T3 Heart failure

[Topaz21]

I have been taking 10mcg T3 Liothyronine 7am & 2pm & 50mcg Levothyroxine 7am.I have felt so much better on the Liothyronine.

I have been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse & ectopic & Bi-Gemini & couplet beats in the past & had ejection fractions in the 40s but I have been diagnosed with heart failure with ejection fraction 36%.

The Endocrinologist phoned me & said that I must stop the T3 as it causes arrhythmia & heart failure. I explained that I couldn't function on the T4 only but he said that I must stop the T3.

I have agreed to reduce the T3 to 5mcg 7am & 2pm leaving the T4 at 50mcg for 1 month then stopping the T3 & increasing the T4 to 75mcg daily.

However I am really worried about stopping the T3 as the brain fog was extremely severe & I was absolutely exhausted on T4 alone.

Does anyone know the actual extent of the risk of heart failure & T3 please or has anyone had a similar experience.

Thank youx

[Mollyfan]

That is really difficult….. a couple of studies for you to consider/ discuss with your cardiologist.

1. Shows no increased risk of cardiovascular disease with long term liothyronine use

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/269...

[Mollyfan in reply to Mollyfan]

And this one shows a reduction in risk of heart failure with low TSH ( and no increase in AF )

bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l4892

[Mollyfan in reply to Mollyfan]

relative risks

Risk graphs

[Topaz21 in reply to Mollyfan]

Thank you so much I will definitely look at thesex

[Hidden]

I have been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse & ectopic & Bi-Gemini & couplet beats in the past & had ejection fractions in the 40s but I have been diagnosed with heart failure with ejection fraction 36%.

There’s an issue to consider about causation here. Whilst it’s arguable about whether T3 causes/has caused the above issues - and even whether T3 per se will make them worse - I would be reflecting on whether or not risks to my future cardiac health could be improved in any way.

I take T3 and can’t cope with T4. I’ve argued the toss with so many doctors and endos about T3. I was dx with osteoporosis before I had my thyroid removed and started total replacement therapy and yet doctors still persist that T3/suppressed TSH will make it ‘worse’. How can it for heavens sake when I’m ‘below the below’ with a T score of -5 (and no broken bones).

My mother died of a totally unexpected mesenteric infarction (arteriosclerosis of mesenteric artery high resulted in a gangrenous bowel and sudden death). She had a normally functioning thyroid and hence no replacement hormones.

I’m not functioning well at the moment and this is getting woolly. I guess what I’m saying is that we can’t prove connections in some medical and diagnostic scenarios so we have to follow instinct and decide how much risk taking we want to do.

I wish you well

[jimh111]

Ask your endocrinologist for the evidence, the studies that show T3 is harmful for these specific conditions. (evidence from T3 therapy NOT from hyperthyroidism or Graves').

I have no cardiac knowledge but the evidence I've seen shows levothyroxine monotherapy is more harmful than combinations therapy, I give an overview in this post healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... .

Low magnesium can cause mitral valve prolapse so it's important to supplement with magnesium. I would pay more attention to a cardiologist than an endocrinologist.

[arTistapple]

I am not nearly as informed as many people on this forum. However I have some experience of heart issues. I had a heart attack in 2002. No-one told me the results of a thyroid blood test done a year before, during the heart investigation but since found on my hospital records. My thyroid was struggling then (low T4) but even nowadays I would not have got treatment because at best it would have been considered subclinical. Unfortunately an incomplete test as no T3 levels. I knew nothing much about hypothyroidism at the time, other than it was a lot about fatigue. I was fatigued but mostly (on reflection) my horrible symptoms were more like ‘hyperthyroid’. To cut a long story short, no further heart attack (odd in itself really) but twenty years of symptoms unable to be allayed by any treatment regime and two years ago hypothyroid diagnosis. Twenty years post heart attack.

My pulse is now low, I still suffer from angina (much better since starting levo) but I feel my heart struggling due to being under medicated. Just getting to the top of the stairs is difficult with my heart jumping out of my chest. Lower than normal diastolic on BP monitor can often be seen. In my opinion lowering your meds that you have many reasons to be happy on is an unnecessary stress for you. Honestly I cannot understand this view. If you feel bad on your meds you would soon be seeking help. In my view under medicating is a very important factor in heart failure.

However I think jimh111 has made an excellent suggestion. Just remember ‘they’ hate their authority being ‘questioned’.

[DandyButch]

Hello, sorry for the delay in replying but I have been so ill on levothyroxine only, for two years. Currently trying liothyronine in increasing dosages since February 2023 and feel much better. I hope this is helpful.