Three weeks on T3

[Wired123]

As some of you know I’ve started a trial of 10mcg T3 to add to my 150mcg T4. I take 5mcg of T3 with my 150 mcg of T4 in the morning and then another 5mcg of T3 around 2.30pm. I’m taking the Sigma 5mcg tablets.

I have more energy, more alert and able to do my job without struggling with brain fog. This has continued and I’m glad that these improvements haven’t gone. I wake up in the morning more refreshed than I did before T3, I sleep very deeply which is great although I naturally wake a bit later than I used to. I have never really used alarm clocks as I would normally wake around 7-7.30, yet now I do wake up a bit later.

Last week my physiotherapist was surprised how soft and supple my muscles were after 2 weeks on T3. He said I wasn’t tight and tense like I normally am and he felt it was a different patient’s body!

I saw him today and he feels my body is even tighter and more tense than when I first started seeing him.

Has anyone experienced such muscle stiffness on T3? I’m hoping it subsides. Having my bloods tested next week (after 4 weeks on T3) as per the doctor’s instructions which I will of course share on here.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You may be ready to add another dose 5mcg T3

Or Ft4 levels may be dropping.

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 5mcg of daily dose 8-12 hours prior to test, even if this means adjusting time or splitting of dose day before test

[jrbarnes in reply to SlowDragon]

When you take T3 with your Levo does it drop your T4 levels? I've been adding 12.5 mcq to my usual Levo dose for 12 days but yesterday I started to feel very tired and today woke up with some facial swelling.

[Wired123 in reply to jrbarnes]

Sounds like you’re over medicated with T4. Consensus seems to be to lower T4 when adding T3 but my doctor told me to hold T4 steady. Let’s see what he thinks after these blood tests.

[Wired123 in reply to SlowDragon]

My doctor has told me a completely different approach to the bloods.

He said drop T4 on the morning of the test, but take the T3. Get tested 4-5 hours after taking the T3.

Probably best to follow the doc as he will know how to interpret the tests based on his regimen.

[McPammy in reply to Wired123]

I wouldn’t take any T3 or T4 medication prior to a test. I’d leave at least 8hrs for T3 and 24hrs for T4 medication. It will throw up a false high. And then the Dr will reduce your dose.

[Wired123 in reply to McPammy]

I agree with you on the science and logic, that my level will be elevated, but surely the doctor knows this and will factor this into his judgement given this is his testing protocol?

If I do it the way you’ve suggested he will feel there’s not enough T3 and will bump up my dose when I may not need it.

[McPammy in reply to Wired123]

Not if your TSH is within range. TSH takes a few days to change whereas the T3 or T4 medications spike on taking it. He will probably look at your TSH first followed by levels of T3 and T4.

I never take my medication prior to my tests.