Going slow on T3 increases

[Hashiboy]

Just want to say thanks to all the people who gave such good advice on going slow and steady with T3 including   Hidden   jimh111   FancyPants54   shaws   humanbean   Hidden   helvella   Jazzw and many others. A private endo had put me very quickly on a high dose of T3. You all kindly told me it was too much too fast and you were right. My NHS endo got me to reduce T3 right back to double check I was hypothyroid and as my TSH soared he’s now getting me to increase the T3 slowly in baby steps. I have some hypo symptoms but I’m slowly improving. Just wanted to say thanks for the advice and thought you might like to know you were absolutely right.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Coming back to report what happened is so very helpful for future readers.

Thank you.

[FancyPants54]

I’m so glad that you took our warnings to heart and followed up on them. It was the right thing to do and now you have found a sensible doctor who is doing it carefully. It’s so hard unravelling when we’ve gone over. So much easier to go slower at the start. But when we feel so unwell, that is the hardest advice to hear and bear.

Good luck. What are you taking now? Do keep us posted as you improve over time. I’m excited for you.

[Hashiboy in reply to FancyPants54]

Hi there, hope alls well it’s you, i went down to 20mcg with the hope I could come off meds but my TSH rose and now I’m back up to 45mcg and will see if i need another 5 in a month or so.

[Hidden]

So pleased for you! May the progress continue 🤞🤞🤞

[Rhannii7]

What was the starting dose the second time please, im in a similar situation

[Hashiboy in reply to Rhannii7]

Hi Rhannii7 I'd been on 50mcg and I my endo got me to reduce that by an initial 20 then by 10 a month to see how low I could go or if I needed thyroid medicine at all. I reduced as low as 20mcg a day then began to get symptoms and a n above range TSH so began to introduce 5mcg every few weeks. I'm currently just increasing to 45 and will stay on this for a few weeks to see if I need more. My body seems to be accepting the T3 better this time ( I struggled going from zero to 60 in eight weeks first time).

[Hidden]

I really am delighted you've found improvement! Well done for putting in the effort to unpick what had been done.

Finding a stable dose is such a relief and I hope you find yours sooner rather than later!

Edit: Just add, I've been on my current regime for 12 weeks; the longest I've been on any one dose and while I'm not convinced it's my final dose, it has brought calmness and stability. tattybogle has always been an advocate of sticking on one dose longer than you think you need to see if it settles. I think it's a really good idea to wait at 45mcg for a month, if you feel well 'enough' you might be able to go longer.

Well done, Hashiboy! I'm sure the last few weeks have been miserable.

[shaws Administrator]

That's good news for you and it is amazing when we begin to feel well and symptoms resolve. To have our health improve is the aim - and I am glad you now appear to have hit the 'magic number for yourself'.

[Hashiboy in reply to shaws]

Not quite there shaws but at least I have a better idea of the range I need to be in

[shaws Administrator in reply to Hashiboy]

I was very grateful when prescribed T3 and my new GP told me I can request an increase if/when I feel my body needs. I am fortunate that 20mcg T3 suits me fine and I have no clinical symptoms. I may increase to 25mcg if I have some symptoms return.

[Hashiboy in reply to shaws]

I'm lucky too shaws my GP prescribes on my NHS endos advice (and he's happy for me to slowly work up and book tests) The only recent problem was the practice prescribing manager contacted me to say 10mcg costs the NHS a fortune and could I cut 20mcg in half or use two 5mcgs. So that was really no hardship.

[Teejay258]

Is this a private endo in the UK?

[Hashiboy in reply to Teejay258]

I'm now with my local NHS Teejay258 the endo who originally started me on T3 was a private practitioner - he was very supportive and I'd be happy to see him again, but perhaps I pushed him to put me on a high dose of T3 too quickly. He's now gone to work abroad, otherwise I'd have carried on seeing him.