T.3 and T.4 treatment. FT4 levels have gone down, FT3 gone up slightly. Where should these be with in the range for the best.

[jill258]

I was started on very low dose of T.3 in Nov along with a lowered dose of thyroxine of 100mgs one day 75mcgs the next. In Jan my Tsh had lowered slightly, my FT4 had come down and FT3 up very slightly. My endo told me to increase T.3 meds by 10mcgs and lower my Thyroxine by 25mgs on each day. I am having bad lows during the day, mainly late morning before 2 nd dose of T.3 and then early evening.. Feeling very cold. I am sleeping better but still feel tired. Where should my bloods be in the ranges, high, low, middle? I have more blood test in April and a visit to the endo. I would like to understand what the results mean as he flashes them at me.

[PinkNinja]

Everyone is different but most people feel well when their TSH is low and their T4 and T3 towards the top of the range. If you are replacing 25mcg T4 with 10mcg T3 you may actually be under-replacing. You might find you need an extra bit of T3 somewhere or to keep your T4 a little higher.

Don't worry if your TSH is below range. This is not important as TSH responds differently to the thyroid hormones we take than it does to the thyroid hormones we make. Your TSH may well be held artificially low because of this. T4 and T3 levels are the important ones to consider and you will likely need them near the top of the range.

Don't forget about the importance of good levels of iron, ferritin, vitamin B12, folate and vitamin D. These will all help your cells to be able to use the thyroid hormones. You don't want them to be low normal, but well in range. B12 in particular really needs to be above 500.

I hope that helps a little. You might also be interested in some of the pages on the main Thyroid UK website thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/index....

Carolyn x

[jill258]

Hi. That is very helpful. I am on B12 injections and Vit D as I was very low in these. I am just getting restless as to when I will start to feel well again. It is a very long road getting referred and getting the test needed. It has now been 2 yrs of feeling very bad after being treated by just thyroxine for the last 14 yrs and constantly being very up and down with symptoms. I am hopeful that the Endo will wave his magic wand but I know that it is also trial and error as to what suits me.

[Clarebear]

I have read that when on T3/T4 combination treatment, that mid-range FT4 and top third of the range FT3 is good to aim at, although as Carolyn said, each of us our individual

I am aiming for this myself at the moment and am having a blood test tomorrow. xx

[jill258 in reply to Clarebear]

It is the fact that my FT4 has come down after the first blood test that concerns me. I started the new updated doses 2 weeks ago and wont get another blood test until April. I am not feeling to good . I feel that maybe my Thyroxine needs to me put up again. Still I will see it out for another few weeks and see how I go.

[nobodysdriving]

it will depend by how much T3 and T4 you take, but fT4 will be lower it's normal as T3 tells your thyroid it doesn't need it as much.

10mcg of T3 they say is roughly equivalent to 40mcg of T4....they say, however who knows, it's how you feel that matters

[Hashi_since_age9-1988]

I am experimenting with T3/T4 combinations and for me I think 10ug of T3 is better than 20ug or none. a TSH of 0.05 is too low and above 2 is too high. I have felt best with a TSH of 0.5 and T3 and T4 mid range. T4 around 15 was best I think. I suspect I may settle on taking 5 or 10 ug T3 with enough T4 to keep my TSH around 0.5.

[Hashi_since_age9-1988]

also what is your TSH?