Cognitive problems relating to thyroid?

[Karinjeanne]

Does anyone know if a low t4 level and a high t3 level could be behind my severe cognitive problems?

t4 9.4 (10 - 20)

t3 6.0 (2.6 - 5.7)

Thank you in advance.

[Marz]

Could it be B12 ? Levels need to be around 1000 to prevent cognitive decline - mentioned by Sally Pacholok in her book - Could it be B12 ?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I agree with Marz . Get B12 checked.

[Saggyuk]

Hiya Karin

I was on T3 only for over 10 years with results around the 3-4 level of T4 and 7-9 level for T3 so I had lower T4 levels and higher T3 levels than you. I did not have any cognitive issues during the majority of this time so I would think unlikely. It is only now that my T4 levels have dropped to zero basically that I am questioning any role with T4 and cognitive issues. We are all different though!

What kind of cognitive issues are you having, might help with some clues?

[Karinjeanne in reply to Saggyuk]

Hi Saggy I get confused while I am talking. suddenly don't know how to say what I am trying to say. Cant speak so well feels like my brain is just not working. Cant plan out things. Cant do math. These things all used to come to me quite easily. Saggy do you know of a condition called Hashimoto's encephalitis. Apparently it is a rare condition whereby the same antibodies that cause Hashimoto's cause inflammation in the brain? Should I post that question maybe? Thanks for talking to me.

[Saggyuk in reply to Karinjeanne]

When my thyroid was really low, I had issues with language, lost vocab and stuttering - but when I was really low and unmedicated. It didn't improve until on T3 as can't convert but your T3 level looks good. When I'm hyper, my concentration and is lacking but I normally have typical physical hyper issues too such as feeling hot and sweaty.

The issues I'm having at the moment is primarily memory and maths but as mentioned above, this was not an issue at T4 levels lower than yours - just when I hit zero and still trying to see if the case.

Obviously B12 needs to be ruled out and any other nutritional deficiency.

I used to have a sleep disorder which meant I was micro-sleeping all the time (or actually sleeping lol) and very brain foggy if not the other two. The foggyness slowed me down but could still think through it (just) and would have moments where my brain woke up a couple of times a day and would be fine. THis completely disappeared when I went gluten free. I have since been diagnosed with NCGS and was proven to cause systemic inflammation in my system, nutritional deficiency and immune issues even though not coeliac. It was even proven to have an effect on my levels of thyroid hormone.

For any inflammation, gluten free is a good place to start even if just to rule out? Many autoimmune people find it helps some of their health issues. You could look at an anti-inflammatory diet or even an elimination diet to rule out other intolerances?

Before going GF, I was having issues with my sugar levels which seemed to bother my brain and slow my thinking when my sugar levels were high so might be worth getting a cheap blood glucose test pack from the pharmacy and checking them for a few days. This was more likely after eating although not necessarily immediately.

Not sure what else to suggest, it's just a case of looking at things one by one and seeing if they help how you feel or ruling them out. I hope you find the answer

[Saggyuk in reply to Saggyuk]

Oh and the most basic of them all - dehydration - just in case you are not drinking enough lol

[Forevertiered in reply to Karinjeanne]

Karinjeanne, just for your information...I suffer all these symptoms and I have Borreliosis ( Lyme Disease) .

It can and does cause many people to have thyroid problems, it also causes multiple other symptoms that are being misdiagnosed as other syndromes. 🍀🙏🏻

[shaws Administrator]

Was the blood test at the very earliest possible?

Did you allow a gap of 24 hours between your last doses of thyroid hormones and the test. Did you fast (you can drink water)? If not your results will be skewed.

[Clutter]

Karinjeanne,

You are mildly overmedicated to have FT3 slighly over range 12 hours after last dose but I don't think that would cause cognitive difficulty. FT4 is usually much lower on NDT than Levothyroxine and it really is unimportant when FT3 is good.