Trying out T3 - The first blood test is due

[Lunario]

I know this question has been asked many times in one way or another. Here it comes again:

My conversion is not good, and even with a nearly suppressed TSH and fT4 is in the upper half through the reference range, the fT3 is lingering in the lower end.

The symptoms are minor but annoying, and I believe that a relatively low fT3 is not good for overall health. So, I thought it was time to give T3 a try.

Fortunately, I got some OTC when I was on vacation in Thailand.

And because I'm a bit experimental, I started my trial.

The first six days, I took 6.25 mcg about 3–5 hours before getting up, which gave me 3–5 hours of good sleep. Now, in the second week, I take an extra 6.25 mcg around 3 pm. I feel good, my blood pressure is youthful, no sleepy spells in the afternoon, no cold feet, and I don't have the feeling of having a wet loaf of bread where the brain sits.

I will have a blood test next Monday - the first one with a new doctor because the other one retired. Furthermore, I think that I can convince him to prescribe T3 in the future (he is not obsessed with TSH and knows already that mine is suppressed and that I’m having a conversion issue), but, of course, the result of the blood test should show the frees within the range.

I would have preferred to get 20 mcg pills, but only 25 mcg pills were available. So, when I will - hopefully - get a prescription, I will have to deal with 20 mcg pills because there is no brand with 25 mcg available in Germany. That means two 5 mcg doses instead of two 6.25 = 2.5 mcg less than I take now, if no further adjustments are necessary.

To cut a long story short: How should the time of intake be adjusted to the day(s) before Monday? I know it's hard to predict how this will affect the outcome, but there are general experiences.

Thanks for your insights.

[TiggerMe]

Last dose of T3 8-12 hours before blood draw and last T4 24 hours

[Lunario in reply to TiggerMe]

Thank you. Maybe I have to apologize for my inaccuracy:

The blood test will take place at 8:00 a.m. Therefore, I will take my last dose at midnight, about 3 hours earlier than usual. The interval between my afternoon dose and early morning dose then shortens. Shouldn't the afternoon dose also be taken a little earlier?

It may be a stupid question (parts of my brain are obviously still like a wet slice of bread in my head 😉), but I must think about it all the time.

[TiggerMe in reply to Lunario]

If you can shimmy your morning dose a little earlier then do... must admit I take all mine in one go in the morning to save all the faffing about as it just led to missed doses etc.. (and it works better for me that way thankfully) but if I'm testing for the Medics I stick with the 12/24 rule... as long as the last dose is timed right I shouldn't sweat it too much... just remember to hide your pills after the last dose so you don't take more on autopilot

I've just done a private test this morning after having full dose 3 hours before just to see where my levels get too as I'd not done that before.... I shan't show it to the medics! 😁