Fibromyalgia and T3

[gingo]

Has anyone tried T3 for fibro as I seem to recall reading about it somewhere??

[shaws Administrator]

These are a few links. The topics are at the top of the pages. Some links within these topics may not work as the site is archived but the info is excellent. Dr Lowe was Director of the Fibromyalgia Research, Drlowe.com and Thyroidscience.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[LouiseRoberts]

Hi gingo

Do you have a thyroid diagnosis?

Have you got your latest thyroid blood results with the reference ranges?

Are you any treatment?

Are you experiencing any thyroid symptoms?

This information will help people to better offer informed support!

Thanks

Louise

x

[Marz]

I am T3 only and Fibro pain has gone away. High levels of VitD were also started at the same time and increased levels of B12....they all help in the complexities of thyroid and Fibro....

Do you have Hashimotos ?

[marmaris in reply to Marz]

Hi Marz I am on T4 Levo 100mcgs and endo gave me T3 nhs about a month ago. Doctor has also put me on Vit D (will be having 8 week test next week as low was 23) taking 800iu 20mcg caps colecalciferol twice a day. Convinced I have fibro aches and pains all over. Cervical Spondylosis and feel I have aged rapidly sometimes when I get up pain in the foot terrible aches all over. Have wondered of late about B12 was said to be normal but I have a white tongue, scalloped and bitter taste at times.

[Marz in reply to marmaris]

...so what was the B12 result ? Normal to the Doc is probably just in range - when it needs to be at the TOP.

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Take a look at the above website - it really is excellent and full of information. Good videos too. Your B12 needs to be around 800/900. Also have you had the Ferritin Folate Iron tested too - if they are low then the conversion of T4 into T3 will be impaired. Hence the aches and pains.... B12 patches from amazon are good if you have absorption problems....

It sounds as if your dose is reasonable - but what is happening at a cellular level is unknown. Hence I am thinking conversion is poor. Do you have any blood test results with ranges. The FT4 and FT3 again need to be towards the top of their ranges. If your FT4 is reasonable and the FT3 low - then it would appear you have a conversion problem.

Am thinking that your D needs to be a higher dose - especially as its winter/spring. Maybe a loading dose before going onto maintenance. I take 10,000 IU's - but then I have Crohns as well as Hashi's.

grassrootshealth.net/media/...

The above website is Canadian I believe and the graph at the top of the page is easy to use to calculate the dose of D according to your result. Just remember the difference in measurement. If your result was ng/ml then that will be fine but if its nmol/L you will need to divide it be 2.5....

Some of the pain in muscles can be lactic acid - which is slow to move on when thyroid hormones are low. Painful feet - Plantar Fascitis is sometimes the cause and linked to low hormones again....

Hope this helps a little....

[marmaris in reply to Marz]

Hi Marz B12 in May 2013 667ng/L (180.00-1130.00ng/L) Folate 8.3 ug/L (3.00-20.00ug/L) Ferritin 99 ug/L (15.00-300.00ug/L)

[Marz in reply to marmaris]

I think others who know more than me would say that the B12 is a bit hit and miss as a test ! It is a guide though. It's worth remembering that only about 20% of that result actually reaches the cells where needed.

VitD ? - results ?

[marmaris in reply to Marz]

I guess if you llook at ferritin and folate not in top range either, when I go and see my gp I will be asking for re test and also checking at optimal. I would also like to try the B12 injections.

[Marz in reply to marmaris]

Good idea

[lab22 in reply to Marz]

i agree with u my vit b12 is low and i suffer from muscular aches and pain and hashimoto throiditis.

[Marz in reply to lab22]

Do you have gut/absorption issues ?

[lab22 in reply to Marz]

yes i do

[Marz in reply to lab22]

..have you thought about going gluten free ? It may just help. I have Crohns so have learnt a bit along the hedgerows of life. Am happy to help if appropriate....

[LinDonaldson]

Hi there,

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 10 years ago and had experienced a great deal of joint/muscle pain before. Was sent to orthopedics where it was found that I had other issues that could have been contributing to the pain. When these issues were resolved I found I was still experiencing joint and muscle pain. After many years I decided that I should change to T3 because I was greatly fatigued by all the pain and ensueing inconvenience.

I can honestly say I have had less pain. I actually had knots where muscle fibres had become damaged. These are going and I am more able to use my limbs. I also feel mentally and emotionally better. My cholesterol level has improved significantly and my blood sugars are more stable. Abdominal pain has almost gone to. It would be interesting to find out that if I had started on T3 years ago I would still be able to absorb iron and convert sunlight to Vitamin D3 now

My conclusion after many years research, much gleaned from this forum, is that T3 is at least for some people, more effective in treating hypothyroidism than levothyroxine. Levothyroxine (T4) coes not necessarily reach the cells that T3 reaches.

The great difficulty is that there have been no large, well conducted clinical trials to test it's efficacy. There is a lot of research out there but it is piecemeal and not enough for the established medical profession to make a clear decision about (if anyone has been bothered to review it). There are more covert investments in not reducing the use of T4 and raising the use of T3 such as pharmaceutical company protection of their extremely well selling Levothyroxine. GP's may choose not to admit it but they do not know how to administer it or check that it is effective. Finally, T3 is apparently more expensive to prescribe. It can be sourced outside the country for a relatively modest cost.

Regards

Lin

[LinDonaldson in reply to LinDonaldson]

I should add I do mean some people will benefit. Everyone hear is correct it depends on where you are on the thyroid scale. I do not have a working thyroid gland. You may still produce some T4 but could benefit from a small additional dose of T3. Measures such as T4, FT3 and reverse T3 should help establish a baseline. Also vit D, iron profile and cortisol.

Regards

Lin

[lab22]

i am so glad to know there r people out there whu suffer like i do .my triger point and knots in the muscles are painful .and nobody is linking it to thyroid

[Marz in reply to lab22]

Are you being treated for your Thyroid ? If so what are you taking and do you have your last blood results with ranges ? Post them on a NEW post and lots of people will be able to help and support. I too had appalling muscles and had a Fibro diagnosis some 14 years ago. VitD levels - do you know what they are ? Sometimes it is the vitamin and mineral deficiencies that make us poorly.