Over range in t4 and t3, taking massive doses, but feel way off when they're reduced

[cazlooks]

hi I can't remember the actual numbers (I have requested, but never received test results) however I was way over range in t3 and t4, and I felt great and enjoyed a very active life for age 61. Unfortunately, my NHS consultant was horrified at my 150mg levo and 60 lyo, and he messed with the doses and I had a bad winter, with infection after infection, resulting in a unmoveable glandular problem. I'm still way over range, but trying to cope on lower t3. Any advice? Background: I have no gall bladder, and not having a menopause as wimins bits were removed a long time ago. I also take a lot of supplements and Creon as my digestive system is a bit off.

[radd]

cazlooks,

Some people need high in range test results, some need low but if you mean you were taking 150mcg T4 + 60mcg T3 that is rather a lot, and over-range results would most likely be a consequence.

The thyroid system works with other systems & although taking more thyroid hormones may initially make one feel better, eventually other systems can not keep up/compete and the effectiveness of the thyroid meds becomes compromised resulting in hypo symptoms.

It is only possible to find our true sweet-spot when iron, nutrients, cortisol and sex hormones are right, otherwise we risk misdiagnosing symptoms. If you are over medicating thyroid meds you will need to reduce which might incur further symptoms until other deficiencies (nutrients, etc) and elevations (binding protein transporters) are rectified.

[cazlooks in reply to radd]

thank you, this makes a lot of sense

[PurpleNails Administrator]

In what way was dose altered? By that I mean was it done gradually in small steps & consistently with retesting. If it wasn’t done methodically ‘messing’ around with doses especially too much or too quickly can cause all manner of symptoms needlessly.

Obtaining your results and understanding exactly how dosing has affecting them will help you take control of your treatment. So once you have results share on here so we can help more.

Your doctor may be focusing on TSH & high in range results should not be a concern even if TSH becomes low.

[cazlooks in reply to PurpleNails]

hi he reduced t3 by a 1/3, I think that was too much.

[PurpleNails Administrator in reply to cazlooks]

A 30mcg drop in 1 go might be too great a drop, but in not sure what the usual increment should be.

More importantly what was the results before & 6 after the dose adjustment.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking and how much T3

Suggest you get FULL Thyroid and vitamin testing done yourself see exactly where results are now

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 once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially after reducing dose

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

On T3 or NDT - day before test split daily dose into 3 smaller doses, spread through the day at approx 8 hour intervals, taking last dose 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...

Remember to stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL blood tests as biotin can falsely affect test results

Come back with new post once you get results

[cazlooks in reply to SlowDragon]

thank you for you advice, much appreciated

[DippyDame]

What has this " expert" prescribed now?If that dose suited you with no signs of overmedication ( fast heart rate, hand tremors, overheating etc) then maybe that is what your body needs!

Once larger doses of T3 are introduced current lab tests become redundant and monitoring needs to rely on signs and symptoms

I need a large dose of T3-only because I have a form of thyroid hormone resistance / cellular hypothyroidism. My TSH and FT4 are through the floor and my FT3 is heading skywards but I function better than I did for a long time.

A recent heart scan showed a healthy heart and my bones are fine....I'm aged 76!

My medics are sceptical but now understand a little better and leave me to it

In your shoes if I was going to reduce anything it would be T4.; it may take a large dose of T3 to overcome resistance and to "force" enough hormone into the nuclei of the cells where it becomes active.

Some of us just do not fit into modern box ticking diagnoses, I found this out late in life....and the hard way. The endo I saw just twice was no help, that help came from much reading and from a few members here who are knowledgeable about T3 and hormone resistance...and among others, the work of the late Dr John Lowe, a thyroid expert.

I'm not suggesting that this is your problem just offering you another avenue to explore so that you can have a different conversation with your medics and perhaps explain why you don't fit his rigid protocol!

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[cazlooks in reply to DippyDame]

thank you so much, I will definitely look into cellular hypothyroidism, I've never heard of it

[DippyDame in reply to cazlooks]

rejuvagencenter.com/thyroid...

This might help!