Updated thyroid levels - should i reduce my T4 slightly?

[bikebabe]

Hello to all you very knowledgeable folk

I did some private blood tests to follow up on the introduction of T3 ie 5mg /day in Sept/October. I was going to increase it to 2x5mg after 6 weeks but my heart was a tiny bit jittery so deferred that.

Query - given my free T4 level has increased, and TSH decreased again, what are your opinions about reducing the T4 by 0.25 mcg or ditching the T3? My symptoms (feeling cold, sluggish, nails, coarse hair, some constipation) haven't changed much since Sept.

Medichecks

TSH 0.2 (0.27-4.2)

Free T4 22.5 (12-22)

Free T3 4.82 ((3.1-6.8)

Ferritin 85.6 (13-150)

Folate 4.84 (>3.89)

Active B12 71.6 (37.5-150)

Vit D 87 (50-200)

Did the test as prescribed. I take Vit D /K2 spray and calcitonin and recommended B vit. Folate's still a bit low. Magnesium was in range last time i tested i.e. 0.92 (0.66 - 0.99).

Many thanks - advice appreciated so that I can discuss with my docs.

[Lalatoot]

Personally I wouldn't stop the T3 as your free t3 is still in the lower part of the range. If those were my results I would reduce the levo as free t4 is at the top of its range.

On combo levo/t3 it is trial and error until you find the dose combinations and the results that suit you. For example I started out on 50mcg levo and 20mcg t3 and it did not suit me - the doses I ended up on after 2 years of adjustments is 100mcg levo and 7.5mcg t3.

[bikebabe in reply to Lalatoot]

thank you lalatoot- that’s what I think I will discuss with my doctor - reduce thyroxine to 100mcg daily from 125/100, then retest to get back to what it was 4 mths ago, then try adding 2.5mcg t3 (half a tablet). Slow but steady. Had an initial slight concern that extra t3 might give extra energy boost to the tumour cells but was reassured by doc that it’s a separate mechanism.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What vitamin B complex are you currently taking

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement that week

You might need to alternate vitamin B complex with separate methyl folate

[bikebabe in reply to SlowDragon]

thank you slow dragon- I didn’t take the supplement for a week before blood test but didn’t take any thing extra - just modified my diet a bit to get more folate. Not enough it seems!

[Jazzw]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?

[bikebabe]

alternating 125/100mcg t4

[MMaud]

Call me paranoid, but I'd be protecting my prescription for T3, and looking to adjust the T4 as it is the one that has just tripped over range.

If your T3 or privately or self-funded that might be different, but getting any increase to T3 in UK, via the NHS seems to be universally, erm,.... challenging.

If it ever does come to considering reducing the T3, you can always split your pills, although if they begin as 20mcgr, I concede an eighth could push the boundaries of accuracy with a pill cutter.