Question for Goolera - All feedback welcome

[AJWS6]

Hi G, didn't want to hijack another members thread.  You answered a question for Vixie007 pertaining to, To much Cytomel.  Thanx for the info, my ft3 and ft4 decreased since I began 6 and 12 mcg T3.  Reason for my confusion.

My labs were optimal Oct 2014, first time in 3 yrs on 162 Synthroid.  Other then energy depleting rapidly during activity 4- 6 hrs, I felt fine.  Physician felt adding T3 would bump my ft3 up a bit, increase my energy endurance.  Only 6 to 12 mcg, reversed my labs.  
  
TSH - 3.23 (.34-5.6)
FT3 - 2.89 > 2.59 (2.5-3.9)
FT4 - 1.08 > 1.01 (.57-1.64)    

Are you saying, FT4 conversion of T3 slows down, if oral T3 is added ?

This tell's me the body is already producing optimal T3.  By adding T3, pituitary is saying hold on, body has enough T3, begins to reverse.  My body has no issues, converting T4 to T3.  

Now my labs are beginning to make sense.  I have noticed increasing ft4, increases my ft3 levels.  In the past, I'd go hyper increasing to 200 dose.  FT3 jumps up to 3.5 if I remember.    

But since taking T3, I haven't gone hyper my T3 levels reversed, from 2.8 to 2.5.  Very strange, very confusing.    

So basically, I need to increase ft4, to bump my ft3 levels.  But problem is, between 150 - 175 my ft3 stay's consistent, only TSH fluctuates up/down like a yo yo.  Reason T3 was added.    

Now, how do I slightly increase 162 - 175 FT4 ?  Stop taking T3.  That's the magical question.    



      

[AJWS6]

Hi G, thanks for info.  As I alway's state very confusing.  Additional T3 should increase FT3 levels, not nosedive TSH.  No wonder physicians are all clueless, Lol !!!!  

It's been the infection all along, feel a zillion times better today.  

[goolarra]

For some reason, when people start T3 meds, TSH often takes a nosedive.  It doesn't mean you're hyper, it just means that TSH is no longer a reliable test for you.  This happens sometimes when people start T4, too, but that's less common.

T3 is very fast-acting, which is the reason you have to take it more than once a day.  The effects start to diminish in a matter of hours, and it's only a couple of days before it's all out of your system.

It sounds like the infection or the antibiotic knocked you for a loop.  Are you sure the infection is cleared up?

[AJWS6]

Hi G, thanx for feedback/info.  Reason I am so confused, my TSH has never dropped that low even on 175 dose in past 2 yrs.  Once at 200 Levo, TSH .18

Syntroid dose 162, I quit T3 approx 3 weeks, TSH nosedives to .58 ?  ft3/ft4 decrease to.  Reason, I ask'd if T3 builds in the body and how long does T3 last in the body.  

My mistake, I should have continued T3, now everything is guess work.  

All I know is, I felt fine prior to infection 2 weeks ago, now I feel horrid !!  Inner tremors, spaced out, mildly fatigued.  No insomnia, trouble sleeping, I still sleep 8-10 hrs solid.  

[goolarra]

Don't forget that you'd discontinued the T3 a couple of weeks before the blood draw.  So, your FT3 did not go down while taking T3.  By the time the labs were drawn, the T3 you'd been taking was out of your system.

I'm saying that conversion CAN slow down if oral T3 is added, especially at first.  Whenever anything is added or changed, it takes time to rebalance, but I think yours was due to stopping meds.

The pituitary doesn't control conversion.  In fact, the control mechanism is currently unknown.  Obviously, there's something or we'd all immediately convert any T4 to T3 and have zero T4 left.  

Yes, increasing FT4 should also increase your FT3 levels.

You had some improvement when your were taking T3.  If I were you, I'd go back to it.  Next time you have labs, don't stop taking your T3 so you can see what it is.  However, don't take your morning dose until after the draw.  

[AJWS6]

Wish there was an edit button.  Labs posted is from Oct 2014