Adding T3

[Tinacros]

Hi after trying to add T3 to my levo after the third attempt I’ve had to give up. After taking 6.5mg once a day for a few days, I started getting the feeling of a full throat. I also felt sweaty and jittery. I also felt (this will sound ridiculous)I could move my thyroid from side to side in my neck. I’m so sick of feeling rough. I had medichecks tests done on the 9th and 21st sept. The second lot they repeated because some of the tests failed. Would I be ok to try T3 only 🤷‍♀️ at this point I’ll try anything. All my vitamins etc are ok. My GPs at the moment are unapproachable. Had a bad time with them.

[Tinacros]

This is the test on the 21st sept.. the one I had on the 9 sept was similar except the t4 was 16. I’d upped my meds from87.5 per day to 100mcg per day. But that obviously sent me a bit high so I went back down after the second result then added 6.5 of T3. X

[greygoose]

If adding T3 to T4 makes you feel bad, why do you think you'd feel better on T3 only?

So, those results are on T4 only, but you'd increased your dose of levo just a week or so before the test, is that correct? If so, those results aren't all that reliable. You should have waited six weeks before repeating - or, alternatively, waited until after the second test to increase your dose.

An FT4 of 16 would suggest you were under-medicated, and did need an increase. But, now, we don't really know if that increase was too much or not. It hadn't really had time to start converting to T3, so we don't have a clear idea of how well you convert. Bit of a mess, really. What were your TSH and FT3 on the 9th?

[Tinacros in reply to greygoose]

Yes these results are on t4 only. My head isn’t with it.. the above results are on the 9 sept and I had the retest on the 20 sept where my tsh went down to 16. I reduced from 87.5 to 75mcg t4. Obviously now I know I didn’t need to but docs notes said I was over medicated x

[Purplesash]

Sorry can’t answer your question but following with interest as I can also do this with moving my thyroid side to side, makes a bit of a clicking noise too.🙄

[Tinacros in reply to Purplesash]

That’s interesting. That only happens when I add T3. Xx

[Purplesash in reply to Tinacros]

I have only ever had Levo in all my 25 years of being diagnosed, though I am hoping to get a trial of T3 when I get to see an Endo next month. I just put this (the moving my thyroid from side to side) down to my thyroid being damaged from radiotherapy treatment many moons ago.

[tattybogle]

I'm trying to keep up ,, but it would be easier if you could clarify the order of events dose/ how long on it / date of test / test results .

If i 've understood correctly , you were on 87.5mcg (for how long?), then did a test Sept 9th, (but which results were those ?)

then you increased to 100mcg . ( for about 10 days ?) and did a test on Sept 21st (but which results were those ?)

Then you reduced to 75mcg ?

how many days were you taking 75mcg before you added the 6.5mcg T3 ?

[Tinacros in reply to tattybogle]

No. The highest result was on 87.5 the lower result was on 75mcg. I reduced because the docs comments was I was over medicated. I never took 100mcg. I added T3 on about the 10 oct (after I came back off holiday). Within a couple of days I was jittery and my throat felt full. Also had this weird thing where I felt I could move my thyroid ( I know it sounds daft). It also clicked. My hair falls out terribly and I feel generally unwell but it’s just the norm for me now so just plod on. Sorry for the confusing answers. X

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tinacros]

There’s no point testing thyroid until been on constant unchanging dose levothyroxine for minimum of 6-8 weeks

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

ESSENTIAL to maintain GOOD vitamin levels too

When were vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 last tested

Optimal vitamin levels are

Vitamin D at least around 80nmol and around 100nmol maybe better

Serum B12 at least over 500

Active B12 at least over 70

Folate and ferritin at least half way through range

High cholesterol levels and low ferritin suggest under medicated

How much do you weigh in kilo

Guidelines on dose levothyroxine by weight is approx 1.6mcg levothyroxine per kilo per day

[Tinacros in reply to SlowDragon]

GP has said she can feel nodules on my thyroid. I’m waiting for an ultrasound. If I don’t get referred to an endo I’ll go private. Try to sort myself out once and got all x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tinacros]

Vast majority of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s, diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies and/or ultrasound scan of thyroid

Nodules are extremely common with Hashimoto’s

If going to eventually add T3 alongside levothyroxine…..there’s zero point testing until been on constant dose minimum 6-8 weeks

Typically T3 is added extremely slowly

Initially 5mcg waking (or 2.5mcg waking and again mid afternoon)

After week or so….if going ok…2nd 5mcg dose is added approx 10-12 hours after 1st dose

Hold at that dose and retest 6-8 weeks later ….no sooner

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

Day before test split T3 as normal, but move last 5mcg to 9pm (assuming testing 9am) …or split 2nd dose into 2 x 2.5mcg……taking last 2.5mcg at 9pm

Taking almost any dose of T3 will suppress TSH, so needs doing under care of endocrinologist otherwise GP freaks out

[Tinacros in reply to SlowDragon]

All my antibody tests are fine according to Medi checks XX

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tinacros]

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

Ultrasound scan of thyroid can diagnose

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

Are you on gluten free diet?

[Tinacros in reply to SlowDragon]

No I’m not x

[Tinacros in reply to SlowDragon]

Interesting read x