I found a swell Endo (unwilling to wait 6-12 months for the NHS referral), and he's prescribing Tybon Henning 20mcg tablets to chop up. I currently take 75mcg Levo and have done so for 20+ years. I feel like a slug, gained about two stone in the past 3 years, have chronic pain, no libido, a bit depressed, always cold, losing hair, dry skin... basically ALL the symptoms. I'm 68 and have RA as well. I have two questions:
1. His instructions for beginning T3 do not align with some of what I've read on the forum, so I'd like advice on dosing and balance of combo therapy. This is what he told me to do: 10mcg T3 (1/2 tablet) to replace 25mcg Levothyroxine. Start with 5mcg in the AM with 50mcg Levo for 3 days, then increase to 5mcg 2xday with Levo 50mcg. Further increase in T3 as needed.
2. What might I be able to expect as far as relief? I'm so horribly tired...
Here are my last blood results (I have posted them before, but may be helpful)
Brilliant 👏 with a fT3 as low as yours I would expect you to regain a whole lot of functions that must be a huge struggle at the moment!
How has he told you to introduce the T3?
My inclination would be to alternate T4 50/75 and add in 5mcg T3 for a couple of weeks to see how you feel as it might come as a big shock to your system! If that goes well add in a second dose of 5mcg 8 hours from the first and again see how that feels.... take it slowly until you know how if feels, if you have a surge and then drop off you might either want to add in another dose or alternatively just take one dose a day... it really depends how your system accepts it... 🤗
Your adrenals must be knackered having held you up for years so they might get the hump with this new stress to deal with
Hello Eeyore! Yes, I'm quite happy about FINALLY getting the T3 and also having a sympathetic Endo to boot!
His instructions:
10mcg T3 (1/2 tablet) to replace 25mcg Levothyroxine. Start with 5mcg in the AM with 50mcg Levo for 3 days, then increase to 5mcg 2xday with Levo 50mcg. Further increase in T3 as needed.
It sounded a bit too aggressive to me so that's why I posted. Thanks so much for your dosing reply!
I'd be a bit reluctant to drop T4 by 25mcg from the off as when I added it in my fT4 dropped from 100% to 50% without any reduction in dose.... later when I finally saw the NHS endo who agreed to take on the prescribing she wanted me to drop my T4 and it went down to 24% and I felt dreadful even with a reasonable level of T3 ( I was a little intrigued to see if I was going to be a T3 only case)
So I would say T3 is marvellous yet even when a bad converter like me I need to keep T4 around 60%
I would also add that timing of T3 makes almost as much difference as amount so don't be afraid to try each dose with different timings before moving up or down... I take all mine first thing with T4 and I tick over nicely all day... having tried splitting which created crashes 5 hours after a dose and bedtime dosing which had the wrong effect on my sleep 😕
So for me 15mcg in one dose is far more effective than 25mcg in split dosing 🙃
Was test done as recommended…..early morning, ideally just before 9am, only water to drink between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Adding T3
Only start with 5mcg initially……
or possibly split as 2.5mcg waking and 2.5mcg later in day
Get a sharp craft scalpel to cut 20mcg into 1/4’s
Then cut 1/4 into 1/8th for first few days
Assuming that’s ok
Increase SLOWLY up over next 2-3 weeks
Initially to 5mcg twice day
Possibly waiting at this point and retest 6-8 weeks later
Or might increase to 3 x 5mcg first …..then retest
Hi SD, I'm on Teva and don't seem to have issues with it. I tested as per your directions and am strict GF + DF (vegan... have been for years). I supplement with Vite D, Liposomal B (has folate), Better You Iron + Zinc, Flax, Omega 3-6-9, and Red Marine Algae (calcium). I always wait 2 hours after Levo before having caffeine and 4 hours after for food.
Thanks for the dosing breakdown ~ It's very easy to follow. ☺️
Everywhere2 'Are you saying that when, on NDT, FT3 is high in range and FT4 low, we should add Levo to NDT?'
There's no 'should' about anything when it comes to thyroid hormone medications. We need to experiment and find what suits us as an individual, not blindly follow the flock.
Personally, I find adding 25mcg levo to my NDT helps a lot. I know others do too, but that doesn't mean it's appropriate for everyone.
Thank you! I have edited my original post to show his instructions. For some reason, Medichecks said that my folate couldn't be tested and that sometimes that happens with certain patients' blood... 🙄
Due to customer demand, a finger-prick option is available for this test. However, folate has a higher-than-normal failure rate on finger-prick samples.
If our laboratory finds an error with your sample, we'll notify you by email as soon as possible. There is absolutely no reason to worry.
If it was your first time collecting a finger-prick test, many of our customers have a better success rate on their second attempt. You can order a new finger-prick test, completely free of charge by calling our Customer Care team (making sure you have your order number and PID to hand).
Alternatively, if you would like to upgrade your order and opt to visit one of our partner clinics or arrange a home visit, our Customer Care team will be able to organise this for you.
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