Test results following T3

[Ralphie1]

Hi

I’ve had my first blood test following adding T3 in December which I’ve build up to 3 x 5mg and my T4 was reduced from 100 to 75 at the start

I’m definitely feeling better than I was but still can feel quite tried.

My FT3 has increased but my T4 is pretty low.

Wondering if I should try increasing my t4 a bit

I’ve attached a photo of my results

Many thanks

Kate

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Looking likely you might need levothyroxine increase

Perhaps wait and retest again in 6-8 weeks first

Was test done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Last 5mcg dose T3 8-12 hours before test

When were vitamin levels last tested

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Remember you need to stop any vitamin supplements that contain biotin a week before all blood tests

Do you have Hashimoto’s

[fuchsia-pink]

I like both free T4 and free T3 to be quite high - so yes, I'd try and get another 25 mcg a day of levo (assuming nutrients are all good). Do you spread out your T3 across the day?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Ralphie1

Looking at your post from 3 months ago, on 100mcg Levo your FT4 was 18.8 (12-22).

Considering that adding T3 tends to lower FT4, I don't think it was necessary to reduce your Levo dose when adding T3. It's a shame that a lot of doctors really don't understand how to dose with T3 and what it actually does.

Looking at the massive reduction in your FT4 level, I'd be putting my Levo dose up immediately.

I'm another one who's on combination hormone replacement and I need both FT4 and FT3 around 60-70% through range.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Post from 4 months ago confirms autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Can’t see any recent vitamin results

Please add them with ranges, if you have any

Hashimoto's affects the gut and leads to low stomach acid and then low vitamin levels

Low vitamin levels affect Thyroid hormone working

Poor gut function can lead leaky gut (literally holes in gut wall) this can cause food intolerances. Most common by far is gluten. Dairy is second most common.

According to Izabella Wentz the Thyroid Pharmacist approx 5% with Hashimoto's are coeliac, but over 80% find gluten free diet helps, sometimes significantly. Either due to direct gluten intolerance (no test available) or due to leaky gut and gluten causing molecular mimicry (see Amy Myers link)

Changing to a strictly gluten free diet may help reduce symptoms, help gut heal and slowly lower TPO antibodies

While still eating high gluten diet ask GP for coeliac blood test first or buy test online for under £20, just to rule it out first

healthcheckshop.co.uk/store...?

Assuming test is negative you can immediately go on strictly gluten free diet

(If test is positive you will need to remain on high gluten diet until endoscopy, maximum 6 weeks wait officially)

Trying gluten free diet for 3-6 months. If no noticeable improvement then reintroduce gluten and see if symptoms get worse

chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

amymyersmd.com/2018/04/3-re...

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

drknews.com/changing-your-d...

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Non Coeliac Gluten sensitivity (NCGS) and autoimmune disease

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/296...

The predominance of Hashimoto thyroiditis represents an interesting finding, since it has been indirectly confirmed by an Italian study, showing that autoimmune thyroid disease is a risk factor for the evolution towards NCGS in a group of patients with minimal duodenal inflammation. On these bases, an autoimmune stigma in NCGS is strongly supported

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/300...

The obtained results suggest that the gluten-free diet may bring clinical benefits to women with autoimmune thyroid disease

nuclmed.gr/wp/wp-content/up...

In summary, whereas it is not yet clear whether a gluten free diet can prevent autoimmune diseases, it is worth mentioning that HT patients with or without CD benefit from a diet low in gluten as far as the progression and the potential disease complications are concerned

restartmed.com/hashimotos-g...

Despite the fact that 5-10% of patients have Celiac disease, in my experience and in the experience of many other physicians, at least 80% + of patients with Hashimoto's who go gluten-free notice a reduction in their symptoms almost immediately.

[Ralphie1]

Thanks very much for your messages. Yeah might try increasing t4 a bit and see how I feel & do another blood test in another 6 weeks or so.

Couldn’t afford vitamin test this time but I take all recommended supplements and am gluten & dairy free.

Thanks

Kate