Can someone please explain t3 to me

[Whotosk123]

Hi all, I’m new to this site . I’ve heard an under active thyroid for 17 years. I’m 34. I’ve always felt exhausted abs can sleep for hours, I have no energy and really struggle to lose weight. I’ve tried everything abs been on 900 calories daily but still can’t shift the weight. I’m on 125mcg of level daily. I’ve just seen a few posts on t3. Can someone explain this to me. How does it work? How to get tested? What does it help with. Thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Levothyroxine is Ft4 and is basically inactive

It has to be converted into Ft3, mainly in the liver, some in gut and some in cells

Good vitamin levels help improve conversion

Majority of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Important to know if you have Hashimoto’s

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies

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)

Is this how you do your tests?

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 antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

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...

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine?

First step is to get full testing

Come back with new post once you get results

[Whotosk123 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks for the reply, I don’t always have the same brand levothyroxine, I don’t have a gap of 24 hours before my blood test, I have another one this week I will make sure I leave 24 hours for this. I have had a all my vitamins abs minerals tested abs my iron is consistently low and I’m taking iron for this. So is the ft3 test included in the normal thyroid function test ? And I’ve ready a few post about starting t3 medication to help with they symptoms, liothrine( probably misspelt this). How does this help?

[Whotosk123 in reply to Whotosk123]

Forgot to write I don’t have hashmitos either

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Whotosk123]

Are you sure you don’t have Hashimoto’s

NHS rarely tests more than TPO antibodies

Important to test BOTH TPO and TG thyroid antibodies, frequently this has to be done via private testing

Have you had ultrasound scan of thyroid?

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

Rarely is ft3 tested on NHS these days unless TSH is extremely low and Ft4 above top of range

See what results you get at next test

Working on improving low vitamin levels to bring to optimal levels helps improve conversion of Ft4 to Ft3

Retesting privately to include Ft3 after getting vitamins optimal

How low was most recent ferritin and iron results?

Add any vitamin D, folate and B12 results and ranges too if you have them

[RedApple Administrator]

Whotosk123, I don’t have a gap of 24 hours before my blood test, I have another one this week I will make sure I leave 24 hours for this.

When you've got the results of this test, come back to the forum and post again. This will help members to offer advice. Without your test results, no-one can say whether or not T3 will be helpful for you to try. It may simply be that your levothyroxine dose needs adjusting.

[DippyDame]

Welcome!

yourhormones.info/glands/th...

This might help...

Your thyroid gland regulates your metabolism and as a consequence your ability to lose or gain weight.

Low thyroid hormones can result in weight gain which no exercise or low calories diet will successfully shift... only optimal thyroid replacement will do that. For most people levothyroxine is the treatment

It sounds as if you are undermedicated but without labs results for TSH, FT4, FT4, folate and ferritin it would be unwise to speculate on a cause. Have you had antibodies tested for thyroid autoimmune disease aka Hashimoto's? SlowDragon has given you excellent advice on testing

T3 is the active thyroid hormone it is required by the trillions of cells in the body to ensure good health. A small amount is produced by the thyroid but the majority is the result of conversion of the storage hormone T4 to T3 in various areas of the body. It is essential therefore that conversion is good otherwise the body will lack T3 with resultant hypothyroid symptoms. High FT4 with low FT3 at the diagnostic point or when taking levothyroxine generally indicates poor conversion,

Optimal nutrients (as above) can support conversion but it may become necessary for some people to add some T3 if that does not improve things.

T3 is NOT a weight loss pill as is sometimes wrongly suggested on unreliable websites. It is a very powerful hormone that must be treated with respect and understanding.. GPs do not routinely prescribe T3, that is the decision of an endocrinologist... and one not taken readily.

125mcg levothyroxine is not an excessive dose, you may benefit from a small increase but impossible to say right now

Post your lab results and members will offer further help ....and will respond to any other questions you may have

Best...

DD

[RedApple Administrator in reply to DippyDame]

DippyDame wrote, Low thyroid hormones can result in weight gain which no exercise or low calories diet will successfully shift... only optimal thyroid replacement will do that.

Just jumping in here to say it's important to emphasise the need for 'optimal replacement' for the individual concerned. In some people, being over-medicated with any thyroid hormones can also cause weight gain or inhibit weight loss.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Many people find Levothyroxine brands are not interchangeable.

Many patients do NOT get on well with Teva brand of Levothyroxine. Teva contains mannitol as a filler, which seems to be possible cause of problems. Teva is the only brand that makes 75mcg tablet. So if avoiding Teva for 75mcg dose ask for 25mcg to add to 50mcg or just extra 50mcg tablets to cut in half

Are you currently taking Teva?

Teva, Aristo and Glenmark are the only lactose free tablets

dropbox.com/s/6h3h0qi4eqwi6...

Teva poll

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Once you find a brand that suits you, best to make sure to only get that one at each prescription.

Watch out for brand change when dose is increased or at repeat prescription.

academic.oup.com/jcem/artic...

Physicians should: 1) alert patients that preparations may be switched at the pharmacy; 2) encourage patients to ask to remain on the same preparation at every pharmacy refill; and 3) make sure patients understand the need to have their TSH retested and the potential for dosing readjusted every time their LT4 preparation is switched (18).

Levothyroxine is an extremely fussy hormone and should always be taken on an empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

Many people take Levothyroxine soon after waking, but it may be more convenient and perhaps more effective taken at bedtime

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

No other medication or supplements at same as Levothyroxine, leave at least 2 hour gap.

Some like iron, calcium, magnesium, HRT, omeprazole or vitamin D should be four hours away

(Time gap doesn't apply to Vitamin D mouth spray)

If you normally take levothyroxine at bedtime/in night ...adjust timings as follows prior to blood test

If testing Monday morning, delay Saturday evening dose levothyroxine until Sunday morning. Delay Sunday evening dose levothyroxine until after blood test on Monday morning. Take Monday evening dose levothyroxine as per normal

[Whotosk123]

Thanks all, I take my levothyroxine at bedtime I’ve been told that’s fine . I’ve not been tested for hashmitos, I did have an ultrasound for my thyroid gland when I was 1st diagnosed as it seemed enlarged, but was ok. I will pose my results as soon as I get them. Thanks to everyone for being so helpful xxx