Low t3: tsh. H 5.77. 0.27-4.20 Free t... - Thyroid UK

Thyroid UK

141,246 members166,491 posts

Low t3

ninja1 profile image
6 Replies

tsh. H 5.77. 0.27-4.20

Free t4 19.7. 12-22.0

Freet3. Low 3.08. 3.1-6.8

Blue horizons.

How can I get t3 up without increasing thyroxine as if my t4 goes over 20 I get very shakey and jittery

I also had b12 folate and vit d bloods medichecks all low but doc won’t accept them says need nhs bloods and I’ve been waiting since 18 may for blood appt but can’t get them done until 1 June

How can I raise t3 I just can barely function

Written by
ninja1 profile image
ninja1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
6 Replies
pennyannie profile image
pennyannie

Hello Ninja1:

The accepted conversion ratio when on T4 Levothyroxine only is said to be 1 /3.50 - 4.50 T3/T4 with most people feeling at their best when they come in at around 4 or under.

So to find your conversion ratio you simply divide your T3 into your T4 and I'm getting yours coming in at around 6.40 - so very poor conversion of the T4 thyroid hormone medication.

No thyroid hormone replacement works well until ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are up and maintained at optimal so this maybe an area to look at :

From experience I now maintain my ferritin at around 100 : folate at around 20 : active B12 at around 75 ++ and vitamin D at around 100:

Your TSH has gone further out of range since your last post some 11 days ago - have you been able to talk to your doctor as suggested then ?

There is liquid T4 - maybe this could be suggested - but I think a recommendation to endo is necessary as doctors in primary care can only prescribe T4 monotherapy which clearly, currently, isn't working for you.

ninja1 profile image
ninja1 in reply topennyannie

Yes medichecks bloods show b12 and vit d and folate low but ferritin 135. Doc won’t accept medichecks bloods but ordered nhs ones but have to wait until 1 June to get bloods drawn I’m on my knees

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie in reply toninja1

Yes, I'm afraid that happens but we need the Medichecks results to see for ourselves and thereby force NHS action through the doctor which is " back to front " thinking.

Ok - so it's now 27th so not too long, just try and rest up and don't overdo anything, not that you probably can.

Take good care:

ninja1 profile image
ninja1

I don’t have a thyroid it was removed totally in 1995

ninja1 profile image
ninja1 in reply toninja1

If I increase thyroxine taking free t4 to over 20 I get shakey and my heart rate goes beserk

pennyannie profile image
pennyannie in reply toninja1

Well in that case you would probably fair better with a little T3 - Liothyronine as well as T4 - Levothyroxine - making a T3/T4 combo :

A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1. T2, and calcitonin + a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg + a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg.

T3 is the active hormone that the body runs on and said to be about four times more powerful than T4 which is a storage hormone and which needs to be converted by the body into T3:

Some people can get by on T4 only :

Some people find that T4 seems to stop working as well, at some point in time, and add in a little T3 making a T3/T4 combo :

Some people can't tolerate T4 at all and need to take T3 Liothyronine only :

Whilst others prefer to take Natural Desiccated Thyroid which contains all the same known hormones as that of the human gland and made from pig thyroid dried and ground down into tablets referred to as grains.

20 odd years ago all these options were at your doctors fingertips to prescribe.

Sadly we appear to be going backwards as now you need to be referred to an endocrinologist if T4 and the obligatory anti depressants that often get pulled out the NHS bag, don't work for you.

I too do not have a thyroid as I have Graves Disease and was treated with RAI thyroid ablation in 2005 - a treatment I deeply regret and now manage lingering Graves, thyroid eye disease and hypothyroidism and now self medicate with NDT and feel much better.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Low t3

Hi can I get some advice please. I'm not on thyroid meds. I've had my thyroid blood tests done...
kingyl profile image

Low TSH on t3

Hi I got my bloods done today and my TSH is very low 0.18 ( 0.23-5). My t4 is low (as expected) and...

Low T4, normal T3 and TSH

Okay so had a follow up blood test, I'm not yet on any meds. I have Hashis as previously discovered...
Chrissie2016 profile image

T3

Hi everyone, I am not doing well on T4 and im going to speak to my endo about trying T3 only for a...

Low T3 Low T4 and very Low TSH

Can anyone please help me? I am at my wits end trying to get my head around this under active...
Angie33 profile image

Moderation team

See all
PurpleNails profile image
PurpleNailsAdministrator
TUKOffice profile image
TUKOfficeAdministrator
RedApple profile image
RedAppleAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.