Is Low Ferritin and Vit D preventing T4-T3 conversion? Should I add T3?

[Chickenlady2009]

Hello All

Thanks again for reading my post.

Is Low Ferritin iron and Vit D preventing T4-T3 conversion? Should I add T3 and how much?

Blood test results 6/14/2018

Ferritin 33 (10-232) i am taking 50 MG iron Bisglycinate daily since Dec 2017

D 25 Hydroxy 53 (30-100)

I was taking 8000 D3 a day, then six weeks ago was told to reduce to 1000 daily because of high liver enzymes. After 4 weeks on the lower dose i was so weak and fatigued ( i thought i was dying) I increased back up to 8000 a day. The test shows results after 2 weeks on the 8000 daily.

Free T3 2.9 (2.3-4.2)

T4 1.5 (0.8-1.8)

I'm on 75 mg of Levothyroxin (for 6 weeks).

I'm Gluten and dairy free.

My symptoms are fatigue and anxiety. Fatigue has improved since being on 75 mcg of levo, but i still don't feel normal.

I have some liothyronine (t3) 5mcg. I have thirty tablets left. I took liothryronine for 4 weeks in October 2017 and didn't feel any better (still fatigued and anxiety). A blood test in Nov 2017 showed my Vit D 25 OH was 30 (30-100) and my ferritin 16 (10-232). Was the ferritin and Vit D the reason the fatigue. My T3 at that time was 2.6 (2.3-4.2). T4 was 1.1 (.08-1.8).

Thanks for your replies.

[jimh111]

Your fT3 seems to be a little low. I would try increasing your levothyroxine just a little and see how you go. I'm not aware of vit D having an effect on deiodinase (T4 to T3 conversion) and your level is not low now. If you find you feel better with higher vit D levels I suggest you get sensible exposure to sunlight, at least during the summer months. Iron deficiency anaemia does not affect deiodinase, except in severe cases. You are not anaemic as your ferritin is now 33 (but ferritin is not a definitive test for anaemia). By all means supplement your iron a little but it will not affect deiodinase.

If you don't improve on a little more levothyroxine I would resume 75 mcg and add in 10 mcg liothyronine (5 mcg is too little to notice any effect).

[Chickenlady2009 in reply to jimh111]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm very hesitant about going on a higher dose of levo because I was on 100mcg for 4 months and was over medicated. It was a horrible experience; Panic attacks, anxiety, heart palpitations. My endo at that time had doubled my dose from 50- 100.

[jimh111 in reply to Chickenlady2009]

Do you have autoimmune hypothyrodism (Hashimoto's disease), it's the most common form and is diagnosed by measuring TPO antibodies. In this case thyroid secretion can be irratic with periods of higher hormone secretion.

You could try a little extra levothyroxine. If your symptoms were due to too much hormone then this will happen with liothyronine (L-T3) also. I'd try 100 mcg levothyroxine again, if your symptoms return then just skip your levothyroxine for a couple of days and resume at 75 mcg.

[Chickenlady2009 in reply to jimh111]

I do have hashimotos. I got antibodies from 128 (Nov 2017) to 67(Jan 2018) by going gluten free and eating Brazil nuts. (?)

I'm also on a restrictive diet since having cyrex lab tests done for multiple autoimmune reactivity (antibodies for other autoimmune diseases), leaky gut, and gluten associated cross reactive foods.

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I think my options are slight increase in levo or trying out NDT

[Chickenlady2009]

Thanks. I have taken a look!!

[Heatherfavell]

Have you tried switching to NDT? For me it was a life saver. I too started off with low ferritin and shocking fatigue. Levothyroxine alone was unsuccessful and didn’t agree with me. I also started off with high antibodies (over 1000) and through various natural means have got them down to 200 which leaves me almost symptom free. You haven’t mentioned your antibodies which is the single most important factor in symptoms for most people. Where possible take some sun on your skin for 20 mins a day for vit D and eat oily fish, raw organic butter or a combination of flax seeds if your’e veggie. As well as a healthy gluten free diet with minimal grains and virtually no sugar I also take a natural adrenal support called Adrenavive and take far infra red saunas to detox. It all takes time but works. My blood tests have been proof as well as how much better I now feel.

[Chickenlady2009 in reply to Heatherfavell]

Thank you. I may ask my doctor for NDT. I do have antibodies. See my reply to jimh111. I will check out Adrenavive.