My FT3 is 7.7 (3.5-6.5)
I just wanted to clarify the following:
Is over range FT3 ok if you feel better?
Should over range be ok long or short term or keep in the nhs guidelines - which tbh they stick regimentally to although we are all individuals? You can have low but within range for say B12 and feel horrendous so how much notice should we give to the nhs ranges?
Can high FT3 cause heart problems?
Difficult question to answer, if we're honest about it, and not dogmatic. We have to remember that a blood test is just that: it tests what is in the blood. T3 in the blood doesn't do anything. It's when it gets into the cells that it affects how things work. And, there's no way of checking what's in the cells.
So, how much T3 are you taking? Are you taking any levo with it? Do you have other labs on the same dose? Do you have Hashi's?
I'm afraid most questions on here engender a thousand other questions! There's rarely a simple answer. lol
Thanks Greygoose
I have hashi’s but felt better since last summer where I felt my immune system had stopped actively attacking my thyroid this took about 2.5 years from my initial attack.
I’m on T3 only. I take 2 x 25mcg first thing and recently started taking 1 x 25mcg mid afternoon as I was feeling a little tired and had some leeway from previous bloods - I could lower this to 1/2 a pill so 12.5mcg.
My FT4 is 2.3 (10-18.7) and TSH <0.01 mlU/L (0.38-5.5) - I tend to ignore these as I’m on T3 only. But does my FT4 show my thyroid is still working slightly so hasn’t been destroyed completely? Should of requested antibodies but forgot as it would be interesting to see where they are.
They ran a lot of bloods and all looked fine in range to me except my ALT which was slightly above range 52 u/L (0.0-40) but I think on previous hospital results there’s been early signs of liver/ kidney disease. But I don’t think they act on these until they get to a high level from what I can see.
I’m on amytriptyline and citalopram and been told at the doctors today they interact but I feel better on them both. So going to take citalopram in the morning and amytriptyline at night to separate the two but my rheumy will be able to advise on this I hope.
I’m low carb / gluten free and supplement as required. I’m just struggling with tremors / muscle weakness from focal Myositis caused by my initial hashi attack. Physio and exercise don’t help.
Otherwise overall I’m feeling pretty good!
I’m at rheumatology on Thursday if you’ve any advice thanks Bev
I felt my immune system had stopped actively attacking my thyroid
I'm not sure that this is something that can be felt. I expect you feel better because you're on a decent dose of T3.
I take 2 x 25mcg first thing and recently started taking 1 x 25mcg mid afternoon as I was feeling a little tired and had some leeway from previous bloods
Are you saying that you jumped from 50 mcg to 75 mcg in one go? Hardly surprising, then, that you now find yourself over-medicated. Increases shouldn't be more than 6.25 mcg every two weeks.
But, I asked if you had other bloods done on 75 mcg, for comparesion, to make sure you are truly over-medicated, and that it's not just a Hashi's swing.
But does my FT4 show my thyroid is still working slightly so hasn’t been destroyed completely?
Seems like there is still some life in the old dog yet. 
But you can't tell exactly how much whilst on T3 only, because that reduces levels of FT4.
Should of requested antibodies but forgot as it would be interesting to see where they are.
I don't think it would be in the least interesting or informative. Antibodies fluctuate all the time, but that has no bearing on the state of your disease. Hashi's is Hashi's, no matter what the level of antibodies. They will go when your thyroid is completely dead, but that could be years from now.
As to your ALT, they don't take any notice of levels slightly over-range. And, I suppose we can take it that they know what they're doing - except when it comes to thyroid, of course!
I trust you take both your amytriptyline and citalopram well away from your T3? It will affect the absorption.
I'm afraid I know nothing about appointments with rheumatology, I've never had one. Not even sure what they do!
The reason I say I felt i improves was that since last summer my symptoms just totally eased from how sick I was prior to this and I had been on T3 for 18 months before this. My thyroid didn’t feel inflamed as it had been and I’ve had no difficulties swallowing
I don’t like your ft4 level ! It’s too low
You must take some T4 to balance your hormones level
T4 is an inactive hormone whereas T3 is active. There’s many on here that are on T3 only.
What are your reasons for suggesting I need to take levothyroxine? I’m very open to advise and if you have any experience on this personally?
Hey MissFG. I think it’s fabulous that you feel well. And the range is just ‘a range’ nothing hard and fast about it, it’s all about the feels 🤗 If you feel worried then I’d do as you yourself suggested and half that extra 25mcg you introduced.
I must admit that although I feel really well with the introduction of T3, I do get ‘reassurance’ from my Apple Watch which tells me my resting heart rate. Mostly though so that I can reassure the NHS cohort who seem to think I’m going to have a heart attack and keel over from taking such a ‘dangerous’ drug 😩
Aww thank you Paula
Can I ask what you resting pulse and blood pressure is?
I’ve just text my daughter asking to use her Apple Watch now just to figure out how to use it 😂
I’ve worn an Apple Watch for a few years now so I know at the height of my symptoms my RHR got as low as 30’s but on average somewhere under 50. Then I added T3 and it went up to about 63, then I added another 5mcg to my day and it now sits around 70 which is much more acceptable for an unfit person such as myself. I’m sure Mo Farrah has a RHR in the 40’s but I’m no Mo! Lol
My Blood pressure has always been on the lower end of normal but I don’t know what it is me.
I’ve just checked mine and it’s 91 is that ok? I saw as long as it’s between 60-100 it’s ok.
I’m not running any marathons soon or probably ever lol and will always feel the effects of hashimotos but I want to manage it and life my life now the best I can giving myself every advantage where possible
Was it a true RHR though? It’s best to be still for at least 20-30mins, an hour would be good. I quite often put my watch on before I jump out of bed in the morning. It’s possibly a little high but that correlates with your over range T3 but yes you’re right it’s still within ‘normal’ range. Just cut back by a 1/4 for 6wks you might be ‘wasting’ some of your t3, you could very well feel good at a lower dose. It’s all very personal and sometimes experimental.
@paula6 I think you and I are scarily similar! I could’ve written this Apple Watch/heart rate thing. And we’ve had other similarities too!
People don’t believe me when I say my hr was 30.... no wonder I felt rubbish 😱
How long did you leave between last dose of T3 and blood test?
What's your resting pulse ?
12 hours
Never took my resting pulse rate only when I go to my rheumy check up they do it I think. Why should we check this?
Wearing a Fitbit (or equivalent) can be helpful.
Eg if on T3 TSH is frequently very suppressed. But if you have digital records of your resting heart beat being low.....this shows you are not over treated.
I give my GP one or two weekly summaries from Fitbit at annual review
Great thanks for the tip!
Resting pulse is 91
Blood pressure 105/77
Is that when lying down in bed?
That’s pretty high pulse rate
Take pull when you wake up BEFORE you get up, or even turn over
Also take temperature using a mercury thermometer before you get up
My resting pulse is 56 -57
But I am on levothyroxine and small divided dose T3 every 8 hours
That’s sat down. Think I need to monitor myself now with my Apple Watch and thermometer and reduce my T3 to 12.5mcg in the afternoon. Think my RPR is high it goes up to 137 when walking so it needs to come down
I had been on 75 mcg T3 only, but still felt bad( pain, aching) but not hyper, but discovered the T3 raised my blood sugar quite dramatically ( I was insulin dependent before) so having to reduce it . Now on 37.5 mcg T3, and introduced levo again last week at 33 mcg. Pulse has come down, and waiting to see if any other benefits. So just be aware blood sugar might go up.
I would not rely on a fitbit or similar gadget,as I have read too much about their unreliability to trust my heart health to one.I use a heart rate monitor.
When on T3-only,after very slowly increasing my dose & getting my thyroxine to zero,I could eventually take 55mcgs in one go without increasing my heart rate.I felt comfortable at 67.BPM
Now on 2 grains NDT with a quarter tablet of T3,I again feel comfortable at a maximum of 67 BPM(resting pulse rate before getting up in the morning)and I use this to monitor my dose,in between blood tests.
I get a fluttery heart &/or a fast rate if I take too much T4 or too much thyroid replacement.
I have a heart rate monitor so am covered. I’ve not tried NDT so for me I feel more comfortable sticking with T3. I’ll reduce my dose and see how I feel and what my RPR is as I go thanks
Did you ever try Levo and T3 combo?
Yes for 6 months but Endo agreed with how I was going to just remove Levo and unless I can see clear evidence for reintroducing it I’ll stick with T3 only
Sorry I’m intrigued now 😬 I don’t know the evidence but I do think that T4 has a purpose. I’m not sure it’s as inactive as we are led to believe but overall I think of you can tolerate Levo then I think combined with added T3 it can be very much more stable than T3 alone. Just my 2cents and of youre are struggling to stay stable I think it’s worth looking at 🤗
I decided to move to NDT after reading up about SHBG issues with T3-only.Due to genetic SNIPs affecting my oestrogen/progesterone balance & my adrenal issues,after 2 years on T3-only,using paul Robinson's circadian dosing,I moved on to NDT,but found I feel better energy-wise with a little extra T3.I had hoped to up my T4 by adding a little thyroxine,rather than T3,but it affected my heart rhythm,as did upping my NDT.
I think they’re perfectly adequate for someone without a heart condition or suspected. They give a good overall average.
Yes,I get that.However,I think taking quite large amounts of T3 requires more accurate monitoring.
Also,I have been in hospital twice with tachycardia-once in 1998 before being diagnosed underactive,once in 2015,when adding T3 to my thyroxine.The medics diagnosed supraventricular tachycardia the second time.I avoid attacks by avoiding thyroxine.I am OK on T3-only.I am OK on NDT.I now take 2 grains of NDT plus a quarter tablet of T3.
The medics say I have a birth defect.They do not acknowledge the role of thyroxine or hypothyroidism in my tachycardia issue!
Over range T3 on combination T3/T4 medication 
Back in range 🕺🏼👏
Above range t3
Ft4 over range 
T3 Slightly Below Range 
