Help with T3 Only Results: I have just received... - Thyroid UK

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Help with T3 Only Results

HarrietJW profile image
47 Replies

I have just received my results after being prescribed T3 only, as my Dr suspects conversion issues. It has been 1 month and I am taking 50mcg in the morning.

I am still experiencing weight gain, low pulse, low temp.

Thanks!

---

TSH - 0.064 (0.27-4.2)

T3 - 12.7 (3.1-6.8

T4 - 1.95 (12-22)

TPA - 304 (<34)

TA - 58.6 (<115)

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HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW
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47 Replies
HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW

Hello, yes sorry it is Free T3. I left 8 hours between the medication and the test

fuchsia-pink profile image
fuchsia-pink

Is there any reason you're just on lio? It means your free T4 is very low, quite apart from your over-range free T3. I just ask because I'm personally happier with balanced results, both high in range, from combination meds, and find I can lose weight when both frees are good and high.

Beyond this, it's quite a high dose. I don't know how you built up to it. but it's possible you missed your personal "sweet spot" as you increased your level of meds. Tricky stuff lio!

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW in reply to fuchsia-pink

Thanks for your help, to be honest I have struggled to find what works for me. My Dr moved me from 2 grains of NDT to 50mcg T3 after seeing that I have high (ish) reverse T3. I cannot source NDT anymore, so am now considering adding T4 back in.

fuchsia-pink profile image
fuchsia-pink in reply to HarrietJW

It's all trial and error and working out what's best for you. But that sounds an idea :)

Slowly slowly - best not to do too much at once, so maybe reduce T3 a bit then add T4 afterwards, hold and re-test, and tweak them both as necessary until it feels right.

Good luck x

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW in reply to fuchsia-pink

Thank you!

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to HarrietJW

1 grain of NDT has the effect of approx 100mcg of levothyroxine and 25mcg of T3 is approx 100mcg of levo.

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW

Thanks, would it be a good idea to reduce dose? My pulse and temp have not increased, maybe very slightly. Pulse around 64bpm - pulse 36.2 celsius average.

Karenk13 profile image
Karenk13 in reply to HarrietJW

Hey Harriet is 64bpm classed as a low pulse because that typically the pulse of a relatively normal healthy person also your temperature is normal too by the looks of it ?

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW

I was previously on 125 levo and 25 T3 and my results showed:

T3 - 6.16 (3.1-6.8)

T4 - 14 (12-22)

This was good, but my symptoms were as they are now (not awful, but still symptomatic)

Do you think it would be possible to switch back to this does or would I have to do it very slowly?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to HarrietJW

I was previously on 125 levo and 25 T3 and my results showed:

T3 - 6.16 (3.1-6.8)

T4 - 14 (12-22)

As your FT3 was top of the range on 25 mcg, why did you go up to 50? That doesn't make much sense.

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW in reply to greygoose

Because I had a high reverse T3 and high antibodies, my GP suggested to try a T3 only protocol. 2 grains NDT is equal to 50mcg T3, apparently. I know it's controversial treatment, but I have tried everything...

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to HarrietJW

Well, sorry but your GP doesn't know much about thyroid. T3 won't have any effect on antibodies.

As for high rT3, a T3 only protocol is not a solution. That is a myth. It's not that it's controversial, it's that it doesn't stand up to scruteny when you look at the facts.

There are many, many reasons for high rT3:

These include:

* Chronic fatigue

* Acute illness and injury

* Chronic disease

* Increased cortisol (stress)

* Low cortisol (adrenal fatigue)

* Low iron

* Lyme disease

* Chronic inflammation

* Selenium deficiency

* Excess physical, mental and environmental stresses

* Beta-blocker long-term use such as propranolol, metoprolol, etc.

* Physical injury is a common cause of increased RT3

* Viruses, such as flu

* Starvation/severe calorie restriction

* Mistreated diabetes

* Cirrhosis of the liver

* Fatty liver disease

* Renal Failure.

* Fever of unknown cause

* Detoxing high heavy metals levels

* Etc. etc. etc.

Taking T3 only may bring your rT3 down, because without T4, you can't have rT3. But, if you ever add T4 in again, it will just convert to rT3 because you haven't fixed the root cause.

There's only one cause that has anything to do with thyroid. And, that's when your FT4 is very high in range. Then, the thing to do is reduce the levo and add in some T3. But, you add the T3 to bring up the FT3 level, not to bring down the rT3.

This is not your case because your FT4 was only 20% through the range. So, your high rT3 was caused by something non-thyroidian. Have a look through the list and see if anything rings a bell.

In any case, it's not the rT3 the problem. That won't hurt you, it doesn't cause symptoms, it's inert. And, it only stays in the system for about 2 hours before being converted to T2.

2 grains NDT is equal to 50mcg T3, apparently

2 grains of NDT contains 76 mcg T4 and 18 mcg T3. T3 is said to be 3 or four times as potent as T4 - which is debatable, because it depends on so many things, but for the sake of agrument... So, 76 divided by 4 = 19. 19+18 = 37, which is a long way off 50 mcg. So, not sure how they got that figure. I know my maths isn't brilliant, so correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the result I get.

What were your results on 2 grains NDT?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to greygoose

Sorry about the huge paragraph, but HU won't let me put any spaces in! 😂

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW in reply to greygoose

Thankyou that’s very helpful indeed

Results on NDT 2 were

T3 - 5.27

T4 - 16

But I cannot source any longer, at least during COVID.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to HarrietJW

No, I know, I just wanted to see how high your FT3 was on that dose. :)

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to greygoose

HU platform has gremlins tonight ....paragraphs have all vanished ....I expect will return once the IT team get it sorted

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to SlowDragon

Oh, good! I thought it was me! lol :D

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply to HarrietJW

High rT3 is not only caused by too much T4 (and you didn't have high T4) - it can be caused by all sorts of other diseases, including heart, stress, dieting, endurance exercise. If it was me, I would go back to levo, plus T3. Antibodies just show thyroid being attacked - are you gluten-free and taking selenium? Having suppressed TSH can also help with attacks.

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW in reply to Angel_of_the_North

Thank you, I will do that. I didn't know that about antibodies either.

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW

I haven't seen my GP with these, and waiting to see private endo, he's on holiday! My GP doesn't like T3

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW

It was over 2 weeks, 25mcg at a time and taking pulse and temp (which barely changed)

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to HarrietJW

25mcg of T3 is equal, approx to 100mcg of levothyroxine in its 'effect'.

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW

Thanks for your helpx

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW

I was previously on NDT and then had to switch to combination as was unable to source good NDT.

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW

Yes and felt pretty much exactly the same on all

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

When were your vitamins last tested?

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking?

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW in reply to SlowDragon

Hello, I haven’t had vitamins tested since March but they were all optimised (I spent a while getting them in range) I take Vit D, Vit C, Zinc, Selenium.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to HarrietJW

Are you strictly gluten free?

Suggest you get vitamin levels tested

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW in reply to SlowDragon

Ok, I’ll do again. Yes I am, I have just finished a stint of AIP Diet, my antibodies actually increased on it which is strange.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Well, so do I! I don't know any other way of doing it. But, when I click on reply, all the spaces vanished. I tried editing, but same thing happened. So...

Nanaedake profile image
Nanaedake in reply to greygoose

Yes, that's happening to me too, no paragraph spacing possible. Blank lines deleted as soon as you post.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

The whole thing is stupid because if you don't convert, 25 mcg T4 is equal to zero T3. So, we have to use an arbitary number and adjust from there. But saying that 2 grains of NDT equals 50 mcg T3 is just ludicrous.

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW in reply to greygoose

Ok so would I be crazy to switch back straight to my old dose of T4+T3?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to HarrietJW

How long have you been on the 50 mcg T3?

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW in reply to greygoose

5 weeks

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to HarrietJW

OK, well, you'll probably be able to get away with it. :)

But, it might be better to reduce the T3 a little first. Perhaps reduce by 5 mcg, then two weeks later another five. Then continue like to 30. Then add in the levo. and reduce the T3 by the final 5 mcg. See how you feel.

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW in reply to greygoose

Switching back to my previous dose of T4+T3 do you mean?

Thanks for help!

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to HarrietJW

Well, I thought that's what you meant. :)

greygoose profile image
greygoose

Yes? What does that change? It's still not equal to 2 grains of NDT. But, then again, 125 mcg T4 and 25 mcg T3 isn't equal to 2 grains of NDT either.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

I am perfectly calm. To the point of almost falling asleep at my keyboard. Had I spoken that last response you would have called me most laid-back.

greygoose profile image
greygoose

I'm afraid I can't. But, I would suggest that you read through the posts and response of diogenes on here:

healthunlocked.com/user/dio...

sassy1234 profile image
sassy1234

I am on straight T3 . Started 6-7 years ago at 6.5 mcgs titrated to 40 over 8 months and now Im on 75 mcgs a day.I feel fine on this amount.

ssMarilyn profile image
ssMarilyn

Your doctor needs to do the Free T3 test and Free T4, not plain T3 or T4. I too have a conversion issue, but 8 doctors failed to do the right tests and give me the right treatment. I finally found a DO.. doctor of osteopathy.. he agreed with me that the correct tests had never been done so I was not properly treated. He did the FT3 test, found out I did have a conversion issue and put me on natural treatment of Armour. Dr said it was like I had a tank full of gas that wasn't getting to my engine. The second day on Armour I felt an inner glow, a sense of well being that I don't remember ever feeling! That was 8 years ago and now I'm on a better drug, NP Thyroid, which has less fillers, but comes from the same source that Armour came from. I got my life back!

If you have the FT3 test done, it will say FT3 on the results. T3 is a different test. :)

ssMarilyn profile image
ssMarilyn

I was told to not take my meds on the day of my tests.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator in reply to ssMarilyn

A blood test should be booked for the earliest appointment. It should also be a fasting test - you can drink water - and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of thyroid hormones and the test and take them afterwards.

Hi harrietjw

Trust you find an answer to your health probs

Like all of us on here

Is the FT4 really 1.95, seems a typo?

Thnks

Alps

HarrietJW profile image
HarrietJW in reply to

It's not a typo unfortunately, I have been on T3 only, and body is not producing T4 on it's own it seems

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