would you add more T3?

[Thyroid_mum]

hi all,

I’ve just got my latest results back, 12 hours between T3 last meds and test (26 hours for T4). I’m on 20mcg of T3 (10mcg in the morning, 5 at lunch and then 5 at bed), I’m on 75mcg of Levo.

I don’t have the rough feeling anymore like I used to, but still weight resistance, tired in the late afternoon/evening. Still have brain fog and trouble recalling words/memory. Struggled with cold temperatures and still have constipation and itchy skin.

would you up T3 more?

I don’t know what’s causing inflammation as I’m gluten dairy and sugar free?

[greygoose]

Did you only leave 12 hours between your last dose of levo and the blood draw? If so, you have a false 'high' FT4 there. So your real FT4 levo must be very low. So, it might be a good idea to try increasing levo first, see if that raises your FT3 and/or helps with the remaining symptoms. Some people need their FT4 quite high in-range, even when taking T3.

[Thyroid_mum in reply to greygoose]

sorry, no…12 hours between t3 last dose. Was 26 hours for t4

[Thyroid_mum in reply to greygoose]

how does one tell if they dont convert T4 to T3?

[greygoose in reply to greygoose]

OK, that's fine, then. Even so, your FT4 is pretty low. I still think you should tray raising that a bit first.

You cannot tell how well you are converting when you're taking T4+T3. You need to be on T4 only, then test both FT4 and FT3 at the same time. Then you 'work out' the percentages to see how far through the range is. The gap between them should be very slight, like FT4 75%, FT3 no lower than 70% (numbers are not exact and vary from person to person). If the gap is wider than that, then you are a poor converter.

[Thyroid_mum in reply to greygoose]

Thank you Greygoose. I was on T4 only before, I started introducing T3 January 2023. I had low T3 on T4 only, these results i was on 200mcg of levo only

200 t4 only

[greygoose in reply to Thyroid_mum]

Oh, goodness! That FT4 is way too high. Did you try reducing the dose because sometimes when it's too high it can negatively affect conversion.

Also, do you have Hashi's? How long was the gap between your last dose of levo and the blood draw?

I don't really think we can draw any conclusion from those results because of the dubious FT4.

[Thyroid_mum in reply to greygoose]

I dont have a thyroid it was removed due to a goitre

[Thyroid_mum in reply to greygoose]

when I reduced the dose the T3 was very low, that's why I added T3 to the T4 and slowly reduced the T4 over a period of time.

[greygoose in reply to Thyroid_mum]

OK, so it was your dose that was too high and it looks very much like you are a poor converter and need that T3. But that's about all we can say.

If you had a goitre, I imagine you did have Hashi's, didn't you? And Hashi's people are usually poor converters, and there's not a lot you can do about it except take T3.

[Thyroid_mum in reply to greygoose]

I think it was hashi’s, I had the goitre and overactive thyroid. The surgeon who removed the thyroid didn’t really explain much 🙈

Do I need the T4 or is it better to be on T3 only if I don’t convert well?

[greygoose in reply to Thyroid_mum]

Imposssible to answer that question. Because everyone is different. Some people, even though their conversion is poor, still need quite a high level of FT4 to feel well. Others, like me, only feel well on zero T4. You can only find out what you need by trial and error. So, increasing the levo seems like a good way to start.

[Thyroid_mum]

Yes, 10mcg of T3 in the morning, 5mcg at lunch and 5mcg at bed. Been on this dose for 6 weeks.

[DippyDame]

Maybe give it a bit more time!

You could initially try increasing your levo! 100mcg

I take my T3 in a single dose at bedtime....in your shoes I might try that.

The single dose may provide better absorption into the cells than a low trickle.

BUT...increase T3 to a single dose, in stages, to allow your system to adjust.

Your results suggest that you are still undermedicated

I follow the late T3 expert Dr John Lowe's method of dosing

I need high dose T3-only to function and tried numerous combos first.

It's trial and error I'm afraid and symptoms are a very important guide to dosing

[SlowDragon Administrator]

FT4: 14.6 pmol/l (Range 12 - 22)

Ft4 only 26.00% through range

FT3: 5.4 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 62.16% through range

I would recommend you increase your levothyroxine to 100mcg

Retest again in 6-8 weeks

many members on levothyroxine plus small doses of T3 find they need BOTH Ft4 and Ft3 approx 70% through range

Increasing Ft4 (levothyroxine) should also increase Ft3 a bit

[Yeswithasmile]

You’ve had loads of replies so I thought I’d add mine!

As most have said, everyone is different and as you get sort of mid way it can be better to leave another few weeks as you can still change and then you may miss what’s right for you.

Patience is hard to come by I know especially when you just want to feel better. But it really is key or you could be yo yo-ing back and forth with doses and it just takes longer to get to a better point.

For me, I find t4 around half way is much, much better for joint and muscle pain, better toes nails lol. I can get this much better even with a low ft3

However to generally stay awake which I find useful 🤣 I need my ft3 to be at least 5.5. Medichecks ranges.

Finding that combination more than fleetingly has proved problematic for me. Mainly because I lacked patience and keep trying to feel a bit better by changing about.

Things is we never know unless we try so if you do it slowly you stand much more chance of becoming more aware of what improves which symptoms for you.

Good luck.