What are the essential things to do before I start T3 ?

[limonene7]

Hi everybody! I hope you can advise. I am hoping to try T3 very soon and have been reading one of Paul Robinsons books and trying to prepare. He strongly recommends having a saliva cortisol test and also an 8am morning cortisol blood test before starting T3 medication.

So I was hoping if you could let me know your thoughts on this and if you agree, I was looking at Regenerus ‘Adrenal Function 5’ saliva test, which includes 4 point cortisol and DHEA.

And for the blood cortisol 8am test, because it would be terribly difficult to get a venous blood draw at 8am, I was looking at Medichecks Cortisol home finger prick blood test. medichecks.com/products/cor...

Please could you guys advise?

(Where I’m at now- Currently waiting for results from my latest advanced thyroid function test with Medichecks. I am working on optimising all my vits/minerals as per suggested on the forum. I’m 3 years gluten free. Follow mostly paleo low carb diet. Also thinking about getting DIO2 test.)

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Limonene7

I have always used the Regenerus test for adrenals, it needs to be cortisol plus DHEA and that one fits the bill. I've had no problem at all with them.

I have had blood cortisol as part of Blue Horizon's full thyroid/vitamin panel which is a fingerprick test. You should do it early morning (probably no later than 9am) and fasting I believe.

[fuchsia-pink]

Is it? I've never had cortisol tested. I was started on lio as blood tests showed I was a (classic) "poor converter" - and I've never looked back.

I'd recommend ensuring key nutrients are good before starting lio - and checking how well you convert. Lio is often seen as a solves-all-problems medication - which it isn't - and people are then really upset when it doesn't help

[Lalatoot in reply to fuchsia-pink]

It is only necessary to have tested if you are to follow this method of dosing the only called ct3m and devised by Paul Robinson.paulrobinsonthyroid.com/the...

[limonene7 in reply to Lalatoot]

Hi Lalatoot, I have his 3rd book, The Thyroid Patients Manual. Paul is pretty adamant that cortisol should be tested before T3 medication, regardless of dosing schedule. He says there can be some very unpleasant side effects if cortisol is out of whack when starting T3 or T3 containing medication.It made me a bit nervous.

[Lalatoot in reply to limonene7]

Thanks for clarification. I do not follow Paul's methods myself.

[FancyPants54 in reply to limonene7]

He does say that and I've tried his methods in the past. But I stopped having saliva cortisol tests done because I had no idea how to resolve the issues they might throw up. I tried all the things recommended but it seemed like a red herring. What I needed was thyroid hormone.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I've not read PR's books.

Dr P put me on Armour (obviously contains T3) and I don't remember having a cortisol test before this. Didn't stay on NDT as it did nothing for me.

Many years later I started T3 in 2016 and I'd tested saliva cortisol test a few months earlier and it was high in range.

[limonene7]

Thanks so much for your replies everybody! I have been working on optimising my nutrients and i'm waiting for my latest results to come in. It sounds like starting T3 is often done regardless of prior cortisol testing. I just want to make sure I've done all the correct things before I start T3 as I don't want to do myself a mischief!

For instance Paul Robinson recommends getting an ECG from the doctor before starting T3 but I can't do that... I would have to explain why I was doing it!

Did anyone else have an ECG before starting T3 ?

[Lalatoot in reply to limonene7]

The reason Paul Robinson stresses cortisol testing is that his ct3m method should only be done if you have low cortisol. He states this quite clearly otherwise it makes you unwell.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to limonene7]

Did anyone else have an ECG before starting T3 ?

No I didn't, but as I self medicate with T3 and GP doesn't know I wouldn't have been able to get one, and I doubt whether anyone who takes things into their own hands through lack of support from their GP could.

[limonene7 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you SeasideSusie, I assumed that would be the case.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to limonene7]

Apple 6 watch records ECG “on demand”

Not cheap, but useful if having irregular heart beat

[limonene7 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you SlowDragon! I had know idea it did that.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to limonene7]

You do need iPhone as well

Watch doesn’t work on its own

[Hidden]

My husband, who has Congestive Heart Failure, uses a machine called Kardia Mobile. It was recommended by the cardiologist.

[limonene7]

Thank you very much, Xiflo!