I have finally had some T3 results and I have included the ones done in May also for comparison...
Taking T3 only 25mcg...
MAY...
T3 4.8pmol (3.1-6.8)
TSH 0.617mu (0.570-3.600)
T4 6.1pmol (7.9-14)
T3 upped to 37.5mcg for last 4 months...
Tested a few days ago...
T3 5.3pmol (3.1-6.8)
TSH 0.015mu (0.570-3.600)
T4 5pmol (7.9-14)
I don't think I feel much difference from May until now (typical hypo symptoms) - maybe a little warmer EXCEPT that now my autoimmune conditions have gone mad and i am pretty ill with my body fighting itself and I am not sure if this has been triggered by the change in T3 dose if so why that should be. AND my heart has been doing strange thumps!
So - has this change triggered autoimmunity to get worse?
Or has it nothing to do with it and do I need more or less T3? (what is the optimal range? Am I meant to feel less cold etc on more?)
My doctor just says that the result just show I am not well at the moment!
Any feedback most welcome thank you
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Tuxi1
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My doctor just says that the result just show I am not well at the moment!That's an interesting diagnosis!!! Not!!!
So what is this enlightened GP planning to do to help you?
A few thoughts...
FT3 is the most important lab
T3 is the active hormone required by every cell in the body, in an adequate and constant supply.
If FT3 is low ill health follows
Your latest result - T3 5.3pmol (3.1-6.8) - indicates lowish T3 and this needs to be addressed.
This sits at 59.5% through the reference range, while this may be fine for some of us, for others we need a higher result...usually close to 75% through the range
Your current dose is 37.5mcg which, for uncomplicated hypothyroidism, is maybe considered on the high side.
However some of us have complications to varying degrees and need a higher dose but so long as your FT3 stays in range you are very unlikely to be overmedicated.
In your shoes I would wait 6/8 weeks after the last test then add a little more T3...perhaps up to 40mcg
Wait another 6/8 weeks and retest, by then you may feel a little better....but still need a little more
Depending on how you feel, and on your follow up labs, you may, or may not, need another small increase. You probably will!
Increases must be low and slow, there is no quick fix!
Your TSH will be suppressed as will FT4....that is just what happens in the body on T3-only.
Palpitations can be the result of both under and overmedication.
Bottom line, it's a case of trial and error because we are all different with different needs.
I have a type of thyroid hormone resistance/cellular hypothyroidism and need 87.5mcg which I take in a single dose at bedtime.
There are no rules set in stone for dose level, it depends on what each person's body needs. Unfortunately many medics just don't understand this.
It is also important that vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin are optimal.
Hi SlowDragon - I posted on the site a few days ago "Help in a panic" and you kindly replied - I put all my details there and you told me how to do the test (so I did as you said) and posted vit D etc levels (not sure if i can link a post from before to this one?) I don't think I have hashimotos as my antibody tests are clear. I decided to go on T3 with the advise of a functional medicine doctor a long time ago as all my syptoms are hypothryoid and I have a family history of it. He told me to take 5mcg at the time but over time I have upped this as I still haven't felt well. Then my normal doctor found the low T4 and TSH and diagnosed me with offical hypothroidism and told me to take T4. I tried several brands and felt terrible on all of them so went back to the T3. Maybe I should come off it all together and see what happens? I think I tried that once and had no energy etc. maybe i should just start again with no meds (although that has been a long time now for me not to be on some). Oh dear - I have such an autoimmune flare going on it's hard to know what to do but I do appreciate the advise here as it makes so much more sense than the doctors! Just worried that if I increase my heart may get worse - but on the other hand it may get better! I can only eat 6 foods at the moment and gluten is definitely not one of them!
Apologies for jumping in here before SlowDragon has replied
One of the symptoms of hypothyroidism is anxiety and I'm sticking my neck out now to suggest that following the advice you have already been offered here would be a positive step to better health.
Are you sure you are having an autoimmune flare, despite saying that you had clear antibodies tests... or might you consider that your symptoms are related to low thyroid hormone levels.
Your concern about heart issues might be eased by reading the research paper (link below) which concludes -
"For patients taking long-term liothyronine we did not identify any additional risk of atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular disease or fractures. There was an increased incident use of antipsychotic medication during follow-up."
A well balanced diet is vital for good health and eating only six foods is going to make that a challenge. Your nutrient levels are vulnerable. Can you see your way to increasing the range of foods you eat to include all vital nutrients?
Gluten is not a food per se, it is the protein found in grains, including wheat, rye, spelt, and barley.
Then my normal doctor found the low T4 and TSH and diagnosed me with offical hypothyroidism and told me to take T4..
If you are taking T3-only then your FT4 and TSH will be low, that is how the body works
On 87.5mcg T3 my TSH and FT4 have dropped off the ref range.....I'm fine with that!
That medic clearly does not understand how thyroid hormones work. This lack of knowledge amongst medics is why well over 100,000 thyroid patients (like you and I) have arrived here looking for the help these medics failed to provide.
Enough from me....members can only share experiences and knowledge gained when dealing with their own, often very complex, issues, we don't diagnose. Having digested that information only you can then decide what you want to do with it.
Hope you feel better soon...we're all here to offer support.
Thank you for your reply. I think it's an autoimmune flare as my Ulcerative colitis is back, I have pains in my shoulder, burning in my stomach and I went through a very early menopause so I know my body has attacked my ovaries, I am pretty sure I have Mast Cell activation syndrome and react to histamines, sacyliactes and oxalates etc in foods. I have only just gone down to very few foods to sort this out so my body can calm down - I am expanding to different foods every day to see which my body will accept but don't expect I am taking in nutrients as I should. I take loads of supplements.
Hormones have been the bane of my life - I have none of them left really.
It is strange that my antibodies have always come back negative with all these other things going on.
So if this is not a flare then you are saying all these things could be caused by low TSH and T4 and slightly low T3? The problem is that when I upped the T3 over the last few months things have got worse - but then I have been eating all the wrong things etc so it's difficult to know what is what.
So - you are saying it's ok to have very low TSh and T3 and go higher?
Should I come off or reduce T3 and try some of the dreaded T4 again?
Hope this makes sense as I haven't slept all night as the doctor has given me steroids and it's set this heart thumping off again. ggggrrr
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