Thyroid Glandular not helping T3 levels

[Thyroid_mum]

Hi all,

I wasn't doing well on desiccated porcine thyroid and went back onto glandular but it seems its doing absolutely nothing for my T3 levels 12 hours between last glandular and test.

I am on 100/125 T4 and take 65mcg Glandular three times a day.

Seeing Endo on Friday - I am going to have to add immediate release T3 I reckon. Do I keep taking the Glandular as its just a supplement and add the T3 slowly?

My adrenals have stabilised with the supplementation and DHEA - no anxiety any more so I am hoping I will be able to tolerate T3 now.

[DippyDame]

There is no stated thyroid hormone content in glandulars....as there is in NDT.

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-hy...

Are you taking levo....if so you have room to take a larger dose.

It looks, however, as if your T4/T3 conversion may be poor

Yes ...your FT3 is miseraby low ....higher vit D may help.

You may need to add T3 but I'd be inclined to try increasing levo first ( without glandulars) you have plenty room to do this

Let that dose of levo settle for 6/8 weeks then test again. The results should point the way forward

Without knowing the dose(s) you are taking it's difficult to say more

[Thyroid_mum in reply to DippyDame]

I am on 100/125 Levo alternative days. I do have a conversion issue, double mutated DIO 1 and 2 genes.

I recently added 1000iu of D3 daily.

[DippyDame in reply to Thyroid_mum]

Are polymorphisms inherited from one or both parents...if both, the impact on conversion is likely to be greater and possibly requiring more exogenous T3

I'd be inclined to stop the grandular in one step, wait a few days then increase to 125mcg daily and test again after 6 weeks on that steady dose.

It may sound brutal but you are losing only an unknown amount of T4 (probably less than the 25mcg increase) and a minimum or nil amount of T3.

I need high dose T3-only to function and have cut far larger doses in a single step on the advice of a medic...with no negative effect

The result will give you a base FT4 level on 125mcg T4, to work from....that might ( just might) with increased vit D, produce more/ enough T3. If not then you can slowly add a little T3....and take it from there.

Some people need FT4 in the upper part ref range to produce more / enough T3.

There is no quick fix....it needs time and patience!

I'm not a medic so just a thought to ponder on, based on personal experience.....but the glandular needs to go!

Good luck!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Request endocrinologist prescribe T3 alongside levothyroxine

Initially starting SLOWLY with just 5mcg dose waking (or if get 5mcg tablets…..cut in half to take 2.5mcg waking and 2.5mcg mid-late afternoon

After week or so…..adding 2nd 5mcg dose…..so taking 5mcg waking and 5mcg late afternoon

Retest in 6-8 weeks time

Day before test, last 5mcg dose a bit later in day……roughly 8-12 hours before test (testing at 9am latest)

[Thyroid_mum in reply to SlowDragon]

will do.

Do I stop the glandular? If so, ween off or immediate?

Is the T4 level ok?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Thyroid_mum]

Ft4 is fine

Ween off glandular and (ideally) retest again before starting T3

[Thyroid_mum in reply to SlowDragon]

I’m keen to get t3 in my system. Could I replace one glandular in the morning with t3 and then the afternoon one a few weeks later? Would that work as weening while increasing t3 slowly, or I could halve the glandular with 2.5 t3 and then when I increase to 5mcg stop the glandular?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Thyroid_mum]

You will have to experiment

Glandular doesn’t appear to be adding anything

[Thyroid_mum in reply to SlowDragon]

thanks for your help 🙏🏼

[Thyroid_mum in reply to SlowDragon]

is T3 all the same or is it like Levo where you have to find the right T4 for that you can tolerate?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Thyroid_mum]

We all have preferences for any thyroid hormone whether that be T4, T3 or NDT etc Many on T3 do well with Thybon Henning which is lactose free and splits easily.

[Thyroid_mum in reply to Jaydee1507]

thanks Jaydee, does it come in lower than 20mcg tablets?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Thyroid_mum]

No it doesn't but many take smaller amounts and use a pill cutter to quarter it to 5mcg doses. I take 15mcgs per day in 3 divided doses using a pill cutter.

[Thyroid_mum in reply to Jaydee1507]

okay, I’ll have to split a 1/4 in half as I’m doing 2.5mcg twice a day for 2 weeks and then 5mcg twice a day and will retest after 6 weeks.

Do you know how much T3 level is raised by 5mcg of T3? Trying to find info online but unsuccessful

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Thyroid_mum]

You will probably need a sharp craft knife to cut it into quarters.

Noone will be able to tell you in advance how much any amount of T3 will raise your level. This is a very individual thing and can only be determined by taking a fairly small amount, blood test and adjusting dose.

[Thyroid_mum in reply to Jaydee1507]

8ths you mean 😂🤞🏼

I’ve got a pill cutter and it’s easy enough to cut into 1/4s, cutting a 1/4 in half is a challenge

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Thyroid_mum]

Indeed I meant 1/8ths!

[Noelnoel in reply to Thyroid_mum]

Which dessicated porcine glandular were you taking and which brand are you in now?

[Thyroid_mum in reply to Noelnoel]

I tried ERFA and then Slow Release T3, then compounded dessicated porcine thyroid. Moved back to Forefront Health as I was on it before and I was okay (but my T4 was higher at 200mcg) I thought it was the glandular that was giving me the additional T3, but I obviously had better conversion last year.

[Noelnoel in reply to Thyroid_mum]

So the 65mg glandular wasn’t Metavive?

[Thyroid_mum in reply to Noelnoel]

no it was forefront health

[Noelnoel]

Sorry, which one are you “on” now