Do i need T3?

[ziv1979]

Hello,

I'm new here and few weeks a go i got my latest blood results:

TSH - 4.02 (0.55-4.78)

T3 Free - 4.0 (3.5-6.5)

T4 free - 16.4 (10.0-20.0)

FERRITIN - 9.7 (10.0-291.0)

TRANSFERRIN - 311.4 (200.0-360.0)

DHEA - 2.82 (0.90-11.60)

I'm on Levo 50mg as a start and i took DHES supplement to support my gland. I also have Hashimoto. Unfortunately my symptoms remain the same: still very tired, body aches, brain fog etc'.

I'm suppose to see my endocrinologist

soon (privately of course) and i was thinking of asking him to put me on T3 for while as clearly i'm not converting well.

What do you think?

Thank you

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You need a dose increase, the aim is to have TSH in lower part of range, below 2 and for many we need it below 1.

Your ferritin is much too low, preventing thyroid hormones working. You need full testing for Anaemia. Has GP put you on iron supplements? If not, why not.

Also important to test vitamin D, folate and B12. Very common to be low with Hashimoto's

Are you on gluten free diet? If not you might want to seriously consider it for 6 months to see if it makes a difference

amymyersmd.com/2017/02/3-im...

[ziv1979 in reply to SlowDragon]

SlowDragon,

Thank you so much for your reply.

My Vitamin D (back in February) was 67.5 (75.0-250.0) and Folic Acid was - 12.8 i think. My GP only now noticed and wants to put on Iron. i did took pills for Folic Acid and i did took Vitamin D HD but it doesn't seem to absolve properly.

My house is semi GF since my youngest is diagnosed with Celiac, but i'm not on full GF diet and i know that it's good for Hashimoto.

Should i be asking my privet Endocrinologist for T3?

Thank you!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

ziv1979

For thyroid hormone to work properly, all vitamins and minerals need to be optimal. The recommended levels for us Hypos are

Vit D - 100-150nmol/L (recommended by the Vit D Council)

B12 - very top of range, even 900-1000

Folate - at least half way through it's range

Ferritin - half way through it's range (particularly important for conversion)

Only when these are optimal can proper conversion take place.

Also needed for conversion of T4 to T3 is a good level of zinc so you might want to get that tested.

Supplementing with selenium L-selenomethionine 200mcg is recommended for Hashi's patients as it can help reduce antibodies, and selenium also helps with T4 to T3 conversion.

So before considering T3 all these need to be optimised.

Who suggested you supplement with DHEA? Was cortisol tested at the same time? Cortisol and DHEA should be in balance so both need testing, ideally with a 24 hour saliva test as this is supposed to be the better test.

[ziv1979]

SeasideSusie,

My Endocrinologist recommended me to take DHEA supplement to start support my adrenal gland along with NALTREXONE 1.5 MG which studies shown to be helpful in supporting the gland. It may look extreme, but i completely supported his treatment. It did worked in the beginning until i finished them and now i'm back to the beginning. I started taking HashiScript supplement by Suzy Cohen (Rph) (after reading her amazing book - Thyroid Healthy) which has mainly Vitamin D and selenium in it, but with that, i'm still suffering from everything i wrote in my post. Don't know what to do. i feel lost