Hydrocortisone and T3 only

[olga67]

After being on NDT for year and feeling poorly, I am now on T3 only. I’ve started 10 weeks ago with 50 mcg ( I was on 6 grains NDT) and a week ago I was taking 87.5 mcg.

I was also put on 15 and then on 25 HC by an integrative doctor. My cortisol saliva test was all 4 low.

Last 9 am blood test showed cortisol after morning dose 40 (150-500). The doctor raised HC . Now it is 40 split 3 times a day. I also split T3 three times a day in even doses.

During this last week I had to lower T3 from 87.5 to 75 mcg as my HR went berserk.

My day/ night rhythm is shifted( started month ago). I crash at 5-6 pm and wide awake at 1-3 am. I also wake up 3-4 times during the night. I take my first dose T3 and HC at 3 am to keep some consistency.

My body temp. is all over the place as the BP.

Last blood test two weeks ago on 87.5 mcg (13 hour gap) FT3 5.4(3.1-6.8) FT4 an TSH almost 0.

Could I be overmedicated at this point? Should I drop T3 further? Any other suggestions?

My nutrients have been discussed on here and they are OK.

I think that my waking up during the night due to my adrenals. When can I expect it to get to normal with HC?

Please, help

[shaws]

I take T3 only once daily.

I have followed an Adviser to Thyroiduk and he was a scientist/doctor/resercher.

He himself took one daily dose of T3 in the middle of the night when he awoke, so that nothing interfered with the uptake.

25mcg of T3 has the affect of approximately 100mcg of T4 so it may be a little too much for you.

I take T3 when I awake with one glass of water and wait an hour before I eat- I don't split the dose. I have no symptoms and feel well. This is a link which I posted previously:-

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[olga67 in reply to shaws]

Thank you shaws. I have to split my T3. this morning I took 25 mcg and my HR went to 120.

I was wondering if HC dose has somethimg to do with this.

[shaws in reply to olga67]

If your heart rate exceeded your 'normal' I'd try a reduction on the next dose. T3 has never given me heart problems and I had awful ones when on levothyroxine and cardiologist was so puzzled that he was contemplating putting an implant into my heart to 'see what was going on'. T3 resolved all palps and I never saw cardiologist again.

I couldn't say whether or not a dose of HC could cause it as I'm not medically qualified. If I took any other medications, I would take it well apart from levo.

[olga67 in reply to shaws]

Before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism I had several episodes of tachycardia when my hart went 180 and I had to have cardioversion. Then the Cardiologist suggested ablation. Now he says it is hormonal.

[shaws in reply to olga67]

I am not medically qualified but I believe that when we remain undiagnosed it affects our heart badly due to the fact that we're not producing thyroid hormones or a sufficient amount. Our brains and hearts need the most T3.

The fact, then, would be that we aren't producing or taking sufficient T4 to convert to optimum T3 and it is T3 which is the active hormone needed in order for us to function as normal.

I had to diagnose myself the day after my GP phoned to tell me that I had no problems as he had assured me he would test everything, this was after I told him I had something seriously wrong with me and would need to pay for a 'Full Body Scan'.

I then got my own test (I had requested a form when I was away from home) and like many we have no clue what is making us so unwell and trust doctor to diagnose whatever we're suffering from.

About 2 hours after my second blood test another GP phoned to ask 'who gave you the blood test form' I said I requested it myself. She then said you're hypothyroid come and get a prescription. I had no strength to go anywhere at all and husband got it for me. TSH was 100. It is ridiculous what some off us have to go through due to A&E and GPs unfamiliar with the symptoms etc of dysfunctional thyroid glands and us not getting tested. They are so very poorly trained and before blood test came in, all doctors diagnosed us upon our clinical symptoms alone and we got a trial of NDT (natural dessicated thyroid hormones).

You should request that your Free T4 and Free T3 are tested. Both should be towards the upper part of the ranges.

I hope you feel better soon. Although it is a gradual increase of hormones initially. Many doctors think that once the TSH is 'in range' their job is done but we need ourTSH to be around 1 or lower and symptom-free.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

I asked you before you take t3 only? Do you take other medications, and do you metabolize other medicines okay with t3 only?

[olga67 in reply to Hidden]

I am not sure what are you asking. I do take 40 mg Hydrocortisone at the moment. A also went back on 75 mcg T4 + 87.5 T3. I am still not well.

[Hidden in reply to olga67]

I was asking shaws a question. Tattybogle the medication you listed is similar to mine. With T4 hormone medication have you tried another brand of hormone medicine like Tirosint.

[tattybogle]

My first thought is that it won;t be possible to know 'what's causing what' if introducing hydrocortisone at the same time as introducing / getting settled on T3.

[olga67 in reply to tattybogle]

Hi tattybogle, HC was introduced first, I was on 6 grains NDT then. It did not make much difference in how I felt and my RT3 was very high. My doctor suggested T3 only and I gladly agreed.

[tattybogle in reply to olga67]

Ok . that makes more sense. thought you were doing both together ,sorry

[olga67 in reply to tattybogle]

It is Ok

[heathermr]

I am a T3 only person, taking 80 split over 3 doses with more in the morning and less later in the day. I have just started on HC because my cortisol is very low, the doses are 10,5,5mg. The body needs higher doses of these medications first thing in the morning to get the body going. I think I might need to adjust the HC dose upwards one step as my feet and legs are swelling later in the day but it's very much trial and error. I have been on the HC for just over 2 months and I feel my body is still adjusting after I was so ill for so long. Give your body time to adjust to the massive changes you have gone through and it's important to remember that our bodies are all different.

Heather

[olga67]

Hi, thank you for reply and kind words. Did you drop your dose T3 after starting HC?

How do you split HC? Together with T3 or not?

[olga67]

Hi Paula, I thought too that my high HR was due to much T3 and I gradually lowered my dose trying to reach normal HR. When I’ve got to 25mcg, my heart was still racing and I started to feel very hypo, So I’ve added 50 mcg T4 and the palpitations subsided after two hours. Before I took T4 I did blood test and it came back :

TSH <0.01(0.4-4.5)

T4 <0.5 (12-22)

T3 2.8 (3.1-6.8)

RT3 < 0.5

I was in shock when I saw it. I am going to discuss the situation with my doc. Anyway, I feel much better with T4 added.