Results Advice Please T4 & T3

[Sami-M]

Been a while since I last posted. Travelling monthly with twins has taken up all my time I haven’t had the chance to test any bloods for the last 7 months! Below are my first tests done through Monitor My Health in the U.K.

Feeling terrible over the last few weeks. Symptoms, severe insomnia, very low blood pressure, foggy, headaches, nausea, out of breath, no concentration, lethargic, no appetite.

I need advice please. This is the first time I’ve felt this terrible since having twins in May 2022.

I take my Levo in the morning and split my T3 morning and evening. Before bloods, T4 last dose 24 hours, T3 last dose 11 hours. No biotin for 10 days.

4 July 2023 - currently Levo 156.25mcg and 25mcg T3

TSH 0.01 (0.27-4.2)

FT3 7.7 (3.1-6.8) pmol/l

FT4 21.4 (12-22) pmol/l

FT3 : 124 % through range

FT4 : 94 % through range

Below are the previous test results.

8th November 2022 - currently Levo 137.5 mcg

TSH 0.064 (0.27-4.2)

FT3 2.71 (2.00-4.4) pg/mL

FT4 1.33 (1-1.6) ng/dL

FT3 : 30 % through range

FT4 : 55 % through range

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

The timing of your last doses was perfect to show stable blood levels.

Thats quite a high dose for combination therapy. Usual amounts average to around 100-125mcg Levo + 5-20mcgs T3.

Your FT4 is almost at the top of the range and FT3 well over. Suggest you slowly reduce T3 by 5mcgs and retest in 6-8 weeks.

What supplements are you taking?

What were your latest vitamin results for ferritin, folate, B12 & d3?

[Sami-M in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thank you Jaydee1507, wondering if I should shave 6.25mcg of both T4 and T3. Unfortunately I’ve not tested iron deficiency, B12 or D3, well overdue but I intend to schedule them in the next month or so.

Normally I’m very organised and take b12 injections, Vitamin D 5000iu, Zinc, Selenium, Magnesium, Iron, folate. Once again I’ve just restarted all these in May 2023 after a 3 month break!

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Sami-M]

If you are getting B12 injections then it is recommended to take a good methyl B complex such as the one I will post. This helps keep all the B's in balance. amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...

It's hard keeping on top of supplements, but worth it.

Ideally we do one change at a time. I would recommend changing only one otherwise you won't know what has helped. Your choice though.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Sami-M

Can you give us details of how you went from 137.5mcg Levo to 156.25mcg Levo + 25mcg T3? What increments in dose did you make and how long between each dose change, did you test each time before making a dose change?

Your results do show that you are overmedicated and this could be causing your symptoms.

If those were my results I'd reduce my T3 by 1/4 of a tablet as a start, retest in 6 weeks. From the new results after the next test I would then decide the next step. You might need to also reduce your Levo but you can't do both at the same time.

On combo meds it's a long journey of fine tuning the doses of each hormone to find your sweet spot, I would say that you have overshot it.

[Sami-M in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you SeasideSusie, post birth of our twins in May 2022, I had a hashi swing June July 2022 (have results for both months). Next tested in October, November 2022 (have results both months).

Nov 2022 I had symptoms of lethargy, difficulty walking etc so based on November 2022 tests, I added T3 6.25mcg and T3 6.25mcg in Dec 2022. By March 2023, similar under medicated symptoms and I added T3 6.25mcg and another T3 6.25mcg in April 2023. In June 2023, I added T4 6.25mcg thinking I was under medicated.

Unfortunately, I should have scheduled bloods but never got around to do them till July 2023.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

When were vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin last tested

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Are you gluten and/or dairy free diet?

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

would suspect you are feeling worse because you look like you’re now taking too much T3 and levothyroxine

Don’t reduce both Levothyroxine and T3 at once

Initially suggest you reduce T3 by 1/4 tablet per pay

Suggest you try taking T3 as three doses per day - 1/4 tablet per dose

Waking, mid-afternoon and bedtime

You’re likely to feel a bit grim initially dropping dose ……but after 5-6 weeks should start to see some improvements

You might find Ft4 reduces a bit by next test …..but if not ….try reducing levothyroxine after next test to 150mcg per day

Retest in another 8-10 weeks

[Sami-M in reply to SlowDragon]

Many thanks SlowDragon. All vitamin tests are overdue! Normally very good with all supplements but I’ve been majorly distracted (babies)!

T3 split into 3 doses, thank you. Think I could shave off just the 6.25mcg off the T4 now too ? Currently I take the Merck brand of Levo and Abdi Ibrahim T3. I suspect these brands may change if I try to get these through a GP in the U.K.

I’ve been strictly gluten free for a while.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Sami-M]

First step

Test vitamins and improve to optimal levels if dropped

U.K. NHS brands T3 tablets are all 20mcg

Might be a bit “stronger “ than Abdi Ibrahim 25mcg

Might be difficult to get T3 prescribed on NHS

Mercury Pharma

Morningside Healthcare

Teva - lactose free

New kid on the block

Roma capsules - doesn’t suit everyone. Lactose free

Capsules can’t be split

5mcg, 10mcg and 20mcg capsules

Private prescription via private endocrinologist

20mcg Thybon Henning.

Many say this is “smoother” than NHS brands. Lactose free

prices

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Gustie88]

check adrenal function; cortisol, DHEA etc.