Adding T3 to NDT?

[C70rol]

Hello everyone, I would love to hear from anyone who has added a small amount of T3 to their existing amount of NDT.

I have a poor cortisol level in the morning and have had for some time! I have tried to increase with my NDT but haven't been successful, plus I take 500mg of Adrenal Glandulars.

i have recently read Paul Robinson's book 'Recovering with T3', in which he talks about T3 being good for 'hypocostisolism', so I'm willing to give this a try, but just wondered if anyone else has found it comfortable/successful taking the two meds in the early morning ?

Thank you !

[C70rol]

Thanks for your reply Scrumbler, yes you're right . I should have put my latest thyroid test results in my post.

They are :-TSH 0.005 (0.27-4.20)....T4 15.3(12.00-22.00)

T3 5.2(3.10-6.80). So you will see that the T3 is 57% through the range. A little bit of leeway. I wouldn't take more than 5mcg of T3 or maybe even start at 2.25mcg?

I'm more inclined to be a cautious person , but Paul Robinson has shown how the Direct T3 really helps the cortisol production especially the CT3 M .

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to C70rol]

Your T3 is lot better than mine was.

[C70rol]

Thanks , yes I will follow his protocol. And you've confirmed the level of T3 that I was thinking of doing! I was beginning to think that 5mcg could be too much! .......I've also been taking my temps everyday through my adrenal problems! So I would continue with that, especially with the addition!!!

I'm a great believer in the " low and slow" slogan ,that always suits me ! Though its not good for my patience !!??

[C70rol]

No, I have noticed that. But when I started taking NDT , that was very much the way to go! I think we've all got more educated on T3.. And if it works for me, I might be tempted to slowly make some changes !

[C70rol]

Just 90mg, which has 13.5mcg of T3

105mg would be Optimal for me, which has 15.30mcg of T3

The difference between those two T3 figures of T3 is exactly 2.25mcg

[C70rol]

Yes, your helpful questions have encouraged me to think this dilemma through.

I definately think the smaller amount is less likely

to cause problems !

Thank you very much !!!!

[C70rol]

Wow, I wasn't expecting that . I was getting a strong feeling that you were successfully on T3 . Did you have an uncomfortable time on It?

One of the reasons I'm on NDT is because my GP prescribes it for me on the NHS! But he's not too sure how much longer he can get away with it !

Plus my grandmother had been on it for many years !

[Lora7again]

How are you feeling now?

[C70rol]

I also take all the NDT in the morning at 6.- But unfortunately with my low morning cortisol the NDT would not be saturating my cells as the weakened adrenals wouldn't be able to able to convert all the meds.

[LAHs in reply to C70rol]

There is an excellent video around, and I have forgotten who does it, but he explains that your cortisol and your thyroid hormones work in opposition, i.e. high thyroid, low cortisol and vice -a- versa. Those of us who take our thyroid meds in the morning should not expect to see high cortisol in the morning (when it should be high) it does not mean that our adrenals are malfunctioning. If I find that video again (it was one in an excellent series) I will post the link.

[C70rol in reply to LAHs]

Thanks LAH's , but I had Adrenal Fatigue (due to taking adaptogens), more than a year ago now, and my adrenals have been steadily improving, since that time.

But the difficult cortisol to raise is the morning one.. Paul Robinson's answer to the problem is to take T3 in the early morning.

I must say that I have always taken my NDT in the morning, and before the Adrenal Fatigue, I didn't have a morning cortisol problem!!!

But thank you so much for your help !!!

[Lora7again]

Hopefully you will continue to improve.

[Angel_of_the_North]

That's what I did to start with. Now I take T3 only. I had low cortisol, but didn't really follow Paul Robinson's protocol. I now have normal cortisol most of the time. I had low T3 even on NDT and poor conversion

[C70rol in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Thanks Angel,

I think that's the way I may have to go , eventually. !

Some years ago now I saw an Endo and took a private lab result of DI02 showing that I had two faulty genes (homozygous),....Well that Endo said " oh you definitely wouldn't convert well, " and gave me a prescription for 60mg of T3, with no advice on how I should take it or how to adapt from the NDT . Well I felt really panicky, and of course my GP was no help ! So I didn't do anything about it. ( this was before I joined HU).

And though I am clearly able to convert, according to my blood results , I have never felt REALLY well.

So since reading Paul Robinson's book, with his clear practical advice and protocol. I have decided to make the introduction to T3 , but in a 'low and slow 'way.

Did you find the transition a comfortable one , and how did you manage it ?

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to C70rol]

I have central hypo, so my experience won't necessarily be the same. I just reduced NDT and added T3 gradually, waiting a very conservative month between each decrease/increase. Felt fine through out. However, if my FT4 drops too low, I feel rubbish, so I just take an extra grain of NDT on top of the regular T3 (happens about 3-4 times a year) - very unscientific - but works for me. Wouldn't recommend ithat to anyone else.

[london81]

i tried to add t3 to my NDT but immediately felt palpitations, chest pain and my Heart rate in morning was high. i felt really anxious. im keeping hold of the T3 in case i run out of NDT and have to take levo . my free t3 was high enough so probably didn’t need to add t3 after all

[C70rol in reply to london81]

Thank you for your comment ! I have now got some T3, but haven't started taking it as yet as I've been a bit anxious about it!

Plus my husband has been in hospital and I didn't want to add any more stress than I already had !!!

So the timing of your reply couldn't have been more important.

The reason for needing the T3 is to help my low morning cortisol. But even though I'm thinking of only trying 2.50mcg of T3, it could still give me the symptoms you mentioned ?

How much T3 did you take?