for 6 months and it made no difference to symptoms or my TP Antibodies which remained the same. I am back eating gluten for the last month.

From what I understand, my TSH is adequately suppressed. My T4 is pretty good, but my T3 is not optimal? I was on 125mg every day for a while and for that time my T4 and T3 was higher (but still in range) but GP said that my TSH was too suppressed so now I have to alternate between 100/125.

[Papillon100]

oooh.. and forgot to say I had coeliac test which was negative.