Pooling T4

[teenarocks]

What are the symptoms of too much T4? I've been told I'm a poor converter of T4 to T3. I've been reducing my T4 and my TSH is still below 0.10. I'm wondering what would happen if I just took T3 alone. I'm still feeling tired and my legs ache and occasionally depressed. Could this be from T4 pooling in my system?

[shaws Administrator]

On your previous post you were taking NDT although you said your Endo wasn't happy with your low TSH and wanted you to switch to levo.

I am assuming she has now switched you to levothyroxine.

Do you have your latest blood test results and if you think you cannot convert T4 properly, your GP should have done an FT3 blood test to see whether or not you have sufficient for you to feel well.

I am assuming your Endo is reducing your thyroid hormones in order for you to 'fit' into a TSH which she imagines is the right thing to do?

[teenarocks in reply to shaws]

Thanks for your reply, Shaws. I did not do well at all on NDT. And I had not done well on Synthroid for 20 years so the endo switched me to Levoxyl and Cytomel. Right now I've been reduced to 88 mcg Levoxyl and I'm on 5 mcg Cytomel.

My last bloods on Sept. 4, 2015

T3 Free 3.1 (2.3-4.2)

Free T4 1.18 (.40-1.64)

TSH .09 (.34-5.60)

I'm better than I was 18 months ago when TSH was over 14, but I'm still not what I would call "feeling well." Some days are better than others. Will I ever feel consistently well?

[shaws Administrator in reply to teenarocks]

Your cytomel dose is extremely small. Personally, and I'm not medically qualified, I think a 1 T3 to 3 T4 may suit you better.

hormonerestoration.com/Thyr...

Is your Endocrinologist another who adjusts your medication according to your TSH result. Or because you feel very overstimulated?

[teenarocks in reply to shaws]

She adjusts to lab tests but also I believe she said 5 mcg is all the T3 a person needs in a day. I've considered doubling the T3 for a trial to see if I feel better. In addition though, I wake after 4 hours of sleep and cannot fall asleep again without taking a sleep aide. Also I do have heart palpitations.

[shaws Administrator in reply to teenarocks]

Do you have heart palpitations during the day as well as the night. Or night only?

[teenarocks in reply to shaws]

Off and on, day and night. Thanks for your continued response. I wish I could figure this out.

[teenarocks in reply to shaws]

Also, I sometimes cannot stay awake during the day but cannot sleep at night.

[greygoose in reply to teenarocks]

Teena, 5 mcg may be all a 'normal' person may need in a day (what about the night?), but she's not treating 'normal' people, she's treating hypos, and sometimes they need a lot more! (Dr John Lowe took 150 mcg a day, and he wasn't in the least hyper.)

If the whole 5 mcg were getting into your cells, she might be right, but there's no guarantee of that.

Besides, you Don't just need what a 'normal' person needs a day, you need to build your levels up from very low, so obviously you're going to need more than that. And you're not going to get is from the T4, either, because you can't convert.

I think your endo is all theory and no substance, I'm afraid.

[Hidden]

teenarocks,

T3 is the biologically active hormone that will help alleviate symptoms.

For the most part, T4 is metabolically inactive. T4 "drives" metabolism only after the deiodinase enzyme converts it to T3.... which you claim you are not doing anyway.

Receptor resistance together with inadequate cortisol & DHEA can hamper our ability to convert and uptake T3 into the cells.

I agree with shaws that you need MORE T3 as you are under halfway through range. Cells with too little T3 will struggle to maintain normal metabolism.

Can you try upping dose yourself or are you on tightly monitored presciption supplies?

I take the suggested 1:3 ratio of T3 : T4 and it has stopped my heart palpatations and many other symptoms but I still don't sleep well.

I suggest you add another 5mcg in a second afternoon dose and then if you feel ok, double it so you end it taking 10mcg in the morning and another 10mcg in the afternoon. This is a more usual dose when taken in addition to Levo.

You may need to reduce your Levoxyl or not. I reduced but wished I hadn't as then had to raise dose back up after feeling terrible.

Good luck, hope you feel better soon,

Flower

[teenarocks in reply to Hidden]

Flower--Thank you for your reply. I'm gathering courage to increase my T3 and see what happens. I see my endo in two weeks and will approach her with this info. Then decided what to do.

[Hidden in reply to teenarocks]

teenrocks,

If you are going to fight the National health service for your additional T3, it may be worth you doing the DI02 gene test.

The DIO2 gene activates triiodothyronine (T3) and researchers have found that a tiny fault in this gene could mean a difficulty in the body utilising T3.... there by warranting a "reasonable" T3 prescription.

The research has shown that that patients medicated on T4 alone felt worse, .. if the faulty DIO2 gene was inherited through one parent and worse still if they inherited the faulty gene from both parents.

I did this test recently and am awaiting results which take about two weeks. It is a saliva test and cost £60.00 through Blue Horizon. However, if you don't have a practitioner to read results

(I do ) ... they charge another £60.00 .. ! ! ... to give you a counselling session and results.. ! ! I don't know why you have to have a counselling session.

Flower

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

[guysgrams in reply to Hidden]

Flower

is this test also in the 23 and me testing that is done?

[Hidden in reply to guysgrams]

I don't know. I didn't use the 23andme test but Genova Diagnostics DetoxiGenomic as incorporated genes I was particularly interested in.

I would not have thought so ... but its probably worth reposting this as a new question as there are several members who have had the 23andme test so could advise.

F