Not sure why FT3 has fallen so drastically over 2 months. I’m strictly gluten free for over a year. All tests done early morning fasting, last dose 24 hours before. Endo’s in the Middle East equally as incompetent as elsewhere. I feel great on the current 175mcg Levo. Any advice greatly appreciated.
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Sami-M
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No words to express my gratitude SlowDragon; my husband and I refer to you & greygoose as our family and more. I will be sure to do the Vit B12/Vit D/ iron/folate tests regularly. We are absolutely delighted!
Double congrats. Could the higher dose which has you more over the range be causing some of it to go to reverse t3 and thus reducing the free t3???? Hopefully someone with more insight can chime in.
Edited to add: Maybe you can discuss with your doc a 12.5 reduction from 175 to bring up your free t3 since its important to your health and your babies. Or 6.5 reduction by taking 100 mcg pill along with half of 137 mcg pill which would give you a total of 168.5
Alaykum Salaam Imaaan, thank you! I’m just wondering, as I progress into week 6 onwards whether I’m likely to need to increase dosage as per the usual recommendation of increasing 25%. I’m considering testing again in 2 or 3 weeks and then monthly. Am I correct in my understanding that the foetal requirement is T4 only. With rt3, anything in particular you’d look out for ?
as I progress into week 6 onwards whether I’m likely to need to increase dosage as per the usual recommendation of increasing 25%
^^^^^I completely forgot about your growing belly and the needs it would require. Chalk it up to huge brain fog..lol
I'm also out of my depth when it comes to hormone requirements when it comes to pregnancy. That said, I would assume that having an optimal free t3 is important to anyone especially an expecting mamma since it's the active hormone and the cells need it. How to achieve that, I'm not exactly sure. To be frank, I'm hesitant to even mention anything else since it may or may not affect a growing fetus.
The tests Slowdragon mentioned are game changers in terms of having the ability to improve your free t3. For example, I know for a fact whenever my ferratin drops to a certain point my tsh, free t3 and t4 get really messed up.
You can test for reverse t3 but I'm not sure its needed cuz you're over the limit on free t4 and some of it is most definitely probably ending up reverse t3, hence the drop in your free t3. That's why I suggested a small drop in your thyroid meds under the guidance of your doc could possibly improve your free t3. But then again, you said you were feeling good on this dose and grey goose said you could stick to it and revisit it after birth. Personally I would want my free t3 levels to be at least 70%
I'm wondering if an increase in rt3 can increase cortisol???? If so, cortisol can influence and decrease free t3 conversion as well.
Not sure why FT3 has fallen so drastically over 2 months.
Because your FT4 has gone too high, and is now converting to more rT3 than T3. It's a safety mechenism to stop your FT3 going too high. If you reduce your levo, the FT3 will probably rise.
But, if you feel well on this dose, stick with it. You need lots of FT4 for the the babies. You can sort things out after the birth.
greygoose … no words can express my emotions and gratitude for all your thoughts and advise! Would it be wise to test for rt3 or consider adding a very small amount of T3 at this stage or possibly if I need to increase Levo (in case TSH rise) in the next weeks or are you saying 9 months manageable and to deal with the rt3 after delivery?
You don't have to deal with the rt3, it's not doing you any harm. It is inert and only stays in the body for a couple of hours before being converted to T2.
Testing is expensive and pointless because there are many, many causes of high rT3, and only one of them has anything to do with thyroid. A test will tell you if your rT3 is high, but it won't tell you why.
If you feel well as you are, I wouldn't bother with the hassle of getting hold of T3, which is never easy. It's the T4 your baby needs at this point. But, I really don't think you need to increase your levo because your FT4 is already over-range. If the TSH should rise, then deal with things at that time, not now. But, it probably won't.
What I meant about sorting things out after the birth is that your need for T4 will probably drop, so your dose should be altered accordingly. But, don't cross your bridges before you come to them, you cannot predict what dose you're going to need when. Just take things one step at a time.
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You can sort things out after the birth. 
Advice on latest results please..
Results advice please
Advice on latest test results please
Results. Advice please.
