Trialling T3 & T4 Low TSH

[Biddy51]

Hi i’ve been taking T4 for many years. Now taking 50mg of T4 & approx 8mg of T3. My latest blood test are back. I’m really worried my endo is going to stop me taking T3 when I am feeling much better. I’m aware of the fact that if you take T3 your TSH goes down, but he doesn’t! My results are above. Any help greatly appreciated.

[waveylines]

Hi Biddy, he really should be aware that adding in T3, will suppress your TSH or he's not worth his oats tbh! Is the plan to be mainly on Liothyronine? I'm just wondering why your on such a low dose of levothyroxine because your Ft4 is scraping the bottom of the range. .

[Biddy51 in reply to waveylines]

Hi, I forgot to say T3 twice a day 8mg approx with T4 in just the morning. I’m happy to do T4 with a bit of T3. Would you say the TSH is alright if i’m feeling alright? I was on 75mg T4 initially. He then suggested lowering T4 to 50mg. Do you think T4 should be a bit higher than 50 mg then? Sorry for all the questions.

[waveylines in reply to Biddy51]

So he added 16mcg of Liothyronine in and lowered your Levo from 75mcg down to 50mcg. Am not sure why he lowered your levo as you were not high in range.... Or am I missing something? It would make sense to add the 25mcg back in of levothyroxine & keep Liothyronine the same. And see how you do. It's likely your Ft3 as well as Ft 4 will go up. If he goes on about TSH point out how low your thyroid hormones are in the ranges.... That's really what counts.

Hope it goes well.

[Biddy51 in reply to waveylines]

Thank you so much for your help! What you are saying makes so much sense. I’m supposed to take 5mg three times a day, but worried about not sleeping with taking a dose late at night and also fitting it in. So I decided to take a bit more than quarter of a 20mg tablet of T3. Do you think the TSH is too low now? Yes he lowered T4 to 50. So you suggest keep taking T3 as is, but up T4 back to 75mg? I wonder if he says the same. If not I think I need a new endo.

[waveylines in reply to Biddy51]

I don't know your history so I'm not saying I'm right. Just a suggestion but you need to hear what he says.... so long as he doesn't harp on about suppressed TSH!!

[Biddy51 in reply to waveylines]

Thank you!

[Biddy51 in reply to waveylines]

Does Taking T3 lower T4 & TSH shown on blood tests

[waveylines in reply to Biddy51]

It can do as you may convert more T4 (storage form) to T3 (use able form). However he also lowered your levothyroxine (T4) so that's bound to lower your ft4. In addition any T3 in your case Liothyronine suppresses the TSH.

[Delilahmy]

definately scraping the barrel with your t4 results and clearly could increase t4 at least back up to your original 75 (possibly more)

T3 could also be tweaked a little as not optimal. TSH as Waveylines says ‘ he really should be aware that adding in T3, will suppress your TSH or he's not worth his oats tbh’

Good luck in the minefield but we need to push the Doctors and endos to listen and learn (not an easy target) to help us

[Biddy51 in reply to Delilahmy]

Thank you so much! Yes it is a mine field. And when you don’t have enough energy to battle it out lol.

[Biddy51 in reply to Biddy51]

Does Taking T3 lower T4 & TSH?