This seems to be very common in women over a certain age and post menopausal and tend to creep up gradually over few years.
The symptoms of hypothyroidism depend on the severity of the condition. Problems tend to develop slowly, often over several years.
At first, you may barely notice the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and weight gain. Or you may think they are just part of getting older. But as your metabolism continues to slow, you may develop more-obvious problems.
Hypothyroidism symptoms may include:
Tiredness.
More sensitivity to cold.
Constipation.
Dry skin.
Weight gain.
Puffy face.
Hoarse voice.
Coarse hair and skin.
Muscle weakness.
Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness.
Menstrual cycles that are heavier than usual or irregular.
Thinning hair.
Slowed heart rate, also called bradycardia.
Depression.
Memory problems.
10 Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Thyroid disorders are common. In fact, about 12% of people will experience abnormal thyroid function at some point during their lives.
Women are eight times more likely to develop a thyroid disorder than men. Also, thyroid problems increase with age and may affect adults differently than children.
At the most basic level, thyroid hormone is responsible for coordinating energy, growth and metabolism in your body.
Problems can occur when this hormone’s levels are too high or low.
Hypothyroidism, or low levels of thyroid hormone, slows your metabolism and decreases growth or repair of many parts of the body.
What Is Hypothyroidism?
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that drapes across the front of your windpipe.
If you place your fingers on the sides of your Adam’s apple and swallow, you’ll feel your thyroid gland sliding under your fingers.
It releases thyroid hormone, which controls the growth and metabolism of essentially every part of your body.
The pituitary, a tiny gland in the middle of your head, monitors your physiology and releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH is the signal to the thyroid gland to release thyroid hormone (1Trusted Source).
Sometimes TSH levels increase, but the thyroid gland can’t release more thyroid hormone in response. This is known as primary hypothyroidism, as the problem begins at the level of the thyroid gland.
Other times, TSH levels decrease, and the thyroid never receives the signal to increase thyroid hormone levels. This is called secondary hypothyroidism.
Hypothyroidism, or “low thyroid,” can cause a variety of signs and symptoms. This article will help you recognize and understand these effects.
Here are 10 common signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism.
1. Feeling Tired
One of the most common symptoms of hypothyroidism is feeling worn out. Thyroid hormone controls energy balance and can influence whether you feel ready to go or ready to nap.
As an extreme example, animals that hibernate experience low thyroid levels leading up to their long sleep (2Trusted Source).
Thyroid hormone receives signals from the brain and coordinates cells to change their functions, depending on what else is going on in your body.
Those with high levels of thyroid hormone feel nervous and jittery. In contrast, people with low thyroid feel exhausted and sluggish.
In one study, 138 adults with hypothyroidism experienced physical exhaustion and reduced activity. They also reported low motivation and feeling mentally tired (3Trusted Source, 4).
Low-thyroid individuals feel unrested, even though they may be sleeping more.
In another study, 50% of people with hypothyroidism felt constantly tired, while 42% of people with low thyroid hormone said they slept more than they used to (5, 6Trusted Source).
Feeling sleepier than usual without a good explanation could be a sign of hypothyroidism.
Summary: Thyroid hormone is like a gas pedal for energy and metabolism. Low thyroid hormone levels leave you feeling drained.
2. Gaining Weight
Unexpected weight gain is another common symptom of hypothyroidism (7Trusted Source).
Not only are low-thyroid individuals moving less — they’re also signaling their livers, muscles and fat tissue to hold on to calories.
When thyroid levels are low, metabolism switches modes. Instead of burning calories for growth and activity, the amount of energy you use at rest, or your basal metabolic rate, decreases. As a result, your body tends to store more calories from the diet as fat.
Because of this, low thyroid hormone levels can cause weight gain, even if the number of calories eaten remains constant.
In fact, in one study, people with newly diagnosed hypothyroidism gained an average of 15–30 pounds (7–14 kg) in the year since their diagnoses (8Trusted Source, 9).
If you’ve been experiencing weight gain, first consider whether other changes in your lifestyle might explain it.
If you seem to be gaining weight in spite of a good diet and exercise plan, bring it up with your doctor. It might be a clue that something else is going on.
Summary: Hypothyroidism signals the body to eat more, store calories and burn fewer calories. This combination leads to weight gain.
3. Feeling Cold
Heat is a byproduct of burning calories.
For example, consider how hot you get when you workout. This is because you are burning calories.
Even when you’re sitting, you’re burning a small amount of calories. However, in cases of hypothyroidism, your basal metabolic rate decreases, reducing the amount of heat you generate.
In addition, thyroid hormone turns up the thermostat on brown fat, which is a specialized type of fat that generates heat. Brown fat is important in maintaining body heat in cold climates, but hypothyroidism prevents it from doing its job (9).
That’s why low levels of thyroid hormone cause you to feel colder than others around you. About 40% of low-thyroid individuals feel more sensitive to cold than usual (6Trusted Source).
If you’ve always wanted the room warmer than the people you live and work with, this may just be the way you are built.
But if you’ve noticed yourself feeling colder than normal lately, it could be a sign of hypothyroidism.
Summary: Low thyroid hormone slows down your body’s normal heat production, leaving you cold.
4. Weakness and Aches in Muscles and Joints
Low thyroid hormone flips the metabolic switch toward catabolism, which is when the body breaks down body tissues like muscle for energy (10Trusted Source).
During catabolism, muscle strength decreases, potentially leading to feelings of weakness. The process of breaking down muscle tissue can also lead to aching (11Trusted Source).
Everyone feels weak once in a while. However, people with hypothyroidism are twice as likely to feel more weak than usual, compared to healthy people (6Trusted Source).
Additionally, 34% of low-thyroid individuals get muscle cramps in the absence of recent activity (6Trusted Source).
One study in 35 individuals with hypothyroidism showed that replacing low levels of thyroid hormone with a synthetic thyroid hormone called levothyroxine improved muscle strength and decreased aches and pains, compared to no treatment (12Trusted Source).
Another study showed a 25% improvement in the sense of physical well-being among patients receiving thyroid replacement (13Trusted Source).
Weakness and aches are normal following strenuous activity. However, new, and especially increasing, weakness or aching is a good reason to make an appointment with your physician.
Summary: Low levels of thyroid hormone slow down your metabolism and can cause painful muscle breakdown.
5. Hair Loss
Like most cells, hair follicles are regulated by thyroid hormone.
Because hair follicles have stem cells that have a short lifespan and rapid turnover, they are more sensitive to low thyroid levels than other tissues (14Trusted Source).
Low thyroid hormone causes hair follicles to stop regenerating, resulting in hair loss. This will typically improve when the thyroid issue is treated.
In one study, about 25–30% of patients seeing a specialist for hair loss were found to have low thyroid hormone. This increased to 40% in individuals over 40 (15Trusted Source).
Furthermore, another study showed that hypothyroidism may cause coarsening of the hair in up to 10% of individuals with low thyroid hormone (6Trusted Source).
Consider hypothyroidism if you experience unexpected changes in the rate or pattern of your hair loss, particularly if your hair becomes patchy or coarser.
Other hormone problems can also cause unexpected hair loss. Your doctor can help you sort out whether your hair loss is anything to worry about.
Summary: Low thyroid hormone affects rapidly growing cells like hair follicles. This can cause hair loss and coarsening of the hair.
6. Itchy and Dry Skin
Like hair follicles, skin cells are characterized by rapid turnover. Therefore, they are also sensitive to losing growth signals from the thyroid hormone.
When the normal cycle of skin renewal is broken, skin may take longer to regrow. This means the outer layer of skin has been around longer, accumulating damage. It also means that dead skin may take longer to shed, leading to flaky, dry skin.
One study showed 74% of low-thyroid individuals reported dry skin. However, 50% of patients with normal thyroid levels also reported dry skin from other causes, making it hard to know if thyroid problems were the cause (6Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source).
Additionally, the study showed that 50% of people with hypothyroidism reported that their skin had gotten worse over the past year.
Changes in skin that cannot be blamed on allergies like hay fever or new products can be a more practical sign of thyroid problems.
Finally, hypothyroidism is sometimes caused by autoimmune disease. This can affect the skin, causing swelling and redness known as myxedema. Myxedema is more specific to thyroid problems than other causes of dry skin (16Trusted Source).
Summary: Hypothyroidism commonly causes dry skin. However, most people with dry skin do not have hypothyroidism. Myxedema is a red, swollen rash that is characteristic of thyroid problems.
7. Feeling Down or Depressed
Hypothyroidism is linked to depression. The reasons for this are unclear, but it might be a mental symptom of an overall decrease in energy and health (17Trusted Source). 64% of women and 57% of men with hypothyroidism report feelings of depression. About the same percentage of men and women also experience anxiety (18Trusted Source).
In one study, thyroid hormone replacement improved depression in patients with mild hypothyroidism, compared to a placebo (19).
Another study of young women with mild hypothyroidism showed increased feelings of depression, which were also connected to decreased satisfaction with their sex lives (18Trusted Source).
Furthermore, postpartum hormone fluctuations are a common cause of hypothyroidism, potentially contributing to postpartum depression (7Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).
Feeling depressed is a good reason to talk to a physician or therapist. They may be able to help you cope, regardless of whether the depression is caused by thyroid problems or something else.
Summary: Hypothyroidism can cause depression and anxiety. These conditions are shown to improve with thyroid hormone replacement.
8. Trouble Concentrating or Remembering
Many patients with hypothyroidism complain of mental “fogginess” and trouble concentrating. The way this mental fogginess presents itself varies by person.
In one study, 22% of low-thyroid individuals described increased difficulty doing everyday math, 36% described thinking more slowly than usual and 39% reported having a poorer memory (6Trusted Source).
In another study of 14 men and women with untreated hypothyroidism, the participants showed difficulty remembering verbal cues (4).
The causes for this are not yet fully understood, but difficulties in memory improve with treatment of low thyroid hormone (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source).
Difficulties in memory or concentration can happen to everyone, but if they are sudden or severe, they could be a signal of hypothyroidism.
Summary: Hypothyroidism can cause mental fogginess and difficulty concentrating. It may also impair certain kinds of memory.
9. Constipation
Low thyroid levels put the brakes on your colon.
According to one study, constipation affects 17% of people with low thyroid hormone, compared to 10% of people with normal thyroid levels (6Trusted Source).
In this study, 20% of people with hypothyroidism said their constipation was getting worse, compared to only 6% of normal-thyroid individuals (6Trusted Source).
While constipation is a common complaint in patients with hypothyroidism, it’s uncommon for constipation to be the only or most severe symptom (24Trusted Source).
If you experience constipation but otherwise feel fine, try these natural laxatives before worrying about your thyroid.
If they don’t work, your constipation worsens, you go several days without passing a stool or you begin having stomach pain or vomiting, seek medical advice.
Summary: Most people with constipation don’t have hypothyroidism. However, if constipation is accompanied by other signs of hypothyroidism, your thyroid may be the cause.
10. Heavy or Irregular Periods
Both irregular and heavy menstrual bleeding are linked to hypothyroidism.
One study showed that about 40% of women with low thyroid hormone experienced increasing menstrual irregularity or heavy bleeding in the last year, compared to 26% of women with normal thyroid levels (6Trusted Source).
In another study, 30% of women with hypothyroidism had irregular and heavy periods. These women had been diagnosed with hypothyroidism after other symptoms had caused them to get tested (25Trusted Source).
Thyroid hormone interacts with other hormones that control the menstrual cycle, and abnormal levels of it can disrupt their signals. Also, thyroid hormone directly affects the ovaries and uterus.
There are several problems besides hypothyroidism that can cause heavy or irregular periods. If you have irregular or heavy periods that disrupt your lifestyle, consider talking with a gynecologist before worrying about your thyroid.
Summary: Heavy periods or irregular cycles that are worse than usual could be caused by a medical condition, including hypothyroidism. It’s best to talk to a gynecologist about them.
The Bottom Line
Hypothyroidism, or low thyroid, is a common disorder.
It can cause a variety of symptoms, such as fatigue, weight gain and feeling cold. It can also result in problems with your hair, skin, muscles, memory or mood. Importantly, none of these problems are unique to hypothyroidism.
Yet if you are having several of these symptoms or they are new, worsening or severe, see your doctor to decide if you need to be tested for hypothyroidism.
Fortunately, hypothyroidism is generally treatable with inexpensive medications.
If your thyroid hormone levels are low, a simple treatment could greatly improve your quality of life.
What is primary hypothyroidism?
Your thyroid gland controls the metabolism of your body. To stimulate your thyroid, your pituitary gland releases a hormone known as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Your thyroid then releases two hormones, T3 and T4. These hormones control your metabolism.
In hypothyroidism, your thyroid doesn’t produce enough of these hormones. This is also known as an underactive thyroid.
There are three types of hypothyroidism: primary, secondary, and tertiary.
In primary hypothyroidism, your thyroid is being stimulated properly. However, it isn’t able to produce enough thyroid hormones for your body to function properly. This means that your thyroid itself is the source of the problem.
In secondary hypothyroidism, your pituitary gland isn’t stimulating your thyroid to produce enough hormones.
In other words, the problem isn’t with your thyroid. The same is true with tertiary hypothyroidism.
What causes primary hypothyroidism?
The most common cause of primary hypothyroidism is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. This is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to mistakenly attack your thyroid.
You might also develop primary hypothyroidism for a number of other reasons.
If you had hyperthyroidism (or overactive thyroid), your treatment may have left you with hypothyroidism.
A common treatment for hyperthyroidism is radioactive iodine. This treatment destroys the thyroid. A less common treatment for hyperthyroidism involves the surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid. Both can result in hypothyroidism.
If you had thyroid cancer, your doctor would have surgically removed your thyroid, or part of it, to treat the cancer.
Other possible causes of hypothyroidism include:
insufficient dietary iodine
a congenital disease
certain drugs
viral thyroiditis
In some cases, a woman might develop hypothyroidism after giving birth. According to the National Institutes of Health, the disease is most common in women and people over 60 years old.
What are the symptoms of primary hypothyroidism?
The symptoms of hypothyroidism vary widely from person to person. Symptoms typically develop slowly, and depend on the severity of the disease.
At first, you may notice general symptoms including:
fatigue
lethargy
sensitivity to cold
depression
muscle weakness
Because the thyroid hormones control the metabolism of all your cells, you might also gain weight.
Other possible symptoms include:
pain in your joints or muscles
constipation
brittle hair or nails
voice hoarseness
puffiness in your face
As the disease progresses, these symptoms gradually become more severe. If your hypothyroidism is extremely severe, you might fall into a coma, known as a myxedema coma. This is a life-threatening condition.
How is primary hypothyroidism diagnosed?
If you show physical symptoms of hypothyroidism, your doctor might decide to do tests to check whether you have this condition. Your doctor will generally use a blood test to check your T4 and TSH levels. If your thyroid is malfunctioning, your pituitary gland will produce more TSH in an attempt to get your thyroid to produce more T3 and T4. An elevated TSH level can indicate to your doctor that you have a thyroid problem.
How is primary hypothyroidism treated?
Treatment for hypothyroidism involves taking medication to replace the missing thyroid hormones. Your doctor will typically start you on a low dose and increase it gradually. The goal is for your levels of thyroid hormones to return to within the normal range.
You’ll continue to take your thyroid medication throughout your life. Your medication replaces the thyroid hormones that your thyroid is unable to produce. It does not correct your thyroid disease. This means that if you stop taking it, your symptoms will return.
Some medications and foods can interfere with your medications. Make sure to tell your doctor about all medications that you take, including over-the-counter drugs. Some vitamins and supplements, especially those for iron and calcium, can also interfere with your treatment. You should talk with your doctor about any supplements you’re taking.
You may also need to cut back on eating anything made from soy and some high-fiber foods.
https://www.healthline.com/health/hypothyroidism-primary
Symptoms of Leptin resistance:
- Weight loss resistance or the inability to lose weight
- Ravenous appetite even after a large meal
- Slow metabolism
- Cold hands/feet/extremities
- Crushing fatigue
- Symptoms of hypothyroidism despite being on medication
- Constant weight gain
Thyroid resistance is defined as low free T3 relative to Reverse T3. In order to test for this condition you need to order both tests and look at the ratio between the two. The higher your reverse T3 the harder it is for free T3 to get into your cells which leads to thyroid hormone resistance at the cellular level. Treatment usually requires T3 medication in conjunction with the 8 tips below.
8 Steps to Reverse Leptin Resistance and Thyroid Resistance:
1. Get your thyroid evaluated and get on the right type and dose of thyroid medication - For most patients this means NDT or T3 containing medications like Cytomel or Liothyronine.
2. Add in HIIT (high intensity interval training) to your work outs - This type of burst training helps sensitize your cells to insulin and leptin.
3. Avoid processed and inflammatory foods - High levels of inflammation makes thyroid function worse and makes it more difficult to reverse leptin resistance.
4. Make sure to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night
5. Eliminate or drastically reduce your fructose consumption - Fructose is metabolized into uric acid in the liver and which increases inflammation and makes leptin levels worse.
6. Do not restrict your calories - Starvation mode lowers your basal metabolic rate and increases conversion of T4 to reverse T3.
7. Optimize T4 to T3 conversion - Use supplements or thyroid hormones: - Zinc - Selenium:
8. If necessary use medications to lower Leptin levels - Consider using GLP-1 agonists which can help lower leptin levels and help patients with weight loss.
Brazil nuts produce huge amount of selenium
https://biocornutrition.com/products/thyro-t2-thyroid-hormone
Here are 6 things that you can do to increase your free T3 levels:
#1. Optimize key nutrients - zinc, selenium, Guggul, anti-oxidants, and anti-inflammatory nutrients. These nutrients all help the T4 to T3 conversion process in various ways.
#2. Improve your gut health Up to 20% of thyroid conversion occurs in the gut. Even minor gut issues may impair conversion!
#3. Reduce reverse T3 levels. High reverse T3 levels may automatically reduce free T3 levels. If you can lower your reverse T3 then you will naturally increase free T3 levels.
#4. Check your ferritin Low iron and low ferritin result in abnormal T4:T3 ratios.
#5. Focus on liver health Improve liver health by eating vegetables that contain sulfur, cruciferous vegetables, avoid alcohol, take milk thistle, dandelion, turmeric, MSM, calcium d glucarate
#6. Treat your adrenals Adrenal function is related to thyroid function. Treating your thyroid does not necessarily or automatically treat your adrenals.
#7. Exercise Lastly, any type of exercise can naturally improve T4 and T3 levels!
9 Thyroid supplements that I find most hypothyroid patients are deficient in:
1. Vitamin B12 - Thyroid hormone is involved in the proper absorption of thyroid hormone. See the video for a complete list of symptoms.
2. Adrenal support - Most thyroid patients also have issues with cortisol dysregulation. If you have advanced adrenal fatigue most patients do better on adrenal glandulars. For more mild disease consider using adrenal adaptogens.
3. Zinc - Low levels of zinc can cause issues with your skin and issue with hair growth. Adding zinc boosts immune function, T4 to T3 conversion and acts as an anti-inflammatory.
4. Iron - This is what I consider a "Goldilocks" nutrient in that you don't want TOO much or TOO little. Unfortunately, most doctors look for iron deficiency anemia and don't necessarily jus treat iron deficiency unless anemia accompanies it. .
5. Magnesium - Hypothyroidism alters magnesium and low levels of magnesium can lead to issues like depression, anxiety and other changes like muscle cramps or restless leg syndrome.
6. Selenium - This nutrient is involved in the thyroid conversion process. Not only that but supplementing has been shown to reduce TPO antibodies and boost the immune system.
7. Probiotics - Up to 20% of thyroid conversion happens in the gut and inflammation can reduce this number. Hypothyroidism sets up the gut for imbalances that lead to inflammation.
8. Digestive enzymes - Hypothyroidism leads to low stomach acid which can predispose patients to malabsorption of certain nutrients. Using enzymes can help digest your food, increase nutrient absorption and if taken in between meals may promote the breakdown of immune complexes.
9. Iodine - If used correctly iodine can be helpful in boosting thyroid function.
7 Thyroid Superfoods include:
#1. Blueberries Blueberries are low in sugar and high in phytonutrients (plant compounds). Antioxidants in the form of anthocyanin and polyphenols help fight free radicals in your cells and prevent cellular damage. 1 cup of blueberries = 85 calories, 21 grams of carbs, 24% vitamin C, 36% vitamin K. How much? ½ to 1 cup of blueberries each day, frozen or raw.
#2. Seaweed Seaweed is the best food source of iodine but the concentration can vary based on numerous factors. 1 gram = 16 to 1984mcg of iodine.
#3. Maca root 2 tablespoons = 91 calories, 20 grams of carbs, 4 grams protein, 1 gram fat, 2 grams dietary fiber, 133% DV vitamin C, 84% DV copper, 23% DV iron, 16% DV potassium, 16% DV B6, 11% DV manganese, 8% DV niacin, 7% DV of calcium, 6% DV of riboflavin. Use 1-2 tablespoons each day in organic powder form in a morning smoothie.
#4. Brazil nuts Eating brazil nuts is the easiest way to get selenium into your diet aside from supplements. 1 brazil nut = 68 to 91mcg of selenium but concentration can vary by a lot so watch for signs of selenium toxicity.
#5. Coconut oil One of the best fats to cook with! Coconut oil provides your body with a pure source of energy. How much? 1-2 tablespoons per day.
#6. Garlic One of the best nutrients available. Also adds a ton of flavor to foods. If you don’t like the taste use 500 to 1500mg of garlic capsules per day.
#7. Mussels (can opt for other shellfish) Mussels great source of protein jam-packed with thyroid-specific nutrients. 150g of mussels contain 18 grams of protein for 129 calories and almost 1 gram of omega 3 fatty acids. Consume 1-3x per week for best results.
5 Foods To Avoid If You're Suffering From Hashimoto's
Gluten; Dairy; Sugar; processed meat; To much fatty and/or fried foods
8 Steps to Reverse Leptin Resistance and Thyroid Resistance:
1. Get your thyroid evaluated and get on the right type and dose of thyroid medication - For most patients this means NDT or T3 containing medications like Cytomel or Liothyronine.
2. Add in HIIT (high intensity interval training) to your work outs - This type of burst training helps sensitize your cells to insulin and leptin.
3. Avoid processed and inflammatory foods - High levels of inflammation makes thyroid function worse and makes it more difficult to reverse leptin resistance.
4. Make sure to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night
5. Eliminate or drastically reduce your fructose consumption - Fructose is metabolized into uric acid in the liver and which increases inflammation and makes leptin levels worse.
6. Do not restrict your calories - Starvation mode lowers your basal metabolic rate and increases conversion of T4 to reverse T3.
7. Optimize T4 to T3 conversion - Use supplements or thyroid hormones: - Zinc: - Selenium:
8. If necessary use medications to lower Leptin levels - Consider using GLP-1 agonists which can help lower leptin levels and help patients with weight loss.
Apparently, Zinc and selenium help your body convert T4 to usable T3
another is Guggul or guggalsterone, I got mine from Ebay and am sure it would be on Amazon as well
taking anti inflamitory and anti oxidents
Focus on Gut health,
any problems, like pain, diahrea, constipation, acid reflux, heartburn, gas, bloating, food intolerances etc
H pylora infection
CEBO bacterial overgrowth
Acid reflux
Reverse Free T3 levels to make it more usable in the body
avoid calorie restricted diets
use high intensity interval training
leptin resistence
consider using T3 medication
check iron ferratin levels (very important for hair loss)
focus on liver health
eat veggies cruciferous vegetables that contain sulphur
reduce intake of sugar
avoid alcohol
Improve liver health with Milk thistle, dandelion, turmeric, MSM, calcium D - Glucarate
pay attention to your adrenal health; adrenal adaptegens, adreanal glandulars
exercise
B vitamins in particular B6
T3 (Cytomel) Overview – What To Expect
T3, also known as Cytomel, Liothyronine Sodium, and Triiodothyronine, is one of the most commonly misunderstood drugs in not only bodybuilding, but in the medical community.
I have spoken with several individuals who have had major issues with fat loss, and having a weak metabolism who actually were walking around for years with an undiagnosed Thyroid deficiency (hypothyroidism). Unfortunately, the method used to diagnose hypothyroidism, and autoimmune disorders that cause hypothyroidism is completely flawed, and 99% of physicians are utterly clueless as to what they are doing, or what their patients need to get healthy.
Sorry for the rant, but Thyroid hormones are a controversial topic for me as I have seen far too many doctors completely screw over their patients by being utterly clueless in the subject.
What Is T3? In layman’s terms, T3 is the hormone in your body that regulates how fast your metabolism is.
The higher your T3 level is, the more calories you will burn, and the more fat loss potential you will have.
T3 is a drug that is prescribed to those with hypothyroidism, but it is commonly used by bodybuilders and recreational lifters who want to reach a level of body fat that would be difficult to achieve without drug assistance. That isn’t to say that it is easy to get shredded on T3, it helps though. Typical T3 Dosages Determining the ideal T3 dosage will be based upon several factors. Typically, T3 for bodybuilding/fat loss purposes involves purposely ingesting a supraphysiological amount of T3 in order to increase your metabolism to a level that would otherwise be impossible.
This can be achieved with as little as 25 mcg, however, not all T3 is created with equal quality. Despite T3 being an inexpensive drug, for some reason, the quality varies wildly between different sources. Ideally, you’d want to get your T3 from a pharmacy (and prescribed by your doctor of course), as that’s the only way to absolutely ensure it is dosed accurately.
The standard dose for fat loss purposes ranges between 25 mcg – 75 mcg of T3. The standard starting dosage for treating Hypothyroidism is typically much lower (as low as 5-10 mcg per day), and may be titrated up based on your doctor's recommendation.
Personally, I never go above 50 mcg because T3 can be very catabolic at higher dosages, as it doesn’t discriminate between muscle and stored fat, so the higher your T3 dose is, the more muscle it will rip off your body. 50 mcg – 75 mcg should be more than sufficient for anyone to reap the benefits of a supraphysiological dose of T3.
Side Effects Once you get to the 100 mcg + range, you put yourself at a much higher risk of side effects like Tachycardia, muscle loss, anxiety, and feeling weak. Side effects that will be notable at any dose, but will be more pronounced the higher you dose T3 will be increased body temperature, increased hunger, and in some cases (I get this) constant muscle flatness. By muscle flatness I mean it is a lot harder to get a pump, and your muscles lack that pop that they have when they are properly glycogen loaded and hydrated. That is one of the first things I look for when I am determining if my T3 is legit or not. I get a notable increase in body temperature, and I notice I am much flatter at the gym and it’s a lot harder to get a pump. My appetite starts getting a lot more ravenous once I go above 50 mcg as well. At 75 mcg I am hungry pretty much all day long.
Offsetting The Muscle Loss From T3 The only way you can offset the catabolism from a high dose of T3 is with anabolic assistance. Whichever compounds are used to achieve that, the fact remains that a supraphysiological amount of Anabolics will almost always be necessary to maintain 100% of one's hard earned muscle tissue when venturing into the higher dosage range of T3.
Obviously it isn’t mandatory, but you will lose A LOT more muscle on T3 without any anabolic assistance than you would with it.
How Much Fat Loss Can You Expect From T3 I’m going to be completely honest with you as addressing this question specifically is the main reason why I wanted to write this article. T3 is NOT some magical compound like some portray it to be that lets you eat whatever you want all day long and stay shredded. Usually the individuals who perpetuate this myth about T3 consider “lean” as hardly visible abs.
For me though, being lean is being shredded at a single digit body fat %. You CANNOT get to single digit body fat % by eating like crap on T3 just because you are on T3.
You still need to diet hard in a calorie deficit, keep training hard, and do your cardio; T3 will simply magnify how much body fat the body burns up during your cut. I honestly think I could reach very close to the same body fat % I do during my cutting phases without T3 at all (I’d probably end my cut at 1-2% higher than I usually would), it would probably take me a month longer or so though. Basically, T3 speeds everything up and makes things a bit easier. It IS NOT an excuse to eat like crap though. You can get fatter even on T3 + DNP if you overeat. Trust me, I have.
Does T3 Suppress Your Natural Thyroid Production? Yes, taking exogenous thyroid hormone will absolutely stop your natural production. Basically how your thyroid gland works is it has a stimulating hormone called TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) that is present at a certain level to signal your thyroid gland how much T4 it needs to produce, which then will get converted to the active form of thyroid hormone (the one we want) T3. When you take exogenous T3, your TSH plummets to near 0 because your body will recognize that there is already so much T3 in your system, that it has no need to produce any on its’ own.
So your thyroid essentially goes to sleep for the duration of time you are taking T3. However, once you stop taking T3, your body will recognize there is no longer an excess amount of T3 in your system, and your TSH will skyrocket back up to signal your thyroid gland to start producing thyroid hormone again. There is NO SUCH THING as complete thyroid shutdown. Your thyroid will never be permanently destroyed from taking T3, and once you come off of T3, if you had a healthy thyroid to begin with, you will eventually recover to healthy natural thyroid function again. Typically, this recovery process takes a few weeks, but for others it can take substantially longer.
It is all individually dependent. Personally, I have never had my thyroid suppressed for more than a couple weeks, even after staying on 50 mcg T3 for nearly a year straight. Why T3 Is My Favorite Fat Burning Agent I use it almost every single time I cut because it is one of the few things that works really great, and isn’t a stimulant.
Granted, both T3 and stimulants can create cardiovascular complications if abused, I simply prefer T3 if I had to only choose one thing to use as a fat burner. I barely even notice T3 aside from slightly increased body temperature and a slightly faster resting heart rate, whereas with Clen my resting heart rate is borderline tachycardic and I can't combine it with any other stimulants that day without fearing some significant cardiovascular disaster.
I also prefer it to DNP simply because DNP makes me feel like I’m dragging so much ass I can barely get myself to the gym to train, and I’m actually twice as flat and my workouts are complete garbage on DNP. Bottom line, T3 works, but it isn’t a magic pill that will get you shredded overnight.
How To Know If Your T3 Is Legit Like I mentioned earlier, there are various sources for T3 and their quality varies. Obviously the best place to get it would be a pharmacy after being prescribed it by a doctor for treating Hypothyroidism if you have it.
However, if you want to assess how potent your T3 is and see if the dose you are using is adequate for whatever you are using it for, then you need to get blood work to see how it is affecting your values, and know how to interpret them rather than trust some arbitrary dosage number that a doctor throws at you (doctors are notorious for doing this with hormone replacement therapy). These are the main things you want to look at:
It's thought that one in 20 people in the UK suffer from a thyroid problem - but because the symptoms overlap with a range of other conditions, it can take years for the health condition to be diagnosed.
A new study by academics at the University of Aberdeen in collaboration with several leading thyroid charities found that it takes an average of 4.5 years for a thyroid condition to be diagnosed. The study, which looked at the experience of almost 1,200 patients, found that in almost two thirds of cases it took multiple appointments and a worsening of the severity of symptoms before a diagnosis was made.
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, just in front of the windpipe (trachea). It produces hormones that affect things such as your heart rate and body temperature - one of its main functions is to produce hormones that help regulate the body's metabolism, the process that turns food into energy.
These hormones are called triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), and having too much or not enough of them can cause unpleasant and potentially serious problems that may need treatment. An overactive thyroid can affect anyone, but it's about 10 times more common in women than men, and typically happens between 20 and 40 years of age.
Underactive thyroid symptoms
Symptoms of an underactive thyroid are often similar to those of other conditions, and they usually develop slowly, so you may not notice them for years, according to the NHS. For example, if you are at an age where you may be expecting the menopause, you may think you have started the menopause rather than having an underactive thyroid.
Symptoms of an underactive thyroid can include:
Tiredness
Weight gain
Depression
Being sensitive to the cold
Dry skin and hair
Muscle aches
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What is hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism is the name given to the condition resulting from an underactive thyroid gland. This means that the thyroid is not producing enough thyroid hormone for the body’s needs.
What causes hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism can be caused by:
Autoimmune thyroid disease – the most common cause. This is a self-destructive process in which the body’s immune system attacks the thyroid cells as though they were foreign cells. The most common form is known as ‘Hashimoto’s thyroiditis’
Radioactive iodine treatment, or thyroidectomy, to correct hyperthyroidism or to treat thyroid cancer
Antithyroid drugs if given for an overactive thyroid disorder in too large a dose
Medicines such as lithium (used for certain mental health problems) and amiodarone (used for particular heart problems) checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab (used to treat certain cancers)
Some health foods taken in excess, e.g. kelp (seaweed)
A malfunction of the pituitary gland (a gland in the brain that regulates the thyroid hormones)
Radiation for head and neck cancers (not common in the UK)
Sometimes hypothyroidism is present from birth. In a few babies, the thyroid does not develop or does not form the thyroid hormones properly. This is known as congenital hypothyroidism.
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
The symptoms begin so gradually that you and your doctor might not notice them until the condition is well advanced. Low levels of thyroid hormone result in a slowing down of the mental and physical processes of the whole body. Once treatment has started these symptoms will improve over time, but if not, you should talk to your doctor.
These are the most common symptoms:
fatigue and tiredness
increased awareness of the cold
dry and coarse skin
dry and thinning hair
hoarse or croaky voice
constipation
muscle weakness, cramps and aches
pins and needles in the fingers and hands (carpal tunnel syndrome)
heavier and longer periods
fertility problems
low libido
weight gain
puffy face and bags under the eyes
slow speech, movements, and thoughts
low mood or depression
memory problems
difficulty in concentration
slow heartbeat
slightly raised blood pressure
raised cholesterol
slowed growth (in children)
How is hypothyroidism diagnosed?
By a physical examination and blood tests. A thyroid function blood test is a simple and accurate way to check whether your thyroid gland is working properly. An underactive thyroid is typically associated with a thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level above the reference range and a thyroxine (FT4) level that is below the reference range. It is reasonable to have a test for thyroid antibodies to confirm that the cause is autoimmune. Other factors such as common illnesses that can temporarily alter blood test readings will need to be ruled out. Some medicines - prescribed and over-the-counter - can affect results, so it is important to tell your doctor about any medication you are taking.
What is mild thyroid failure or subclinical hypothyroidism?
Sometimes the level of hypothyroidism is so slight that there are no obvious symptoms and it can only be detected by blood tests. It may be discovered as a result of blood tests for another autoimmune disorder or because there is a history of thyroid disorders in the family.
A blood test result showing a slightly raised TSH level with a normal FT4 level indicates that you may have mild thyroid failure, also known as subclinical hypothyroidism and that you may have an increased risk of eventually developing hypothyroidism. You should have a regular thyroid function test and consult your doctor if you notice any symptoms, as you may benefit from treatment.
What is the treatment for hypothyroidism?
Your doctor will prescribe levothyroxine, a synthetic version of the thyroxine produced by the thyroid gland. Levothyroxine is very pure, and has negligible side-effects when taken in the correct dose.
Levothyroxine doses are dependent upon the person’s body weight and their blood test results. Most patients require between 100 and 150mcg a day, but the dose can be lower than 50mcg or up to 300mcg a day, depending on your needs. If you have severe hypothyroidism or are at risk of heart problems you can expect your doctor to start cautiously and increase the dose gradually. Patience is needed as it can take several months before you feel better and for the thyroid function tests to return to normal or be judged satisfactory by your doctor. During this period you will have regular thyroid function tests, usually every three months, and your dose may need to be adjusted according to the results of the tests.
Levothyroxine is best taken in the morning, with water, on an empty stomach, at least half an hour before eating and drinking anything. It is also best taken at least four hours apart from calcium, iron, cholesterol-lowering drugs (cholestyramine, colestipol), and multivitamin tablets, as these too can decrease absorption. Grapefruit on the other hand is known to increase the absorption of levothyroxine as it increases acidity in the stomach. There are a number of other drugs that interact with levothyroxine. Always check with your doctor or pharmacy if you are on any other prescription or over the counter medication.
It is easy to miss a levothyroxine tablet, but because your body has a big reservoir of thyroxine, you will not notice a difference. However, it is important to take the tablets consistently every day as this can affect your blood test results and your health. Try and devise a system to help you take them every day, for example by setting up a regular reminder on your phone or by using a pill box.
Levothyroxine tablets may deteriorate if subjected to extreme temperatures.
Once the correct dose has been established it is unlikely to vary, although it is still important to have a blood test each year just to make sure. Too much levothyroxine will cause symptoms of an overactive thyroid and too little levothyroxine will not completely resolve symptoms of an underactive thyroid.
Around the time of menopause, and in postmenopausal women who are not prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT), some women may require their levothyroxine dose to be reduced. This is due to declining levels of oestrogen at this time.
It is preferable to avoid having TSH levels that are either below or above the reference range during treatment for hypothyroidism. This is because population studies show that there is a slightly lower life expectancy and a small increased risk of health problems in the long-term for people who are both overtreated and undertreated with levothyroxine. If you have thyroid blood tests that are outside the reference range over a long period of time, you should discuss these small risks with your doctor.
Within the limits described above, it is recommended that you and your doctor set individual targets that are right for your particular circumstances.
Some patients treated with levothyroxine have persistent complaints despite serum TSH readings in the reference range. Combination therapy of levothyroxine and tri-iodothyronine (LT4 and LT3) may be considered as an experimental approach under the supervision of an accredited endocrinologist but LT3 is not always available on the NHS.
Levothyroxine is produced by several manufacturers and your pharmacy may not always give you the same brand; most people will not be aware of any difference between brands. Very rarely people may feel less well with certain brands of levothyroxine. The reason for this is not clear but might relate to differences in fillers and bulking agents between the various brands of tablets. If this is the case, you should discuss this with your doctor, and recent MHRA guidance advises prescription of a consistent brand of levothyroxine.
If you are planning a pregnancy you should let your doctor know and ideally have a blood test before you conceive. As soon as you know you are pregnant, and if you are already taking levothyroxine, it is recommended that the dosage is increased immediately. This is often achieved by doubling the dose on two days of the week or by a daily 25-50mcg increase. You should then arrange to have a thyroid function test as soon as possible. Even if your thyroid function test is not ideal at the start of pregnancy, your risk of pregnancy complications is only slightly higher than normal and you will still have a good chance of a successful pregnancy outcome. However, your levothyroxine treatment should be adjusted to normalise your thyroid function as soon as possible.
Some important points….
You will normally be looked after by your GP, but will be referred to an endocrinologist - a doctor specialising in thyroid and other endocrine disorders - if there are problems
Once stable you should have a blood test once a year to check your thyroid hormone levels
It is important to take your tablets consistently every day as failure to do this can affect your blood test results and your health
You will need to take levothyroxine for life. Continue taking your tablets, unless advised by a doctor, even if other illness develops
Once you know you are pregnant it is recommended that the levothyroxine dosage is increased immediately. This is often achieved by doubling the dose on two days of the week or by a daily 25-50mcg increase. You should then arrange follow up blood tests
Check with your doctor whether your prescription is exempt from charges
Thyroid problems often run in families and if family members are unwell they should be encouraged to discuss with their own GP whether thyroid testing is warranted.
If you have questions or concerns about your thyroid disorder, you should talk to your doctor or specialist as they will be able to advise you. You may also contact the British Thyroid Foundation for further information and support, or if you have any comments about the information contained in this leaflet.