Advice needed on switching from T3/T4 combo to T3 only

[Koola]

I want to try T3 only after 4 months on T3/T4 combo. I had initial difficulties with T3 when I’d tried to add it a few times over the past years then found out here, all hail T.U.K. !, and with the help of a friend I met on this forum, that I wasn’t doing it right. (Was started with too much, as advised by two different endos, who also said to take it only twice a week – the usual incompetence…)

I feel that T3 does me good. It’s reliable in its effect, as opposed to T4 that acts erratically: if I up the levo dose by 6mcg I might feel better for one to two days and then awful again, whereas more often I feel immediately worse. I’ve been “playing this levo game” for years and I’m fed up – also of sticking to one dose for 6 weeks then try another and the next one – and the next and the next and I’m not getting better at all. So maybe Levo isn’t right for me. I’ve been taking it since post RAI in 2009 (see resume).

Since 1 June have been taking 6.25 T3 twice a day 7 hours apart and 62.50 / 69 T4– except for a 3-week excursion into 75/88 in August. I’m doing labs soon, also checking vitamins and iron and will post.

Meanwhile, I would like advice on T3 only dosage at the start, when I stop T4; as mentioned I’m already friends with T3

My uneducated guess is to add 20 mcg T3 to take over from 60+ T4. Should I still take my 12.50 T3 as well? Maybe a few days later?

As usual, I’ll be very grateful for advice and a ray of hope out of this inferno… (here an angry / desperate Combo smiley!)

[Hidden]

Hello Koola

Just wondering why you stopped T3 only and changed to T3/Levo? I’ve read what you’ve said but why didn’t you just use the T3 as advised.

Not a criticism ☺️. I still change doses now and then when I think that things are going pear shaped

[Koola in reply to Hidden]

Hi MorecambeBay

Maybe I didn’t express myself clearly. I was never on T3 only. I was told by endos a few years back to add T3 to Levo but they told me wrong … surprising?! First one said just pop 25 mcg two or 3 times a week, and if it feels too strong halve it. The second one said to take half every 2 or 3 days. I’ve since learned here that T3 has a 24 hour “shelf life” so taking it that way is useless. Also, to start someone on 25 is crazy (I think I was still taking 100 back then. But even if 88 levo, still much too much.)

Moral of the history seems to be : don’t trust the big majority of endos further than you can throw them (which isn’t far when you’re hypo…)

[pennyannie]

Hey there Koola :

I would think you still need to build the T3 dose up slowly :

I read T3 peaks and troughs in around an 8 hour cycle, and the T4 takes around 6-8 weeks to fully leave your body - so go slow adjusting the doses as the T4 diminishes.

Listen to your body and slow wins the race with thyroid hormone replacement.

I read most people seem to be needing around 50 T3 just to function :

As you know I'm on NDT so this is all a guess :

Good luck:

[Koola in reply to pennyannie]

Your advice is always good, pennyannie. Thank you.

Still I am hoping to get some advice here from someone who “been there done that” and -- feels good with it! Or doesn’t and has another suggestion…

I definitely have to change something. Symptoms worse and with the change to colder weather I’m more exhausted every day, plus tachycardia -- the cause of which, I don’t have a clue. When reading posts here, some seem to get it from levo and the others from lio. Since I’m taking both, don’t know if I’m coming or going

[pennyannie in reply to Koola]

No worries -

I'm just trying to keep your post current -

so more people will see your question and help you.

[Koola]

as the song goes "Thank you for being a friend"