T3 TOO HIGH?

[Diana49]

Hi everyone, can anyone clarify what it means if T3 is too high? (Last week Thyroid Function Tes shows T3 8.4). Been on NDT's for many years (originally via Dr Peatfield's advice).

Thanks, Diana

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Diana49

It generally means overmedication. But, crucially, when did you take your last dose of NDT before the blood test?

Last dose of NDT should be 8-12 hours before the test, adjusting time and splitting the dose the day before if necessary.

What were the TSH and FT4 results done at the same time?

Do you take Biotin or a B Complex and did you leave it off for 7 days before the test?

[Diana49 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank-you so very much for your response and apologies for the gap but I've been struggling with insomnia for many months and sleep deprivation means it's hard to know which way is up! No trouble falling asleep but I wake up in the early hours and, more often than not, cannot get back to sleep. Trudging through the days following these vigils in the small hours is horrible because my body seems unable to bounce back. My mind is sludge so, as there is a bit to explain, I thought I should wait until my focus was better.

Over the past 14 days I've been experimenting with a low dose melatonin which deepens the scant sleep I get on bad days and helps me go back under after waking in the night, but even melatonin (which I've avoided all these years) cannot help if my body decides it's time to wake up. I'm aware it may be an adrenaline rush. Years ago I had a saliva cortisol test done which was read by a Functional Medicine Doc and - as he put it - your cortisol "is in the toilet". I've just ordered a Medichecks saliva test for cortisol, so we'll see what it says... I've also ordered the 'Advanced Thyroid Function' with all the bells and whistles as I have the same problem as many on this forum in that the local GP (or lab) won't do RT3 (which I would be interested to see). Stop Press! I have just read that the test I ordered no longer covers RT3 because they have to be sent to the states and transit times are taking too long. Zoot alors! Oh well the inflammation vits etc will be illuminating.

In answer to your question SSSusie, my last dose of NDT was 24hrs before blood draw. I occasionally pop in a B comp and have phases of Biotin but don't think I was on either before that blood test.

Results from beginning Dec/20:

TSH - 0.01 FT4 - 16 FT3 - 8.4 Thyroid Peroxidase 712!!! (Down from 720 12 mths ago).

Yes, I know I have autoimmune thyroiditis and I sure would like to know WHY.

Have been on this perilous and lonely road a long, long time. I was so lucky to consult with Dr Peatfield in 2007 and 2008 otherwise the way may have been darker still...

I'm not sure how to use a forum so I will copy/paste this reply to you separately as an explanation to all the other kind souls who answered my question.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Diana49]

Diana49

I've just ordered a Medichecks saliva test for cortisol,

First of all, I would suggest you cancel this order. The reason being this is not a particularly good test. It only tests cortisol and it's important to also include DHEA as this helps determine the stage of adrenal fatigue. Also, the Medichecks test doesn't have proper ranges, two of the ranges have zero as the bottom level and as ranges are based on healthy people then if anyone did have a level of zero they would be far from healthy, possibly even in the morgue!

The best test is Regenerus or Genova Diagnostics, both of which include DHEA and have proper ranges. They also include a graphic so you can see whether you follow the normal curve.

For both of these labs you need ThyroidUK as your "practioner".

This is the link to order the Regenerus test

regeneruslabs.com/products/...

You put THYROIDUK in the practioner box when you order.

Here is a sample report:

thyroiduk.org/wp-content/up...

Regenerus email you directly when your results are ready, this is the quickest test and the easiest to obtain results from.

This is the information about Genova Diagnostics with details of how to order and obtain results. Results are sent to ThyroidUK who will release them to you when they have received your Results Request Form.

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

Click on the link to see the pdf and the adrenal test is END01 on page 4.

I have the same problem as many on this forum in that the local GP (or lab) won't do RT3 (which I would be interested to see). Stop Press! I have just read that the test I ordered no longer covers RT3 because they have to be sent to the states and transit times are taking too long.

You've been saved a long wait and a lot of money. It's just not worth doing that test. It can't tell you anything that your FT4/FT3 results wont show.

RT3 is a bit of a red herring. The test can tell you if it's high but it can't tell you why it's high. RT3 can be high for many reasons, only one of which is due to thyroid and that is when there is a build up of unconverted T3 (and your FT4/FT3 results will show that). Other conditions that contribute to increased Reverse T3 levels include:

· Chronic fatigue

· Acute illness and injury

· Chronic disease

· Increased cortisol (stress)

· Low cortisol (adrenal fatigue)

· Low iron

· Lyme disease

· Chronic inflammation

Also selenium deficiency, excess physical, mental and environmental stresses. Also Beta-blocker long-term use such as propranolol, metoprolol, etc. Physical injury is a common cause of increased RT3, also illnesses like the flu. Starvation/severe calorie restriction is known to raise RT3. Diabetes when poorly treated is known to increase RT3. Cirrhosis of the liver. Fatty liver disease. Any other liver stress Renal Failure. A fever of unknown cause. Detoxing of high heavy metals.

So you see, it really isn't worth doing this test.

my last dose of NDT was 24hrs before blood draw.

In which case your results showed a false low FT3 level. Presumably it was over range? It's always helpful to give reference ranges when posting results, ranges vary from lab to lab and it doesn't help anyone to try and guess, for an accurate interpretation of results the ranges are essential. If that result is over range then your normal circulating level will be even higher. Last dose of NDT or T3 should be 8-12 hours before the test, splitting dose and adjusting time the day before if necessary. This would suggest overmedication.

Yes, I know I have autoimmune thyroiditis and I sure would like to know WHY.

Autoimmune thyroid disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, somewhere around 80% I believe. Why have you got it? Who knows, you have and you can't change it.

When doing thyroid tests we advise:

* Blood draw no later than 9am. This is because TSH is highest early morning and lowers throughout the day. If looking for a diagnosis of hypothyroidism, an increase in dose of Levo or to avoid a reduction then we need the highest possible TSH

* Nothing to eat or drink except water before the blood draw. This is because eating can lower TSH and coffee can affect TSH.

* If taking thyroid hormone replacement, last dose of Levo should be 24 hours before blood draw, if taking NDT or T3 then last dose should be 8-12 hours before blood draw. Adjust timing the day before if necessary. This avoids measuring hormone levels at their peak after ingestion of hormone replacement. Take your thyroid meds after the blood draw. Taking your dose too close to the blood draw will give false high results, leaving any longer gap will give false low results.

* If you take Biotin or a B Complex containing Biotin (B7), leave this off for 7 days before any blood test. This is because if Biotin is used in the testing procedure it can give false results (most labs use biotin).

These are patient to patient tips which we don't discuss with phlebotomists or doctors.

Feel free to post your results when you have them for comment. If you have asked for doctor's comment with your test, don't put a lot of store by them, you will get a better interpretation from members here.

[Diana49 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi again and thanks for the swift reply. Afraid the Medichecks order has been 'processed', too late to cancel. Will check out the others, the original cortisol saliva test was Genova Diagnostics in 2012.

There's useful information in your message. Here's a pruned down clarification of my status:

· Chronic fatigue - Yes

· Acute illness and injury - Plenty of injuries - outdoor type - co-owner/operator of freight barges for 30 yrs.

· Chronic disease - Tested for Lyme/EPV/CMV - have them all. 2016 had an attack of

TBE (tick born ecephalitis). NHS said there was no treatment so no point in testing me. Fortunately I was in Mallorca (where I caught it) and saw a Bioresonance practitioner. Not sure what he did but it was 'neutralized'. The pain in my head stopped.

· Increased cortisol (stress) - May still have very low cortisol. 'Adrenal Insufficiency' - tested 2012.

· Low cortisol (adrenal fatigue) - See above

· Low iron - Am having it checked

· Lyme disease - See above

· Chronic inflammation - In pain for years. Had a huge dose of mold which is often the final insult which breaks the camel's back

No gluten or dairy for over 10yrs. Ditto soy and maize. I avoid allopathic medicine like the plague. Therefore am on no drugs. Prefer to experiment with alternatives like AIP diet/raw food diet/ ketogenic diet - the latest one - don't think it suits me wondered if it may be the reason I keep waking up at night - not enough carb. Also herbal supplements with advice from qualified nutritionist/herbalist. Try not to do willy nilly.

Was given NHS Levothyroxine in 2007, stuck it out for about a month then threw it away. With a TSH of 13 I still felt better without Levo. Never touched it again.

Luckily one of my clients at the time had Hashimoto's and told me about Dr. P. Have been purchasing it from the US online pharmacy Dr P recommeded in 2007. Probably helped pay the pharmacist's mortgage by now. Hugely expensive...

After Forest sold business to Allergan, Armour recipe changed and price doubled I settled on 3 grains of N.Throid for a few years.

Ran into trouble 2019 and 2020 with sudden hair loss and weight gain. Unbeknownst to me there had been a global recall of all RCL labs NDT's. That left the exorbitantly priced Armour which isn't going well, due, I'm guessing to a new filler. Am beginning to trial Metavive so will report on that in time.

Autoimmune thyroid disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, somewhere around 80% I believe. Why have you got it? Who knows, you have and you can't change it.

If I thought I couldn't do something to change it, to get a life instead of just existing I wouldn't be on here...

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Diana49]

Diana49

Afraid the Medichecks order has been 'processed', too late to cancel

In that case I'd return it when it arrives. It really is a useless test.

Autoimmune thyroid disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism, somewhere around 80% I believe. Why have you got it? Who knows, you have and you can't change it.

If I thought I couldn't do something to change it, to get a life instead of just existing I wouldn't be on here...

The Hashi's isn't going to go away. Your immune system is going to attack your thyroid, during these attacks your thyroid will release hormone and you may feel "hyper", the antibodies will come along and mop up the mess, things may then settle down again until the next attack, eventually your thyroid will be destroyed then the antibodies will have nothing to attack and you will be left with full blown hypothyroidism.

Some people with Hashi's have found a gluten free diet helps, some have found it makes no difference. Selenium is said to help reduce antibodies.

Seeing as I don't have Hashi's and can't help you any further with that, maybe one of the members who does have it will pop along and contribute

greygoose

SlowDragon

[Diana49 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Okay, thanks for your contribution. FYI I've never felt 'hyper' except about 13 yrs ago when I was just beginning on the NDT road and was playing with the dose.

[greygoose in reply to Diana49]

FYI I've never felt 'hyper' except about 13 yrs ago when I was just beginning on the NDT road and was playing with the dose.

Our experiences are all different. I had Hashi's for a long, long time before I ever know what a thyroid was! I just knew there was something wrong, and have since worked out, going by symptoms, what that something was: Hashi's. However, I can't say I ever felt 'hyper', either, if we take being 'hyper' as something negative. I just knew that most of the time I was fat and miserable, but from time to time something magical happened, and the weight dropped off, my hair grew and became thick and lustruous, and I had loads of energy! I take it that those were my 'hyper' periods. But, quite frankly, far from being negative, they were a welcome relief from my normal state of being! Maybe your experience was more like mine?

And, yes, I too made myself 'hyper' from time to time, after diagnosis, by playing around with my doses. And those were negative experiences! But, my symptoms were mainly my nails coming away from the nailbed, and a tremour in my hands.

[Diana49 in reply to greygoose]

Hi GG, thank-you for offering something a little more off-piste. I've always had ultra-thick long hair, never changed all through the years of NDT, right up until I began running into trouble with sub-potent Nature-Throid in 2019. (As I explained to SSSusie). As I self-medicated I had no one to warn me there had been a global recall, so I was totally in the dark until around Sept 2020, feeling v depressed hair clogging up the plug holes. At least the birds had excellent raw materials for nests last Spring!.

I had been shielding for several months but I knew the depression (and sleep deprivation) could not be related to that as I'm a hermit by nature. It was when I logged into my usual supplier of NDT in the US around last Sept, I discovered all 3 NDT's of that particular supplier had been withdrawn from sale. Now I'm clueless as to where to source reasonably priced product instead of exorbitantly priced Armour which now seems to contain a filler my body doesn't like very much.

May I ask how did you find out you have a resistance to thyroid hormone?

[greygoose in reply to Diana49]

May I ask how did you find out you have a resistance to thyroid hormone?

Trial and error. LIke one finds out most things thyroid-related. I've spent a lot of time and effort getting to the right dose. And, I know that 75 mcg is exactly what I need. Not 1 mcg more or less. And, given that 75 mcg is a high dose, yet I am not in any way over-dosed, the conclusion is that I need that amount to make sure that at least some of it goes into the cells. I take it all in one go, in the morning, to flood the receptors.

[greygoose in reply to SeasideSusie]

I don't think there's very much else that can be said about Hashi's than Susie has already said. Excpet, maybe, that taking selenium in order to reduce antibodies is a bit of a waste of time - and I'm not even convinced that reducing them is a desirable thing to do. After, all, they're not doing any harm. They have their job to do - mopping up the mess left by the immune system attack, as Susie said - and they do it. They don't do the attacking themselves. And, reducing them won't in any way mean that your Hashi's has been 'cured', or disappeared, it will still be there.

That said, you can still manage to lead a happy, reasonably healthy life, despite having Hashi's. Plenty of us do. For me, it was just a question of finding out that not only do I have Hashi's, but also a tendance towards Resistance to Thyroid Hormone, meaning that I need high levels of T3 in the blood in order to get enough into the cells to make me well.

But, anyway, I'll give you my little run-down on Hashi's, in case there's anything that's been missed:

OK, so Hashi's is an autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks and slowly destroys the thyroid. It is diagnosed by testing Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies and Thyroglobulin (Tg) antibodies.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not the TPO/Tg antibodies themselves that attack the thyroid:

"When lymphocytes infiltrate the thyroid gland, mistakenly taking it for a foreign bacteria invader, they damage the thyroid gland and release thyroid peroxidase &/or thyroglobulin into the blood stream. These don't belong outside of the thyroid gland so antibodies are developed to mop them up.

The antibodies are a result of the attack on the thyroid gland, the antibodies don't cause the attack."

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

After every immune system attack on the thyroid, the dying cells release their stock of thyroid hormone into the blood stream, causing the levels of the Frees to shoot up - FT4 to around 30 something, FT3 around 11/12 - and the TSH therefore drops to suppressed.

There is no knowing how long these high levels will persist, but eventually, they will drop by themselves as the excess hormone is used up or excreted, and not only will you become hypo again, but slightly more hypo than before, because there is now less thyroid to make hormone.

(NB: A Hashi's 'hyper' swing is not true hyperthyroidism in that your thyroid is over-producing thyroid hormone. It's physically impossible to 'go hyper' if you are basically hypo. The thyroid cannot regenerate itself to the point of over production of hormones - or even normal production. Very few doctors appear to know that.)

Therefore, it's very important that your doctor does not reduce your prescription, because you’re going to need it again! If you start to feel over-medicated at that point - some do, some don't - the best thing is to stop levo for a few days, then, when you feel hypo again, start taking it again. It's very important to know one's body, and how it reacts.

There is no cure for Hashi's - which is probably one of the reasons that doctors ignore it - apart from the fact that they know nothing about it, of course!

However, between the 'hyper' swing, and the descent back into hypothyroidism, there can be a phase - quite a long one, sometimes - of normality, where the person is neither hypo nor 'hyper'. This is where people sometimes start talking of having 'cured' their Hashi's, by whatever means. But, it doesn't last. Eventually, you will go hypo again.

But, there are things the patient can try for him/herself to help them feel a bit better:

a) adopt a 100% gluten-free diet. Hashi's people are often sensitive to gluten, even if they don't have Coeliac disease, so stopping it can make them feel much better. Worth a try. Some say that going gluten-free will reduce antibodies – I’ve never seen conclusive proof of that, but, you should be aware that even if you were to get rid of the antibodies completely, you would still have Hashi's, because the antibodies are not the disease. It is not the TPO/Tg antibodies that do the attacking.

b) take selenium. This is not only reputed to reduce antibodies, but can also help with conversion of T4 to T3 - something that Hashi's people often find difficult.

c) the best way to even out the swings from hypo to 'hyper' (often called Hashi's Flares, but that doesn't really sum up the way it works) is to keep the TSH suppressed. This is difficult because doctors are terrified of a suppressed TSH, for various false reasons, and because they don't understand the workings of Hashi's. But, TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (a pituitary hormone) - tries to stimulate the thyroid to make more hormone, which also stimulates the immune system to attack. So, the less gland activity there is, the less immune system activity there will be, meaning less attacks, gland destruction slowed down and less swinging from hypo to hyper and back.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to greygoose]

Thanks GG, much appreciate you commenting

[greygoose in reply to SeasideSusie]

You're welcome.

[shaws Administrator]

As SeasideSusie states if you didn't leave a suitable gap between taking your dose and test your results may be skewed.

I consulted with Dr P too and I do wish we had doctors who were more sensitive to people who were symptomatic - just like this wonderful doctor. Dr P is missed by many of his patients.

When NDTs were first introduced blood tests were unknown,

Personally, I wouldn't take much notice of blood tests which were introduced for levothyroxine (T4 alone) and, as you state you've been taking NDTs for many years.

It might just be that the doctor who suggested T3 was too high is making an 'assumption' as levothyroxine was introduced at the same time as blood tests..

[pennyannie]

Hello Diana and welcome to the forum :

I too am on NDT and self medicating :

As I understand things when on NDT your TSH will be low suppressed :

Your T4 will be low in the range whilst your T3 will be proportionally higher in the range :

This range however was introduced as a guide on which to measure and dose Levothyroxine the new thyroid hormone replacement introduced, at the same time, by Big Pharma.

With NDT you simply dose to the relief of symptoms, no blood test and guidelines as you are best placed to know the answer.

I have found my T3 can come in over this range, though I show absolutely no symptoms of overactive and if anything I run myself slightly " hypo ' .

If you wait longer between dose and blood draw, your level will fall into range :

It does seem that many doctors have no knowledge of how taking NDT is meant to " look " :

I don't think doctors have any guidelines to follow :

If they wish to put you in the thyroid function tick box exercise - I'm not sure an " honest blood test " when on NDT computes well with the guidelines doctors seem wedded to :

If the test can be rerun just wait longer - I read the other day of someone who waits 48 hours between dose and blood draw as her doctor wants a T3 at only 50% through the range ??

[Diana49 in reply to pennyannie]

Thank-you for the info - very helpful.

[pennyannie in reply to Diana49]

Hello there :

I was reading your other post and my reply wasn't accepted as the post was turned off at the time of sending.

I saw that you had high antibodies so presume you're dealing with Hashimoto's AI thyroid disease.

As I understand things. you experience phases of " hyper like symptoms " when your immune system attacks your thyroid and the gland goes a bit haywire causing erratic levels of T3 and T4 and uncomfortable symptoms. Afterwards the antibodies are released to clean up the blood and then " normal " service, for you, is resumed.

When the attack is over, the gland tries to recover, but it is damaged and possibly a bit worse for wear and over the years your own thyroid hormone production will cease and you will need to increase your NDT accordingly to compensate.

So, I guess it's difficult as this disease causes transient " hyper type phases " and you are left to consider if it's the disease or over medication causing your symptoms and T3 level.

I think ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D need to be at optimal levels for strong core strength and read that many people with Hashimoto's refer to Izabella Wentz for diet and life style recommendations.

I'm with Graves post RAI thyroid ablation and very much hypothyroid 24 / 7 :

[Diana49 in reply to pennyannie]

Thanks for the input. This is what I wrote above: "FYI I've never felt 'hyper' except about 13 yrs ago when I was just beginning on the NDT road and was playing with the dose". I don't seem to fit with the version you and SSSusie ( and others) recount. But I'm glad I can share my experience on this forum. Many thanks, much appreciated!

[pennyannie in reply to Diana49]

Just another thought - have you changed your brand of NDT ?

There have been a couple of recalls of certain brands in the USA and some Far East products not proving very reliable.

[Diana49 in reply to pennyannie]

Ah yes! That was the whole point of coming on here for some advice. (I'm unfamiliar with how forums work so though every one would have read what I wrote to SSSusie). This is a segment of it:

Was given NHS Levothyroxine in 2007, stuck it out for about a month then threw it away. With a TSH of 13 I still felt better without Levo. Never touched it again.

Luckily one of my clients at the time had Hashimoto's and told me about Dr. P. Have been purchasing it from the US online pharmacy Dr P recommeded in 2007. Probably helped pay the pharmacist's mortgage by now. Hugely expensive...

After Forest sold business to Allergan, Armour recipe changed and price doubled I settled on 3 grains of N.Throid for a few years.

Ran into trouble 2019 and 2020 with sudden hair loss and weight gain. Unbeknownst to me there had been a global recall of all RCL labs NDT's. That left the exorbitantly priced Armour which isn't going well, due, I'm guessing to a new filler. Am beginning to trial Metavive/Armour so will report on that in time.

So I'm clueless as to where to source reasonably priced product instead of exorbitantly priced Armour which now seems to contain a filler my body doesn't like very much.

[Naomi8]

I am self-medicating with NDT.The aspect of your post that interests me is judging one's dose by personal experience rather than blood tests,I have been settled on 2 grains for a couple of years & am happy with my last thyroid panels(one from Medichecks,one from the NHS)I decided to try upping my dose when the clocks went back,as I feel I react to shorter days with "sleepy-bear semi-hybernating syndrome"(my term)

I went back to my usual dose when I started getting hot flashes, that are not linked to menopause(I am 70)feeling too hot & starting to feel irritable to the point of anger.

When I was on T4+T3,I gauged my correct dose by keeping my heart rate at 67-69.Too much would always result in a raised heart-rate & feeling too hot.

[Papillon2011 in reply to Naomi8]

Hi Naomi 8. I found your post very interesting as I have been suffering from being too hot and hot flushes with palpitations. I don’t think it’s menopause as I’m 66 now. I’ve been on NDT for about 2 years. I was on 150mg Levo before then introduced the NDT and now take 1 3/4. I’ve cut down from 2 but still suffering with the hot flushes. My last blood test was very good as far as T3 is concerned.

Should I try and cut down further?

How is everything with you now?

[Naomi8 in reply to Papillon2011]

I have used a sports heart monitor for several years to make sure I do not take a dose that raises my resting heart rate.I was on 125mgs of thyroxine for nearly 16 years.I then got prescribed T3 & gradually reduced my thyroxine to zero.I stayed on T3-only for about 2 years & have been on2 grains of NDT for a few years.My blood tests & my sense of wellbeing are better than they have been since diagnosis.I added a 3rd grain every other day for 3 weeks as a trial,to see if I felt less sleepy after the clocks go back & light & length of day decrease.

Hot flashes,irritability & feeling too hot has made me end that trial!

[Hidden in reply to Naomi8]

Hi Naomi8, I am going through something similar. I take 2.5 grains of NDT, but I'm freezing cold on it, can't sleep (my ft3 is 70-80% range, ft4 is 20%). When I increase NDT I get irritable, shaky, sweaty etc. My question is, do you have ft4 at a similar low level or high, how high is your FT3? Trying to figure out myself if I need to reduce my NDT more and add t4...

[Naomi8 in reply to Hidden]

Have you looked at the "Tired Thyroid"website?She proposes that some folk,including herself,need more T4.Since 16 years on T4-only followed by 2 years on T3-only,I DO feel NDT suits me well & my last results were OK.I have dropped back to 2 grains.The main downside for me is that since moving off T4,my fine but thick curly hair has got thinner & thinner & is now fluffy & straight.I WOULD introduce some T4 into my mix if it were not for ectopic beats & episodes of incapacitating tachycardia that I lived with for those 16 years on thyroxine.I have been in hospital twice with this & it is not AF but SVT(supra ventricular tachycardia)The second hospitalisation occurred when I was adding T3 to thyroxine.It all died down when I got down to zero thyroxine.

[Hidden in reply to Naomi8]

I did, I even have her book, but anytime I tried to add T4 to NDT (even if I don't lower NDT) I swell up, become more hypo. Strangely, I feel better in some ways on a lower NDT, but then I am cold, have mood swings, skin is dry. My doctor wanted me to take less NDT and add t3 to it. But I don't know yet if this is the answer or if I need more time on t4. This sounds frightening! So you need to have lower t4 I assume then to feel normal? I know what you mean re hair, with lower ft4 mine becomes straight and dry...

[Diana49 in reply to Naomi8]

As I live in the frozen North East of Scotland where it doesn't get light til 8.30 and is dark by 3.30pm in the winter, I have invested in a SAD lamp. Thanks for the info and sweet dreams!

[Naomi8 in reply to Diana49]

Hi Diana49-well,I live in the south east now,on the south coast,after many years in wet Wales & a few in Cumbria,but the sun does not rise here til 8am & sets at 4pm-so not that much better here!How are you finding the SAD lamp?Is it helping?They have certainly come down in size & price since we had one in the 90s.So much choice on Amazon.

[Diana49 in reply to Naomi8]

Hi Naomi, yes I think the SAD lamp was worth the outlay. The one I chose is a large hoop ( like a halo) and the outside looks like pine - but it's fake of course. However it is quite stylish all the same. The design means I can put it on the kitchen table and both I and my husband get a dose from opposite sides. I've had it for about 3 weeks and I def think it helps to lift my mood.

[Hillwoman]

Have a look at the blog post below, by Paul Robinson. It's chock full of useful references. You may find point 11 and its associated research references particularly relevant to you.

Remember the lab ranges are statistically derived, and do not reflect the tissue thyroid status of people on combination treatment or T3-only. The body will defend serum T3 at the expense of the peripheral tissues (it does the same with magnesium, to give another example) so your serum T3 may look high or over range, but your tissues may still not have enough T3.

The best tools we have - outside a research lab - are regular measurements of vital signs: basal temperature and pulse on waking, and before drinking anything, plus blood pressure. You can follow these up during the day if you can find regular times to sit quietly, preferably between meals and drinks, before checking.

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/we-...

[Diana49 in reply to Hillwoman]

Hi Hillwoman, yes I will check it out thanks.

[tegz]

My going up to a fT3 of 10 didn't have any major effects -but it did drive up Sex Hormone Binding Globulin which reduces the free sex hormones in circulation.This was on 50% more T3 than I finally settled on -so finely balanced.

[Diana49 in reply to tegz]

Thank-you!