Splitting my T3 dose before a blood test is not... - Thyroid UK

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Splitting my T3 dose before a blood test is not agreeing with me!

Josephineinamachine profile image

Hi all - just to say I’ve realised how timing is so important with T3. I usually take my whole dose of 10 mcg with my 75 mcg at 4 am, and have felt really quite settled on this for about 6 weeks.

Blood test due tomorrow at 9am so took my Levo with half T3 at 9am this morning with a view to taking other half T3 tonight at 9pm.

It’s very horrid - I feel like someone has just pumped cotton wool into my brain and the thought of doing the weekly shop now is exhausting.

Still, I guess it has taught just how well I’ve been feeling and how much my brain has been switched back on!

Tomorrow I’m tempted to take the Levo after the blood test but leave out the T3 because otherwise this woolly feeling will, I absolutely know, come back with a vengeance and I can’t afford that with work demands tomorrow.

Not sure if others have experienced this??

I’m going to avoid blood tests from now on.

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Josephineinamachine
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14 Replies
Lalatoot profile image
Lalatoot

As I said I take my t3 as normal and arrange test for 8 hours later.

Josephineinamachine profile image
Josephineinamachine in reply toLalatoot

I know! I wish I could have done the same. I couldn’t get one later in the day - I have to go to the hospital because I can’t do a finger prick test (not enough blood it seems).

Murphysmum profile image
Murphysmum

I sympathise.

My first experience of this was when my endo suggested if I were to drop my levo completely, I might wish to try splitting my then 45mcg of T3 into 4/5 doses throughout the day.

So I did but it was like I wasn’t taking it at all! I have since found that taking any less than 15 mcg in one go is completely pointless for me.

So how do you normally take your meds?

If I have an early blood test, I leave my night time dose to as late as possible, ie 8/9pm and take my morning dose after the test

Josephineinamachine profile image
Josephineinamachine in reply toMurphysmum

Hi Murphysmum I take my Levo and Lio together at 4am. I’m not on a huge dose of either really - but it seems to work this way for me. I think your body must get very used to a particular time of dosing and then adapts. Do you take your T3 in one go or split it?

Murphysmum profile image
Murphysmum in reply toJosephineinamachine

I split mine. So I take half at around 7am and the rest anywhere between 4pm and 7pm.

When I am well I find I could take it at anytime and not feel the effects. When I’m not so well, I find I need to take the evening dose on the early end of that timescale as I feel like it’s “run out”.

Yes! I always took my dose at once, when my GP told me to split it into 3 I was feeling unbelievably sick for over a year. Sticking with one dose a day, will never split. We are all so different.

Josephineinamachine profile image
Josephineinamachine in reply to

We are! I find T3 has made an amazing difference in so many ways but can’t stand the stuff during the day lol! 🤣

in reply toJosephineinamachine

Same, during the day it works against me lol :)

Josephineinamachine profile image
Josephineinamachine in reply to

So, sorry, do you do manage your blood tests in the same way that Lalatoot does? 😊

in reply toJosephineinamachine

I test after 24 hrs, it works fine for me :)

wellness1 profile image
wellness1

Glad you've found something that works for you that you can go back to post-test. I'm curious -- taking your T3 all in one go at 4 am -- does your energy level drop later in the day?

Josephineinamachine profile image
Josephineinamachine in reply towellness1

Hi thank you. It did at first and I kept trying to add T3 in the early afternoon but it just made me more sleepy. So I just stuck it out because I knew I had to settle on something and I realised after about 4 weeks that the afternoon slump had disappeared and it has stayed like that. I still get a return of sore feet and legs at the very end of the day but then I just go to bed, sleep well and feel better in the morning. I tried so many combinations in a relatively short space of time that I confused myself - no idea what the bloods will say but hoping I’m pretty much there. Still some other symptoms but feel much better than I did, that’s for sure 😊

wellness1 profile image
wellness1 in reply toJosephineinamachine

...but then I just go to bed, sleep well and feel better in the morning

When possible, a good cure for many of life's complaints. ;)

Josephineinamachine profile image
Josephineinamachine in reply towellness1

I know! Sleep is so important as we all here know very well 😊

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