I had to go to A&E on Friday after posting on here not long before.

[Everdean]

I had been suffering with dizziness and weakness since beginning of March. Told it was long COVID. But palpatations started about 2-3 weeks ago gradually increasing. By Friday they got to 130+ . A friend took me to A& E.

Had thorough testing . Bloods showed slight increase in Troponin.

In the end though they said it was probably my thyroid. It may have been affected by having long COVID. And also said to reduce my thyroid meds. They are writing to GP and Endo.

After being on here for advice I had already reduced my t3 from 60 mg to 50. For a couple of days.previously.

I know my blood test showed that my t3 was at 8.82. but I was still suffering from constipation and my cholesterol was high. Which normally would be low with adequate thyroid.

Now , I'm still struggling with palpatations raised bpm, dizziness weakness to headaches. And slight pressure on chest (but could be my fibromyalgia, or stress)

Blood pressure changes each time I take it.

It was suggested by someone that I should just leave off my t3 for a day or so to let it all die down. What are your thoughts please?

[jimh111]

I would leave off for a day and switch to 2 x 20 mcg daily and review. The idea is to find the lowest dose that works rather than the highest dose you can tolerate. Your thyroid doctor seems to be a bit reckless.

[Everdean in reply to jimh111]

Thankyou very much.

[nellie237 in reply to Everdean]

I would also contact your GP for follow up....and do mention the troponin.

I'm getting a general impression that A&E are only pro-active if it is critical in the moment..............

I wish you well, and hope that the reduced dose sorts out the problem.🤗

[Everdean in reply to nellie237]

Thank you nellie237

[DippyDame]

Your T3 dosing is erratic and now too high.I can be easy to overdose when desperate for improvement....been there!

It doesn't work!!

You symptoms are possibly caused by the converse effect of T3....that is, overmedication can cause similar symptoms to undermedication

Fibromyalgia and stress are symptoms not diseases.

Reduce your dose as already advised.

[Everdean in reply to DippyDame]

Thank you Dippy Dame. It was an Endocrinologist that prescribed the 60 mgs.

[DippyDame in reply to Everdean]

He should know better!

Wasn't blaming you...

Keep an eye on FT3.

[Everdean in reply to DippyDame]

Yes of course ,Dippy dame hence the private blood test which the Dr at A&E told me off for. He said we shouldn't do our own blood tests or see a private Endo.I had to explain why I thought it was too much T3. I can't win!!! Even my son told me this morning that it was my fault.

😪

[radd in reply to Everdean]

Everdean

It’s not your fault. Your endo should know better and the worst of it is because thyroid hormones are so essential for balanced-clear thinking, we are disadvantaged straight away in spite of desperately trying to make wise choices. But this isn’t your fault 😊

[Everdean in reply to radd]

Thank you.

[jgelliss in reply to radd]

Ditto.

[DippyDame in reply to Everdean]

Yes, you can win!! It's absolutely not your fault!

Like so many of us you have been the victim of poor diagnosis and wrong medication and the nonsense that is the current endocrinologist's current thinking.

The medic at A&E had the bedside manner of a cornered snake....criticism was his venom!

Our thyroid journeys can be long, bumpy and lonely. I have a supportive immediate family but without this forum and the lovely people here my journey may never have reached it's conclusion....I thought it was just me. It is not!

You are fortunate to be prescribed 60mcg T3 which gives you a supp.y to work with to find your correctdose....many of us have to source our own.

Just consider the mock Latin aphorism, "Illegitimi non carborundum" (am I allowed to say that!) listen to your body and follow the advice you are given here.

Things will look different once you find your therapeutic dose.

Stick with it and keep us posted.

[Everdean in reply to DippyDame]

Thank you for your support. I'm just a bit concerned that the Endo will withdraw the prescription. I will post any interesting news. Thanks sgain

[Hidden]

60 Liothyronine is a truly huge dose isn’t it?

A Dr told me 5mcg T3 is approximately equivalent to 25 Levothyroxine so 60mcg T3 would be like taking 300mcg Levothyroxine.

What’s your TSH? I know TSH isn’t the only thing to look at but in many people it’s helpful.

[jimh111 in reply to Hidden]

Doctor is making a very common (and stupid) mistake. T3 as measured in the blood is thought to be between 4x and 5x as potent as T4. Taken as tablets liothyronine (L-T3) and levothyroxine (L-T4) have different absorption rates and different elimination half-lives.

Thus, the amount you put in your gob isn't the amount that stays in the blood. Doctors (and most endocrinologists) should be able to figure this out, but don't.

This study by Francesco Celi ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl... shows that L-T3 is about 3x as potent as L-T4. Thus, 60 mcg L-T3 is equivalent to about 180 mcg L-T4. This is quite high but not too much for some patients (and too much for many).

Everdean,

It's certainly not your fault. You had one doctor prescribing too much without carefully titrating your dose upwards and another who doesn't know the pharmacodynamic equivalence of L-T3 and L-T4. It's hard work being a patient.

[Everdean in reply to jimh111]

Thank you.

[Hidden in reply to jimh111]

I think you were maybe replying to two different people (?)

Interesting what you said about equivalence

[jimh111 in reply to Hidden]

You’re right, thanks. I hope everyone can work it out. Sorry for confusing everyone. Will amend comment to clarify.

[shaws]

25mcg of T3 is approx equal to 100mcg of T4 "in its effect'.

[Everdean]

Thank you ALL for your very knowledgeable comments and for helping me through this difficult time. And putting my mind at rest.

[shaws]

Levothyroxine was the culprit for me when newly diagnosed as I had severe palpitations (usually very early a.m. and they awakened me and I put ice-packs around my neck whilst sipping ice-cold water.) I was taking levo only.

I had quite a number of overnight checks by the cardiologist who was contemplating putting an implant in my heart 'to see what was going on'. Just around that time T3 was added to T4, palps ceased and didn't need an implant. I then took T3 only and had no further palpitations.

[Everdean]

That's interesting

[TaraJR]

Don't forget that testing T3 only a few hours after you've taken a dose will show too high a level. Drs often don't know that or think of that when testing.

[Everdean]

Yes TaraJR. When I did my private test I followed all the guidelines from the members on this site. Thank you for saying though.