Help with results after taking T3 for 2 weeks

[HarrietJW]

I have been on 100mcg of Levothyroxine for a couple of months and have just managed to get prescribed T3 (liothyronine). I was put on 10mcg per day as a starting dose. My results are below and I was wondering if anyone would recommend a dose increase? My symptoms have eased but I still have weight increase and cold hands/feet and low body temp.

TSH 0.6 (0.2-4.2)

T3 4.2 (3.1-6.8)

THYROXINE 16.6 (12-22)

PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 323 (0-34)

Folate/B12/Vit D/Ferritin - all in range.

[MissFG]

You need to be at the top end of the range for ft3 with liothyronine so it is optimal and as you said 10mcg was a starting dose. Has you doctor said when to increase and by how much? You definitely have room for an increase which should improve your symptoms.

[HarrietJW in reply to MissFG]

Thanks fpr the quick response. I am not seeing the Endo again for 3 months, but I can ask my GP to increase my dose. Would you add more Levo + T3?

[MissFG in reply to HarrietJW]

I think you need to discuss this with your gp but I’m sure your Endo will of written to them advising how to proceed. If you were cc’d in request a copy at your doctors.

Everyone is different and T3 works for me whereas Levo didn’t. If I could be supervised by my GP and endo I would work with them first. Get full copies of your bloods and see if all your vitamin levels are optimal too.

I take B complex B12 liquid iron vitamin D CoQ10.

Do you feel any improvements?

[HarrietJW in reply to MissFG]

Thanks very much! I fear working with my GP might not get the results I am after But will keep trying. CoQ10 ia amazing!

[MissFG in reply to HarrietJW]

It all depends on your GP luckily mine don’t mind me being on the ball and knowledgable - I most of the time know more about my condition.

When I self medicated as my endo was blocked from prescribing T3 he had to discharge me as he’s “not insured”. My GP doesn’t know I’m discharged so I have my bloods done periodically just to check how I’m doing or if I don’t feel right

[greygoose in reply to HarrietJW]

You should only increase one at a time, not both together. And, in your place, I would concentrate on the T3 for the time being. You can see about the T4 later. Your FT4 isn't too bad, anyway.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Did you reduce your dose of Levo when adding T3?

Test results after just 2 weeks are unreliable, it takes longer than that for levels to stabilise.

"Folate/B12/Vit D/Ferritin - all in range."

That doesn't tell us if they are at optimal levels. What are the actual numbers - results with reference ranges?

[HarrietJW in reply to SeasideSusie]

Sorry, I was concious of writing too long a post

Ferritin 96.5 (13-50)

Folate 19.8 (<3.89)

VIT B12 150 (<37.5)

VIT D 88.9 (50-175)

Thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to HarrietJW]

The Vit D Council recommends a level of 125nmol/L and the Vit D Society recommends a level of 100-150nmol/L so you might want to improve your Vit D level, particularly as it's now winter and we can't make Vit D naturally from the sun. The other levels are good.

Did you reduce your dose of Levo when adding T3?

[HarrietJW in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks! will add some more Vit D - I didn't lower my T4 dose, it had just been raised due to a pregnancy which I sadly miscarried. Endos in the past have said I have never been on enough Levo - I'm at a loss!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to HarrietJW]

Make sure you're taking the right amount of Vit D. What is your current level, you can then work out how much you need. Do you also take D3's important cofactors - magnesium and Vit K2-MK7?

[HarrietJW in reply to SeasideSusie]

I take one spray a day of Health Aid Vitamin D3. I don't currently take K2-MK7.

I take Vit C, Pre Natal, CoQ10, Vit D, Omega 3.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to HarrietJW]

I take one spray a day of Health Aid Vitamin D3.

How many IUs of D3 is that?

What is your current Vit D level?

D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-MK7 directs the calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissues where it can be deposited and cause problems such as hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, etc.

D3 and K2 are fat soluble so should be taken with the fattiest meal of the day, D3 four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules/softgels, no necessity if using an oral spray.

Magnesium helps D3 to work. We need Magnesium so that the body utilises D3, it's required to convert Vit D into it's active form. So it's important we ensure we take magnesium when supplementing with D3.

Magnesium comes in different forms, check to see which would suit you best and as it's calming it's best taken in the evening, four hours away from thyroid meds if taking tablets/capsules, no necessity if using topical forms of magnesium.

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

drjockers.com/best-magnesiu...

afibbers.org/magnesium.html

Check out the other cofactors too (some of which can be obtained from food).

[HarrietJW in reply to SeasideSusie]

My current VIT D is 88.9 (50-175)

The spray I take is 1000iu

Thanks for the help

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How are you taking your T3?

As a single dose or as two x 5mcg doses?

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

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

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

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?

Assuming the answer is yes.....then you might request extra 5mcg dose T3

Retesting in 6-8 weeks

[HarrietJW]

Thank you, yes this is how I do my tests although I do not split my T3 dose, I take 10mcg in the morning only.