high ft4 how does it feel?

[Sofie007]

Hello, I have been feeling awful the last few weeks, lots of anxiety and zero energy. Is this what high ft4 and low ft3 feels like? I would like to know how other people feel when they don’t convert well.

[Hidden]

Hi Sofie007

Yes this was how I felt. I also had quite a bit of tremor and general jitteriness. Have you had recent bloods done?

🦋

[Sofie007 in reply to Hidden]

Hey Butterfly, yes the jitteriness i have too. Wired/tired. My last results are from August. Tsh 1.5 ft4 19.6 (12-22) ft3 3.91 (3.10-6.80). My GP wants to wait another month before testing again. I have always been a bit of an anxious person, but the last few months I even panic walking my dog. It was never like that. I am on levothyroxine since February, current dose 75mcg. I don't know what to do to be honest. I could up my levothyroxine or I could add T3. But since I don't have blood results I don't feel comfortable changeing anything. I had poor conversion in August. I have been taking daily iron 45mg, D3 2000 since then. I went to see a naturopathic docter last week. She said I shouldn't increase levo, she wants me to add a little T3. But someone here on the forum said I have room to increase levo... so now I just don't know what to do.

Did you add T3 and felt better ?

Thanks so much and sorry for the long reply

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Sofie007]

I went through this 😕 my TSH was slightly lower T4 top of range T3 bottom!

I decided that as T3 has a short life in your system I would experiment with it as messing with T4 is very slow to react and can mess you up for a long time making it so hard to gauge the effect.

I would suggest try a small amount of T3 as I pretty much instantly feel the difference but if it doesn't suit you it wears off within 8 hours....

Hope this helps, T3 has made all the difference for me, yet to meet an Endo to discuss but in the meantime the old me is making a comeback! 😅

Edit... sorry I ought to add don't change your levo dose just add a little T3 so you are only changing one thing at a time 😉

[Sofie007 in reply to TiggerMe]

Eeyore, thank you for the quick reply. Very happy to read the old you is making a comeback That must feel like a relief. I'm looking forward to that too. I think I will do as you suggested.

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Sofie007]

Thanks, hope it goes well for you as it is a real game changer 🙏 🙏 but if it turns out not for you at least you are a little wiser in how your body reacts.... it is really hard to know what to do but really you need to listen to your body as you are the expert 🤗

I found that you can literally feel the T3 bringing you back to life and equally feel it leaving you and with a small dose maybe 5 or 10mcg it may only last a few hours as you are very low at the moment

[Sofie007 in reply to TiggerMe]

Thanks Eeyore. Yes, everyone reacts differently, there's no harm in experimenting a bit to find what works.

[Hidden]

Hi Sofie

Yes your blood results were very much like mine when I felt very unwell and jittery etc last year. I agree with Eeyore I would not increase Levo as I did and ended up over range and still low T3. I added T3 (15 mcg) in 3 divided doses. Sadly, for me it hasn’t been life changing and I’m looking to increase Levo a bit and reduce T3 to 10mcg at the moment. However, my T3 results have lifted a bit since adding.

I also have some issues with getting back on top of menopause symptoms with HRT so all difficult to know what’s what.

Also, I also have been quite an anxious person and I’m convinced this was the hypo in the background for years prior to diagnosis. I’m having a huge spike now in response to not feeling well. I understand the anxiety with simple tasks like dog walking. I’m reading Claire Weekes at the moment which is helpful and listen to Martin Hewlett’s Calming Anxiety app. I know exactly how you are feeling. Hang in there.

Maybe a small amount of T3 as Eeyore suggests would suit you and it’s out your system quickly if not x

[Sofie007 in reply to Hidden]

I'm sorry you are also going through anxiety Butterfly. I will have a look at Claire Weekes and the calming app. I really hope you feel better soon. I will follow your posts here on this forum because it's always nice to talk to other people with anxiety, it can get lonely sometimes.

[Hidden in reply to Sofie007]

Thank you Sophie! It really can. Unless you walk the walk, it’s very difficult to understand how hard it is. I hope you are ok today x

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to hear it isn't working so well for you, I did need to get nearer the top end of T3 scale to really feel the full benefits but even with just a little I instantly felt different.

I know what you mean about the crossover with thyroid and low estrogen symptoms my anxiety kicks in if my estrogen levels drop but I found if I raise my estrogen it knocks my thyroid readings down so need to tweak my T3/T4 dose too.... It's a balancing act but then that's hormones for you! Can't live with them, can't live without em 😆 you really need to have enough confidence to find your own way which is so hard when gaslighting yourself which is another low hormone effect 😭

Don't be afraid to listen to and believe yourself 🤗🤗 you will find that balance 🤩

[Hidden in reply to TiggerMe]

I agree about the confidence Eeyore! I seem to get a better day then for no reason plummet the next.

[Zazbag]

Wired and tired, ready to snap at any moment, exhausted but very on edge at the same time. Horrible feeling.

[Hidden in reply to Zazbag]

agreed Zazbag. It’s exhausting!

[Koola in reply to Zazbag]

Hi Zagbag,

You put into a few accurate words what I’ve been going through for the past months. Can you link it to a concrete mis-dosage like too much / too little T4 or T3?

I’m on a combo that I’ve been trying to get right for over a year and after many trials I don’t know what’s up or down anymore! Hope you can give m a clue.

[arTistapple]

I definitely get the ‘wired but tired’ and anxiety and worse depression - intrusive thoughts, when under medicated. However recently had a spell of being over-medicated (high levo and high T4) and was like a marionette with its strings cut or (and absolutely no offence intended) as if I had cerebral palsy. No control over movements and Raynauds in patchy areas over arms and legs, face too. Honestly whilst the physicals were terrible I almost would rather have them than the symptoms of lots of anxiety etc. We are all different!! Hope you get this sorted quick.