Synctathen Test

[Helen2691]

Hello, My wife has been taken off her T3 trial as it gave her palpitations, and anxiety attacks.

The Endo is now going to arrange a Synctathen test to stress test her adrenals to see if she is producing any steroid hormones. Cortisol was normal but on the normal but low side.

Any comments?

[shaws Administrator]

Did your wife take T3 on an empty stomach with one glass of water and wait an hour before she ate?

[Helen2691 in reply to shaws]

No, after food. No guidance given on how to take except seperate from T4. T4 taken before food as needed

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Welcome to the forum

Can you add some background info

How long on levothyroxine, which brand and what dose….before adding T3

Please add results and ranges

How much was dose levothyroxine reduced when T3 added

How much T3 and was it split as 2 or 3 smaller doses

Does she have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

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

What vitamin supplements is she taking

[Helen2691 in reply to SlowDragon]

I'm also on here as Helen's Hubby.

How long on levothyroxine, which brand and what dose….before adding T3

Standard brand or whtever's in stock

Please add results and ranges

Not sure of ranges of latest tests but last year T3 3.6 (3.8-6) T4 about 12 and TSH suppressed to almost nothing.

How much was dose levothyroxine reduced when T3 added

25 mcg

How much T3 and was it split as 2 or 3 smaller doses

10 mcg twice bdaily

Does she have autoimmune thyroid disease also called Hashimoto’s usually diagnosed by high thyroid antibodies

Yes

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

Vit D recently OK don't know about folate & B12 but Ferritin mid range

What vitamin supplements is she taking

Zinc, Vit D3, Selenium, Ferrous Sulfate.

We tried Zinc when T3 was 3.6 and T3 went to 5.5 and T4 to 21.5! Nothing happened to TSH except it crept up a bit.

Further test with less Levo brought T3 and T4 down to high end 3rd quartile. Cortisol low normal. Ended up speaking to a Registrar obsessed about TSH. Aaaaargh!. We spoke to Endo who decided on Synctathen test to see if Adrenals working properly. Then if OK going to push on for pituitary.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Helen2691]

So also some further info on here

healthunlocked.com/user/hel...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Things to try

Only make one change at a time

Always take levothyroxine on empty stomach and then nothing apart from water for at least an hour after

No other medications or supplements within 2 hours

No iron, vitamin D, magnesium, ppi or HRT within 4 hours of levothyroxine

Taking levothyroxine at bedtime can improve absorption

Alternatively, splitting levothyroxine into 2 smaller doses, waking and bedtime

ALWAYS get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Unless lactose intolerant, avoid Teva brand

Test folate, ferritin, B12 and vitamin D at least once a year

Maintain optimal vitamin levels by supplementing

Vitamin D at least around 80nmol minimum

Serum B12 at least over 500

Active B12 over 70

Folate and ferritin at least half way through range

Strictly gluten free diet often helps or is essential for over 80% of Hashimoto’s patients

Trail for at least 3-6 months minimum