Free T3 or Free T4 Levels - Symptoms?

[Sarahlouise1980]

Hi All,

Are symptoms caused by free t3 or free t4 levels?

My free t3 levels are right at the top of the range (they have never been this high before) and i am having symptoms. I have loose bowels every morning and when i reduce by 12.5mcg levothyroxine this goes away.

I just wanted to know if symptoms are most likely caused by free t3 or free t4 levels? As i though free t3 was the active hormone?

Thanks

Sarah.

[shaws Administrator]

You state

"My free t3 levels are right at the top of the range (they have never been this high before) and i am having symptoms. I have loose bowels every morning and when i reduce by 12.5mcg levothyroxine this goes away'

So - and I'm not medically qualified' - this would suggest you are taking a little too much and reducing dose alleviates this problem.

T3 is the active hormone but it may well be it is the fillers/binders in the tablet that is affecting you. When you reduce the dose it alleviates the symptom. I think I'd be apt to stay on the lowered dose at present.

When you increase dose, is it by a 1/4 tablet or 1/2.

[greygoose]

It's usually T3 that causes symptoms when it's too high or too low. But, if you reduce your levo, it will not only lower the FT4 level, it will also lower the FT3, because T4 is converted to T3.

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to greygoose]

Thanks greygoose, When I reduce by 12.5mcg the loose bowels symptom stops so I think my t3 might be slightly too high for me. Could that be the case do you think?

[greygoose in reply to Sarahlouise1980]

Indeed it could.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Your previous post on PAS Healthunlocked showed EXTREMELY low B12 and folate

GP surgery in September results were:

Serum B12 level:

119 ng/L (150-900)

Serum Folate level:

2.3 ug/L (3.1-19.9)

I did a thriva blood test after supplementing 5mg folic acid for 4 weeks and 1000mcg Jarrows B12 for 3 weeks and my results are:

Total B12:

352 pmol/L (Normal 300-569)

Active B12 Level:

118 pmol/L (Normal 37.5-188)

Folate :

36.6 nmol/L (Normal 8.83-40) (Optimal 40-60.8)

These need retesting

Astonished you are not getting B12 injections

[shaws Administrator]

I agree completely with SlowDragon and you should definitely have a test for pernicious anaemia (which I have) and I need B12 injections for life.

[Sarahlouise1980 in reply to shaws]

I’ve had the test for the intrinsic factor and it was negative. I have no problem absorbing the b12 from supplements I just need to find one that doesn’t break me out in awful acne.