Would like to hear any thoughts on my latest test results

[Lotika]

Hi -

Long time, no post!

So I still don't feel like I've found the right balance on T4/T3 and I wanted to have a chat about it.

I am currently taking 100 mcg T4 + 2 x 5 mcg T3 (which more often than not, is only 1 x 5 mcg in the morning as I invariably forget the second one).

TSH 0.19 (0.27 - 4.2)

FT4 17.5 (11.2 - 22.2) (57%)

FT3 3.6 (3.2 0 3.6). (11%) NB, this was 24 hours after my last T3 dose as endo is a TSH stickler and it shows zero impact of T3 as I always test at 11% through range on Levo only; however, I do know that on this level of medication, my PEAK serum fT3 is 5, 50% through range, so we can safely assume that if I were to test as the board advises I'd be somewhere between the two.

So, I am generally sluggish and struggle to do anything with myself if I don't get enough sleep. If I take no T3, I get depressed within 24 hours. My energy isn't great at the moment.

Once upon a time, my endo had me try 75T4 + 10T3 + 5T3 and I felt pretty good for a few days, almost like me... before I started a course of antibiotics, which I think ruined my absorption of T4, because my fT4 fell to around 20%. I would like to try this again, but the (NHS) endo has responded to my request with a December appointment...

Obviously, I'm beyond frustrated and not quite sure where to go. I didn't take any T3 today in order to stock pile a bit, and I am feeling terribly defeated; I really can tell the difference. As I haven't long started a new job, I'm hesitant to rock the boat in case I feel worse instead of better, which of course, will impact my performance...

And a part of me would like to try NDT, which the endo will never countenance, of course...

Like all of us, I just want to feel vaguely normal and I don't understand why they have to make it so difficult. Anyway, I'd be grateful for any thoughts or other ways of looking at it!

Lotika

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Obviously you absolutely must take exactly same dose T3 everyday

You won’t make any progress if you frequently forget 2nd dose T3

Put an alarm on your watch/phone

Only test after 6-8 weeks on constant unchanging dose and brands levothyroxine and T3

Always test thyroid levels early morning, ideally before 9am and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Last 5mcg dose T3 approx 8-12 hours before test

Essential to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

[JAmanda]

T3 did nothing for me in small doses. And splitting it across the day just gave me a headache and ear pain til I took the next dose. I began to appreciate it when I started on 20 all in one go with my Levo. I then stuck on 25 for a long while with 100 Levo. Clearly you’ve room for more t3.

[Gingernut44]

If you keep forgetting your second dose, why don’t you take your whole dose in one go with your Levo. It’s definitely worth trying and retest in 6 weeks. If you find you need more T3 I would buy your own to top up. It’s ridiculous to make you wait until December.

[Yeswithasmile]

I’m sorry you don’t feel like you’re getting somewhere. You have been doing this for awhile now I know. I wonder, have you written all the doses you have tried with results? Then you can decide what you haven’t tried. I know it can get confusing as I often wonder what did what for me!!

I can say that for me when I was on t4 only The difference between feeling improved and feeling crap was 75mcg over a week. I dropped 25mcg for 4 days and felt so much better. Really surprised me how sensitive it can be.

I think I’m fortunate in the respect that I get such pain as a first symptom of under or over medication. I also talk incessantly 🤣 when over medicated on t3 so I sort of know somethings up very quickly.

Don’t lose the faith now Lotika!!