Sudden change to low thyroid levels without dose change - confused!

[RachelP03]

Hello, my husband has been on T4/T3 combo for about a year and although he’s probably not completely optimised, he had some good weeks and some bad weeks. Sadly though, he has had some consistently bad weeks lately and currently feels incredibly depressed (I am very worried). He checked his thyroid levels and they’re the lowest they’ve ever been (including pre-meds) despite a stable dose. I assume this may be the cause of how he feels but equally I’m not sure (and confused) what will have caused his levels to almost crash despite having the consistent thyroid meds. Has anyone else experienced this? Or can anyone shed any light? His T4 was under range and his T3 was in the lower quartile.

Is his own body now producing less thyroid hormone? Can something have knocked something else out which has caused his levels to drop? It just seems so odd as he’s been on the same medication for some time!

Thank you for any thoughts!

[helvella Administrator]

What specific products is he taking?

[GlowCoach Administrator]

Has he started any new medication?

Is he taking the levo/T3 at the same time every day away from food & caffeine drinks?

How did he do the blood test? When was last dose of levo & T3 before the test?

Recommend getting full vitamin testing done - ferritin, folate, B12 & D3. You can ask your GP or private tests are available, see link for companies offering private blood tests & discount codes, some offer a blood draw service at an extra cost. thyroiduk.org/help-and-supp...

Does he always get the same brand or levo/T3 at every prescription?

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

Please add actual results

Was test done as recommended

Test early morning, ideally just before 9am, last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose approx 8-12 hours before test

Does he always get same brand levothyroxine and same brand T3

Which brands

How much levothyroxine and T3 is he taking

Also essential to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin

What vitamin supplements is he taking

[waveylines]

Hello Rachel. It sounds like he needs an in increase in his thyroid meds from what you have said. It's helpful if you can post actual thyroid results plus what thyroid meds he is taking plus dose. To have aFt4 below the lower range will inevitable cause a much lower ft3. Low mood or depression is a common symptom when under treated like he sounds he is. Why has this happened.... Most likely cause would be that his thyroid has further deteriorated so he needs a dose increase to compensate for this.

Hope this helps.

[Heloise]

Hi Rachel, I know it's a very confusing condition we try to make simple but it never will be. First, every single cell needs thyroid hormone as T3. If there is not enough thyroid hormone, your adrenal glands will try to fill in using adrenaline in order to sustain the heart, the blood pressure and brain requirements. So the thyroid attempts to provide more and more hormone but if you have antibodies your immune system is sending fighters for some reason to protect your thyroid gland. Unfortunately while destroying either a virus or pathogen, etc. they also destroy thyroid tissue which makes it more difficult to produce hormone as waveylines suggests. The problem with the treatment is that it doesn't help resolve the battle going on in the gland. Now would be the best time to determine what is causing this destruction. There are a long list of chemicals that are thrust at us through food, water, lotions that can cause the immune system to dysfunction. Any you tube video by Dr. John Bergman or Tom O'Bryan can explain what is possibly happening if your husband is willing to look into it. Low thyroid can definitely make you moody.

[Stourie]

hi, I’m on t4 and t3 and lately I am feeling pretty tired struggle in the morning and I’m also slightly constipated. I’ve been on the same dose for a good few years and I’m doing nothing different. It’s almost as if the t3 isn’t as strong as it has been for years. Sorry I’m no help though. Take care. Jo xx