T3 Replacement confusion

[Sweets105]

I am at wits end.  I am tired, have brain fog, cannot lose weight, dry skin hair and nails and my hair is falling out in clumps and if the wind blows.  My levels are as follows:
TSH - .9423  Range .5000-4.7000
T3 Total - 0.71  Range .80-2.00
T3 Free - 2.19  Range 2.30-4.20
T4 Total - 6.74  Range 4.50-11.50
T4 Free - .96  Range .80-2.80
Ferritin - 106  Range 11-306
Iron - 93   Range 50-170

I am currently not on any medication and have never been although have been diagnosed with Hashimotos for years now and have always been within range until now.  I am 54.  I have always been symptomatic but found every time I took something my hair got worse.  I don't know how to approach this as my doctor wants to give me natures thyroid (combo of T3 and  T4) at the lowest dose and am petrified it will make things worse.  I was also told I could just take T3 but i heard that is not good or healthy to do that.  I am sensitive to everything and am a typical thyroid person.   I am miserable and depressed.  Does anyone have any suggestions as how to approach this.  I take all types of supplements but its just not cutting it anymore.  #crying #confused #ICantFeelLikeThisAnymore #Icantbebald
Elyse

[Red_Star]

I would also recommend a low dosage to start with and a T4/T3 combination.

You can feel worse after starting thyroid medication for a few reasons including reactions to fillers, taxing adrenals further, sensitivity or too high a dosage of thyroid hormone causing hyperthyroid symptoms and worsening of hypothyroid symptoms as natural production slows down in respond to medication (takes 4 to 6 weeks for thyroid medication to build up in the blood).

I had three of those four issues - hyperthyroid for a week, more hypothyroid for 4 weeks, and worsening of adrenals. It was a very bad 5 weeks! It does get better so that's the good news! :)

[Barb135]

Wow - it's no wonder you're crying/confused, etc...

What do you mean "I'm a typical thyroid person"?  

What have you taken in the past that made your symptoms worse? What dosages?  It's not unusual for symptoms to get worse before they get better when we first start taking a replacement hormone.  How long did you take whatever you were taking?

When you say your doctor wants to prescribe "nature's thyroid", do you mean NatureThroid? That's a dessicated thyroid hormone that contains both T4 and T3.  The lowest dose of NatureThroid is only 1/4 grain (16.25 mg) and probably wouldn't do a lot of good; did he say why he's only willing to prescribe the lowest dose?  Nothing is going to do much good if the dose isn't high enough but many of us have to start very low and work up slowly.  

Is your doctor willing to increase dosage as needed to alleviate symptoms?  You'll, most likely, need to increase dosage every couple of weeks as tolerated until symptoms are alleviated.