Battle with Doctors ..and Hypo problems

[jeyss]

I am very concerned about my health. I made an appointment last year with an Endocrinologist. I had lab work and my TSH was 3.4 (considered normal on lab corp ranges) but when doing research online and my primary doctor, they said 3.4 is high on what it should be consider the new "normal". My LDL Cholesterol was also high. Well after a year of very good nutrition ..research about thyroid, gym, exercise. I asked my doctor to also check my Free T3 and Free T4 plus Reverse T3, basically I did this because of my research.

Labwork came back TSH 5.8 (out of the normal for Labcorp) but my doctor said it was fine again. Free T3 low and he said it was fine. Reverse T3 a little on the high end. Base on research when Free T3 is low it can affect Cholesterol (well when thyroid is underactive) and then Both thyroid and Cholesterol affect my free testosterone which is low now.

He just gave me medicine for the cholesterol. I went to another doctor and this one tells me he only considers HYPO someone with TSH higher than 10. Completely different than all information online and books. He said my cholesterol is high but HDL ratio to triglycerides was good. (which is true base on my research). He thinks I may be the exception and have a problem with a 5.8 TSH and wants to give me Synthroid.

I am planning to go to another doctor. Because the more books and research I read. This is not right. My tsh is high.. my free t3 is low. it can be a conversion of T4 to T3 problem. Therefore in order to solve it I need Armour or Armour+Cytomel but both doctors I saw think my TSH is fine and they believe TSH is the important part, when everywhere doctors keep repeating to check FT3 and FT4 ! and Reverse T3.

I need more opinions. I put the references number on the side. Last year TSH was 3.4 and T4 was 1.5 but no T3 or Reverse.

Cholesterol is higher than last year..only LDL and Testosterone was normal last year.

Results:

Lipid Panel

Total Cholesterol - 334 mg/dL ---High 100-199

Triglycerides - 59 mg/dL 0-149

HDL - 84 mg/dL >39

VLDL - 12 mg/dL 5-40

LDL - 238 mg/dL 0-99

Thyroid

Free T4 1.25 ng/dL 0.82 - 1.77

TSH 5.8 uIU/mL 0.45 - 4.5

Reverse T3 20.2 ng/dL 9.2 - 24.1

Free T3 1.5 pg/mL LOW 2.0 - 4.4

SHBG 55.9 nmol/L 16.5 - 55.9

Free Testosterone (Direct) 5.3 pg/mL LOW 9.3 - 26.5

Total Testosterone 471 ng/dL 348 - 1197

[Jazzw]

You're quite right, it should be recognised. But sadly it isn't. There are many doctors who just won't accept that a rising TSH is not normal. Isn't it strange how they seem to think that a TSH of 9.9 would be OK, but a TSH of 10 wouldn't? Insanity.

I think your next move would be to ask to have your thyroid antibodies checked. If you have high antibodies, it indicates that you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) and that your thyroid will fail in time. Sometimes doctors can then be persuaded to trial thyroxine, as you'll need it eventually anyway. That might be why your doctor's offered Synthroid. I'd start there, if I were you. You may not need NDT, just extra T4 and it would be worth trying. If you aren't converting T4 to T3 it can be because your serum levels of ferritin are too low, so it would be worth having that tested.

High cholesterol is actually a symptom of hypothyroidism. That used to be well known once but it isn't taught any more.

[shaws]

Higher cholesterol is a clinical symptom of hypothyroidism. Doctors appear to be ignorant that once on thyroid hormone replacement it will reduce without statins.

The guidelines by the British Thyroid Association are that we must not be diagnosed util the TSH reaches 10 regardless of any symptoms we have and they don't take symptoms into account at all. Some doctors will do so if it is just over range. They all appear to be ignorant of the effect clinical symptoms have on us.

This is from Thyroiduk.org.uk

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

[jeyss in reply to shaws]

After using T3.. this are my test results!! WOWW Cholesterol dropped! dramatically!.. my T3 increased to normal.. but TSH is low.. (which we knew it was going to happen plus I read it's suppose to happen). T4 also dropped because the body is not doing it since it already has sufficient T3. I know in a perfect world I will want TSH, T4, T3 all normal. but this is the best I felt in a long time. I dont even need a pre workout anymore.

look at my results

s24.postimg.org/xaytsiz85/s...

[shaws in reply to jeyss]

That's great news and it is the best way to be treated - by how 'we feel'. Blood tests, I think are not the most important thing and because the tests were introduced for levothyroxine alone, they cannot 'fit' when T3 is added.

I'd put a new post up as other members wont see your progress within this thread.

[jeyss in reply to shaws]

SURE, should I be concerned with my low FT4? Maybe I can reduce T3 and take NDT also to increase FT4?

[shaws in reply to jeyss]

Don't be concerned with TSH or low FT4. T4 is inactive it's job is to convert to T3 which is the Only Active Thyroid hormone needed in our receptor cells.

If we are on levothyroxine alone and we are on quite a high dose and our FT3 is low then the addition of T3 is helpful.

To feel well our FT4 and FT3 both should be towards the top of the 'normal' range'. If on T3 only our TSH will be low our FT4 extremely low as we're taking none.

My FT4 level was <5.2 (9-22pmol) FT3 6.5 (2.60=5.70)

(also says Satisfactory - no action) as they know I am on T3 only.

All of the hormones vary throughout the day so the main thing is we feel good with no symptoms.

[jeyss in reply to shaws]

I'm confused about something, you said to feel well out FT4 and FT3 both should be towards the tops of the normal range.. but tell me to not be concerned that I had a low FT4. Sorry..

[shaws in reply to jeyss]

I am sorry for the confusion - my fault. I was only referring to the use of levothyroxine for the quote '.

"In the UK, the only prescribed hormone is levothyroxine, also known as T4 a prohormone. So the blood tests were introduced along with levothyroxine."

[jeyss]

So I finally found a doctor which I believe has been better than the past two. This one said my problem is the low t3. He said that Cholesterol and Testosterone are affected by my low t3 which is also causing a high TSH.

He thinks the problem is a conversion issue. T4 is being converted to Reverse T3 instead since the ratio between Free T3 and Reverse T3 is less than 20%, and it should be higher than this amount. Mine is actually a 7%.

Possible causes are extreme calorie deficit (yes I have been dieting for long, recently PSMF) plus Cortisol because of the stimulants .

Now he prescribe me T3 to deplete Reverse T3 and he said I have to increase my protein and calories.

I read online that T3 makes my metabolism faster, and that it is catabolic. My weight is 208lb and I started eating 230grams of protein instead of the 170 that I used to.

Is there anything that can help me not lose muscles whiles on T3 other than AAS / Clen? I keep reading that 50-75mcg will make me lose muscles. I really don't know the side effects or how dangerous it is, this is why I'm looking for a safe way.. can any natural supplement help..

BTW after I started T3 , I feel like a new person. FOR REAL..really amazing.