How Do I interpret test results when taking T3?

[Inana]

Hi,

I'm currently taking T3 (50mcg since 19 Sept '19) and I am feeling so much better now, since going off Levo (200mcg) a while back. I'm not overly great, but I am not feeling as lethargic as before. Since taking T3, I do not know how to interpret my blood tests and I don't know what to be concerned about since I am going at this on my own.

I have noticed the following:

Since taking thyroid medication, TSH has gone below 0.01.

Then since taking T3 only, my T4 has decreased but so has my T3.

Are these changes in blood results expected, especially the drastic decrease of T4? I imagined that my body would still make some.

The last two tests looked like this:

200mcg T4 (30 April 2019)

TSH: 0.006 (range: 0.27-4.2)

FT3: 4.5 (range: 3.1-6.8)

FT4: 17.6 (range: 12-24.1)

25mcg + Thyrogold T3 (19 September 2019)

TSH: 0.005 (range: 0.27-4.2)

FT3: 3.9 (range: 3.1-6.8)

FT4: 8.3 (range: 12-24.1)

Before taking any medication:

TSH: 2.6 (range: 0.27-4.2)

FT3: 4.1(range: 3.1-6.8)

FT4: 11.8 (range: 12-24.1)

After I got the latest results I increased to 50mcg of T3 because I was starting to feel weak again with other symptoms of low medication.

Thank you in advance for your time.

[greygoose]

If you're taking Thyrogold, you're not taking T3 only. Thyrogold contains T4.

But, those results look more or less like one would expect. Taking T3 does lower FT4. And, you're not likely to be making much T4, if any, without any TSH to stimulate the thyroid.

Not sure what you mean by increasing the T3 to 50 mcg. Is that including the T3 in thyroidgold? Or did you double the T3 dose? If so, that's really not a good idea. Increases in T3 should only be 6.25 mcg every two weeks.

[Inana in reply to greygoose]

I stopped taking thyrogold 4 weeks ago when I doubled the T3 from 25mcg to 50mcg.

I didn’t know that I had to increase it by 6.5mcg. I thought increasing by 25mcg was fine. Good to know.

It’s been at this dose for 4 weeks now as I said. What should I expect since I didn’t increase it by 6.5 mcg? I don’t feel any negative effects currently.

Also: Thanks for letting me know about T4. I wasn’t sure about that at all.

[greygoose in reply to Inana]

Well, the only important number now is the FT3, the TSH and FT4 no-longer have any significance. But, as you increased by so much, it might be a good idea to leave it a bit longer than four weeks before testing, to give it time to settle. But, there's no guessing what level your FT3 will be, now. You'll just have to wait and see. How you feel is the most important, anyway.

[Inana in reply to greygoose]

Thank you so much. I will wait probably a bit longer, say about 8-12 weeks while keeping an eye on myself.

[greygoose in reply to Inana]

8 weeks should be enough.

[Hidden]

Just curious: why did you go straight from T4 to T3 only, instead of trying to add T3 to a lower dose of T4, or switch to NDT? I know Thyrogold is an NDT sold as a supplement, but it consists mainly of T4 (just like prescription NDT).

There is nothing wrong with taking T3 only, it's only that you'd expect someone not to go from T4 only straight to T3 only, without trying something containing both hormones first.

[Inana in reply to Hidden]

Thyrogold does contain both hormones.

I started with T4 and it made little difference to my T3 levels in blood tests. Then I took Thyrogold alone. Then I took Thyrogold and T3. And now I’m taking T3 only.

T4 only didn’t help enough but there was a change. Thyrogold (both T4 and T3) was getting to ridiculous doses on its own where I was taking 900mg of it.

Added T3 to Thyrogold. Still not feeling too great but better.

Now on T3 alone for 4 weeks and watching how I react.

[Hidden in reply to Inana]

Good luck!

[Inana in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.