stopping T4 query

[Bollieforme]

Had a call from my endocrinologist today told me to stop taking levo and to take only t3 twice per day 10/10. I was taking 75mg of levo and 5/10 T3. So no reduction of levo bit by bit is what I would have thought. My Tsh is suppressed at 0.03. Has anyone been told just to stop levothyroxine and take just T3 how did it feel?

[TiggerMe]

Once I'd started T3 and felt good I wondered if I needed T4 and reduced it a little.... couple of weeks later I felt awful and it took another month to get my levels back up

I would suggest you try a reduction first to see how you feel, your fT4 is already pretty low so I think you'd soon have your answer... I ended up raising my T4 as above 50% felt so much better

If you are still feeling fatigued I'd suggest upping your T4 a little first to see if that helps rather than reducing as you are only at 23%

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

Did you ask to try T3 monotherapy?

Your endo has told you to drop 75mcgs Levo and add in only 5mcg T3?

Is there a plan to increase further as 20mcg T3 will likely leave you hypo.

[Bollieforme in reply to Jaydee1507]

No I didn’t ask for it, I asked if I could have more T3 to see if I would feel better. He thought my Tsh was low so he suggested I should drop levo and retest in 6 weeks. He was arrogant didn’t even ask how I was feeling

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Bollieforme]

That doesnt bode well. Have you thought about finding a new Endo? You should be able to have an active part of decision making where your health is concerned.

You can email [e-mail] for a list of T3 friendly Endo's.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Suggest you run away from this endocrinologist as fast as possible

A) on almost any dose of T3 majority of people will have suppressed TSH

B) only ever reduce Levo by max 25mcg per day …..even that is often far too large a change

C) Someone on just T3 is going to need significantly more than 20mcg T3 per day

D) he should be looking at results and asking you how you feel

T3

Are you currently taking 5mcg per day or 10mcg per day

Or total of 15mcg per day?

Which brand of T3

How long have you been taking 75mcg levothyroxine

Retest 6-8 weeks after any dose change or brand change in levothyroxine or T3

Please add most recent results and ranges

all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

On T3 - day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose 8-12 hours before test

also when were vitamins last tested

What supplements are you taking

[TiggerMe in reply to SlowDragon]

It sure is strange advice he has given based on these results?

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Bollieforme in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon

I wasn’t worried about the low TSH but realise endo’s are obsessed by them. I agree with you with regard to reducing T4 a little at a time. I’m currently taking 20mg of T3 in two 10mg doses brand is Roma.

I’ve been on 75mg of levo for maybe 2 years.

I did follow dosing protocol before testing. My test results are TSH 0.03 (0.35-4.94) FT3 4.00 (2.4-6.00) FT4 11.1 (9.00-19.0)

I’m supplementing with selenium, calcium, zinc, B12, cod liver oil, magnesium glycinate, multi vitamin.

I’m awaiting some test results for ferritin folate & vitamins.

I do think this Endo is probably not right for me. Just questioning why he would say stop T4 all together and test again. Seems like TSH is his bench mark

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bollieforme]

FT4: 11.1 pmol/l (Range 9 - 19)

Ft4 only 21.00% through range

FT3: 4 pmol/l (Range 2.4 - 6)

Ft3 only 44.44% through range

You results suggest you likely need dose INCREASE in levothyroxine

Ft4 probably too low

Many (most?) thyroid patients on combined levothyroxine and T3 find they need BOTH Ft4 and Ft3 at least 50-70% through range

Suggest you consider Increasing levothyroxine to 87.5mcg daily

Retest in 6-8 weeks

Likely to see both Ft4 and Ft3 have increased

What was Ft4 BEFORE starting on T3

Multivitamins never recommended on here

Which multivitamin is it

A daily vitamin B complex yes ……multivitamin no (most contain iodine not recommended)

[Bollieforme in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi there my FT4 was 16.5 (9-19) prior to starting on T3 in July last year.

My multivitamin doesn’t contain iodine.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bollieforme]

FT4: 16.5 pmol/l (Range 9 - 19)

So Ft4 was 75.00% through range

FT4 frequently drops when T3 added and many members find they then need dose increase in levothyroxine after few months

Which multivitamin is it

What were most recent Vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 results and how long ago were they tested

[TaraJR]

Can I ask where this endo is?

[Muffy]

I’ve been on 40mcg per day of T3 only for many years and that works for me, but we are all different and it’s what works for us.