I’m going Carnivore with some added T3 need some advice please.

[ockerdoc]

I’m currently taking 5x100mcg and 2x150mcg Levothyroxine. My most recent test was

TSH 1.51 (0.35-5.5

Free T4 17.7 (11.9-21.6) (60%)

Free T3 4.29 (3.1-6.8) (32%)

This was taking 6x100mcg and 1x75mcg

Since this test about a month ago I have upped my Carbohydrates significantly to try and improve my conversion. Only healthy carbs like fruit and honey and homemade sourdough rye bread. I have felt better energy wise definitely but unfortunately it has made my Psoriatic Arthritis significantly worse. This has really shone a light on what carbs are doing to my body so I want to try Carnivore with some added T3 as I know my conversion will go down. I have 25mcg tablets T3. My questions are:

1. What would you start on? I was thinking 6.25 or halving these and starting on 3mcg? I’m 14 stone so I’m thinking 6 might be ok.

2 How much should I reduce my Levo by? Go back to 100mcg or 87.5mcg?

3 How long will it take for my T3 to lower once I start? Days or weeks?

My vitamins are all good. Any advice much appreciated thank you.

[FallingInReverse]

Will I be the only one who has no idea what “Carnivore” is? Is that the protein powder brand marketed for people who work out?

[HealthStarDust in reply to FallingInReverse]

Meat based diet I believe. Multiple varieties around. Eating like a carnivore is the idea.

[Noelnoel in reply to HealthStarDust]

Would you consider not changing any of your thyroid replacement until you’ve been on carnivore for a couple of months. You’ll be in a much better position to know what to do next if you gauge the effects of the diet because there are bound to be some, such as weight loss for one. Weight loss will change your levo requirements

[ockerdoc in reply to Noelnoel]

Thanks yes could do..I read on here someone was doing carnivore and doing well taking T3 aswell. I know zero carb will definitely lower T3 so that’s really the only reason why I thought it best to add a little. We’ll see how it goes if I’m feeling good then maybe I’ll leave it but if I’m really struggling then I’ll take some. I don’t want to lose too much weight though as I’m reasonably lean anyway.

[humanbean in reply to FallingInReverse]

Carnivore isn't always just meat and offal. Some carnivores include fish, seafood, eggs, milk and cheese as well. The milk and cheese always comes from animal sources.

[fadekeguuu in reply to FallingInReverse]

T3 is a godsend medication... If your thyroid is removed and you're suffering from hypothyroidism, don't take Synthroid. It makes your hypothyroidism worse. Or don't mix it. Just stay with Cytomel and wait for the magic to work immediately.

[Forestgarden]

You say your psoriatic arthritis is worse with carbs... have you tried cutting out gluten and keeping the other healthy carbs? There are links between psoriasis and gluten. There are plenty of gluten free recipes for 'bread' out there if you're into making your own. I find the ready-made GF breads and flours too refined, and they cause a sugar spike, but with a bit of trial and error there are alternatives.

[ockerdoc in reply to Forestgarden]

Yes I’ve done gluten free it doesn’t really have any effect to be honest. It was only when I increased my carbs from around 50-100g net carbs to about 250 that I noticed the worsening.

[Beads in reply to ockerdoc]

Speaking of different diets and psoriasis, mum has kept hers mainly in check over the last 30 years or so by not eating meat. She gets the odd flare up, but it’s no where near as bad as it was when she ate meat. She eats a mainly fish and vegetarian diet.

And she’s now waiting for her second confirmatory test for hypothyroidism.

[greygoose]

1. What would you start on? I was thinking 6.25 or halving these and starting on 3mcg? I’m 14 stone so I’m thinking 6 might be ok.

6.25 mcg is the usual starter dose - or 5 mcg, depending on the size of your pill.

2 How much should I reduce my Levo by? Go back to 100mcg or 87.5mcg?

I wouldn't reduce it at all. Your FT4 is not very high. And taking T3 will make it drop, anyway. There's no logical reason to reduce your levo.

3 How long will it take for my T3 to lower once I start? Days or weeks?

Your T3 is not supposed to lower, it's supposed to rise. How long that will take is impossible to say. Or did you mean your TSH? I'm confused now! lol

[ockerdoc in reply to greygoose]

Sorry! I meant how long would it take for your T3 levels to drop when your zero carb if you weren’t actually taking any T3.

[greygoose in reply to ockerdoc]

I very much doubt if anyone can answer that question. We don't tend to get people on zero carb on here. And I don't suppose any research has ever been done on it.

[ockerdoc in reply to greygoose]

Yes that’s true. I know some people on keto have had low T3 but still seem to function ok but then some don’t either so I suppose it depends on your body we’re all different aren’t we. Better to take some T3 I think especially for us hypos who don’t have our natural hormones. Thanks again.

[greygoose in reply to ockerdoc]

You're welcome.

[BeeVel in reply to ockerdoc]

Hello ockerdoc. I can answer this question for you, sadly.Just before Christmas, I had very similar readings like yours, with maybe T3 being bit more optimal. I am on 125mg levothyroxine daily, and have been following somewhat low carb diet. I was feeling OK, but have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and started to have aches and pains.

In Jan this year, I decided to go ketovore, and felt better, but not completely there. By mid Feb, I switched to full clean (no dairy) carnivore and end of Feb added intermittent fasting (16/8).

Felt amazing, all pain gone, by now lost 1 stone.... all was going good. Beginning of march, started feeling cold, and having cold hands, no other hypo symptoms. 15 March did blood work, results below:

Tsh 12 ( 0.27-4.2)

T4 17.8 (12-22)

T3 2.3 (3.1-6.8)

I am gutted I didn't add T3, especially as I have some at home.

I am back to low carb now, no IF and have added T3 6mg twice a day.

Dr Georgia Ede confirmed in her book "change your diet, change your mind" that both ketogenic diet and IF fasting bring T3 down.

Good luck with your carnie trial 🤞

[ockerdoc in reply to BeeVel]

That’s great thank you..that TSH is crazy high isn’t it ! Must be due to the low T3.. and the fact that the only symptom was cold hands makes me wonder about the metabolism shift on carnivore…your getting your energy from a different source aren’t you..really good to know thank you 🙏 .to be honest I was edging towards taking T3 along with the carnivore diet. If I didn’t have hypothyroidism I probably wouldn’t bother but the fact I can’t really make my own T3 makes me think I’m going to need it. Hope you can get back to where you were with adding the T3 now 🤞😆

[ockerdoc in reply to greygoose]

That’s great thanks for the advice Greygoose 😆

[EchoWS]

Sour dough bread definitely has gluten in it. Gluten aggravates psoriasis, I know from experience. Rye and barley particularly bad for my skin. T3 seems to help with tendons and joints - been on T4 only often enough because Dr believe in T4 only, never again. I don't think upping carbs is going to help with conversion, I think greygoose has right idea with breaking the 25 T3 up and start adding smaller amounts if you want to add T3. Brazil nuts have selenium in them which can help with conversion so 1-2 brazil nuts a day might help.

[ockerdoc in reply to EchoWS]

Thank you yes I was eating Brazil nuts every day probably too many I do like them. Only been eating rye quite recently last few weeks baking my own. I want to do Carnivore as a reset just to see if I can get some degree of pain relief. Dr Shaun Baker recommends carnivore for hypothyroidism and autoimmune conditions like arthritis. People seem to thrive so it’s worth a go I think.

[EchoWS in reply to ockerdoc]

I'll look him up - I have the hypothyroidism and arthritis so would be interested.

[humanbean in reply to EchoWS]

Dr Shawn Baker's website about the carnivore diet can be found here :

carnivore.diet/dr-shawn-bak...

And his Youtube channel :

youtube.com/@ShawnBakerMD