Hello everyone, I have finally obtained a prescription for T3 from a private endo. I’m excited but also apprehensive and want to get off to a good start, so would like some advice about the doses of T3 and T4 to take . Also information about the cheapest way of obtaining the T3 from my prescription.
My last blood tests were last done by NHS on 15th Feb and privately on 17th Jan. The reading on 15th Feb seems to be a bit of a blip because my T4 is normally 17 or 18. I think I had been ill just before. I have been on 5mg of Folic acid since Feb for 4 months via my GP so I am hopeful my Folate levels are now higher
17 Jan 24 (125mcg Levo 5 days 100mcg 2 days pw) Monitor My Health
TSH: 0.81 (0.27-4.2)
Free T4: 17 (12-22)
T3 3.5 (3.1-6.8)
15 Feb 24 (125mcg Levo 5 days 100mcg 2 days pw) NHS
TSH: 2.3 (0.27-4.2)
Free T4: 15.3 (12-22)
Vit D: 65
B12 734 (197-771)
Folate 3.4 (3.9-26.8)
Serum Ferritin: 109 (13-150)
Plasma Cortisol 9am 473 (133-537)
My Endo has told me to reduce my T4 from 125mcg per day to 100mcg and to take 10mcg of T3 twice a day. Everything I have read on here tells me this seems high. What level of T3 would you suggest I start on and should I reduce my T4.
Also I need to find the cheapest way to obtain my prescription. It’s a private prescription and has been made out for a 20 mcg dose.
Thank you I would be very grateful for any advice and your thoughts.
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nannieJen
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I got my 20mcg lio from Roseway labs. It was straightforward. They sent me a price for my prescription by email, with a link to pay. My meds were posted out and received within 2 days. I think 20mcg per day is a very high starting dose. Get a pill cutter and cut into quarters, so 5mcg dose. I would try a 5mcg dose and see how you feel. I had similar bloods to yours and was able to tolerate 2x 5mcg doses, 5-8 hours apart, quite quickly. I stayed on my 100mcg levo and 10mcg lio for 6 weeks, retested, and have now added in a third 5mcg dose, while reducing my levo to 87.5mcg. So far, this seems to be working well for me. I find when I take my first 5mcg lio together with my levo at 7.30am, I can feel it kick in and I get a slight feel of jitters, but I've worked out I need to 'use up' that extra energy boost, and I quickly feel fine again. I'm loving having the flexibility of lio. I even had an evening out, timing a lio dose a couple of hours before I went out. Its a really useful 'tool', just don't go too fast.
Thanks Forestgarden I thought maybe 5mcg might be a good dose to start on so it's good to know you had similar bloods and that worked for you. I feel better doing that now. If I go with Roseway do I just send them the prescription in the post and do I need to sign for the delivery of tablets. Roughly how much is it for the 20mcg tablets
I paid £60 (which included postage) for 100x 20mcg tablets Thybon henning which is unlicensed in the uk, but pretty standard to get these I think. My private endo is also a practising NHS endo, and she sent my prescription directly to Roseway (digitally) and I had an email from them immediately, so I had ordered and paid before I'd even left her office. I believe if you actually have a paper copy of the prescription, you might need to email them a copy, then they will give you a price. rosewaylabs.com/
Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) Thorne can be difficult to find at reasonable price, should be around £20-£25. iherb.com often have in stock. Or try ebay
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg)
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
Thank you Slow dragon For the past year I have been working on my gut health and have been taking the following supplements: Vits – D with K2, B complex (pink tribe) with folate not folic acid (stopped before blood test), Magnesium Glycinate / malate/citrate. Although my last blood tests were disappointing for Folate and Vit D. I have now reluctantly started taking folic acid prescribed by GP as the folate in b complex didn't make any difference although it increased my B12.
My hypothyroidism is autoimmune. I know my T4 isn't the best that's why I was wondering if I needed to reduce my levo at all. Is it likely to go down lower once I take T3.
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