T3 results help please

[Jodiedebs55]

I'm taking 100mcg levo and 12mcg T3 which I source myself, my TSH is suppressed obviously due to the T3 but gp insists this has nothing to do with the T3 (bangs head against wall) he wants me to reduce my levo to starting dose of 50mcg 4 days and 25mcg 3 days 😳 I'm ignoring that completely personally I feel undermedicated but please can someone help me with my T3 results which my endo insisted on as labs refused to take them as I self medicate so endo stepped in , iv not seen him yet appointment is January but iv no doubt he will be telling me it's not hypo symptoms it's due to my severely disabled son, at least that's what he wrote last time , help with T3 results please greatly appreciated as always . Serum free triiodothyronine level result 3.2pmol/L (2.9-4.9) I have no idea what this means, thanks in advance

[dolphin5]

We're all different, but for me, that level of FT3 would be too low. My TSH has been suppressed for 17 years, and I'm not worried about it, If you don't feel over-medicated, it may be best to resist any drop in medication, but only you can decide what's best for you.

Spending time studying the thyroid hormones and the meaning of test results is important so that you can challenge medical recommendations when necessary, and make your own informed decisions.

Good luck!

[Jodiedebs55 in reply to dolphin5]

Thankyou I appreciate your advice yes I definitely feel undermedicated

[greygoose]

Your FT3 is still on the low-side. It's under mid-range - mid-range being 3.9 mcg - and most hypos need it higher than that. So, if you still have hypos symptoms, then you need and increase in your dose of T3.

[Jodiedebs55 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks so much, yes I feel undermedicated, my hair is literally falling out its 4 inches shorter on the right side my face is swollen and puffy and I have droopy eyelids and the fatigue and muscle pain in my chest is excruciating, I meant to add my TSH results I'm in a world of my own sorry , they are serum free t4 14.8 pmol/L 9.0 - 19.0 and my TSH is 0.03miu/L 0.35 -4.94 ... below range but obviously I'm taking T3 , do you think I should increase both levo and T3 ? I had an ultrasound last week theres little to no thyroid left its literally been attacked by hashimoto's, I just don't know how much to increase and gp wanting to reduce my levo to 25mcg is scaring me to be honest

[greygoose in reply to Jodiedebs55]

Well, you really don't want to reduce the levo, but if I were you, I'd concentrate on getting my FT3 higher first. You mustn't increase both at the same time. So, just increase the T3.

As you realise, the TSH doesn't matter when you're taking T3, but doctors nearly always have this knee-jerk reaction because they just don't understand how it all works.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Serum free triiodothyronine level result 3.2pmol/L (2.9-4.9) I have no idea what this means, thanks in advance

Your result shows that your FT3 is very low in range. The normal range is 2.9-4.9 and with a result of 3.2 your level is just 15% through range. That is extremely low for someone taking T3.

How are you taking your thyroid meds? Can anything be stopping absorption?

Do you take them on an empty stomach, one hour before food or two hours after, with water only, and water for an hour either side?

Do you take any other medication or supplements at least 2 hours away from thyroid meds? Some need 4 hours.

What is your current FT4 and TSH results that your GP is basing your reduction in Levo on? What your GP is proposing is a stupid reduction from 700mcg per week to 275mcg per week, 100mcg per day to an average of 39mcg per day. Refuse because that is going to make you very unwell.

[Jodiedebs55 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi yes I take my thyroid meds at 6am every day on empty stomach I dont eat for at least 2 hours after then I take my B complex and vitamin c at 10.am I take 4000 vit D3 with my tea and magnesium at night my serum free T4 levels were 14.8 pmol/L (9.0 - 19.0 )

My TSH was 0.03 miu/L (0.35-4.94 ) I ignore my TSH results as obviously I'm taking T3 but I refuse to reduce my levo as I know il be bed bound like I was 2 years ago , I do have more energy than before I took T3 but my hair is falling out my face is puffy and my eye lids are so droopy they make my eyes look closed , I just want to be well again so with gp threatening to reduce my levo to 25mcg alternating 50mcg I feel I'm now forced to source my own levo so I can stay at 100mcg , I have no thyroid its literally gone ultrasound showed that last week, I think I should take another 5mcg T3 after 12 ? I do feel undermedicated I'm just obviously cautious of increasing T3 as I know it can cause palpitations and I already have paraxysmal atrial fibrillation but only about 6 episodes a year thank goodness oh and I'm 100% gluten free

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jodiedebs55]

my serum free T4 levels were 14.8 pmol/L (9.0 - 19.0 )

Well you certainly don't need a reduction in your Levo, but you do need an increase in your T3.

Is your T3 self sourced, if so it will be 25mcg tablets, if prescribed it will be 20mcg tablets.

How are you getting 12mcg? Is that half a 25mcg tablet? Whatever you are taking, I would say increase by 1/4 of a tablet and see how it goes.

[Jodiedebs55 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou yes I'm sourcing T3 myself from abroad and cut the 25 tab in half and take it with my levo on waking , thankyou so much il start with an extra 1/4 tomorrow around 1pm and see how I go , iv been on this dose since last December so I guessed I needed an increase , thanks again for the help and advice greatly appreciated

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Jodiedebs55]

I would retest 6-8 weeks after you increase the T3, and to ensure maximum absorption I'd take the T3 following the same advice as for Levo, except maybe just on hour away from food either side rather than 1 hour before or two hours after, I've seen it said that T3 is not as fussy as Levo. It will be interesting to see your results after the new test.

[Jodiedebs55 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks il do that but will have to re test my bloods myself as it took 8 months to get the labs to agree to this test and that was only due to the endo insisting. Fingers crossed thanks again

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You may want to add the increased dose of T3 as separate dose

Some people manage fine on a single dose of T3. Others need 2 or 3 smaller doses through the day

How long before this FT3 blood test did you take your last dose of T3?

[Jodiedebs55 in reply to SlowDragon]

I was thinking of taking my usual dose of T4 and T3 at 6am as usual and adding the quarter T3 at around 1pm/ 2pm when I had this blood test I left my meds until after the test which was done at 8.30 so I took my thyroid meds in the car at 8.50am so basically I left it 24 hours

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jodiedebs55]

So your FT3 result shows a false low

Last dose should be 9pm night before 9am test

But your result was very low, so likely need 1/4 tablet increase

If taking half tablet at 6am, add 1/4 tablet 12 hours later

Alternatively you could try 1/4 tablet 6am, 1/4 tablet 2pm and 1/4 tablet 10pm .....that's 3 doses at equal 8 hour intervals.

Personally I find 3 doses by far the best option...but we are all different

[Jodiedebs55 in reply to SlowDragon]

Yes I did wonder about a false low but that's why I stated I took my meds 6am daily I should have been more specific sorry about that , I wondered if taking T3 at night would effect my sleep ? Also it may interfere with my magnesium which I take at night , but il think about it thanks for your advice

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jodiedebs55]

Many of us find taking small dose T3 (1/4 tablet) improves sleep.

I found that out by accident when I took T3 at 9pm on evening prior to blood test couple of years ago

Currently taking 125mcg Levothyroxine and 20mcg T3 - 3 doses as 10mcg, 5mcg and 5mcg

I split my Levothyroxine too. Shouldn't make a difference, but it does seem to

7am - 10mcg T3 plus 25mcg Levothyroxine

11am -daily vitamins: Igennus Super B complex, vitamin D mouth spray, vitamin C.

selenium and zinc just twice week

3pm - 5mcg T3

7pm magnesium (Re-Mag from Botanical Health)

11pm - 5mcg T3 plus 100mcg Levothyroxine

[Jodiedebs55 in reply to SlowDragon]

Wow thanks for the daily diary that's so helpful and actually I can report iv been taking the extra 1/4 of T3 at night and guess what... I'm sleeping a full 8 hours 😳😁😁😁 havnt had that luxury for 3/4 years , I'm hoping this isn't coincidence but I feel refreshed on waking instead of feeling shattered , thankyou so much for explaining this I get so muddled up with all the info it's hard to take it all in sometimes and I feel bad for keeping asking advice when I should have retained some of the knowledge iv learned here but nope it goes in one ear and out the other side 😂