how best to reduce T3 please?

Hello everyone

I’m about to have an update with the private Endo. I’m currently on 112.5 mcg Levo (only 2 weeks into increase from 100mcg) and am feeling I may want to reduce my T3. It hasn’t really dramatically improved my health as I’ve had a lot of weakness and feeling of a tight chest and restlessness. I’ve had clear chest x rays so know this isn’t it. I don’t know if others have had this?

I’ve been in a trial since March but I can’t say it’s made me feel well after an initial feeling of improvement they was short lived.

What is the best way to start reducing and timescales please? I think I have no alternative but to try a period of time without T3 as I can always add in again later.

I suspect my Endo may say stop immediately as he wanted me to start th full 15 all in one go.

Any help would be welcome in advance of my conversation with him.

Thank you

🦋

[GlowCoach Administrator]

It's not really clear from what you say as to how the private Endo increased your dose. Going up the dose of T3 too fast can cause weakness and a range of symptoms.

I've recently been seeing a private Endo and he wanted me to add 10mcgs T3 in one go but I said I'd do it over a few weeks due to previous bad experiences with T3. They really need guidance on things like this sometimes as it's not them having to actually take the hormones themselves.

What were your latest blood results?

[Hidden in reply to GlowCoach]

Hi Jaydee

When I started I jumped straight in with 15mcg and reduced my Levo (too much) to 75. I’ve slowly increased the Levo to the current dose. I’ve been on T3 since March though.

My bloods were on 15 Lio and 100 T4

TSH 0.47

T3 4.16 (3.1-6.8)

T4 15.8 (12-22)

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to Hidden]

I just checked your old posts and as of last bloods there was virtually no difference in blood levels from previously, so no wonder you feel no different on T3. The idea is to raise your T3 level and perhaps you just need more levo. That is, if your vitamin levels are optimal?

[Hidden in reply to GlowCoach]

Hi Jaydee

Thank you for responding

When you say previous bloods, do you mean from before T3 in March?

My vitamins are optimal except for Ferritin which I’m working on.

X

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to Hidden]

FT4: 15.5 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22) 35.00%

FT3: 4.16 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8) 28.65%

Both of those results are way too low. Probably I'd add in some more T3 as you're clearly not a good converter and it will help your symptoms more. Can always add some more levo at a later date. You really should be looking at these two results now and ignore TSH as on T3 it should suppress if you're on enough of it, as you need to be. No sense quitting on T3 until you've given it a good optimal try.

[Hidden in reply to GlowCoach]

thank you Jaydee! I really appreciate the help x

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Actually I was looking at your last post which compared your most recent T3 doses, there was really no difference inthem. Having looked back to your bloods on levo only there wasn't much difference in your T3 level there either. You basically need to suppress your TSH and need more thyroid hormone.

When your system is under powered it's very easy to confuse those symptoms with being hyper.

[Hidden in reply to GlowCoach]

thanks Jaydee

What would you do in my situation? With T4 or T3?

[shaws]

I take T3 only when I awake and take it with one glass of water and wait an hour before I eat.

I actually now take a slightly lower daily dose (20mcg and am symptom-free).

p.s. levothyroxine caused me to have severe palpitations but they resolved when I began T3 and I then went onto T3 alone.

[Hidden in reply to shaws]

Thank you Shaws. I’m so pleased you are doing well- it gives hope! I do struggle to tolerate the evening dose so am debating having it mid morning without food. I seem to struggle with the early morning dosing too.

I wish I was brave enough to ditch the Levo and try T3 only. I’m going to give the combination a good run and see where I am but it’s so good to hear you are well. To be symptom free is amazing and we don’t hear much of that here so it makes me hopeful. I’m also not sure my body likes Levo so it maybe an option for my future 🦋

[shaws in reply to Hidden]

I think we should be offered options if still feeling unwell on levothyroxine.

When I was first diagnosed and having an appointment in hospital I spoke to an elderly woman who also had hypothyroidism but she was bright, bubbly and energetic and she told me 'don't worry as levothyroxine is good and you'll soon feel well again'. That wasn't the case for me, so we are all different and what suits one person may not suit another but I do think we should be offered options if we still feel unwell on any replacement we may trial.

So there are many who seem to do fine on levothyroxine.