Please help me understand why I still have bad days

[RickGrimes]

I added T3 to my treatment about a year ago and after some fiddling with the ratios have been on T4 50mcg and T3 20cmg (split 10mcg on waking, 5mcg approx 11am and 5mcg approx 3pm) for 18 weeks.

Most days I am very good, able to work, exercise, look after my children, keep on top of the house. I often feel full of energy, I've taken up new hobbies, pole dance and climbing, my libido is back and I have a fella 15 years my junior. All amazing and I am thankful everyday to have relatively good health again!

Some days though I still struggle with weakness, lack of energy, irritability, brain fog. Because I'm mostly good I think the dose is probably about right, but I want to feel on top form ALL the time!

Is this greedy?

Am I being unrealistic and are some days with symptoms to be expected?

Things I think might be affecting me

Monthly cycle

Poor sleep (not necessarily the night before, could have been a few nights prior)

My eating habits the day before, I might have eaten dinner early with the children (5pm) or maybe was a bit low on carbs as gluten free, or had a rare coffee, or ate too much sugar to get me through the working day!

Having had a busy or active day or days before.

The timings of my splits, can often feel worse in the morning, because of the larger T3 dose in the morning or longer gap since last T3.

There always seems to be a few things that could have been the culprit so it's so hard to know. For example today I crashed out at midday and wasn't able to take the kids out as planned. Yesterday I did an exercise class, had a few hours at the park, I did factor in some rest time but then was out taking the kids to their activities in the evening. Food wise I had an early and a bit rubbish tea just oatcakes and cheese and salad bits oh and I think I'm ovulating right now so there's the hormone factor too. I was very tired yesterday from sleep deprivation the night before, (not a hypo tiredness) so maybe it's a delayed reaction to this.

If anyone has any insights I'd love to hear them.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

RickGrimes

What are your current test results/ranges on these doses, with last dose of Levo taken 24 hours before test and last dose of T3 taken 8-12 hours before test?

[RickGrimes in reply to SeasideSusie]

I don't have free T3 results on these levels. My new NHS endo does free T4 and total T3.

I have tested privately in the past but not for a while. Also money is tight atm

[RickGrimes in reply to SeasideSusie]

Taken 17th MayTotal t3 1.6( 0.9-2.5)

Free T4 11.8 (10-20)

TSH 0.24 (0.20-4.0)

These were taken approx 3or 4 hours after I'd taken my morning dose of T3 10mcg and 50mcg of levo as instructed to do so by the endo)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to RickGrimes]

Testing after taking your dose like that is measuring them at their highest level as both T4 and T3 spike 2-4 hours after ingestion.

So those results are showing a false high which means that your normal circulating levels of the thyroid hormones would be lower. Your May results show both T4 and T3 to be low in range but the Total T3 gives no indication of the amount of free T3 which is really what is needed. However, with that level of Total T3 then your free T3 is likely to be too low which suggests undermedication and the reason for you not feeling as well as you could.

[RickGrimes in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you Susie, I've always tested the way you described in your earlier post when I've done it myself via a finger prick and will do so if I decided to buy another kit. I did see that Medichecks have an offer on atm actually.

Interesting that you suggest medication. I suppose because I don't feel consistently bad I'd discounted that

[Lotika]

Hi - I wanted to respond to the more discursive side of your post. I really don’t have the answers, but for me, getting loads of sleep is absolutely crucial, so I prioritise sleep management above all else! Energy management is also in there somewhere for me, although I find that harder to understand; I seem fine to walk miles at the weekends but of course, I sleep as long as I want then too, so I think that balances it out!

[RickGrimes in reply to Lotika]

Thanks for your reply, I could do more regarding sleep and energy management tbf. Aside from the fact I may be undermedicated which I will investigate maybe I am expecting too much of myself. I do still have a chronic health condition after all!