Who supplements t4?

BoredStiff · Jun 21, 2020

I'm going to the doc, been feeling really sluggish this past year, which I didn't make much of, but I'm also really cold a lot which is extremely unlike me. I figure it might be a thyroid issue, it's never something I've paid attention to so I just want to go in prepared.... about how much is the typical amount prescribed? Like how 100-200mg test is the usual, is there a similar range for levothyroxin? (I'm assuing most docs prescribe that and not armour).

mike036 · Jun 21, 2020

I was diagnosed last October with hypothyroidism. My doctor started me at 25mcg levothyroxine and raised my dose every 6-8 weeks in the beginning. Now I get bloodwork every 3 months to check and make sure my TSh and free T4 are in a good range. I am currently on 112mcg of levothyroxine.

jeroendebleser · Jun 21, 2020

I'm on T4 for Hashimoto's disease, 100 mcg each day. Ask me any question you may have.

nothuman · Jun 21, 2020

BoredStiff said:
I'm going to the doc, been feeling really sluggish this past year, which I didn't make much of, but I'm also really cold a lot which is extremely unlike me. I figure it might be a thyroid issue, it's never something I've paid attention to so I just want to go in prepared.... about how much is the typical amount prescribed? Like how 100-200mg test is the usual, is there a similar range for levothyroxin? (I'm assuing most docs prescribe that and not armour).

I wouldn't do T4 only. Most people are better off with a combo of both T3 and T4 (like Armour). Sometimes, even T3 only is needed at least initially if there are serious conversion issues present.

Don't blindly take thyroid hormone until you get a FULL thyroid panel though. A good thing to check in the meantime will be your body temperature. If it's less than 98.6 on average, it usually means your thyroid isn't optimized. So if you were like me and see a temp between 96.8-97.4, you are most likely hypothyroid.

BoredStiff · Jun 21, 2020

Thanks. Yeah my temp is usually about 97.2-97.8 or so, lower in the A.M., I actually have no clue what it is but I'm guessing thyroid, will see what the labs show. It's been pretty confusing reading up on it, there seems to be a pro-armour and a pro-Levo crowd pretty split down the middle.

nothuman · Jun 21, 2020

BoredStiff said:
Thanks. Yeah my temp is usually about 97.2-97.8 or so, lower in the A.M., I actually have no clue what it is but I'm guessing thyroid, will see what the labs show. It's been pretty confusing reading up on it, there seems to be a pro-armour and a pro-Levo crowd pretty split down the middle.

Yea I would almost guarantee your thyroid isn't up to snuff based on those readings. It's the Free T3 level that gives you energy and influences your temperature. You really need to get labs before deciding which treatment option to go with. It isn't a one size fits all problem. T4 gives a lot of people problems because their body has trouble converting it to the active hormone, T3.

FT3, FT4, TSH, thyroid antibodies, and RT3 are the tests you need, but also it's critical to get a full iron panel w/ ferritin too.

IronLion2 · Jun 21, 2020

Please tell me you're doing a CORE temp and not an aux temp, I think thyroid hormone is usually a poor add for most TRT/AAS users but if you do don't go by exterior temps.

prodaf · Jun 21, 2020

if you take hgh, your T3 T4 drop

nothuman · Jun 21, 2020

prodaf said:
if you take hgh, your T3 T4 drop

T4 drops and T3 goes up

bain420 · Jun 21, 2020

200 mcg T4 everyday while on growth.

BoredStiff · Jun 21, 2020

Yes, it is core temp. No, not on HGH, never done it.

I'm going to an actual doc even though I'll have to pay out of pocket, only because I'm not exactly sure what's going on but really sluggish, brain fog, freezing all the time in mid-summer, low body temp, slowed digestion.... I'm guessing it's more than likely a thyroid issue.

I've been kind of afraid of thyroid meds eating away at muscle but I'm assuming this is usually only when using above average doses of T3?

Diesel618 · Jun 21, 2020

Im on 50 mcg T4 for years now. Kind of a pain to take on an empty stomach because I always wake up starving and hate waiting 30 min to eat but you do what you gotta do I guess.

nothuman · Jun 21, 2020

BoredStiff said:
Yes, it is core temp. No, not on HGH, never done it.

I'm going to an actual doc even though I'll have to pay out of pocket, only because I'm not exactly sure what's going on but really sluggish, brain fog, freezing all the time in mid-summer, low body temp, slowed digestion.... I'm guessing it's more than likely a thyroid issue.

I've been kind of afraid of thyroid meds eating away at muscle but I'm assuming this is usually only when using above average doses of T3?

Make sure you don't see a normal endocrinologist for thyroid issues or you'll be wasting money and getting improper care. A real functional thyroid specialist is who you'd need to see.

Your symptoms do point to a thyroid issue if we were to guess. Don't worry about it eating away at muscle as long as your labs are in the optimal range. If your Free T3 is still low, you won't benefit from the fat loss benefits anyway.

jeroendebleser · Jun 21, 2020

Diesel618 said:
Im on 50 mcg T4 for years now. Kind of a pain to take on an empty stomach because I always wake up starving and hate waiting 30 min to eat but you do what you gotta do I guess.

I take mine pre-bed and my endo said this was fine as well.