Help with symptoms and T3

[Eyes-wide-shut]

Hi I’ve posted before about starting trial of T3 (beginning April 10 mcg) combined with T4

125 mcg. Since starting the combination I’m feeling worse (anxiety, and achy body almost like flu and very poor sleep) and wonder if it’s the T3 (or still too much T4)? I don’t know why but I feel the T4 is too high

Blood results medichecks 2nd May (blood draw in recommended way)

Ferritin. 42.1. (13-150)

Folate 19.18 >3.89

Vit B12 85.8 (37-188)

Vit D. 82.9 (50-175)

TSH. 0.046 (0.27-4.2)

FT3. 5.72 (3.1-6.8)

FT4. 20.6 (12-22)

I’m getting another blood test at 7 weeks requested by endo. I’m scared if I tell endo I’m not feeling great he will just withdraw T3. I’m sure I just haven’t got the dose, ratio or time of day to take meds right yet. And I know my vitamin levels need boosting (I’m taking D with vit K and B12 oral spray in the morning and Iron and Vit C mid day).

Anyone else have achy body, tinnitus and/or worse sleep when the added T3? 🙏

[ML44]

Hi there,

I’m new to the forum and was only diagnosed three days ago but I’ve been suffering with tinnitus for some time which has got progressively worse as I assume my thyroid function has got lesser. Since beginning meds’ on Monday it’s grown even worse with intense headaches. Could this be a side effect associated with the hormones? X

[greygoose in reply to ML44]

Hormones don't have side-effects as such, but can have a negative effect if on too low or too high a dose. How much did you start on? Or, it could be side-effects from the fillers in the tablets. Which brand are you taking?

[ML44 in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoose, I just posted all my details on a new thread but don’t know how to link anything :/

[greygoose in reply to ML44]

OK I'll have a look.

[greygoose]

Could be that 10 mcg was too high for you to start on.

How do you take your T3? Do you take it on an empty stomach, etc. the same as you would levo? Your FT4 is very high for someone taking T3.

[Eyes-wide-shut in reply to greygoose]

I do take T4 and T3 on an empty stomach. I agree that my FT4 is too high. I’ve been going thro my medical notes and see that in the past I felt well when FT4 was around 16. Thank you for answering. 🙏

[greygoose in reply to Eyes-wide-shut]

How long a gap did you leave between your last doses of T4 and T3 and the blood draw?

[Eyes-wide-shut in reply to greygoose]

24-hours. I wasn’t sure if I should leave that long a gap but that’s what I’ve done before.

[greygoose in reply to Eyes-wide-shut]

24 hours for levo, but only 8 - 12 for T3. So, you have a false low FT3, there. It could be too high for you.

[Eyes-wide-shut in reply to greygoose]

That’s very helpful and I did wonder. Thank you 🙏

[greygoose in reply to Eyes-wide-shut]

You're welcome.

[Judithdalston]

I’d have prioritised getting ferritin sorted before starting T3 but see in the last week it’s gone down from 65.5 to 42.1, tho folate, vit D, b12 improved tho still need upping a bit ( save folate). I had real problems getting T3 added with low ferritin which like you went down unexplainedly as T3 started. Perhaps starting on full 10 mcg T3 was too much ..I started on 1/8 th of a pill, then after c.3 days upped to 1/4 pill not getting to full pill for a month. Unfortunately it is very much trial and error juggling the T4 and T3 supplements to see how you feel, as some of us go T3 only, others like to keep both FT3 and FT4 at 75% thru blood ranges to feel good. As well as dose sizes you can experiment: try splitting up T3 into 1,2 or 3 doses across day, or try full dose at night( bedtime or middle of night).

[Eyes-wide-shut in reply to Judithdalston]

Thank you. That’s really helpful. I’ve been wanting to take T3 when I go to bed but held off as the endo said not to. I’m going to try this weekend. 🙏

[Eyes-wide-shut in reply to Judithdalston]

I’m going to try taking my 1/2 my T3 tonight with 100 mcg T4. 🤞 I sleep better as I’ve not been sleeping, taking T3 at about 5:30 am and then crashing out, waking at 7:45 am late for the day and anxious! 🙏

[Angel_of_the_North]

You still have low ferritin and less than optimal vitamin D. Are you remembering t take magnesium with your D and K2?

[Eyes-wide-shut in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thank you for your reply. I do take magnesium but not regularly. I had my levels checked on 2nd May and it was 0.89 (0.7-1) As this seems above mid range I have held back taking it. I confess I get a muddled with what to take when and how to prioritise my focus. I have bought some books recommended on Thyroid Uk but when my energy is down and my double vision bad, I stop reading.

I’m going to resume with magnesium taking it with D and K2 and B12 first thing in the morning. I take Iron with vit C midday. Thank you again 🙏

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Eyes-wide-shut]

What was above mid-range? You can't easily measure magnesium or calcium with blood tests as your body tends to withdraw minerals from the bones in order to keep the right level, so you have to be really ill to show under or over range.

[Eyes-wide-shut]

In my last medichecks blood test magnesium was included. My result came back as 0.89 with a range 0.7-1. I hadn’t taken my supplement when I had the test done. It sounds like taking magnesium daily is a good idea. Thank you 🙏