Could feeling very tired and a little giddy be caused by too much T3?

[Annib1]

I live in Devon and have been supplementing the 10 mcg I am allowed by Devon with 12.5 which I get from Greece. This is addition to 75 mcg levothyroxine. The Greek T3 comes in tablets of 25 which I divide with a cutter. My GP has been accepting my suppressed TSH and I have been fine on this since my Somerset endo transferred me to my GP last July. About 10 days ago I started feeling the sort of tiredness I have not had for a long time, plus pain in my legs and sought help from GP as I thought my inflammatory arthritis was flaring and I might need to increase my sulfasalazine. GP said the pain was trochanteric bursitis, not an arthritic flareup, but booked me in for blood tests to test for anaemia and thyroid. I test my temperature and heart rate quite regularly to make sure I am not on too high a T3 dose and both are fine (about 36 and 64) and I have no hand shakes. My last thyroid results from October : TSH was 0.02 (0.27 to 4.2), FT4 was 12.7 (12 to 22), FT3 was 5 (3.1 to 6.8). The blood tests are booked in for March 15th. What I am worried about is whether the tiredness could be related to the T3 and the possibility of them taking it away. What do you think?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Free T4 (fT4) 12.7 pmol/L (12 - 22) 7.0%

Free T3 (fT3) 5 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 51.4%

Obviously these are 'old' results and new ones might throw more light on whats happening. 75mcgs levo on a combo dose is low. Will also be interesting to see what your vitamins are looking like. Are you supplementing and with what?

I would say in all probability you are likely to be under replaced as opposed to over.

[Annib1 in reply to Jaydee1507]

I am supplementing with Vit D 3000 and K2 spray, zinc piccolinate 22mg, Igennus super B complex with Vit C, folate 400 mcg, and magnesium gel. I stopped taking B12 as levels went too high. Last vitamin test was done last August.

Ferritin 81.9 (13 - 150)

folate 19.8 (greater than 3.9)

B12 over 150 (37.5 - 150 )

Vit D 74 (75 - 200)

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Annib1]

High B12 levels are not an issue, just shows the B12 is working. It is water soluble so any excess will be excreted in your urine. Recommend restarting B12.

Your Vit D could be higher to around 100, especially now it is winter increase D3 & K2.

From that result you could really do with a 25mcg Levo increase but see what the new tests say.

[Annib1 in reply to Jaydee1507]

Many thanks. Will increase the D3 and restart the B12 and wait with fingers crossed.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

See what Ft4 and Ft3 are at next test

Test early morning, ideally just before 9am

Last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Day before test split T3 into 3 smaller doses spread through the day

Last 1/3rd of T3 Approx 8-12 hours before test

Many people find they need BOTH Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50-60% through range

Suggest you consider increasing levothyroxine by 12.5mcg initially

[Annib1 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks. Shall I wait until after test to increase the levo?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Annib1]

Definitely

Always see what results show before changing dose

[Brightness14]

A couple of questions please, do you still have your thyroid and how and when do you take your Levo and T3.

[Annib1 in reply to Brightness14]

i do still have my thyroid but i am 80 and I have been on levo since 1995 so it is probably not in good shape. See above for how I take my meds. With a glass of water on empty stomach and wait an hour before eating.

[Brightness14]

Thank you for replying. I have just started Levo and T3 and have been feeling ill for months now, just wondered if you took yours all in one go or split morning/evening ? I am 76 years old.

[Annib1 in reply to Brightness14]

I usually take 12.5mcg of T3 at night and 10 in the morning with my levo with water with a slice of lemon in it. I made a mistake the other day and reached in the dark in the early hours for my meds and took a 25mcg uncut tablet of T3 instead of the 10 mcg one. When I got up later and became aware of what I had done I waited with interest and trepidation for shaky hands and beating heart to start. In fact though I felt great all day!

[Brightness14]

how strange, but good.