Hello all
I started T3, (10 MLS daily), 5 weeks ago. I was on 100mcgs T4 and my endo wanted me to change that to 75 daily. I did for 3 weeks but have put it up to 100 daily. My T4 was only half through range. in last blood test prior to med change.
I am wondering about others experiences? I am still pretty much bed bound but my head feels a little clearer. I thought that I may have been noticing just a tiny bit more energy yet.
I would appreciate, (as always!) any thoughts please..
Jane 😊
Did you try splitting T3 into 2 x 5mcg doses ....one when waking and second late afternoon
Many many Hashimoto’s patients need to split dose into 3 doses every 8 hours.
But before considering adding a third 5mcg dose of T3
You need to test bloods after 6 weeks on 100mcg levothyroxine
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)
If/when also on T3 make sure to take last half or third of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test
Thanks for that Slowdragon. The thing that I am curious about is that I dont seem to feel anything with the T3. I would have though there would have been a very slight edginess perhaps or other signs of energy appearing.
I have 30 yrs experience of Thyroxin so have got to know the nuances the body presents when over or under medicated.
In what way di you think splitting the dose may help? I can understand the benefits if the effects of T3 need spinning out because it feels too powerful. But no effect?
I am having the usual + more b. test mid September and an endo visit in October.
Would you have thought 5 weeks on T3 would be about the right timescale for seeing an improvement in energy?
Thank you Jane 😊
Frequently we need to take T3 as small split dose 3 times a day ...ideally at 8 hour intervals
Typically 5mcg at 7am, 5mcg at 3pm and 5mcg at 11pm
Plus all four vitamins need to be optimal
Frequently strictly gluten free diet essential
Like Lalatoot it has taken me 2-3 years tweaking how and when I split dose to fully recover
I was on just levothyroxine for well over 20 years before T3 was added
You might find my profile info helpful
It has taken me 10 months for my body to adapt to combo and for me to adjust doses of t4 and t3. Just beginning to feel I am getting there.
Hi Lala
thanks for response. Its good to know that you are getting there. Congratulations!!
When you say adapt to the combo. Did you feel poorly at first? Or have any symptoms from the T3. Can you remember if increased energy was a gradual process?
Thank you again
Jane 😊
It was a tricky start as my endo had cut my levo from 100mcg to 50mcg. My ft4 was only 60%through range so I knew I didn't need to reduce levo. No option but to do it though as prescription was reduced. Lio I introduced slowly 5mcg for a week and then 5mcg added every 2 weeks till reached 20mcg. 8 weeks blood test ft4 was bottom range ft3 74%through. When my ft4 is low I have sore throats and lose my voice so no surprise that at this level had no voice. Got Inc levo. 8 weeks later Inc lev again to cure voice problem. 8 weeks later feeling edgy and blood test showed Ft3 over range so cut back by 5mcg. Blood test next week.
It is only since I have been on 100mcg and 15 lio and given body time to adjust over 10 months that I am beginning to feel OK. This last week I have kept going which is a first.
It takes time. Partic if your body has been struggling for a long time. You will get there. Don't been in a rush and only change one thing at a time. There is hope though.
Ahh thank you.
Your right saying not to rush and one thing at a time. Thing is with me I started B12 and estro/prog hormones in June and July so although spaced out starting dates all quite close together.
I think your right and that I will get there. I should be a little more patient. But you know what it's like!
I am pleased you have had a breakthrough week 😊
Am about to put up a post of a picture of me very hypo and now if you want to see the before and after.
Yes please!
Patience is the key here I feel and with each dose change or med change, you have to retest bloods after 6-8 weeks to see the effects. I could only take a small amount of T3 and ended up stopping it and going on NDT instead, which agreed with me much better. I now have a mix of t4 levo and NDT (which is a mix of natural t4 and t3).
Don’t forget as well, they must test for vitamins and minerals too! Often missed are common problems with Hashimoto’s is vit D deficiency which mimics Hashimoto’s symptoms. So make sure they do a full blood count and not just tsh etc.
T4 and T3 should be 75% up through the range and TSH ideally under 1.0 or even under 0.6 to fee well.
Keep us all updated with your progress.
Try Ibuprofen with Lysine - very effective for thyroid headaches!
Hello Hashi
Thank you for that. Yes I realise patience is important. I am working on that!
I am realising that NDT is the way to go for many because of its natural similarity to the human hormone.
I'm vegetarian /vegan though so that wouldn't be poss for me.
When you said T3 wasnt working for you is that because you had side effects or that it wasnt doing anything?
I am getting the vit tests done with my next round of tests so will see where I'm at then.
Thank you again for your input.
Jane 😊
Good advice.
I've struggled to get my FT4 up to 75%. On a dose of 125 Levo a day, I have had identically tested results that look like this: FT4 = 65%, 61%, 51%, 63%, 75%.
Briefly I tried 150 Levo to see if it would go up enough to give me more conversion but it just took my FT4 to 160% through the range! And I felt unwell so dropped back. I have no idea why so much fluctuations as I don't really seem to have Hashis. I do have the Dio2 gene mutation though, so conversion is poor.
I am trying an extra 25mcg Levo a week at the moment. Because I feel I should try it.
My FT3 bounces around a lot too. The last two have been terrible, 7.84% and 15.15%. but the one before was a best yet at 45.6%. It's crazy. I can't work it out.
I'm going to have to try T3 again. But I already have the Afib the doctors freak out over.
I think for me that synthetic T4 and T3 for whatever reason just didnt work that well or as well as NDT.
Going from T4/T3 combo to NDT
Switching from ndt to t4 t3 combo
Moving from T4 to T4/T3 combo with DIO2 gene.
Conversion from T4/T3 combo to T3 only- experiences/advice? 
