Which T3 to buy and struggling w weight and temperature on T3 only protocol

[Jlove1]

Hi! I need help buying t3 online. Which pharmacy and which brand. I have read so many different things. Also, struggling w puffy face, arthritis, flares hypo symptoms, getting temp up and slight weight gain. I’m on my 3rd month t3 only. It has been suggested that my dose is too high and and having cortisol issues possibly. Has anyone dealt with this?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Can you give a bit more background information

How long been hypothyroid

Were you on Levothyroxine previously?

Recent blood test results prior to starting T3?

Did you try adding small dose of T3 to Levothyroxine first?

Do you have Hashimoto's? (Or Graves) If so are you on strictly gluten free diet

What vitamin supplements do you currently take

Can you add results and ranges of vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last test

How much T3 are you taking and timing of doses

Do you have a prescription for T3?

Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after any dose change

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. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)

Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

Is this how you do your tests?

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

[Angel_of_the_North]

Not everyone does well on T3 only, you might need T4 also. But it sounds more like undermedication than over. Some people do better taking all their T3 in once, others taking it 2,3 or 4 times a day. What are the results of your most recent blood tests (with ranges)? Free T3, free t4, TSH, folate, ferritin, B12 and vit D. I'm on T3 only

[Jlove1 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Was taking 75mcg at the time of lab 24hrs after last dose I take it 3 or 4x have played w both

Tsh .001

Free t4 .2 .8-1.8

Rt3 less than 5. 8-23

Free t3 2.5. 2.3-4.2.

I take 10000iu of vitamin d

400 selenium

25 iron chelate

Methyl folate wb12

Haven’t don’t labs on the above due to $$ but am going to test and adrenal saliva next week and spend. Thinking it’s an adrenal issue or not enough. Prior to T3 only I took 3 grains of naturthroid then Armour. Been on meds since 2004, which was when I was diagnosed w Hashi. I’ve had this weight gain weight loss issue throughout my experience w this disease. I always eat and workout but my body fluctuates out of my control. Was hoping t3 only would stop the roller coaster, not yet.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Jlove1]

That's probably a bit less than 3 grains of NDT (probably nearer 2). If you have Hashis, your levels will fluctuate whatever you take. If NDT doesn't work for you, why not try T4/T3 combo? Many people need free T4 in range to feel well (some need it at lest mid range) - and your free T3 is way too low for someone on T3. Do you still need that much vit D?

[Jlove1 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Sorry, I left this part out. I tied Levi and gained 15lbs 5 years ago and also added t3 back then. Basically I even w the NDT t4 coverts to rt3 and I guess I just wasn’t on top of my iton/adrenals enough consistently over the years. I thought w t3 only I could eliminate that issue but I’m realizing the vitamins etc are just as important. I’ve tested my d in the past and it’s usually in the low end of normal but goes up w that dose then I can lower. I’m investing in the test so I can get a cure to status. I may be too low but interesting thing just happened. I lowered yesterday’s to 62.5 because I fell asleep before my last dose and today and yet my 2nd dose of T3 my temp finally went up to 99 actually which is high and I had better temps when I started this process a few months ago. I was going to take that same dose today and see if my temps good tnrw too and gage from there. I’m going to stick it out this week and see unless there’s another thought you may have .. also, thank you

[Jlove1 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Also.. this is second to my last reply. Not sure if it’s in order. To you point about t3 low on lab. This is also where I’m confused. When I was on NDT it would be at highest end and sometimes above but I would still fluctuate w weight and couldn’t get off what I gained. Didn’t test it at that time, but have many others, I assume my rt3 was also high whenever labs were like that and weight didn’t budge. I’m

Following recovering w t3 and Paul keeps saying you can’t go by labs. The. Others say wait 24rs then I also read test t3 13 hours after last dose so idk know what I am high or low. Symptom are of hypo but he thinks I’m hyper which could have same hypo symptoms if cortisol is low. That’s why I was wondering anyone had this experience. After 3 months of tracking and changing doses up and own I’m ready to quit but am continuing. I’m lowering my dose and hoping adrenal

Cortex will resolve this issue. Then I can gage if I need to go up or down . Hopefully weight l, puffy face and flares will stop. I’m definately dealing w inflammation which could also be because of low cortisol. Idk but thank you again

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Jlove1]

I always had low cortisol, but it is now OK. I sort of (but not religiously) did CT3M. Low cortisol makes you thin (usually) even when hypo, with no appetite and no hunger. No puffiness - that's usually high cortisol. Often nausea, dizziness/fainting, headaches, backache/stomachache and vomiting when stressed. How you feel is more important than lab numbers, but they are a guide. It is usually recommended to test T3 after 8-12 hours, so 13+ would make your T3 seem too low. I find I need to take a grain of NDT every few weeks or my free T4 falls below range and I feel worse (or at least when I've tested when I feel worse my free T4 has been under range, and when I feel Ok it has been in range but low). Everyone has their own set point for thyroid hormones - top of range might be too high for you, but your current level might be too low.

[Jlove1 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Yes, that’s what I thought. I lose when my cortisol is low then maybe now it’s high. Paul thinks I titrated up too quickly but I also told him 3grains of NDT equals 75 and he said it doesn’t work like that. I did do a test 8 hours after a morning dose of 25 but the daily dose was 75mcg so the day before I took that spread out and I wanted to see what that lab looks like and it was 4.8, which was just above normal. I continued to raise to 100mcg and was at that dose for 1 month. I felt ok. Tired in the morning. Very sluggish. Started testing my blood sugar and it was above 100 first thing in am. That group advised lowering my dose as I was prop making too much cortisol an raised my blood sugar. So I titrated down to 87 My morning blood sugar went back to normal but stiff puffy face and arthritis flares and swollen legs so Paul thought maybe my dose still too high and start cmt3. That was to days ago and here I am. I really appreciate you sharing

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Jlove1]

I'm wrong: 3 grains of NDT is more like 65mcg of T3 only, so perhaps your 62.5 is closer. You really don't want low cortisol, it makes you very ill.

[Jlove1 in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

You are an angel! We’ll see!! Hopefully I’ll level off in the next week! I will keep you posted!! 🙏🏼💫