Could T3 be the cause of my shakes?: Over a year... - Thyroid UK

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Could T3 be the cause of my shakes?

Mickeydooley profile image
17 Replies

Over a year ago I was given T4/T3 treatment. The start of the treatment coincided with a very difficult and stressful period. At first I was put on 10mcg t3 which was then increased to 20mcg in addition to my levo, following further blood tests. I think it may have been at this point that I developed ‘shakes’ (like standing on a vibrating plate) but not sure with everything going on. I put it down to stress and not eating enough at the time. Some days are worse than others but I’m so fed up with this now that it has reduced me to tears. I thought I might be over replaced but my last test results show that this is definitely not the case. (T4- 4% through range and t3-29.7% through range). Following these results I increased my levo from 75mcg daily to 75mcg with 100mcg twice a week. Is it possible that t3 doesn’t agree with me? Would it be worth trying NDT? If so how would I swap over? It has been suggested that I may still not be eating enough (I have a terrible appetite and find it difficult to eat when I’m stressed) or dehydrated. I’m desperate to find out what is causing this. I had a saliva test done which indicated early phase HPA dysfunction but nothing serious. Vitamin levels are all good with the exception of ferritin which is high.

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17 Replies
SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Sorry your post was missed

This is an extremely busy forum

Previous post suggests under medicated

When under medicated adrenals try to compensate for lack of thyroid hormones

Recommend getting FULL thyroid and vitamins tested

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

Same brand of T3

Testing TSH, FT4 and FT3. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

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)

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

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

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus vitamins including folate (private blood draw required)

medichecks.com/products/thy...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

Mickeydooley profile image
Mickeydooley in reply to SlowDragon

Thanks for your reply. I know I’ve posted a few times about the shakes I’m experiencing but it’s really getting me down now. I test vitamins twice a year and last time vit D was good, ferritin high, folate and b12 ok. I think it was you who suggested taking b complex and I bought them but as was waiting for an appointment for bloods at the hospital I didn’t take them then and forgot. I followed all the recommendations here re timings of meds and appointment and fasting. I do get same brands of levo now since I made a fuss at the pharmacy but they do change my t3 from teva to morningside depending on what they have in stock

Mickeydooley profile image
Mickeydooley in reply to SlowDragon

Last time I had vitamins tested (May) results were:

Ferritin 235 (13-150)

Folate 6.34 (>3.89)

Vit D 141 (50-175)

B12 93.2 (>37.5)

Had an iron deficiency test done (July) and results were:

Iron 20.35 (5.8-34.5)

TIBC 57.45 (45-72)

UIBC 37.1 (24.2-70.1)

Transferrin saturation 35.42 (20-50)

Ferritin 209 (13-150).

Do you still think I need to take the b complex supplements? Thanks for your patience. Really appreciate your help.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Mickeydooley

Yes

Folate is/was too low

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial.

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance

Difference between folate and folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)

Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Personally in the week before blood test, when I stop vitamin B complex, I take just folate instead, plus B12, just for that week

Mickeydooley profile image
Mickeydooley in reply to SlowDragon

I bought the Jarrow B Right. I don’t mind large tablets. I’ll start tomorrow. Many thanks for your advice. X

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Mickeydooley

You can tip the powder out if can’t swallow capsules anyway

Mickeydooley profile image
Mickeydooley in reply to SlowDragon

Sorry for all the questions but do I keep taking the b complex indefinitely? Is there any issue taking them for a long time? I’ll retest with the medichecks ultravit early next year but until then....?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Mickeydooley

B vitamins are water soluble so if taking too much we just pee out excess

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

When starting on B vitamins it’s not uncommon to feel a little wired for first few days. Some people experience Niacin flush too

B vitamins best taken AFTER food in morning as can be energising, and may keep you awake, especially for first few days

Vitamin B complex will supplement all B vitamins. Thyroid patients often low in B1 - Thiamine

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

At next test see where levels are. You may find you can reduce dose, especially as Jarrow B complex is quite high dose.

Personally that’s why I changed to Igennus. Full daily dose is two tablets. I find I manage fine on one. I tried cutting to half tablet....but wasn’t enough

Some people find they need to start on low dose, Igennus makes that possible

But we are all different....

Anyone considering pregnancy, recent research suggests folate and B12 may be Goldilocks vitamins, we don’t want too little or too much

spectrumnews.org/news/flurr...

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministratorThyroid UK in reply to SlowDragon

B vitamins are water soluble so if taking too much we just pee out excess

Up to a point. It appears that B6, at least in some forms, can cause significant issues on the way through if taken in excess.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to helvella

Yes...I agree...yet in this slide presentation on Thyroid U.K. online conference Dr Rogers from Medichecks said several times..you can take a high dose and as much as you like. !

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Obviously that’s not a good idea for anyone......but especially if TTC or pregnant

Mickeydooley profile image
Mickeydooley in reply to SlowDragon

Great information again. Thank you. I just opened one capsule and took half the powder in water. Hope that’s ok. I’m not a great sleeper at the best of times so don’t want to make things worse but could do with a boost of energy.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Mickeydooley

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu....

Mickeydooley profile image
Mickeydooley in reply to SlowDragon

I’ve just ordered the igennus super b capsules. Think they definitely sound better. X

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

How do you typically take your 20mcg T3

As two or 3 smaller split doses?

Are you on strictly gluten free diet?

Mickeydooley profile image
Mickeydooley in reply to SlowDragon

On your advice I began to take 10mcg t3 with my levo before bed, 5mcg about 6am and then another 5mcg about 3pm. Generally am gluten free but do slip up occasionally. Did gluten free for a couple of years on a keto diet but I didn’t notice much change in symptoms.

Just remembered. I hadn’t adjusted to 3 doses (had been doing 2x10) when I did test so took last 10mcg twelve hours exactly prior to blood draw.

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Mickeydooley

I actually take 10mcg waking, 5mcg at 3pm and 5mcg at 11pm.....

Biggest dose in morning

You didn’t increase levothyroxine much ....just 50mcg per week (from 75mcg per day to 75mcg x 5 days and 2 x 100mcg)

How long since you increased?

If more than 6-8 weeks ago .....time to retest

cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/thyr...

MMH currently not posting out tests, hopefully temporary hitch

Mickeydooley profile image
Mickeydooley in reply to SlowDragon

Increased 5 weeks ago. I’ll do a retest soon. Last time I increased by the same amount my t3 went over range which was very strange! I know I have raised TGAb levels (approx 390/400 each time I test on medichecks - range <115) so was suggested that I had hashis flare. I was being careful not to increase too quickly. I’ll readjust my t3 to take 10mcg at 6am and see what happens. Thank you.

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