T3 side effects?

[Nutty56]

hey guys just looking for any advice ?

I started T3 last Monday , initial dose 5 mcg morning and evening along with 50/75 t4 on alternate days .

Wednesday and Thursday started with heavy legs struggling to walk . Reduced t3 to 5mcg splitting 2.5 7am /5pm

Have felt ok until today? Today I feel tired nauseous, dry mouth , lightheaded and off balance ?

Have left msg with endo who is not available until Wednesday! Not sure how to play it now stick with 5mcg or try increasing?

Feeling it’s like one step forward and two back 😢

Thanks

[Lalatoot]

I wouldn't increase. With T3 it is best to start at 5mcg and leave it at that for a week or two to see how things go.

[Nutty56 in reply to Lalatoot]

Thanks Lalatoot I felt I was getting somewhere so disheartening but I guess I’ll just have to ride it out !

[DippyDame]

As we change/ increase our dose it takes time for the body to adjust (6/8weeks) and it's not unusual to feel worse before we feel better....frustrating but it happens.

I'm T3-only and like you initially thought I was getting it all wrong!!

We must increase low and slow

I'd suggest it's far too soon to think about increasing/ changing your dose

As you say, " ride it out" at least until you have your next test 6/8 weeks after introducing T3....

and have been on a steady dose for that time

Good luck

[Nutty56 in reply to DippyDame]

Thanks Dippy hopefully tomorrow will be a better day 🙏

[DippyDame in reply to Nutty56]

It won't resolve overnight...but it will resolve!

[RoseF3]

I started 5mcg t3 as advised by my endo 3 weeks ago - the first week was still as awful as I normally felt, the 2nd week I was marginally better in the mornings. Week 3 now and I feel very good, I just lose my energy around the same time each day so hoping I can add another 5 mcg in the afternoon soon.

[Nutty56 in reply to RoseF3]

Thanks Rose you’ve given me hope this could be the norm 🙏

[RoseF3]

The first week was really the worst for me, 2 and an hour naps every other day - luckily I have a very understanding hubby! Stick with it, I felt very lost but now feel myself more now

[Nutty56 in reply to RoseF3]

Thanks again Rose it’s reassuring to hear others have similar symptoms!

[McPammy]

Can you get bloods done while you are feeling at your worst. This could indicate where your bloods are and what is causing the issues. When I first started my T3 combined with Levothyroxine I use to have dips in energy at the same time each day. I then split my Levothyroxine dose in half and moved the time I took it. I take my T3 on getting up about 7.30. I then take half my Levo at noon. And the next half at 4pm. I take me 2nd T3 at 3pm. The dips in energy (spiking of thyroxine) went away. I had a spare blood form off my GP to capture any issues as they’d happen. For me it was the T3 going slightly over the range I then knew what was happening. I kept on same dose of T3 but reduced Levothyroxine by 10% and walked briskly this really helped me. My private only Endocrinologist said I’d done the right and sensible things by checking my bloods, lowering T4 and brisk walks. Now I feel great. If I ever feel like I may be going over range I exercise and that brings it back into line again. This can happen from time to time. I know it’s difficult to walk briskly when you feel like your driving with the handbrake on so to speak, like you feel too heavy. But if you can push through it it goes away, or it does in my experience. I bought a cross trainer that I go on if it’s raining to help at these times too. It really does help me. It doesn’t happen often maybe once every 3 months or so.

[Nutty56 in reply to McPammy]

Thanks Pam it wasn’t so much the heavy feeling it was more nauseous lightheaded and off balance? I felt so wobbly it put me off going for a walk . I have looked through other posts on here and these symptoms have been mentioned starting t3 ? It’s only been a week so maybe I just need to see how it goes ?

[McPammy in reply to Nutty56]

Yes, we are all different. Keep going best you can. I’m so sorry things haven’t improved just yet. I hope they soon will. I’m rooting for you xx

[Foggyk]

I got heart palpitations when taking T3.

[Josephineinamachine in reply to Foggyk]

Yup me too!

[Foggyk in reply to Josephineinamachine]

Interesting, I feel much better on T3 but really strong heart palpitaions. Did you stop taking it? I am thinking I will stop

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Foggyk]

Do you all mean palpitations or strengthened heart beat?

[Foggyk in reply to TiggerMe]

Palpitations

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Foggyk]

Where's your iron level and B12 at? I get strengthened beat but it settles with time

[Josephineinamachine in reply to TiggerMe]

Both really I would say… it wasn’t great. It felt like I was just replacing one worry with another even bigger one 🤷🏻‍♀️ shame because initially I felt much better on T3

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Josephineinamachine]

Interesting, do you think it was related to cortisol, iron or B12 levels?

[Josephineinamachine in reply to TiggerMe]

actually it could have been adrenal issues possibly? Lots of ongoing big stress leading up to and including time of diagnosis and start of T3. Iron and B12 fine. I’m feeling a lot calmer and in ‘sync’ with everything now so not sure I’d want to try T3 again even if I have recovered from the stress. I don’t want to rock the boat again. The only thing I wish would go is thigh pain which the T3 did resolve… I wonder how much my recovery is about coming to terms with and accepting that I may never go back to pre-diagnosis health and acceptance of the new me… like living with leg pain…

I had a ‘cancer scare’ last spring. It was proper scary. After the all clear my thyroid issues felt much more manageable in comparison!

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Josephineinamachine]

Bless, it is so hard to view things in isolation when life keeps sending in another curve ball, it's a holistic balance we all strive for and sometimes the bad s##t actual leads to a good review and understanding 🤗

Adrenals do seem to have a lot to answer for when they finally say enough is enough

It is a physical and a mind game we are playing 🤺

[Josephineinamachine in reply to TiggerMe]

definitely! 🤗 good way of looking at it! 😊

[Josephineinamachine in reply to Foggyk]

I stopped. I felt at one point as if my heart was flipping around like a fish. Scared me. I also had a banging fast heart beat when I went to bed. Also scared me. Heart fine now, phew.

[Foggyk in reply to Josephineinamachine]

Glad to hear it

[Foggyk]

Iron levels ok now

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Foggyk]

Daughter was getting palps with low B12 and Iron (she's not hypo, yet)

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Foggyk]

Adding in the T3 should help to improve cortisol levels over time, in turn allowing the body greater ability to make best use of the T3, chicken and egg situation, which is why the need to take it slow for many