Have I upset the applecart?

[Jefner]

I take two split doses of T3. 5mcg when I wake up and another around 5pm. Because my waking anxiety is so bad I thought I would try taking my meds differently as my former FD a long time ago said my T3 could be helping drive my anxiety, plus I read up and many others take their meds at bedtime, some sleep better and may also help with absorption. A few weeks ago I tried moving them ie. taking my Levo and 5mcg around 3am before I sleep and then the other 5mcg around 5pm

Started seeing a therapist a few weeks ago and we are currently concentrating on getting me up earlier and out of the house for a 10min walk around midday to help me with the agoraphobia. I changed my sleeping patterns last year in going to bed extremely late ie. 3am because of building works next door. I couldn't tolerate the 8hr days of noise for the last 2-3yrs. Getting up around 1pm I would then only have to suffer the noise for around 3hrs which is better than 8, but in trying to protect my mental health I have knocked my circadian rhythm out obviously, so now working on trying to get it back.

I started doing the brief walks at midday around a week ago, which is the worst time of day for me with my anxiety so obviously more stressful to do but I managed them plus my usual evening walk when my anxiety has substantially subsided. Then on Thur/Friday I got hit by severe fatigue and still feeling it. I can barely walk 5 mins now and feel awful when I get back. Could this be backlash on my adrenals due to the extra stress I am feeling by doing my brief walks when my anxiety is at it's worst

Just wondering whether it might be my Hashi's flaring up, change in routine with my meds or the additional stress on my adrenals with the walks?

also wondering whether to go back to my normal routine with my meds?

Everything I try I just seem to mess things up for myself

[TiggerMe]

It could be that changing your timings to when your cortisol level is naturally lower you are getting less bang for your T3?

[Jefner in reply to TiggerMe]

note sure what you mean

[TiggerMe in reply to Jefner]

The theory being that to best utilise T3 you need to have sufficient cortisol in your system, cortisol is generally highest early morning and drops during the day, though of course some people buck that trend!

[Jefner in reply to TiggerMe]

i am very knowledgable on cortisol as have had previous tests and morning being far too high and over the range

[Jefner in reply to TiggerMe]

apologies I edited my post after you replied

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

7 months ago you were recommended to up your T3 dose as your FT3 was so low. You might want to reconsider that as long term low FT3 can cause all sorts of symptoms.

[Jefner in reply to Jaydee1507]

my ft3 levels were much better in december after my GP tested them rather than Horizon which is the first time my levels have looked good being on the same dose for a few years. Which is why I put a post in questioning whether Medical Horizons labs were incorrect or the NHS one because my level has NEVER been this high. Seemed a bit of a coincidence. My levels with Blue Horizons have always been low in the range but with the NHS test I had they came back as

5.6 (3.50-6.50)

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Jefner]

I can't see that post now?

When was the last dose of T3 you took prior to that test?

Would be worth repeating the test if you thought the result was unusual, using the usualy protocol of last levo 24hrs & T3 8-12hrs before test.

[Jefner in reply to Jaydee1507]

yes I took Levo 24hrs before but was advised to take a small T3 dose around 8hrs before I tested as my normal routine was to take my full 10mcg with my Levo upon waking. Was told it would give a more accurate result if I small dosed around 8hrs before which I had never done before on any other tests. Really unsure what to do tbh

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Jefner]

Do a private test to see where you are at with the protocol used here as I described above.

Are you also gluten & dairy free? Might help.

[Jefner in reply to Jaydee1507]

you mean through my usual lab Blue Horizon? Have been gluten free and more or less dairy free for years. I know all the stuff I needed to put into action. I am just stumped over this unusual higher T3 with the NHS test after being at the same levels for a long time now. Have also updated my bio with all my test results

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Jefner]

If you did the recommended timing of 8-12hours then that would make the difference.

Testing at 12-24hrs+ gives a false low result.

Yes retest using the recommended protocol with BH.

[Jefner in reply to Jaydee1507]

so take my T4 and small dose of T3 in the morning and then take my small dose T3 8-12hrs before I test?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Jefner]

Correct.

[Jefner in reply to Jaydee1507]

I had a spare test kicking around but checked with Blue Horizon to see if it would still be OK to use. They said it's too old so sending me a free kit tomorrow

[TiggerMe in reply to Jefner]

Did you split your normal 10mcg morning dose for the 8hrs before dose or just add a little extra?

[Jefner in reply to TiggerMe]

5mcg with my Levo around 9am and then 5mcg around 5pm although the last couple of weeks I have changed my doses to 5mcg at around 5pm and then second at bedtime around 2am. Wondering if that's why I am feeling like shite because of the change

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Jefner]

Change the dose timing back and see if it helps?