Thyroxine not working anymore? Query over inflammation preventong T4 to T3 conversion.

[Ticklek]

hi, will be as breif as possible! Diagnosed 3 yrs ago, started thyroxine, felt better then few months later would feel symptoms again so increased dose. Am now on 150/175mcg daily and symptoms back again.

Ive been researching (again) and ive read a few bits that suggest if there is inflammation (throough infection or alergies or food or toxin etc) regardless of how much T4 you take it wont convert adequately to T3.

Is there any truth in this does anyone know? And if so has anyone any tips on righting/preventing the inflammation to allow for good conversion?

I have just about given up with the drs, ive been through the symptoms issues so many times with them in the last few years and last time i went i basically felt dismissed and was told to 'throw my energies into diet and exercise (to lose the weight) rather than chasing make believe with my thyroid?!'

Thanks, Katy

[galathea]

The lack of conversion from t4 to t3 seems to be common after a few years on t4 only. It happened to me when I lost weight on a diet, but others it just happens.... Inflammation is one of the possible causes, as well as low iron low adrenals.....

Suggest you get a free t3 test to see what is actually being converted and if this looks good get a urine test to measure t3 take up. Of course the docs are happy to dismiss you as they don't get paid much for thyroid patients. If they can give you a depression diagnosis its worth more ££'s to them.

Private testing, where you deal direct with he lab ... Details under testin on thyroiduk.org.uk

G x

[akimbohr]

I had the same problems, high inflammation, high rt3. Diagnosed as low t3 syndrome (tsh and t4 were perfect but T3 at the bottom). My ferritin was 270. I went gluten free. I also made numerous tests on food sensitivty (IgG) and eliminated eggs, yeast,sugar. Lchf diet dealing with candida. My Siga test from the stool was very low so I started to take probiotics, saccharomyces boulardi, L glutamine to enforce gut impermeability.

My therapy is combo T4/t3 and I am doing well. Anti tpos have been bottom low during last 9 months.Ferritin fell to 90 but every now and then I get that strange feeling in the throat and I guess I took something with my food which my immuno system does not like.

I think there is still a long way to improve my gut and then my thyroid will also be better. In my opinion everything had started with stress and problems with intestinal permeability.

[Clutter]

Ticklek, the only way to tell whether or not you are converting T4 to T3 is to have a thyroid test of TSH, FT4 and FT3. Low TSH + high in range FT4 + low FT3 often means there is a conversion issue.

You can order private tests from Blue Horizon and Genova via thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[Ticklek]

Thank you all for your detailed responses, i will read and digest all that you have said and move forward. Thanks again

[Ticklek]

These are my results from Feb 2013, could you advise if conversion would appear a problem from these results please?

TSH 0.64 (ref range 0.27-4.5)

Ft4 20.9 (ref range 10-24)

Ft3 4.4 (ref range 3.5-6.5)

Any opinions gratefully received!

Many thanks

[greygoose in reply to Ticklek]

You are not converting very well. Your T4 is above mid-range (mid-range being 17.0) but your T3 is below mid-range (mid-range being 5). So, your T3 is much too low.

Bad conversion can be due to many things. Have you had your ferritin, iron, folate, B12 and vit D tested? If any of these are low in range, you won't be able to convert very well. B12 even needs to be up the top of the range. You also need zinc and selenium to be able to convert. Hypos often have nutritional deficiencies because they have low stomach acid and therefore difficulty absorbing nutrients.

Convertion can also be affected by low cortisol. But if you have a lot of inflammation, try reducing it with antioxidants : Coenzyme Q9, Coenzyme Q10, Alpha-Tocopherol, Vitamin E, Beta-Carotene15, curcumin or astaxanthin.

[Aurealis]

I've sometimes felt that Selenium has helped

[Ticklek]

Thanks greygoose thats some great info