T3 only / weight gain/blood results

[Hippyhappy234]

Hi everyone

I’ve recently had some blood tests done as I suddenly gained lots of weight.

I’m currently taking 150mcg T3.

Serum free T4 level <1.3 pmol/L (11.0-22.6)

Serum free triiodothyronine 5.8 pmol/L (3.5-6.5)

Serum TSH <0.01 mu/L (0.2-4.0)

Any advice

[shaws Administrator]

Did you have the earliest blood draw? Fasting (you can drink water)? and did you allow a gap of 12 hours between T3 and test?

T4 will be low as you're not taking any levo.

[Hippyhappy234 in reply to shaws]

I did have the earliest blood draw at 8.45am fasting. There was a 24 hour gap before my last dose of T3

[greygoose in reply to Hippyhappy234]

In that case, your FT3 would normally be over-range. You're only supposed to leave 8 to 12 hours between the last dose and the blood draw.

However, I don't think it would be as much over-range as one would expect it to be taking 150 mcg T3. Do you always take your T3 on an empty stomach, and leave at least one hour before eating or drinking anything but water, etc. just like you would with levo?

[Hippyhappy234 in reply to greygoose]

Yes my T3 is always taken on an empty stomach & avoid eating for atleast an hour.

Do you think I need T4

[greygoose in reply to Hippyhappy234]

You could always try taking little T4 with a reduced dose of T3, but I doubt that will help you lose weight. Although reducing your T3 might have an effect, because too much T3 can make you put on weight just like too little can.

Why are you on T3 only, anyway?

[Hippyhappy234 in reply to greygoose]

I did take thyrogold for over a year. It helped me lose over 2 stones but then I became hypo again.

I think it was due to low iron & possibly cortisol issues.

I therefore decided to switch to T3 only to rule out reverse T3 in the future.

Should I add some thyrogold back?

[greygoose in reply to Hippyhappy234]

You do know that rT3 is not any sort of problem, don't you? It doesn't block T3 receptors, it doesn't cause symptoms, it's the result of a problem, not the problem itself.

When you say you became 'hypo again' on thyrogold, are you talking about blood test results, or just symptoms? Why didn't you just try increasing the thyroigold?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin tested too

As you have Hashimoto's are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Waslast fose of T3 8-12 hours before blood test?

To be on such high dose T3 you may have either malabsorption issues or thyroid resistance