I am raising t3 and brain fog is reducing however I feeling quite wired a few time throughout the day my heart elevated to 90-100 for about 15 minutes up from its usual 55-65 and it’s pounding and uncomfortable.
I have insomnia and cannot sleep for more than 5 hours. Im very tired but when I do sleep for 7 plus hours I feel better but still foggy. I’m doing sleep CBT to see if that helps. I’ve had this for years before treatment and believe it’s one of my hypo symptoms.
The last time I tested I was on 75 mcg t3 only
Ft3 5.96 (3.1-6.8)
Ft4 8 (12-22)
I’ve never tested positive for Hashimotos so don’t bother any more.
All vit d, b12 folate and iron are OPTIMAL (whoo hoo)
I’m currently taking 112.5 mcg tiromel but getting hot now and again but my brain fog is still there.
Does anyone know how I can resolve my brain fog and insomnia? Can I wait and raise again or does this mean I’m in my maximum dose? But this cannot be because I still have symptoms. Why can’t I sleep. I’m at a loss because although I’ve felt obvious improvement in brain fog I don’t know where to go. Will I ever finally relax and be able to think and enjoy things again ?
My cortisol is really not that bad moderately low noon and 4 pm but I’m so tired from the insomnia.
I appreciate any advice thank you
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Arabella33
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Raised rT3 isn't necessarily connected to thyroid. rT3 is a bit of a red herring and the test can tell you if it's high but not why it's high. The only reason it could be connected to thyroid is if there is a build up of unconverted T4 and this would be shown by a high FT4 and low FT3.
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.
I’m currently taking 112.5 mcg tiromel but getting hot now and again but my brain fog is still there.
When was the test done on 75mcg T3?
How long was it to build up from 75mcg to 112.5mcg T3?
Have you tested on 112.5mcg T3?
however I feeling quite wired a few time throughout the day my heart elevated to 90-100 for about 15 minutes up from its usual 55-65 and it’s pounding and uncomfortable.
I would think you are overmedicated on T3.
As your FT4 is below range, you may feel better with the addition of Levo and less T3.
So I tested on 28th October and raised from there. I had held 75 for a 3 weeks as well and my hypo symptoms were still bad
I get anxious when I have had no sleep which is often. I still have hypo symptoms on this dose held for two weeks but elevated heart rate for periods of 10 minutes as well so how can I be over medicated with brain fog and insomnia?
I realise it’s a large dose but we are all different. I’d rather be on a much smaller dose but unfortunately I did not feel good. I didn’t feel good when I had t4 in my mix hence the t3 only and I’m reluctant to change it until I feel better on t3 only.
It just seems like it’s impossible
To find the right treatment as everything if is so contradictory and complicated.
What increments were your increases of T3? To go from 75mcg at the end of October to 112.5mcg less than 2 months later suggests raising too quickily IMO, you need 6-8 weeks after each dose change for levels to stabilise and see what difference it makes.
I still have hypo symptoms on this dose held for two weeks but elevated heart rate for periods of 10 minutes as well so how can I be over medicated with brain fog and insomnia?
Because of low FT4?
It's a long, arduous journey to find the right dose of one or combination hormone replacements with many twists and turns.
I tried T3 only many years ago after failing with NDT and NDT plus T3 (under guidance from Dr P and Dr S). It was only many, many years later after going back on Levo only that I learned about poor conversion and spent a very long time tweaking doses of Levo and T3. I discovered that with a bottom of range FT4 I could hardly get out of bed regardless of where my T3 was. I now know that I need FT4 and FT3 balanced in the upper part of the range and the doses of Levo and T3 that gives me that.
Thanks for your reply. I worked with a doctor and did 1/4 tab every 7 days. I gave more time some weeks and now I feel a bit stuck. It’s worked in alleviating some of my brain fog (my very worst symptom) but my insomnia I’ve had for years and years.
I don’t know about the low t4, I already got optimal on Armour with mid range t4 and top quarter range t3 and felt absolutely terrible plus my hair fell out!
It’s great to know that you need t4, I hope to have some in my mix one day.
This t3 is definitely improving things linearly for me. I just want to keep raising until my symtoms go and can’t.
I’m on a fairly high dose as well one so wondering if it could be ISTH
held 75 for a 3 weeks as well and my hypo symptoms were still bad
This is testing far too soon
You need to wait 6-8 weeks after each dose change
When you did this test was test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last 15mcg T3 dose 8-12 hours before test
If you've been ill a long time, it may take a long time to adapt to T3, even if it's what you need.
After several decades of deteriorating health on levo and having become mostly bedbound, I started on T3 only. I'd been experimenting with various doses of NDT under supervision by Dr P. However, he realised I was a very poor converter. I was gradually weaned off NDT and on to a small dose of lio.
At first, my heart struggled to adapt even to this small dose, so titration had to be done extremely carefully. It took years! Even then, it only gradually dawned on us that I also had a problem with peripheral resistance, which needs an unusually high dose of T3. Further titration was difficult, mainly because of bouts of arrhythmia. It's fine now though, unless I forget part of my daily dose.
Other problems can also cause your symptoms, and they're common in hypothyroidism because of the malabsorption that is a consequence of the condition. Low iron and low magnesium may be implicated, but you have to have optimal levels of all nutrients.
I have indeed been ill for years, 20 years beginning with anorexia! My brain fog is my worst symptom and although I have felt improvement I am concerned I have not felt more when other around me seem to be doing much better. I am thinking since I’m already on 112.5 mcg I may benefit from one dose per day but I’d like to look at the science of it.
I do think my heart is getting used to it rather than my being over medicated.
How did you know to continue with your medication when you had heart issues? Do you mean it took years to build up or for your symptoms to go? What was your brain fog like ? How did you know you had an issue with peripheral resistance?
I’d really like to know how t3 affects the brain also
I am definitely optimal on iron vit d folate b12 and my adrenals are ok.
I so happy to hear you are ok now and sorry that you had such a bad time for so long. And sorry for all the questions but I’m very interested in your experience
It could be the brand of T3 that is the problem. I started by taking Tiromel & had heart rate problems which disappeared when I switched to Thybon Henning.Have you tried all the usual remedies for insomnia? I have found melatonin, magnesium, Nytol and valerian tea helpful in getting a few extra hours.
Thank you for your reply. My Dr suggested this and I do have some Thybon Henning to try. I’m just trying to raise as far as I can go with Tiromel as I know it will take time to get used to the new type. Has your brain fog gone ?
I have indeed tried those supplements but they have not helped unfortunately. I’m trying cbt for sleep which seems to be helping a little hope it contintues.
I’m generally better on T3 although I still have some symptoms. I only take 40 mcg a day. My blood test results are often puzzling so I have settled on this dose as being adequate rather than optimal. I haven’t tested for about 6 months as I can no longer have blood taken easily & don’t like the idea of finger prick tests. I’ll have to do something soon but I’m settled on my present dose at the moment.
I think I would change brands sooner rather than later as it might be very beneficial.
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IS IT T3 ONLY OR DIE? 
Can you raise T3 naturally
