T4,t3 trial

[Star92]

Looking for advice on dosage as I'm currently taking levothyroxine 37.5 mcg and t3 10 mcg , felt great to begin with but not now,think mg dose needs adjusting but not sure which one or both of them any help would be much appreciated, I have my blood results TSH 3.06 FT4 10.0 FT3 4.3 SHBG 92 no range.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need to add the ranges on these results

Absolutely essential to test vitamin levels as well

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)

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test

Is this how you do your tests?

Low vitamin levels are extremely common and frequently need supplementing to improve

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

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Star92

What are the reference ranges for your results please.

Are those your current results?

If so, how long have you been on 37.5mcg Levo/10mcg T3?

What were your results before starting to add T3 and how much Levo were you on the time?

[Star92 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Ih seasidesusie they yet again didn't give the ranges and yes they are the latest results my first ones are tsh 2.70 ft4 21.0, ft3 3.8 tpo 15.6

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Star92]

You really need to find out the ranges. If these tests were done at your GP's surgery, pop along and get a print out of your results, the ranges should be on there. If they are from the hospital, ring either the endo's secretary or the path lab and ask for the ranges.

We see several ranges for FT4 here - 7-17, 9-19, 9-25, 12-22, 12-24. So you could be in range or below range, we just don't know so can't comment, but an FT4 level of 10 is probably low.

FT3 ranges aren't so wide and usually something like 3-6, 3.1-6.8, 3.5-6.5, so again we don't know but again your level of 4.3 would seem to be low.

One thing is very obvious and that is your TSH is too high. When on T3 it tends to lower, even suppress TSH, so you are undermedicated, but whether you need to increase Levo or T3 is not possible to say. When on combination of Levo and T3, we're all different as to where we need our FT4. Some people find they are fine with a low FT4 as long as FT3 is high enough in range. Some of us need a higher FT4. Personally I need both FT4 and FT3 to be around 75% through range.

How long have you been on your current dose and how much Levo were you on before you added T3?

As SlowDragon has said, it's essential to test vitamins/minerals, these need to be optimal for thyroid hormone to work and ideally should be have tested/optimised before adding T3, but very few doctors know this.

[cabro2]

Do you split the T3 - morning and afternoon? I would.

I’m surprised that TSH is not a lot lower with 10mcg T3. How long have you been on this dosing?

[McPammy]

Hi. I’ve just started a trial of T3 5mcg twice a day and 75mcg Levothyroxine which is split in 2 doses of 38mcg twice a day. I’m on liquid Levothyroxine so easy to split a 75 dose.

I originally was on 75mcg Levothyroxine. My Endocrinologist put me on a trial of T3 4 weeks ago taking 5mcg twice a day and remain in same Levothyroxine 75mcg a day.

I was great the first 5 days. Like my old self once again. Brilliant I thought. However on day 5 at 11am I crashed and went very weak. It lasted 2 hours then I bounced back. I then started with pains in my back just under my rib cage on both sides. For 3 weeks this has now been the case everyday. I think my adrenals are suffering. I should be getting my blood results today from a test yesterday. Also have visited my GP yesterday and got further bloods to check along with all vitamins. I’ve booked a telephone consultation with my private Endocrinologist for next Wednesday so hopefully get to the bottom of my issue next week.

You need to get the ranges and results from before and after the start of your trial. I keep a copy of everything now. All test results you can get printed off your GP or receptionist. It’s completely fine to ask for this.

When you say you felt fine to begin with, what are you feeling now. I also felt fine but now I think I may be over medicated. Over and under medicated you can feel very similar.

Ask today for all results and ranges and edit your post and resend if you can. Lots of people in here with experience that’ll try and help.

Without this site I don’t know where I’d be. It’s helped me enormously.

Pam

[JAmanda]

I was on 100 levo but tsh a bit high (only 1.5 in common uk range) and t3 and t4 done privately not optimum so nhs endo doc said try 75 levo plus 10 lio. I had constant earache and pain in hips etc so after one month have switched to 50 levo and 20 lio. Hip and feet pains gone. What surprises me is that I seem to be able to make quite drastic changes without too much effect - others seem to need to do small changes and split dose..? Will do t3 and t4 bloods after 4 weeks on dose then see where I am.

[barb62 in reply to JAmanda]

Hi JAmanda, I am on the same dosage (just over a week now0) how long did it take to feel good?

Sorry to jump on the back of some one else question

[JAmanda in reply to barb62]

It seemed to me that the larger dose of lio was noticeable an hour after taking it but maybe a different improvement over weeks as well? It’s tricky to say as I have so many symptoms I can’t keep track!

[Cincolo]

Can you post your lab ranges, please. Any chance your doctor will order a Reverse T3 test for you?