Confusing first results on T4/T3

[Cassav]

Hi all,

I'm reposting this as I didn't get any replies 😊

Please see my first results 6 weeks after introducing T3. I'm on 125mcg of levo and 10mcg of lio. I am very confused because I was certain that my current symptoms were due to being undermedicated! And how can my T4 be top of range again despite me reducing my levo and introducing T3.

TSH 0.007 (0.27-4.2)

T3 6 (3.1- 6.8)

T4 22.1 (12-22)

Initially after reducing levo and introducing Lio, my sleep really improved (it was poor before and I suspected that this was caused by being overmedicated on levo/T3 still being too low).

However, I started to suffer from constipatation again and my sleep then started to deteriorate again. I sometimes have achy muscles and weakness and irritability. I really notice the lack of patience after 6pm when doing the bedtime routine with my daughter.

I started self-injecting EOD with B12 from 19th February to see if this improved my longterm neuropathy. I've definitely noticed increased anxiety and irritability linked to the injections, which is a known issue. However, I have noticed that my neuropathy has improved a bit - I've noticed twinges most days as if the nerves are healing/waking up. I didn't really notice this before introducing the B12.

Previous results from December on 150mcg of levo only:

December result

TSH 0.012 (0.27-4.2)

T3 4.8 (3.1- 6.8)

T4 22.3 (12-22)

I have to confess that I've fallen off the gluten/dairy wagon a few times over the last few weeks 🤦🏾‍♀️ so could the high T4 be a hashi swing?

Hopefully someone can offer me some insight😊

Also, I forgot to add that my cortisol test a couple of months showed low cortisol. I was advised that T3 may slowly help to raise my cortisol. And when I first started taking T3 I kept getting itchy spots but this stopped after a couple of weeks.

[greygoose]

I expect you're having, or have just had, a Hashi's 'hyper's swing. Because your FT3 has also gone up out of all proportion to your dose of T3.

[Cassav in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for the insight 😊 greygoose . Perhaps it wasn't the B12 causing the raging irritability after all but a hashi swing....damn this awful condition! I'm also really annoyed with myself for falling off the wagon but it's been a tough few weeks so I just have to give myself some grace.

[greygoose in reply to Cassav]

Yes, you mustn't be too hard on yourself. It's not easy living with this disease. We do the best we can and that's all we can do. So be kind to yourself - there are enough people out there as it is, just waiting to give us a hard time over something they're incapable of understanding.

[Cassav in reply to greygoose]

Thank you for your kind words 🙏🏾

[greygoose in reply to Cassav]

You're welcome.

[Cassav in reply to greygoose]

Also, do you think that I should stay on my current dose and then retest in the hope that the hashi swing will pass? Could I perhaps retest in a few weeks to see if my T4/T3 is high? Or reduce a little?

[greygoose in reply to Cassav]

It will pass, eventually. But there's not knowing how long it will last. So, if you feel ok on your current dose, stay on it. If you feel over-replaced, reduce it temporarily. You're not over-range so if you don't feel unwell, don't change anything.

[Cassav in reply to greygoose]

Thanks. I feel ok at the moment. I'm not getting the aches, weakness and bad anxiety anymore. My sleep isn't great but it's been worse. I had a lovely period of great sleep a while back, which I want back😀! I'm loathe to change anything as I feel ok....but I'll think it over as a reduction in levo may help my sleep. How much would you reduce by and for how long...sorry lol

[greygoose in reply to Cassav]

Well, not a lot. Perhaps by 25 mcg every other day?

As for how long, absolutely impossible to say. Until you feel the need to increase again, is all I can tell you. These things are totally unpredictable.

[Cassav in reply to greygoose]

Thank you very much😊.

[greygoose in reply to Cassav]

You're welcome.

[GreenTealSeal]

Everyone is different but in my case I had muscle weakness and violent twitching when my T4 was pushed up way too high in range. It wasn’t converting and caused so many weird awful symptoms. It even affected my speech and made my joint pain sp much worse. Just my personal experience.

[Cassav in reply to GreenTealSeal]

Thank you for telling me about your experience 😊. It really helps to feel that I'm not alone. I guess I just have to wait it out or reduce a little bit 🤷🏿‍♀️.