I just realized that i have gotten way off track and hadn’t checked back on my old results.
I have been taking 75mcg of Synthroid and 30 mcg of Liothyronine for about 8 months. I have felt far better than I was when only on Synthroid. However, after the test results below my new Doctor recommended that I try lowering Synthroid to 50mcg (keeping Liothyronine the same) and retesting in 6 weeks.
I don’t experience heart palpitations but definitely suffering from an inability to control my body temperature (this is a real struggle) and difficulty staying asleep. I am 65 yrs. old and beyond menopause.
I should have been more attentive and checked back to the advice given previously. But honestly I’ve been feeling better than I ever did when just on Synthroid so I assumed all was well.
Latest results followed by Reference Range in parentheses.
If you feel good why alter it? Why did your dr. suggest reducing the Synthroid/ levothyroxin, was there something in the blood test he thought might improve with this? When you say you have an inability to control body temp., do you mean for eg consistent low basal morning temp., or you feel it goes up and down throughout the day? You have recorded your vit D ( bit low at 68), and b12 ( low, better at top of range), but what about folate and ferritin levels too that should be at least halfway thru ranges?
I feel better than when I am only on Synthroid but am concerned about over medicating.
Previously, my day would be spent in a fog going from bed to sofa and often back to bed. Now I have ups and down and only occasionally have that terrible bone-tired, exhausted feeling.
My actual body temperature is always lower - 97.2°.
What happens is that something may make me start to get warm/hot - for example; after a shower or warmer weather and as soon as I start to get hot, I have to actively work to cool (and dry) off. I often feel like I need another shower after I dry my hair, I am soaking wet! It’s kind of like a menopausal hot flash but is brought on by initially get warm and not spontaneous. It can be exhausting in itself.
Much of your thyroid history is ‘snap’ for me...65 years old, never got my basal temp above 36.2C (97.2F), and on adding T3 ended up with no temperature improvements nor improved pain, weakness, nor exhaustion. Though adding T3 did get rid of hip stiffness that kept me 24/7 on a sofa 15-18 months ago. I have hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s, insulin dependent diabetes and fibromyalgia, and associate the feeling hot and sweaty, then cold to be symptoms of fibromyalgia ...since then tried various thyroid protocols ( getting FT3 above 40% plus optimal ferritin, folate, vit D and b12. I think improving the vitamins/ minerals ‘cured’ the hot and sweaty feeling, but as i’ve said not really improved basal body temp. So have you checked the 4 ferritin etc levels? Incidentally I raised my combo to 100 levo: 50 T3, then up to 75 mcg T3 only; gone down to 50 mcg T3 with intention of adding some levo.back but felt worse on both 25 and 50 mcg levo with 50 mcg T3, so trying to get levo back out of system now. Had tested cortisol( saliva 4 tests) ..it was ‘out’ ...only 33% 8am, but 2-3x what was ideal rest of day, so trying to sort that out now with high protein breakfast and cortisol cocktails ( rock salt, cream of tartar and vit C). So many things to try to get right!
Soozbee, technically these results show overmedication, because the freeT3 is over range. However, symptoms are more important, if you feel absolutely well then that's an argument to stay where you are. Or maybe you should try a reduction and see how you feel, being prepared to switch back again if symptoms creep in.
It would be fantastic if you could manage to feel completely well, AND have in range blood results, and you'll only know if that's possible by trying it.
Your vitamin D looks a bit low. It's worth supplementing, make sure you find a good brand (often recommended on the forum), and a decent dose, at least 2000 international units per day.
Thank you! I am going to give the 50mcg of Synthroid a try and see how I am feeling - but cautiously. I do not want those “creeping symptoms” to return. That extreme fatigue is paralyzing in so many ways.
Just to follow on from SilverAvocado 's point about Vit D
Vitamin D: 68 (30-100)
Is this nmol/L or ng/ml?
If it's ng/ml then you are a little above the level recommended by the Vit D Council who recommend a level of 50ng/ml (125nmol/L) and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 40-60ng/ml L (100-150nmol/). If it's nmol/L then you have a way to go.
As you are in the US then I'm sure it would be ng/ml.
Personally, as you are over the recommended range already, I wouldn't supplement, unless you already are then I'd find my maintenance dose to keep it where it is. See what the Vit D Council says in that link
My level is between 60-80 ng/ml
You’re getting the right amount of vitamin D by the standards set by the Vitamin D Council and Endocrine Society. The Institute of Medicine, however, doesn’t feel there is enough evidence to say that having a level higher than 50 ng/ml is of any benefit.
There isn’t currently enough research to know if there is any benefit to having vitamin D levels this high, instead of levels between 40 ng/ml and 60 ng/ml.
If you do supplement, there are important cofactors needed when taking D3 as recommended by the Vit D Council -
D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.
D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray
Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.
Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.
Check out the other cofactors too (some of which can be obtained from food).
Do you have Hashi's (raised antibodies)? If so then for best absorption an oral spray or sublingual drops are recommended, if not then a good quality softgel containing just D3 and olive oil (eg Doctors Best) will be better than capsules or tablets.
Thank you for all the super beneficial information. I think your advice is good and now that I think about it - it’s probably best to only make one change at a time so I can determine what is going on with thyroid levels. So for now, I am only changing Synthroid dosage from 75 down to 50.
I took the last dose of both meds at about 4:00 AM and the blood test was at 3:30 PM. So approximately 11.5 hours afterward for both. Because the doctor was running late, I had also been fasting since dinner the night before - probably 7-8:00 PM.
I usually skip my morning dosage, get blood work done early and then take my meds. Do you think this would skew my results significantly?
Because of the location of my new doctor, I wasn’t able to get my blood work done early in the morning - as I have always done in the past. After reading this, I will need to take the time of day into consideration.
I have often thought that it would be beneficial to be able to test myself throughout the day - much like a diabetic. Because my energy level has often been such a roller coaster of ups and downs.
Also, I want to give taking my meds at night a try … a late evening snack then waiting for an empty stomach has always been the challenge. 🙈
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