Starting T3 combination trial

[VEG71]

Morning all.Thanks everyone for your reply! I haven't started the combination yet. After 3 trips to the pharmacy, they didn't have 85mcg thyroxine, so they reduced to 75mcg! The dose of T3 is 5mcg once daily. I do feel set up to fail. I'm still have the classic hypo symptoms, (and more!) despite T4 in range, T 3 was low 3.4. I have just emailed the clinic to ask about titration/adjusting plans for the meds. Also to query the 75mcg thyroxine dose. Have asked for contact from the consultant. She has constantly challenged my symptoms, and at one point told me I was never going to be prescribed T3, (before bloods came back T3 low!) It makes me drained just thinking about her. Hoping I can gave a decent discussion about all this with her, just need reassurance the doasges will be looked at. Not sure how to handle it? Hoping, there will be some symptom improvement so she doesn't stop the trial, saying it didn't work.

I asked for my blood results from endo clinic and gp, they don't have them to send, so I'm going to get medi check ones.

Thank you all, it's so helpful having insight into all your experiences and I really appreciate the tips and excellent advice!

[VEG71]

Arghh I don't know how to edit! I haven't started the t3 trial yet!

[helvella in reply to VEG71]

helvella - Editing HealthUnlocked Posts/Replies

You may not realise that you can edit, or delete, any posts or responses you have made here. Follow the link below for details

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[VEG71 in reply to helvella]

Thank you!

[greygoose]

I do feel set up to fail.

Why? 5mcg is the normal starter dose for T3. How long are you supposed to stay on that dose?

However, in my opinion, the pharmacy was wrong to give you 75 mcg instead of 88. How much were you taking before? Taking T3 will lower your FT4 any way, so it might have been better to go up to 100 rather than down to 75.

I'm still have the classic hypo symptoms, (and more!) despite T4 in range, T 3 was low 3.4.

But it's not the T4 causing the symptoms, it's the low T3. You are a poor converter, hence the prescription for T3.

Not sure how to handle it? Hoping, there will be some symptom improvement so she doesn't stop the trial, saying it didn't work.

Ahhhhhh you have to learn endo-speak. And lie! You say that you felt a vast improvement in your symptoms - even if you didn't - but you feel that things could improve even further with an increase in dose.

[VEG71 in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for advice, I did wonder if I should go down that route! Must work on the endo speak! 😁

[greygoose in reply to VEG71]

You're welcome.

[Hennerton]

From my own experience, it is better to take it very slowly when adding the T3. I found I felt worse with the full 5mcg in one hit and I began to cut up the tablet, keep every crumb and take it first thing in the morning before any food and then in the evening, again not close to food. Your body needs time to adjust and slow but sure is the best way. If you can be bothered, you could try even smaller doses. I easily cut mine into four tiny pieces and did this in the early days. It is a bit of trial and error but is far better to go slowly than leap into the unknown.

[VEG71 in reply to Hennerton]

Thank you, will try this.

[tattybogle]

LevoThyroxine comes in 25/50/ 100 mcg sizes in UK , and one brand (Teva) makes a 75mcg tablet . ~ whoever wrote your prescription should know this . 85mcg tablets are not available in UK.

The usual way to write a prescribe for 87.5mcg dose is '75mcg / 100mcg alternate days' ~ this evens out in the blood as levothyroxine is a long life /storage form of hormone . Alternatively a 25mcg can be cut in half to take exact same dose each day, which some of us prefer .

[VEG71 in reply to tattybogle]

Brilliant thank you! Will ask for this.