Thyroid meds resistance

[Scruff1309]

After taking t3 meds I experience a burning red face.I do not feel any effects of the medication whatsoever.Mg feeling is this could be thyroid meds resistance.Has anyone else experienced this?Advice or tips greatly appreciated.

[greygoose]

The red face sounds more like a reaction to one of the fillers.

How much T3 are you taking? Perhaps you're just not taking enough.

[Scruff1309 in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoose

Thank your for your reply.

I have tried compunded T3 as little as 2mg s at a time.I still have the same reaction.The baffling thing is that when I first found T3 some 12 years ago I felt fantastic.This probably lasted for 1-1.5 years.

I have been liasing with Dr Suppelt (thyroid specialist) who is based in Kent.She is baffled after prescribing compounded T3.She has never come across this problem before.Do you have any Doctor recommendations or does this have to be done over a private message.Im willing to travel to the USA,anywhere just to get well.

[greygoose in reply to Scruff1309]

So, the compounded T3 contained no fillers? Nothing but T3? Sound unlikely because it would be such a small amount of T3. Oh! Did you mean 2mg? Or 2 mcg? Huge difference.

I'm afraid I have no doctor recommendations anymore. All the good doctors have either gone bad or gone away.

[Scruff1309 in reply to greygoose]

Yes ,sorry 2 mcg s.It s really strange.Seems like something is blocking the pathway somewhere.

[greygoose in reply to Scruff1309]

Why do you say that? It's probably just that you're not taking enough. You can't expect 2 mcg to have much effect. And if you are resistant to thyroid hormones you're going to need a very high dose of T3. I take 75 mcg and DippyDame takes 100 mcg.

[Scruff1309 in reply to greygoose]

I say that because if I take even the smallest of doses ie 2mcg s i have a reaction that causes a burning red face.At one stage I was able to take 3 x 20mcg s per day and I felt fantastic.It s so frustrating.

[greygoose in reply to Scruff1309]

Yes, it's very strange. I can't imagine what's causing it.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

welcome to the forum

What are your most recent thyroid and vitamin results

What dose Levo and what dose T3 are you taking

Do you always get same brand levothyroxine at each prescription

Same question T3

How long on this dose

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Is your hypothyroidism autoimmune?

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

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or all relevant vitamins

Post all about what time of day to test

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Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

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Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes BOTH TPO and TG antibodies, cortisol and vitamins

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Medichecks and BH also offer private blood draw at clinic near you, or private nurse to your own home…..for an extra fee

Only do private testing early Monday or Tuesday morning.

Tips on how to do DIY finger prick test

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Monitor My Health (NHS private test service) offer thyroid and vitamin testing, plus cholesterol and HBA1C for £65

(Doesn’t include thyroid antibodies)

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10% off code here

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[Scruff1309 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi Slow Dragon

Thank you for your message.

My regular dose of t4 is 200mg s per day.

Everytime I try t3 I have the same reaction.I have 2mg s of compunded t3 with no fillers and still have the same reaction.

I will have to re test all thyroid markers.I have done this several times on my journey and all markers are fine.I will re test everything and let you know asap.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Scruff1309]

Which brand of Levo

Are you always taking on empty stomach and then nothing but water for at least an hour

No other medications or supplements within 2 hours

Some like vitamin D, magnesium, iron, HRT, ppi at least 4 hours away

[Hedgeree in reply to Scruff1309]

Hi Scruff,

I wouldn't rush to get blood tests done at the moment. As SlowDragon says start taking your levo away from your other supplements and coffee. It would possibly be challenging to start with particularly if you've been taking everything together for many years but important to do.

If you're up during the night you could take it then or split the dose take some during the night and the rest during the day.

Once you've been taking levo correctly for 6-8 weeks at least then do a full test. Private testing isn't cheap so you may as well save yourself some money.

I'm still titrating my dose of levo and prefer to wait longer after each increase. There are some of us on the forum that prefer to go low and slow with our levo increases.

[Scruff1309 in reply to Hedgeree]

Hi Hedgeree

Thank you for your reply.

I will take your advice and take my thyroid meds seperately.

[Scruff1309]

I was taking all of my meds at the same time with coffee.I have now read this a mistake.I will follow your advice from now on.The thyroxine brand is mercury pharma from NHS

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Scruff1309]

you are likely to find you may need SMALL dose reduction in Levo if now taking correctly

Retest 6-8 weeks after been taking it correctly

[DippyDame]

I think you need to get a few things straightened out....T3 is measured in mcgs not mgs. The difference could be fatal!

Your situation should not be baffling a competent medic!

So your daily dose is 200mcg T4 + 2mcg T3

200mcg T4 is a fairly large dose....so I'm presuming your T4 to T3 conversion is poor

Is your FT4 over range?

2mcg is a tiny dose. Are you sure you need T3? On what basis was it prescribed?

Has your doctor suggested reducing T4 and them increasing T3....slowly!

Have you checked your resting heart rate and your BP?

Have you been following testing protocol as explained by SlowDragon, to avoid false high or low results.

We have no lab results to check your thyroid function status....can you post those.

Full test....

TSH, FT4, FT3, vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin....and thyroid antibodies if not previously tested

Start with those tests following advised protocol, the results will/should point to problems that require attention

As for Thyroid Hormone Resistance, nothing suggests that right now....requirement for and tolerance of a supraphysiologicsl dose of T3-only confirms that.

I have a form of RTH and my highest dose was 212.5mcg....a far cry from 2mcg.

Once we have more info we should be able to offer some pointers

Good luck!

[Scruff1309]

Hi Dippy Dame

I was prescribed t3 as my t4 was optimal but t3 was low on 200mcg s t4 per day.

I do have high blood pressure and Im trying to get that rectified via my GP.

I have taken too much t3 in the past and I know the symptoms.As I mentioned,even if I take 2mcg s ,5mcg s or 10 mcg s of t3 I have the same odd reaction.I do not feel any other sensation apart from a burning red face.This could well be linked to high blood pressure.

I have ordered your recommended blood tests.As soon as I receive the results Ill post them.