does anyone have any ideas about how I can help... - Thyroid UK

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does anyone have any ideas about how I can help my body convert t4 to t3?

Piedo profile image
18 Replies

Hi I had my thyroid removed last year been taking thyroxine 100 not feeling good doctor has just told me my t3 level is low and has been for a year first I heard about it .I feel this would account for how I feel. Dr wants to drop my thyroxine to 75 I have tried but feel even worse.dr has made no suggestions about what happens next does anyone have any ideas about how I can help my body convert t4 to t3

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Piedo profile image
Piedo
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18 Replies
greygoose profile image
greygoose

Does he really think that reducing your thyroxine is going to help raise your T3? lol How about just taking some T3?

If you are going by what your doctor says about your results, I guess that means you haven't seen them for yourself. First step would be to get print-outs of all your blood test results and see for yourself what's going on. Never just take your doctor's word for it! If you don't understand them, post them here and someone will be able to help.

Hugs, Grey

joprince profile image
joprince

I don't know about making the body convert but for me I became very ill on T4 after TT so begged for T3 and was prescribed this and started to feel better within 24 hours. I decided, with doc's knowing, that I would drop the T4 so any RT3 would leave my system altogether which took a few weeks and am now feeling much more leveled out. It does take time and I needed to be patient with myself but all the horrible weird feelings I was getting have now gone.

Soof007 profile image
Soof007 in reply to joprince

Could you describe the weird feelings you had on T4? I’m trying to figure out if i have the same. Thnks

nedi profile image
nedi

Selenium is involved in the conversion of T4 to T3. One brazil nut a day reportedly contains enough selenium for our bodies. Be careful though; it is possible to get too much selenium in our systems. I don't have the links in front of me right now regarding this information but, when I have more time, I'll post them here.

low adrenal reserve (cortisol/DHEA) can also be implicated as can a lot of vitamins and minerals such as B12, folate, D3, magnesium, ferritin/iron and copper/zinc.

Lilian15 profile image
Lilian15

Most of the conversion is done in the liver. I had a video made by Dr.Berg which explained this very well, but cannot find it at the moment sorry. If I do I will post the link. Did your doctor say what the results were for the T4. It could be that you are just not getting ENOUGH thyroxine and he should try increasing it. However if your T4 is high and your T3 low, then there might well be a conversion problem.

Piedo profile image
Piedo

Hi thanks for reply my T4level is 17 I have been taking 100 of thyroxine.My T 3 level is 2 I feel I have a convert ion problem.I suffer have suffered from Ibs for years so tend to use soya products perhaps this is causing a problem.After my operation I was on 6 calcium tablets for 6 weeks no one told me not to take calcium and thyroxine together.The medical attitude is once you are on thyroxine you will be fine.

foxglove profile image
foxglove in reply to Piedo

Hi Piedo, as I understand it selenium helps convert T4 to T3. There is a yeast free version available if, like me, yeasty things don't suit, and a low doze is enough. Alternately and much nicer 2/3 brazil nuts contain the required amount - even chocolate covered will do, yummy!

Don't think soya products suitable for hypoT

LAHs profile image
LAHs in reply to Piedo

Hi Piedo,

Soy is a no-no when taking thyroxine.

I agree with most of the posts here. I would go for a Natural Desiccated Thyroid product (NDT), Armour if you can get it. That way you will have the whole spectrum of Ts: T4, T3, T2, T1 (and probably T0 - but I don't know what that does).

The Brazil nut solution is important. You need selenium for the conversion processes and Brazil nuts have that in spades. I would go for 2 a day. I eat mine with raisins because then I get some iron which will make Ferritin, another important catalyst for conversion processes.

RITAD profile image
RITAD

Have you thought of trying Nutri T convert? This product may help some people with conversion from t4 to t3. If you are interested, then look on Nutri website for more information.

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

If you cursor to the question dated October 20, 2004 you may find the info helpful plus the following one.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

This is info re T3 plus another on the proper use of thyroid hormones.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

If you cursor to the question dated October 20, 2004 you may find the info helpful plus the following one.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

This is info re T3 plus another on the proper use of thyroid hormones.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

If you cursor to the question dated October 20, 2004 you may find the info helpful plus the following one.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

This is info re T3 plus another on the proper use of thyroid hormones.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

If you cursor to the question dated October 20, 2004 you may find the info helpful plus the following one.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

This is info re T3 plus another on the proper use of thyroid hormones.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I believe you are right, that the low T3 may well be the culprit. GP's have no reason to adjust your dose - only if you are taking too much and are overstimulated.

If you cursor to the question dated October 20, 2004 you may find the info helpful plus the following one.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

This is info re T3 plus another on the proper use of thyroid hormones.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

I believe you are right, that the low T3 may well be the culprit. GP's have no reason to adjust your dose - only if you are taking too much and are overstimulated.

If you cursor to the question dated October 20, 2004 you may find the info helpful plus the following one.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

This is info re T3 plus another on the proper use of thyroid hormones.

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

web.archive.org/web/2010122...

Maryh1 profile image
Maryh1

I was having the same problem, but I still have my thyroid so I don't know if my medication would help you. I take Nature-Throid which is T1,T2,T3, andT4.

I believe it's from a pig thyroid, anyway, it seems to be working. My temperature is 98.6 and I'm loosing weight. A time released T3 can also be used around 10 am. This med comes from a compounding pharmacy. Do you have these in England? I got thin information from an article called Hypothyroid Mom. My doctor had heard of Natue-Throid and was happy to give it to me.

immuneaction profile image
immuneaction

Hi , you need the T3 as the T4 is only a pro-hormone . it needs to change into (convert)

T3 which is the active hormone. you can buy this your self as most doctors have been told not to prescribe it as they think it is to strong but they are wrong. i use a natural thyroid and it as all the hormones your body needs, i buy this myself as doctor would not treat me. selenium 200mg per day will help with the conversion but brasil nuts will have very little in them you would need to eat 16 a day to get this amount.

go to tpauk.com and join this forum to get all the best answers for the thyroid .

we also have a list of online pharmacy`s to buy hormones your self. don`t let our doctor`s keep you ill because they don`t have all the answers. also look at your iron,

and other things that stop the body from being optimum. again all this info is in the

groups files. join and you will get well again.

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