T3 problems

[lizzie1]

You will all think i am bonkers. I think the t3 only dose i take is contributing to me having sleep inertia. I can wake about 6 take my meds and go back to sleep. I am wide awake at 6 but when i wake at 8 ish i am so groggy i cant function. It can last all day. Anyone else have this problem. The feeling of being groggy is overwhelming. If i were to reduce my t3 and add in some t4 is there a formula of how to do it. I currently take 50 mcg of t3. Thank you for any help.

[fuchsia-pink]

Do you have any recent blood results to share?

You're taking quite a lot of T3 meds, so it may well be that a bit of levo in the mix will help, or you could just be over-medicated.

Whatever you do, baby steps is best, and not doing too many things at once - but without blood results it's difficult to say too much

[jimh111]

Are you taking all your L-T3 at 6 am? I'd split the dose and take most at bedtime, the brain needs T3 to give restorative sleep.

[lizzie1 in reply to jimh111]

Im splitting my dose 3 ways during the day. 200 in the morning, 20 at 2pm and 10 early evening.

[jimh111 in reply to lizzie1]

I'd take the larger dose at bedtime, I find it gives better quality sleep. I assume your morning dose was 20!

[lizzie1 in reply to jimh111]

Yes am taking 20 in the morning.

[jimh111 in reply to lizzie1]

... and not 200 !!!

[greygoose]

How much T3 are you taking, now? You haven't posted for five years. This problem may have nothing to do with your T3, it could be a cortisol problem. Have you ever had your cortisol tested?

Why did you start T3 only, anyway? If it was because you couldn't tolerate T4, I doubt if that has changed at all, so adding in T4 might make things worse, rather than better.

[lizzie1 in reply to greygoose]

To be quite honest i have just coped the best i can with the last few years. I am on 50 mcg of t3 only. I tried t4 which caused me heart palpitations when i got past 75mg, and i tried ndt which didnt help. I eventually saw an endo who put me on t3. I havent tested my cortisol. I have fibromyalgia too so its been and still is grotty. This groggy feeling is so very strong. Its like someone has my brain in a headlock.

[greygoose in reply to lizzie1]

When did you last have a blood test for your FT3? Not much point in testing TSH or FT4, but you should get your FT3 tested regularly.

How about nutrients? Have you had vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested? Are you taking any supplements?

If you don't feel good on more than 75 mcg levo, you could try adding in just 25 mcg and see if that helps. It doesn't have to be a large dose.

Do you take your T3 all in one go? Or do you split the dose? Do you take it on an empty stomach, just like levo?

It would be difficult to get extensive testing done at the moment, so could you do private tests? Or would that be too expensive?

[lizzie1 in reply to greygoose]

My last ft3 result was from oct last year. It seems to steady each year as it stays top of the ft3 range. It does not seem to move much. I eat very well, unfortunately cant take b12 as they give me migraines. I think my next move might be to drop my dose ever so slightly and get a cortisol test done.

[greygoose in reply to lizzie1]

Is your B12 low, then? What about the others?

A cortisol test would be a good idea.

[puffyface]

I take 50mcg T3 too...and have exactly the same problem...although I am more likely to wake at 5 until 6, go back to sleep until 9 and then feel groggy all day! I have lupus/Sjögrens overlap, so always assumed it was that putting me in a fog and never thought about the thyroid meds. Perhaps it’s your fibromyalgia? That can make you foggy too I think? Definitely worth trying taking larger t3 dose at night. Let us know how you get on.

[lizzie1 in reply to puffyface]

Thanks for the reply. Sorry to hear you are struggling too. Trying to get yourself well is overwhelming at times.