Help im confused again!! Anyone know the science of taking t3 and t4 together!??

[ThyroidObsessed]

So i started T3 along side my T4 4 weeks ago, i managed to get a trial from my NHS endo!! mainly for my mental symptoms, i.e anxiety, depression, brain fog, dont suffer physically unless i exercise too much!... so i really need this to work out for me!

i dropped my levo to 75mcg like the endo said and added 10mcg which i take as 5mcg in the morning and 5mcg evening..

iv just had a blood test and they only tested my TSH AND FT4!!

so im having it redone on thursday because no one had stated on the blood form i was on T3 therapy too now!!

Anyway iv been alot worse mentally since starting T3 TEARFUL ANGRY MOODY ANXIOUS... but im wondering if its to do with my ft4 dropping as iv always had a top of range FT4 on levo only and a mid range FT3, im wondering if im one of those people that need a higher FT4...

Does the FT4 drop once on T3 aswell?? its only been 4 weeks i know.. and over the past week i have upped my levo to 100mcg as feel so ill... help please.

latest results ON T3 10MCG - LEVO 75MCG - INCREASED TO 100MCG LEVO OVER PAST WEEK -

- TSH 1.1 (0.27- 4.5)

- FT4 16 (11- 23)

Results from 4 weeks ago before adding T3 -

- Ft4 23 (11-23)

- Ft3 4.60 (3.1- 6.8)

- TSH 3 (0.27 -4.5)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

ThyroidObsessed

So i started T3 along side my T4 4 weeks ago

It would have been better to wait 6 weeks, I need 8 weeks for all my levels to stabilise after a dose change.

And now you've been back on 100mcg for a week and you're being tested again - the results really will be screwed up, there's not much point in doing it. And it might take you back to an FT4 level at the top of the range again, increasing by 12.5mcg might have been better.

Does the FT4 drop once on T3 aswell??

Yes, it tends to, which is why it's not always necessary to reduce Levo unless it's already high in range/over range.

So after you reduced your Levo your FT4 went from 23 (11-23) to 16 (11-23), so reduced from 100% to 42% through range. It could be that this is too low for you. After many months of tweaking doses I discovered I needed both FT4 and FT3 around 75% of range. May be a reduction of 12.5mcg Levo would have suited you better, rather than 25mcg.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you great advice!! You have really helped me understand a bit more!...

Technically I was undermedicated on 100 of Levo alone as my tsh went as high as 8 but Ft4 stayed near top of range Ft3 mid range?? Had pituariaty test but came back normal. ..

I'm curious to see what my ft3 is at now but I won't have results while Monday as the test is thursday....

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to SeasideSusie]

I will reduce 12.5mcg like you said, but if got a feeling I will need 10omcg...

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

Whatever the results are from the tests on Thursday, take no notice of them, they wont be accurate. If you are going to change your dose then wait 6-8 weeks and retest then.

[soupybp]

Do you have fT3 in the latest results? If not, you really need to have that. It is possible that in adding the T3, you have affected your feedback loop enough that your fT3 levels are actually lower than when you started. One really can't say if it is the fT4 level that is bothering you because we don't know what the fT3 did as well.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to soupybp]

They didn't test my FT3 stupidly.. so I'm having another test this Thursday which will definitely include a FT3 result! ...

[soupybp in reply to ThyroidObsessed]

Good. Although SeasideSusie is right that your levels will not have stabilized out, putting a pin in a fT4/fT3 level and symptoms together will be good information.

I started NDT last fall, and I find that my weepiness and mood seem very sensitive to fT3 level...and that in some cases increasing dose of NDT (which includes T3) did result in lowered fT3 levels. Still working on raising on my end, but I seem to have gotten to the point where my fT3 level is staying above my weepy level. I actually made it through this past weekend without a nap, too.

[ThyroidObsessed in reply to soupybp]

Great news! I'm glad your getting better.. it's hard work this chugging thyroid madness!...

[silverfox7]

Two things really-yes you are very impatient. Things like this move so very slowly so you can't speed it up and trying will probably get you in a right mess and having to start again. So that point should be concidered as very important.

I've never added to T4 but I have been on NDT for several years now plus the NHS put me on a Canadian brand nearly 40 years ago now but eventually a strike which went on for months persuaded me to try Levo. But adding in T3 which ever way you do it needs to be done with care and following research to get it right. I chose NDT as the mixing was already done so easier but you still need to listen to your body. Particularly if you are new to this I would recommend more testing as I missed my sweet spot changing over as I needed to be between two figures and so sailed passed it. But take it slowly.

Results are also read differently if taking any form of T3 and even some Endos get that wrong as they aren't always familiar with T3 but if adequately treated TSH should be suppressed so mines usually 0.01, FT4 can go lower in its range but not lower than half way but FT3 should be high in its range but never over. But take things slowly and if in doubt test and then post your results for comments.