Adding a tiny amount of T3

[Clara62]

Can anybody tell me if it would be OK to take T3 ( just a tiny amount: 2.5mcg ) in the evening together with T4? I have been taking my T4 in the evening before bed for more than one year now, just for practical reasons.

[fuchsia-pink]

It might be; might not. Without seeing your latest blood test results (and ranges) it's difficult to know.

I see that 8 months ago your T4 was over-range and your T3 was relatively low indicating poor conversion - but do you have anything more recent to share, including key nutrients? How much levo are you taking at the moment?

[Clara62 in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you for your reply.

Here are my latest results, what I have got:

TSH 0.07 ( 0.27-4.2)

FT4 20.8 (12-22)

FT3 4.42 (3.1-6.8)

B12 pml/L 181 (25-165)

Folate nml/L 533 (285-1474)

Vitamin D 78. ( 50-200), a few month before the result was 102

Iron 8.8. ( 6.6-26)

TIBC 46 ( 41-77)

Transferritin saturation 19% ( 20-55)

Ferritin 55 (13-150)

Thyroid antibodies tested many times during the years, always negative.

I am on 88mcg of T4 which I take at night.

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Clara62]

OK so your T4 is near the top of the range, but your T3 is relatively low ... nutrients generally not brilliant - have you tried eating liver / liver pate (yuk) for ferritin, and folate-rich foods, and boosting your vit D - getting out in the sun now it's nice and/or tablets/spray?

But yes, seems to scope for a bit of T3 in the mix

[Clara62 in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you!

I started to supplement vitamin D about a month ago and I try to be in the sun every day. The amount of T3 I am speaking about is really tiny. It's 1/8 of a compounded pill , which is equivalent to 2.6mcg

[fuchsia-pink in reply to Clara62]

Give it a try and see how you get on - and work on your nutrients. Good luck x

[Clara62 in reply to fuchsia-pink]

Thank you! 🌸🙏

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Before considering adding T3 we need OPTIMAL vitamin levels

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested?

Do you have Hashimoto’s?

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

You may need to get full Thyroid testing privately as NHS refuses to test TG antibodies if TPO antibodies are negative

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)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Medichecks often have special offers, if order on Thursdays

Thriva Thyroid plus vitamins

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes vitamins

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Add most recent results or come back with new post once you get results

Adding any dose of T3 is likely to substantially reduce TSH....this can, I effect, result in becoming more hypothyroid unless you take enough

It is always essential to retest Ft4 and Ft3 6-8 weeks after any dose change (or brand change) in levothyroxine or T3

If/when also on T3, make sure to take last third or half of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

[Clara62 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you for your reply.

Here are my latest results, what I have got:

TSH 0.07 ( 0.27-4.2)

FT4 20.8 (12-22)

FT3 4.42 (3.1-6.8)

B12 pml/L 181 (25-165)

Folate nml/L 533 (285-1474)

Vitamin D 78. ( 50-200), a few month before the result was 102

Iron 8.8. ( 6.6-26)

TIBC 46 ( 41-77)

Transferritin saturation 19% ( 20-55)

Ferritin 55 (13-150)

Thyroid antibodies tested many times during the years, always negative.

I am on 88mcg of T4 which I take at night.

[LAHs in reply to Clara62]

Try taking a little Selenium (Se) to see if you can boost your conversion into action. Selenium is the catalyst for this reaction and without it you will not convert T4 to T3. Measure you Se first so that you do not overdose then try eating two Brazil nuts per day (you will also get Magnesium from Brazil nuts - which is a good thing). After about a month re-measure your Se level. If it has risen then so too should your T3 and hence you will feel better.

It is simpler to take Se than get on the Levo(T4) T3 roller coaster which can keep you fiddling around for months.

[Clara62 in reply to LAHs]

Thank you LAHs, I am already supplementing with selenium and eating brazil nuts daily , 2/3 per day.. maybe I should check my Se levels.