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Starting T3 supplementation and question about pregnancy

joanna708 profile image
3 Replies

Hello,

I have Hashimoto, and have been prescribed some t3 to take in combination with my levothyroxine.

In fact, despite not feeling great, I have been putting off starting the new treatment for a while now. I do think it is time I start it though.

The original GP in France who prescribed this to me recommended I disinfect my gut first with essential oils but since I am breastfeeding he instead instructed me to take colloidal silver and aloe vera for 2 weeks and then start the T3.

When I first consulted him I was on 175mcg of T4. I think he had told me to bring it down to 125mcg and start by adding a quarter of a 25mcg tablet in the morning and see how I feel and if needed could add another quarter at lunchtime later down the line.

However, since then my T4 was reduced to 150mcg by my UK GP because I was experiencing palpitations (with hindsight, I do not think it was from my thyroid treatment, but probably more stress and tiredness related but since my TSH was below the norm, this was what was advised).

The British endo I have seen since being on the new dosage wanted me to drop to 100mcg of T4 and add 1/4 of a 25mcg t3 when I did start taking t3.

But my latest bloods on 150mcg in October 21 were far from optimal and are as follows:

TSH: 1.73mIU/L (0.27 - 4.2)

T4: 15.6 pmol/L (11.2 - 20.2)

T3: 3.6 pmol/L (3.2 - 6.8)

When on 175mcg, my T4 was not quite optimal, and T3 was not great either, so I do think supplementing with T3 would be a good idea. I don't know why I have been putting it off really.

So, my questions are:

- I am GF but the T3 I have been prescribed has gluten in it (wheat starch), how bad will this affect me? Do the British ones also have it if I manage to get it prescribed here?

-With my bloods as they are, should I just start off on the dosage that the French GP said (125mcg T4 and 1/4 of a 25mcg T3) rather than drop to 100mcg? I feel like that would not be enough T4 since my T4 from oct is at 15.6?

-I do have plans to have another baby (still breastfeeding now), the French GP says no issue taking T3 in pregnancy. The British endo against it. Any experience of taking T3 in pregnancy? On the T3 leaflet it says it can be taken in pregnancy....

Thanks if you have read this far.

Looking forward to reading our comments.

Joanna

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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

No T3 has gluten in …..as far as we are aware

Which brand of T3 have you got

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

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Important all four vitamins are OPTIMAL before considering adding T3

With Ft4 only mid range now …..you probably don’t want to reduce levothyroxine any further

Start T3 SLOWLY

adding 1/4 tablet waking every morning

Wait a week…….assuming going ok …..add 2nd 1/4 tablet mid-late afternoon

Hold at that dose…..retest in 6-8 weeks

Day before test split T3 as normal, but take last 5mcg dose 8-12 hours before test

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

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

joanna708 profile image
joanna708 in reply to SlowDragon

Hi SlowDragon,

Thanks for answering my message.

The T3 I have is from France. It is called Cynomel 25mcg. The endo over here asked if I could just take the one I had rather than have her prescribe me some at fist (then would have to be GP) because of the cost to the NHS. In France, I think a box was around 4 or 6 euros when I got it.

I always take the same brand of thyroxine (Mercury Pharma; mainly stuck to this one as they produce 25s;50s;and 100s). Are some better than others or depends on each individual?

Thanks for the advice about take the T3. So you think I should just stick to 150mcg of T4 and then slowly add the T3?

My vitamins were last checked:

23 June 2021 - Vit D - 77nmol/L (76-250) - have increased my Vit D supplementation since then but not been retested

-B12 - 428 ng/L (180-770)

-Serum folate: 11.0 ug/L (4-26)

From blood test in France in 10 February 2021:

Magnesium serique - 20.1 mg/L (16-26)

Ferritin - 42 ng/L (15 - 150)

Vi D was lower then: 25ng/L (30-60)

Reverse T3 - 0,30 ng/L (0,09 - 0,35)

Vit A - 462 mcg/L (300-700)

Zinc - 736 mcg/L (553 - 1046)

Selenium - 133 mcg/L (46-125) - was supplementing and eating probbly too many brazil nuts

Iodine - 62 mcg/L (slight defficiency between 50-99)

Do you advise I get another bloodtest before starting T3? What would indicate I need or do not require supplementing with T3?

I supplement daily with:

Vit D3-K2 (now betwen 5000IU and 9000IU)

Zinc, Selenium - not all the time as had high levels last year, Folate (added recently as thinking of another pregnancy and already take Vit B and prenatal vits), Vit B complex, prenatal vits (from raw food sources - taking as breeastfeeding), Quercetin, Magnesium (usually, but have ran out), NAC (intermittently)

I have been thinking about taking iron as I do not eat meat and on the low scale of the range of ferritin, but haven't got round to doing it. There is a little in the prenatal vits I take. Would it be beneficial you think?

The French GP wanted me to take lugo iodine 1%, 3 drops a week. Any thoughts?

In your message you talk of the 4 vitamins? (folate, b12, selenium and zinc?)

Thanks again.

Best,

Joanna

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to joanna708

4 vitamins…vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

We never recommend iodine unless tested and found deficient

Levothyroxine contains all the iodine likely to need

Ferritin on low side

Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first

Medichecks iron panel test

medichecks.com/products/iro...

Posts discussing why important to do full iron panel test

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

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