T3 onlymedication

[Tldg45]

Sorry,I’ve probably asked before. Does taking liothyronine suppress your free t4 levels

[Judithdalston]

Depends on how much T3 and T4/levo., but generally yes FT4 levels will go down. Can have negligible FT4 reading if on T3 only.

[Tldg45 in reply to Judithdalston]

I only take t3, most recent result free t3 4.1 (3.1-6.8) free t4 2 (11-22) tsh 0.02 (0.27-4.20)

[Judithdalston in reply to Tldg45]

That seems expected for T3 only; you ‘ll need to up your T3 to get your FT3 to 5 plus, and your FT4 and TSH will drop further. My FT4 was 0.5, and TSH 0.005 on 75 mcg T3 only in April, and on dropping down to 50 mcg T3 carried on ‘under 1’ for FT4 and TSH 0.03 in recent NHS tests. I was surprised TSH had risen ‘so much’ but it is possible the receptionist who reported to me over the phone may have got her decimal places wrong. What dose T3 are you on now or as tested?

[Tldg45 in reply to Judithdalston]

I’m on 50 mcg in total and I can’t say that I feel anyway normal. I’ve got fibromyalgia also but I’m really struggling at the minute energy wise

[Judithdalston in reply to Tldg45]

See your endo put you on T3 only, presume this was because FT3 did not raise on levo. I too have fibromyalgia and16 months ago started to try Dr Lowe’s protocol of T3 only to try to improve it...I got to 75 mcg and not felt improvements, nor obviously overmedicated either, but I was DIYing. Did get my FT3 raised but not really improved basal temp.nor got high bp/ pulse, and pain and exhaustion continued. I am just reducing the T3 dosing, and twice re-added levo.( but each time only lasted 4 days as pain etc worse), and will try again soon. My Gp just did an unexpected blood test including TSH, FT4 and FT3 ( nhs results above) and last week got a phone call from surgery receptionist saying doctor wants me to reduce my levothyroxin 25 mcg....so obviously ignored the FT4 0.5 result and looking at TSH 0.03 one only! GPs love TSH, and only that, in range, else they get very nervous! Some of the forum administrators are T3 only, others swear by 75% in range of both FT4 and FT3....we are all different. Have you checked, and supplemented etc if necessary, ferritin, folate, vit d and b12?

[Hidden]

Your ft4 levels will be eventually very low because you aren't taking any t4. Nothing to suppress you just don't have any t4 coming in. 🙂

My ft4 is 0.03 ( nothing ) because I'm on t3 only.

[Tldg45 in reply to Hidden]

Why is my gp concerned about me not having any? He’s referring me back to an endocrinologist

[Hidden in reply to Tldg45]

Did you gp put you on t3 only?

If he did he should expect you not to have any ft4.

[Tldg45 in reply to Hidden]

Endo put me on t3 but gp doesn’t like my results and thinks I need to start some t4 again

[Hidden in reply to Tldg45]

If you feel well on t3 and want to stay on it, just go by what your endocrinologist says. He can write to your gp and advise how he's treating you and what's best. You're very lucky to get T3.

[Hidden in reply to Tldg45]

I take T3 only. Feel best ever. Depends how you feel.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Tldg45]

Tough for GP. They aren't his results. If you feel well, endo trumps GP.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Tldg45]

He's concerned because he doesn't understand how the thyroid works. Obviously if you are hypo and not taking any T4, FT4 levels will be low. Where does GP think T4 comes from in hypo patients? The tooth fairy?

[Angel_of_the_North]

It doesn't suppress FT4 as such, but if you can't produce enough on your own, you are not taking anything to raise T4 above the levels that your own thyroid can produce, so levels will be low. That suits some people, but not others

[SlowDragon Administrator]

For a few people taking just T3 on its own is the answer

But many people need good levels of FT4 and FT3 by taking Levothyroxine and small dose of T3

Did you ever try just adding small dose of T3 alongside Levothyroxine (often as 3 small doses split through the day).

TSH is almost always suppressed on any dose of T3. This will turn your own thyroid production right off, hence very low FT4

Your FT3 is not very high

If you don't feel well, you either need to add 25mcg Levothyroxine or increase T3 by 5mcg

What are your vitamin levels like?

Vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 need to be optimal