T3 Only Therapy - Question About T4 Levels

[ronzo888]

Hi all,

I am currently taking Thybon T3 only for Hashimoto's. The reason is that when I was on Eltroxin or Armour I had negative symptoms - heart palpitations, eye stiffness, brain fog, fatigue etc. So I was put on T3 only.

Unfortunately I seem to possibly also have long-covid or something so very hard to differentiate between symptoms that are thyroid and that, or if everything is just thyroid.

On T3 now my T3 levels are normal, TSH is low out of range but apparently this is normal on T3 (it was high in the hundreds previously), but my T4 is also very low out of range. Endocrinologist has wanted to put me back on Armour to add in T4 but I am hesitant due to previous response. So my question is: Do I need T4? From my understanding, T3 is the active form and T4 the inactive form that is converted into T3 as needed, so if I am taking a constant supply of T3 I don't really need T4 to be present. Am I right or wrong?

Any benefit to adding T4 if I can tolerate it?

P.S. I have some symptoms that I associate as being Hyperthyroid symptoms, but I have Hashimoto's, which confuses me - eye stiffness and protrustion, heart racing, etc. If someone could help me understand how these can co-exist I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

[PurpleNails Administrator]

Most feel well when both FT4 & FT3 are in range & balanced. Without 1 being low & other high. Although there are individuals which are unaffected by low FT4 provided FT3 is good.

Please can you add exactly results? Symtoms can be varied.

Eye stiffness & especially sign of eye protrusion is red flag for thyroid associated eye disease (TED). Serious eye issues are rare but ask for a consult with ophthalmology, there are treatments to help & specialist monitoring very important.

TED is closely more associated with Graves & many medical professionals are poor at detecting it and assume it only occurs in those with hyper graves & high TRab antibodies but this is not the case.

[ronzo888 in reply to PurpleNails]

Most recent blood results:

Free T3: 3.65 Range: 2.0-4.4

Free T4: <0.5 Range: 11-21

TSH:0.16 Range: 0.27-4.20

TPO Antibodies: 310 Range:0-25

Yeah I thought TED was only in Graves too...

[greygoose]

Do you need T4? It's a very personal thing. Some people do, some don't. And the amount they need can vary. But there are quite a few of us on T3 only because we can't tolerate T4 at any level. I'm one of them. And doctors just can't understand these personal needs. It's like insisting that the TSH has to be in-range when you don't need it. Seems that if there's a test for it, then you have to have some, according to them. lol

But, stick to your guns. If you don't want it, don't take it. Ask the endo what he considers to be the need for T4, see if he can come up with an answer. They trot out these prefabricated statements without a clue how to back them up. So, put him on the spot: defend your ideology, my man!

Obiously the advantage of having some T4 in your system is that it's there to convert should there be a problem with your T3 supply. But it you're a poor converter and/or T4 makes you ill, that is not a good argument. You need what you need, no more and no less.

[ronzo888 in reply to greygoose]

Appreciate this. I've tried to explain before to my Endocrinologist that Eltroxin/Armour etc. make me feel bad but he just doesn't listen. Good to know it may not be necessary!

When I was taking the Eltroxin I thought maybe it was just that specific medication and maybe the "natural" form would work but unfortunately not.

I'll discuss this with the endo when I see him, and see what he says!

[greygoose in reply to ronzo888]

The so-called 'natural' form can be even worse for some people! They don't listen because they cannot compute what you're saying. It doesn't fit in with the brain-washing they received in med school. It's like you're speaking a foreign language to them. But the word 'no' is universal. Just look him in the eye and say 'no'.

[ronzo888 in reply to greygoose]

Haha thanks - I'll do my best!🙈

[greygoose in reply to ronzo888]

You're welcome.

[Pixielula]

I have been on T3 only for 20+ years T4 is almost undetectable and I have no issues on t3 only

[ronzo888 in reply to Pixielula]

That's very interesting thanks for letting me know.

[GreenTea23]

I always get more symptoms when the dose is too high 😬