Seasonal change and symptoms-dosage

[phronsias]

Hello

I got my blood test results today and my my FT3 is 7.2 (FT3 2.60 - 5.70) I take 60mcg of Liothyronine (20-20-20)daily , looking back on my posts this has happened every 2 years or so. My GP wanted me told me to reduce my dose my 20mcg daily but I told him I did a 20mcg reduction 6 years ago and it was too big a drop , so we agreed on 50mcg daily and a blood test in 6 weeks. I took my T3 20mcg dose 12 hours before my last test. Does anyone on T3 only experience this seasonal change?

Thanks in advance

Frank

[Blue_Lagoon]

I didn’t experience a seasonal change when on T3 only myself but can I ask how you arrived at splitting your dose into 3? If you can slowly work up to taking it all in one go daily in the morning, then when you have your next blood test you will have left 24 hrs between your last T3 dose and your blood test instead of 12 hrs so your fT3 will be lower. On the other hand this dosing regime may not work for you but could be worth a go if you don’t want to reduce.x

[phronsias in reply to Blue_Lagoon]

Hello thanks for your reply, I played around with dose size and times and found 20mcg at 4 am- 20mcg at 12 noon and 20mcg at 8pm suited me best

[Blue_Lagoon in reply to phronsias]

Are you doing the CT3M?x

[phronsias in reply to Blue_Lagoon]

Yes,

[Blue_Lagoon in reply to phronsias]

You’ll know all about Paul Robinson’s books then! I won’t interfere ☺️

[greygoose]

T3 should only be dropped - or raised - by 5 mcg at a time.

Do you have Hashi's? Because if it happens about every two years, that's not a seasonal change. Seasonal would be every 3 to 6 months. So, there must be some other explanation, and the most obvious is Hashi's.

[phronsias in reply to greygoose]

Thanks, I dont know if Ive had a hashimoto's disease test, I would have thought I would have been told if I had hashimoto's disease by my GP or Endo.

[greygoose in reply to phronsias]

You'd be amazed at the number of times patients have not been told they have Hashi's because doctors don't understand why it's important. I wasn't told by the endo that diagnosed me, and I didn't know what antibodies were. So, I didn't find out I had Hashi's until years later. Never over-estimate an endo or a GP!

[phronsias in reply to greygoose]

I have requested a hashimoto's disease test at my blood test in 6 weeks.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

you should have had thyroid antibodies tested at diagnosis of being hypothyroid

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 tested

Also both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested at least once to see if your hypothyroidism is autoimmune

About 90% of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune thyroid disease, usually diagnosed by high TPO and/or high TG thyroid antibodies

Autoimmune thyroid disease with goitre is Hashimoto’s

Autoimmune thyroid disease without goitre is Ord’s thyroiditis.

Both are autoimmune and generally called Hashimoto’s.

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies (thyroglobulin)

NHS only tests TG antibodies if TPO are high

20% of autoimmune thyroid patients never have high thyroid antibodies and ultrasound scan of thyroid can get diagnosis

In U.K. medics hardly ever refer to autoimmune thyroid disease as Hashimoto’s (or Ord’s thyroiditis)

Very important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year minimum

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid, especially with autoimmune thyroid disease

Lower vitamin levels more common as we get older

For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we must maintain GOOD vitamin levels

What vitamin supplements are you taking

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

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

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Testing options and includes money off codes for private testing

thyroiduk.org/testing/

Medichecks Thyroid plus BOTH TPO and TG antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

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

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

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

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

[phronsias]

Hello

I asked for my blood test results and got this reply. I have asked for a copy and T3 level.

Hi Francis, your TSH was 0.04, T4 was <1.3, and your thyroid peroxidase antibody level was raised - this is linked with auto-immune thyroid problems, which is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. I will send you a link to arrange a call with one of us to discuss these properly.

[phronsias]

Hi Francis, the normal range is 3.5 - 6.5, hence 6.28 being normal.

[tattybogle in reply to phronsias]

Hi , so ( assuming these are new results from taking lower dose of 50mcg for 6 wks ish )

the low fT4 is to be expected cos you're not taking any T4.. and the fT3 is now within range .... the TSH is pretty low , but not low enough to cause concern in someone who is taking large dose of T3.

So hopefully GP will be happy enough with new results... but more importantly .. how do you feel on lower dose ? .... no point in having nice looking results if it makes you feel half dead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

adding these in case they come in useful when discussing things with your GP , here's a list of references showing TSH of 0.04 or above actually has no more risk than a TSH 'in range' does for patients taking thyroid hormone replacement : healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... useful-evidence-that-tsh-between-0.04-0.4-has-no-increased-risk-to-patients-on-levothyroxine-updated-new-study-does-show-small-risk

And one with links showing why TSH is a bit lower in patients taking thyroid hormone , and why T3 lowers it relatively more than T4 does : healthunlocked.com/thyroidu.... tsh-is-just-the-opinion-of-your-pituitary-about-your-dose-but-your-pituitarys-opinion-is-a-bit-warped-once-you-take-thyroid-hormone.

[phronsias]

Thanks for your help tattybogle

Its kind of you to ask, yes I'm feeling much better, I am seeing floating things on my eyes, sometime they are very bright. but they go away.

All the best

F

[tattybogle in reply to phronsias]

glad you're feeling better Frank , regarding the eye things ... happens to me too occasionally , often when i'm changing dose, or when dose isn't quite right, or maybe it's just coincidental/ not related at all , i've never been very sure to be honest. ... but be aware that if they continue it's probably something you should mention to an optician.

[phronsias]

My T3 levels over the past 12 weeks

T3 level

[phronsias]

T3

T3

[tattybogle in reply to phronsias]

ok so fT3 level looks good now. ( something went wrong with adding the images , they won't enlarge , but don't worry we can see it well enough .... i have no idea what is wrong cos i'm a luddite )

GP may still want to discuss reducing T3 dose further due to low TSH , but don't let them if you feel ok where you are. There' nothing concerning about a TSH of 0.04 in someone taking T3 who feels well and fT3 is in range.