Have been on T3 mono 40mcg per day (45 in winter) split into 3 doses since 2011. Have had no problems only benefits. Started with muscle twitching, fasciculations in both legs around a month ago. GP carried out a multitude of blood tests. Of course my TSH is suppressed at 0.04, free T3 is 4.3 range 3.9 - 6.8. Last dose T3 taken 3 o’clock day before bloods at 08.40.
B12 = 433 range 180 - 2000
Folate = 8.43 range 3 - 20
Ferritin = 151 range 13-150
GP has suggested that I drop 5mcg of T3 to see if this is the cause with possibility of reducing further. I have told her will drop 5 but reluctant to drop further due to SVTs which stopped from almost daily while taking T4 to very occasionally on T3.
Having bloods repeated in 6 weeks to see if any change
Has anyone got any experience with this or advice please. Thank you
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I had these before I started T3. At every dose increase or decrease I've never noticed a change in them.I used to take antihistamine often (the old type that make you sleepy) to help me sleep better. I haven't taken any antihistamine since early August, and my fasciculations have gone to almost nothing.
Think I've read that they can be caused by low B12, or maybe low ferritin/ iron. Someone else will know.
I'd be very reluctant to reduce T3 to try, as it's sometimes hard to get an increase prescribed again..
Oh another thing I've noticed.. i use my laptop on my lap. It's quite heavy, not like a tablet. That definitely has an effect on my legs.
Fortunately on winter dosage so happy to accommodate. First sniff of SVTs and that’s it. I don’t like taking any meds and thought I had experimented well enough to get it balanced, hence the need for a slight tweak in the winter months. GP seemed ok with that to be fair. But I do understand where you are coming from. We’ve all been through the mill regarding T3 especially mono and a natural distrust of their motives.
I would suspect low magnesium and/or low potassium but there are other possibilities.
The worst fasciculations I ever had occurred on a day I was having severe chest pain and ended up in hospital with a suspected heart attack. Lots of blood tests were done including potassium, and I got a copy of my blood test results (lucky me - I did have to ask) at the time I was discharged (no heart attack). It turned out my potassium matched the bottom of the reference range. It has never been that low before or since.
I think the chest pain I was having was caused by low potassium. After all the heart is a muscle too.
I take potassium bicarbonate powder as a supplement sometimes - a level quarter of a teaspoon in orange juice to disguise the taste.
Improving magnesium has also helped muscle spasms, twitches and cramp too. I take magnesium citrate powder in orange juice too, but there are quite a few options for magnesium supplementation.
There are other possibilities - low iron/ferritin (iron stores), low vitamin D, low sodium (i.e. salt)
Some links mainly about potassium that may be of interest :
Thank you for info. Lab didn’t test for manganese. Not sure why but will ask GP after repeat. Said on results ring lab if you want us to test as holding sample which seems rather silly to me. Will have a look at this
it shows you how magnesium is distributed in the body. Less then 1% of the body's magnesium is in the blood stream. The body prioritises magnesium in the blood and will steal it from elsewhere if the blood levels run low.
So, someone with enough magnesium in the blood could still be deficient in the soft tissue, the bone, the muscles...
It is safe to supplement magnesium without testing as long as the doses are sensible and the kidneys function adequately so they can expel any excess.
Wow. Some serious reading to be done. Thank you for info. I take 800iu per day. Haven’t tested for it but will ask for it to be done. Should do on NHS as Vit D on script due to osteopenia.
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