T3 and lichen sclerosus

[Valerie0106]

I thought I would let others here know my experience. I was diagnosed with this autoimmune skin condition early in 2016. Throughout the following year I had many flare-ups and threatened flare-ups, treated with a strong steroid cream. Due to this and similar problems I started to look for answers to my long standing hypothyroidism and learned a lot from this site in particular. I went gluten free and started trying to repair my gut last autumn. Early this year, I began self medicating with T3, taking a few months to get the balance of T3/T4 right for me. I now take 25 mcg T3 split into two doses and 75 mcg T4 at night. This seems to be working for me. Six weeks ago I started the Hashimotos Protocol. The startling change has been that I have not had a single flare-up of lichen sclerosus since starting to take T3 in March. I haven't yet seen the gynae since the change but will ask for a physical examination when I do, so she can check it out. I can't of course say that T3 has reversed the LS but I would love to hear from anyone who has had a similar experience.

[shaws Administrator]

First of all it is refreshing to have a positive post on reversing an awful symptom and your self-medicating is going well.

Others will respond and even if it is not due completely to T3 the fact that you've also changed your diet to reduce your antibody level must have helped.

[sue_b]

Hello Valerie

Would you mind sharing some more detail about your change over to using T3? What was your starting medication and dose? Were you still having symptoms of the LS when you changed over to using T3?

My GP said that LS is, they believe, an auto-immune disorder, however, they don't test for anything that would indicate an auto-immune disorder. The reasoning behind the auto-immune label seems to be that a large % of people who have LS are also hypothyroid. This despite the fact that in the UK the NHS don't routinely test for anti-bodies and don't recognise

So, just putting it out there, what I'm making a case for, is that perhaps your experience of the reduction in your LS symptoms, due to getting your thyroid hormones balanced is about the connection between the thyroid and the adrenals/DHEA. So I think it isn't an auto-immune condition but is affected by an auto-immune condition. Get your thyroid properly managed and there is less demand on your adrenals/cortisol and therefore less reduction of DHEA output and therefore more sex hormones being produced.

I am not a scientist or a Dr, just a hypothesis. What do you think?

Sue_b

[Valerie0106 in reply to sue_b]

Dear Sue

Why not? I have no evidence that my LS was related to starting T3 therapy - there is a correlation but no necessary causation! I started with 6 ug (a quarter of a tiromel). I monitored BP temperature and heart rate twice a day. Over time i saw my BP fall and temperature rise. I increased the t3 by 6ug every two weeks and titrated down my t4 at the same time. I had headache for many weeks after starting T3 and I think I overmedicated eventually so cut back down by the same amounts. I probably stabilised in June, on T3 25ug p.d. And T4 75/100 ug alternate days. BUT - i also went gluten free last autumn with many minor mishaps and only really got it right by starting an AI paleo diet with no grains at all in May. I also began supplementing last year following guidance given on here and on linked sites. There has been so much change that you can see why i cant make causal claims. I havent had an outbreak of Ls since March, Is all I can say. I do hope you find an answer for your LS

[sue_b in reply to Valerie0106]

Thanks Valerie, it is a minefield for sure