Could really do with some advice at the moment. I’m taking 100mcg Levo and 6mcgs Lio. I’ve been ok. Not 100% but then I’m considerably better than 2 yrs ago when I started treatment.
I dropped my Levo down to 100 ( from 125) 3 weeks ago so I cant give you latest bloods yet as I’m waiting a little longer after the change of dose.
My TSH was below range in Feb and FT3/FT4 pretty good.
2 weeks ago I had a cortisone injection in my knee to help my arthritis. A few hours after I had a reaction. Bright red face like sunburn and very very sweaty face. After a few days this passed. However, since then every morning when I stroll, at a slow pace, with my dog my face sweats profusely ( hair wet etc). It’s like my thermometer in my body just isn’t working. By the end of the day I feel a normal temperature.
Could the cortisol have done this?
I can’t afford a saliva test but a couple of years ago my serum cortisol was overrange at 9 am blood draw. This would make sense because I am highly stressed from PTSD when I wake in the mornings.
Is it possible this will pass as the cortisol slowly leaves my body? Hidden
Should I stop T3 for a while to see if that helps?
Also, another question please. I’ve always had very low blood pressure but since taking T3 my RP is up to 60 BPM and blood pressure up to 117/70. Now I know this isn’t high but it’s high “for me”. I’m normally about 98/60 and RP 50.
Should I be worried about this?
thanks all 🙏
Written by
SarahJane1471
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Reactions to cortisol injections are widely reported - even by people who are not hypo. I would suggest you think about not ever having another. I am told by my physio, the more you have the more likely you are to have a reaction.
Like me you are fairly new to T3. You have very kindly replied when I need help.
Your blood pressure I would say is good - plenty room for improvement. Similar with pulse. It’s difficult to know what our pulse would be normally (unless you have historical records). The problem is we get used to what we always know - including very much, low blood pressure and slow pulse. So when either or both increase, it can be scary - at least for me. There is a certain ‘unease’ I would say accompanies this change. You have seen me a few times complaining about it. I have quite a powerful reaction. Pounding heart, chest and back pain, raised pulse and BP through the roof. Number of events of this have reduced I am glad to say but it’s still apparent every day at a reduced level and reduced time. At the moment it’s just an awareness something is happening Thank Goodness! and even so, I would prefer not to experience it. Recently I have managed to monitor my pulse rate during an episode and it only rises into the mid seventies but it feels like much more. For lots of people that is a normal level but for me that feels totally out of control until it falls back to 16% higher than has been usual for a very long time. This is how doctors keep telling us (me) I must have been very fit. Yes but about 55 years ago! Unlikely to have any bearing on my present status. So the changes brought about by T3 therapy for me are pretty stark. I need my pulse to be higher. Then I know my metabolism is working better and for me, my heart in particular is responding without going overboard. I guess you are younger than me and no worries about over working an old heart. However it’s virtually inevitable when T3 is working that’s what it needs to do. Signs and symptoms of better metabolism. My BP is too high, but I am oldish. T3 is fighting the sluggishness created by the hypothyroidism. However I have been able to halve my BP medication. BP is higher still than I want but my diastolic in particular looks much healthier - funnily enough it needs to be higher (heart failure) and my systolic needs to be lower. Both things appear to be happening! Those forumites who talk in terms of ‘magic bullet’ I envy. It’s not been easy at all for me but at last (fingers crossed) it seems to be working for me (2.5mcg per day!). Long may this improvement last without too many scary episodes.
Thank you for replying. I’m glad you’re still trying the low dose T3.
I’m still unsure if the extreme sweating with low level activity. Are you saying you think it’s still a reaction for the cortisol injection 2 weeks ago?
When I was trying to get my T3 on track, I was advised on the forum that I should try to take it at the time my cortisol levels were highest (first thing in the morning for me). I could be wrong but that means that cortisol has an effect on our T3 itself. Maybe your cortisol injection is enhancing your T3 uptake, increasing your metabolism more than it has been, hence all the heightened metabolism effects. Raised BP. Raised pulse. Overheating.
The most common undesired reaction to a cortisol injection is even more pain in the joint but people report all sorts to their physios. And remember they put quite a bit of cortisol in these injections. It will take a while to work through your system.
Sorry I could not reply to you before now. Had a bit of a problem this end. I will explain another time.
Thank you. That really makes sense. Just back from another sweaty stroll 🥵. I don’t want to stop the T3 but I may reduce to 3mcg for a bit. Hope you are well.🙏
SarahJane yes after being pretty good yesterday …… anyway so glad you have found a bit of confidence since we last communicated. Also I really like the mention of perhaps even T3 does not have to be taken forever. Dare I say I would like that! I am having a nightmare cutting my pills into such small pieces. Today I am contacting Roseway to see if they can help. I am just so blooming sensitive to dose. The inaccuracy of the cutting for the tiny dose I need is causing problems.
A twenty. That’s what my endo prescribed. It’s because it’s a much cheaper way to prescribe. She clearly was unable to imagine such a tiny dose could be helpful! Even if I have to go the compounded route, no matter the blooming cost. It’s unbelievable that such a small dose can make so much difference but pills are shearing, powdering, flaking. The pieces are just too variable. helvella warned me about this but at the time I could see no real alternative. Well now I must do something constructive about it. It’s keeping me unwell and stopping is just not an option for me!!
Same here with the face sweats, I could hear my heartbeat too,, but no cortisone for me, I think perhaps for me it was an autoimmune flare. From 125/5 12 weeks over range results to 100/5 10 weeks even more over range, most recently I’ve done 4 weeks on 75mcg and 5mcg T3 still feeling over replaced and haven’t taken any T3 for 8 days and realise I felt better without it. Blood test results imminent to see what the status is. Having had advice here already it could be my ferritin finally got up and improved my 4 to 3 conversion we shall see.
How is your resting heart rate and heart rate variation?
When on T3 my resting heart rate was in the mid 70s, it’s now back where it was before T3 in the mid 50s.
Heart rate variability dropped down to daily average 30s while on T3, and is high 60s this week without. 🌱
Sorry to answer for you Regenallotment , but yes, the raised BP & HR are both signs of raised metabolic rate, likely a result of the T3 as it is such a potent stimulator of metabolism.
Heart rate variability (HRV) is the physiological phenomenon of variation in the time interval between heartbeats. It is measured by the variation in the beat-to-beat interval.
That’s interesting Regen. An endo once told me that in some people T3 therapy may only temporarily be needed to create the metabolic cascades necessary and once the system is moving, the T3 can actually be removed/lowered in the longer term. Perhaps you are one of these, particularly as you take such good care of your lifestyle and all the auxiliary factors for conversion!
Ok 👍 I see what you are saying. I’m retesting in 4 weeks so will see what is going on then. Thank you. I knew I could rely on you for a “cortisol” question 🙏
I’m still learning myself so it’s good to get a cortisol question to challenge my knowledge! humanbean is another cortisol guru that has brilliant information and links.
I’m so glad they’re of interest. Sometimes they feel a bit self indulgent 🫣 but I just think if someone like me comes across them in a few years, feeling desperate like I did and a cortisol ligh bulb goes off for them, then the updates are worth it 🙂
dontforgetcortisol, 'if someone like me comes across them in a few years,'
Are you aware that we have a specific topic category for Adrenal Glands?
The list of Topics is on the right of the post page on a computer screen, but it might be elsewhere on a phone screen.
If you choose the relevant topic for each of your opening posts, it can help people to find them. Many people don't bother to categorise their post, but in your case it seems like a useful thing to do.
If you want to do this, you can go back and edit any/all of your posts to select the topic. (Just click on the More button below a post and choose Edit, then nip down to the Add topic option at the bottom)
This is incredibly interesting. I wonder if there is anywhere we might get more info on this. I found that when my T4 went over range and I was very ill, for months afterwards my brain fog was considerably better, depression etc. Physicals no better. My T3 had been raised along with the T4. Ratio was worse but I put down my actual improvement to the actual increased T3 which lasted months. I am perhaps ‘over sensitive’ to T3. I am having a few nightmares still introducing it but even so I am distinctly better. Lalatoot provide me with info on Blanchard’s dosing method which has given me confidence in my tiny dose of T3 and tattybogle with her view on a pin almost homeopathic dose. I now need Roseway, I think, to do me a regular sized pill so I don’t have to keep cutting (clearly inaccurately) the dose I need. Upwards and onwards for us all!!
Hey,
Reading your post I’ve been wondering a few things -
A few hours after I had a reaction. Bright red face like sunburn and very very sweaty face. After a few days this passed - it is very common for people to experience “increased thyroid hormone uptake” when they add in cortisol to the system, it is possible the cortisol injection could have raised your thyroid hormone metabolism (because cortisol and thyroid hormone are in a tight metabolic partnership) and results in transiently “hyper” symptoms.
However, since then every morning when I stroll, at a slow pace, with my dog my face sweats profusely ( hair wet etc). It’s like my thermometer in my body just isn’t working. By the end of the day I feel a normal temperature. Are you tracking BBT? It would be good to see your temperature numbers to get a handle on how your daily trend looks.
There are multiple reasons for high body temp (eg. high progesterone, low aldosterone, low iron, high cortisol, high adrenaline).
Where are you re. Menopause?
my serum cortisol was overrange at 9 am blood draw. This would make sense because I am highly stressed from PTSD when I wake in the mornings. It’s also possible that the raised cortisol may have been a sign of your being in the earlier stages of hypothyroidism. It’s common for cortisol to initially rise and then drop over time the longer we are hypo.
Is it possible this will pass as the cortisol slowly leaves my body? Cortisone has a relatively short half life, the drug itself is likely to have left your body by now, and a while back, but that doesn’t mean to say you aren’t still experiencing the cascade of after effects it has left behind.
Should I stop T3 for a while to see if that helps? In your shoes I would not do this without labs to support the decision. What were your labs before you dropped the T4?
Also, another question please. I’ve always had very low blood pressure but since taking T3 my RP is up to 60 BPM and blood pressure up to 117/70. Now I know this isn’t high but it’s high “for me”. I’m normally about 98/60 and RP 50. I would take that BP as improved and a sign your system appreciates the T3. It is still well within the “healthy range,” and HR is certainly healthier at 60 than 50.
My instinct is that your body will settle and return to the pre-cortisone injection baseline over time. Bloods will tell us more - the presence of the cortisol may have just increased your use of the thyroid hormones and you might just need to tweak your meds, hang in there until you can get your panel ❤️ As arTistapple says, Cortisone injects can create weird changes in people, and as you have a thyroid condition we need to be extra wary about anything adrenal because of their tight relationship and the need to protect their delicate balance.
That is REALLY helpful. Also very reassuring. I think you are absolutely right.
Im 58 yrs and 6 yrs into menopause and use estrogel ( no uterus so no need for progesterone).
I really think the cortisol has done something. The morning sweats only started after the injection so I think it’s upset the thyroid balance as you say.
I’ll hang in there with my 100 Levo and 6 lio for the next 6 weeks and retest.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
headaches when moving from NDT to t3 and Levo. 
Advice needed on switching from T3/T4 combo to T3 only
Am I over medicated now? 
How soon should you leave a T3 increase before testing? Is it the same as for T4 increases?
Is there a T3 and blood pressure connection?
