Does anyone know the approx dose of T4 and T3 n... - Thyroid UK

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Does anyone know the approx dose of T4 and T3 needed if you do not have a thyroid.

mpsun profile image
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I had radio active iodine 8 years ago and unfortunately it burnt almost all of my thyroid away as the dose was way too strong for me.

8 years later I am still playing around with the doseage of T4 and T3. I’ve read a few people are on just T3 which maybe I should try.

right now I’m on a morning dose of T4 84 T3 20 and then I Have a second does at 6pm or just T4 42 and T3 5 Basically totaling T4 126 and T3 25 a day

I was taking a. higher dose and felt great apart from terrible digestive issues. Bloating to a new level, gas and diarrhea.

But now I’ve dropped the dose I have a puffy face, puffy abdomen and typical under medicated feelings. Mainly not feeling hungry, and food just sitting in my stomach fermenting and not digesting as it should.

Just wondered if anyone else could help as the minute I take too higher dose I get stomach isoses which makes me think I’m then not absorbing properly either when on the higher does.

I’ve come off all supplements for the time being. Just to focus on the thyroid level.

Last blood test shows decent levels of the usual suspects.

Thanks. 🙏

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mpsun
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

you need good vitamin levels to be able to utilise thyroid hormones

If not taking vitamin supplements, vitamin levels likely dropping now

What are your most recent thyroid results

Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

T3 ….day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day, with last dose approximately 8-12 hours before test

is this how you do your tests

mpsun profile image
mpsun in reply toSlowDragon

Thanks slowdragon

Yes that’s how I test.

But as I have no thyroid I wondered what would be the recommended dose of T3 and T4

If I go to high I get gut issues and if I go to low I put weight on. I’m wondering if I should be on an even dose of T3 and T4

Benos123 profile image
Benos123 in reply toSlowDragon

Good Afternoon,

From 2004 to 2009 my then GP prescribed Eltroxin for me more based on my symptoms than my bloods and with the late Dr Peatfield's guidance from the UK, I remained symptom free up until 2014. However when that GP retired his replacement has repeatedly refused to prescribe Eltroxin on the basis that my TSH is in range and although some would say very borderline.

As I was reading your post above, the phrase "This gives highest TSH", caught my eye and got me wondering that if my 0.53 TSH on the fasting blood results above was also at it's highest then that could/would well mean that my TSH might inevitably drift lower as the day went on and perhaps even below the 0.35 "low level" entry point, and thus satisfy the criteria for a prescription!

To this end can you please advise how low the TSH level would most likely drift.

Thanks in advance, Kind Regards, Ben.

Thyroid Blood Test Results
pennyannie profile image
pennyannie

Hello Mpsun :

A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin + a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg + a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg.

I too had RAI thyroid ablation and am now self medicating with Natural Desiccated Thyroid and much improved -

Looking back I see you were taking NDT some 8 years ago and thought you were doing ok - what happened ?

No thyroid hormone replacement works well until the core strength vitamins and minerals - those of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are up and maintained at optimal levels ?

We do now have some research on RAI - which likely bears out some of how you feel -

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/306...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/338...

mpsun profile image
mpsun in reply topennyannie

Thankyou so much, what an interesting reply. Thanks also for the links.

The NDT was just too untelaiabe. Some bathes were good others not so good. When I changed to synthetic T4and T3 is was a game changer. I’ve had many good years on it. I’ve been so grateful for it but over the last year I’ve had terrible gut issues. And absorption issues.

So now I’m reducing my dose which is help in the gut but now I have some hashi / hypo symptoms.

Also 2kg in teas in weight. In the last 2 weeks and extra kilos… I can see every day the scales going up which is demotivating.

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