Added t3 how long to wait for blood test ?

[ali2341]

hi everyone i added 6mcg of t3 to my 125 mcg of t4 that i have been taking for a 2 weeks can i get a blood test now to see where my t4 and t3 levels are now as i understand that t3 builds up in the system quick.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

Hi,

Yes T3 takes effect quickly but my T3 prescriber says to wait 12 weeks as all sorts of fluctuations occur as your body gets used to absorbing and using it, especially if you have had low levels for some time. Could you bear to wait, or are you so low and symptomatic that you want to continue?

What was the total T3 originally prescribed for you? Is 6mcg just part of it or close to all of it?

Did you drop your T4 a little before starting T3?

I didn't and sent myself over range, it took 4 months for symptoms to appear noticeable but then I was in a bit of a mess (summer 2023) with palpitations, sweaty face, insomnia and anxiety when I tested to see what was going on my FT4 and FT3 were over range, 8 weeks later on a lower dose of both my FT4 went to 28 (12-22) and FT3 to 10 ( 3-6.8) So there is also a bit of a lag in what the bloods show v symptoms for me. It was a bit of a job bringing it down, going hypo and then taking it back up, finally settled about March/April this year. It could be that I initiated a hyper swing too with some horrifically stressful stuff that a friend was going through, but I'll never know for sure. Low and slow is definitely the way to go. 🌱

[Joesmum in reply to Regenallotment]

My Endo checks me every 4 to 6 weeks with a dose change. Whether it’s a change of T4 or T3.

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Joesmum]

What does the endo say about testing after 2 weeks of a T3 change?

[ali2341 in reply to Regenallotment]

I added t3 becasue im depressed whiteout it and it defientley helps me i take 125 mcg of t4 as when i was taking 100mcg with t3 it tanked my t3 levels i could feel pains.

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to ali2341]

So how long have you been on this most recent steady dose? Like I said my prescriber likes me to stick for 12 weeks before testing and tweaking now that I’m just fine tuning. 🌱

[ali2341 in reply to Regenallotment]

2 weeks

[Joesmum]

Too soon. He would only test at the 4 week point.

[Regenallotment Ambassador in reply to Joesmum]

I’d still say that is too soon based on my own experience 🌱

[Joesmum]

well I’m with one of the best Endo’s in the country thankfully and it ain’t too soon for him !😂

The truth is the FT4 and FT3 levels settle sooner whilst the TSH bobs around a little. I don’t produce TSH so we don’t have to bother about that.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Joesmum]

I don’t produce TSH so we don’t have to bother about that.

So that explains the shorter testing time

It takes 6-12 weeks for TSH to settle……much longer than Ft4 and Ft3

[Joesmum in reply to SlowDragon]

indeed.