I've just had my latest results. I had decreased my Metavive dose by 15 mg and my My T4 has decreased but T3 increased. Does this indicate that my conversion has improved?
My GP will still say I am overmedicated and I don't mind decreasing my Metavive dose a bit more but I am concerned that the T4 will drop too low and not sure what the implication of this will be. [By agreeing to lower the dose a bit more I can get my GP to retest all three values on the NHS rather than paying privately.]
You can only tell how well - or poorly - you convert when on T4 only. So, impossible to tell if it means your conversion has improved.
Most important question is: how do you feel on your present dose?
Thanks. I have felt OK. Not really any different from when the T3 was above the range. I'm puzzled why it would have gone up when I lowered my dose. If my doctor wants me to cut down more, would I be alright with an even lower T4 if my T3 stays at the top of the range?
Can't answer that question. Everyone's need for T4 is different, and only you can know how much you need to feel well.
Are your blood draws always done at the same time of day? That can have an effect on levels. But, frankly, the difference is so slight it's not of much significance. How long ago did you reduce your dose?
I always ask for a blood test as early as possible so it is never after 9 am. The dose was reduced 3 months ago.
OK, so you have Hashi's, don't you. Could very well be due to the Hashi's that you have an increased level of T3. Levels do tend to jump around a bit with Hashi's. See what happens next test. 
My biggest decision is whether to keep the dose the same or do what SlowDragon says below and have the same dose daily, which means either an increase or decrease in dose.
Well, SlowDragon is right. If you want T3 to do what it's supposed to do, you have to take the same dose every single day. You cannot alternate. Personally, as your FT3 is a little bit on the high-side, right now, I'd go for the decrease and see how it goes. You can always increase later.
You can NOT take different dose on different days ….on Metavive you must take exactly same dose every day
TSH is likely to remain suppressed, that’s just what happens if taking Metavive
As you have Hashimoto’s are you on absolutely strictly gluten free diet?
Or dairy free diet?
A few years ago I was gluten free for 6 months but it made no difference to how I felt or my figures. I haven't been dairy free. I know this sounds an excuse but we eat out a lot and go to friends for meals and it does make life so complicated when everything has to be questioned. I'm sure my thyroid problems are my body's reaction to a lifetime of chronic stress and being restrictive about food is another stress.
I have been doing other work on managing stress and wonder if this is making a difference and
Previously, on just 60mg of Metavive daily, my T3 and T4 went too low (T3 3.9 and T4 9.9) so I went to 90mg which was too much, so I have been reducing the dose. Based on the figures, if you say the dose must be the same daily, I have to do either 75mg (an increase) or go down to 60mg daily. I'm concerned my T4 may go too low if I drop to 60 every day but not sure if it matters if my T3 stays good.
Clearly you can alter your dose slightly on a daily basis in order to finely modulate your dose. Some people do. Equally the ideal is to take the same dose daily if that is possible by cutting tablets etc.
With regard to the change in a result I'd suggest small changes should be seen as possible movement in levels but equally they could be noise and not reflect real changes.
Thanks. I found that making the small reduction in dose didn't make me feel any worse so I can go down a bit more. Metavive is in capsules so a pain to split but they have different sizes that increase in 15mg doses of the thyroid gland (ignoring the new formulation with added nucleotides)
Sorry, I am being nosey as usual. What is Metavive please?
And under what circumstances would you be prescribed it?
Metavive is a thyroid glandular. That is, made from desiccated thyroid gland. However, unlike Armour Thyroid, Erfa, NP Acella, Thyroid S, it does not declare a thyroid hormone content.
It would never be prescribed by a GP or other health service doctor.
A few people who practice as some sort of natural medicine person might offer it. But it will cost.
Also, since I take my dose once a day, The test was more than 24 hours after my last Metavive dose
(Edited by admin)
If it is OK to take levo at different doses on alternate says then why can't this apply to the T4 component of Metavive?
T4 is a storage hormone so in theory you can do this but by introducing synthetic T4 you are adjusting the ratio of the T3/T4 you are taking, which " looks " to be currently working well for you.
The blood tests and ranges and guidelines were all introduced to be used alongside Big Pharma's synthetic T3 and T4 products, not Metavive nor Natural Desiccated Thyroid.
I'm taking NDT and dose to the relief of my symptoms and having been refused anything other than T4 - on the NHS, and refused T3 and T4 blood tests, I now look after myself and just organise a yearly blood test more to see where my vitamins and minerals sit than anything else.
I'm with Graves post RAI thyroid ablation and managing lingering Graves, thyroid eye disease - caused by the RAI, and hypothyroidism and having to Do It for myself.
Thanks. We have no choice but to look after ourselves. My private doctor started me with Erfa to use with my levo but it got so expensive and I never found the correct dose. I went to Metavive and dropped the levo and finally seem to be getting somewhere.
Hi
Last test I had I was relatively higher on range for T3 on Metavive, and lower on range for T4. But my TSH was 2 - not supressed. GP not interested or willing to listen that I was taking Metavive and just said it was normal now. I was wondering if a bit of T4 was added in would it be evened out. As your NHS doctors are at least interested might that be an option for you? How did they initially react when you said you were taking/thinking of taking Metavive?
Thanks for your reply.
My Metavive was prescribed by a private doctor as I wasn't happy on level. My proper GP retired and he was great, understood about TSH suppression and wasn't worried. The replacement locum did the usual and just looked at the TSH and not the T3 and 4 levels. I've changed to another GP who seems a bit better but it's early days so we'll see.
It has been said before on this forum that Metavive can lead to lower T4 readings so that may be what's happening in my case, so reducing to 60mg (old dose not counting the nucleotide element) may not be a problem.
Are these results OK?
Latest results…
Test opinion please
Opinion on test results please?
