I’m struggling with weight loss. Can anyone give any tips? I’m on 10mcg of Liothyronine and 100mcg of Levothyroxine. (Just started my T3 medication 2 weeks ago)
Weight Loss : I’m struggling with weight loss... - Thyroid UK
Weight Loss
![Thyroidgirl1236 profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/6a1c4a5c81894063b97cdcfad7cd313d_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
![Thyroidgirl1236 profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/6a1c4a5c81894063b97cdcfad7cd313d_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
![SlowDragon profile image](https://images.hu-production.be/avatars/27fbbead1f291333f83bad1f31359fe3_small@2x_100x100.jpg)
Welcome to the forum
Please add most recent thyroid and vitamin results from BEFORE starting on T3
What dose levothyroxine before T3 added
Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription
Essential to regularly retest vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
What vitamin supplements are you currently taking
Do you have Autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies
It can take several months to fine tune levothyroxine/T3 combination
Bloods should be retested 6-8 weeks after each dose change or brand change in levothyroxine or T3
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.
Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least annually
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto’s or Ord’s thyroiditis)
Low vitamin levels common as we get older too
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Testing T3
On day before blood test, split T3 into 3 smaller doses, at roughly equal 8 hour intervals, taking last 1/3rd of daily dose approx 8-12 hours before test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins
List of private testing options
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins
medichecks.com/products/adv...
Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test
bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...
If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3
£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £29 via
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease). Ord’s is autoimmune without goitre.
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue too
Link about thyroid blood tests
thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...
Link about Hashimoto’s
thyroiduk.org/hypothyroid-b...
List of hypothyroid symptoms
Thyroidgirl1236,
Welcome to our forum,
I suffered weight loss when first adding T3 to Levo several years ago. It can seem alarming at first because you feel you are doing nothing to instigate the weight loss but it will ease once levels reach those they are supposed to.
If you overshoot the body will naturally regain a little. You have only been medicating T3 for two weeks and when we have been long-term-T3-deficient the consequential naturally slowing of our metabolism has to reverse, speed up and then find its own happy medium again.
Also 10mcg T3 would be quite a big dose to start straight away if you haven't medicated T3 before. How are you feeling?
Thank you for your response. I feel so much better and full of energy. I think I wrote my post wrong, I meant that I haven’t been able to lose any weight. I am definitely moving around more, my eating isn’t too bad. How long does it take to see results or do you think my dose could be too low?
When I first got diagnosed my TSH was 194 so I was quite a severe case, Levothyroxine did nothing for me, still had all the symptoms so I’m hope the T3 will help me. Before my Hypothyroidism I was 9.5 stone and now I’m 12 stone, it’s crept up and up 😕
Thyroidgirl1236,
🤣 ... oh, I am sorry.
Well, in that case read SlowDragon's informative post above about protocols in getting meds working more effectively as they can be very reliant on other cofactors and fickle when requirements aren't met. Also, be aware it can take several months for hormone levels to rebalance and some symptoms may lag behind even good biochemistry. Your TSH of 194 was extraordinarily high.
You definitely won't need more meds just yet and members will be able to offer more informed answers if you post thyroid hormone blood test results including ranges (numbers in brackets). T3 is usually started at just 5mcg. If you get any symptoms of too much inner heat, insomnia or shakiness you may have to reduce to 5mcg for a couple of weeks before raising to 10mcg again.
Anyway, I'm glad you are feeling better & here's to the upcoming weight loss 😊.
It can take many months after being very hypothyroid for everything to settle
What dose levothyroxine did you start on
How long were you at 100mcg levothyroxine
Essential to regularly retest vitamin levels
Presumably you have had thyroid antibodies tested?
Strictly gluten free diet often helps or is essential