Not converting t3

[Nancy18]

My doc put me on 75 then 100 then 125 then back to 75 levothyroxine feel exhausted b12 is 300 so no help there and ferritin 17 help any advice please gasping for air now

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Nancy18

Your post title says you are "not converting T3". Presumably you mean you aren't converting T4 to T3. How do you know that?

What are your latest test results, with reference ranges?

What's happening about your low B12 and ferritin levels?

Have you had thyroid antibodies tested, it sounds like you may have Hashimoto's if your dose keeps changing. If so, a strict gluten free diet and supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

[Nancy18 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Doc says b12 and ferritin are in normal range I know they are low end doc keeps altering levo dose because not converting to t3 I feel worse on low levo breath gasping and aching again really fed up

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Nancy18]

Nancy18

Do you have a copy of your results, with reference ranges. If not please ask for them and post on here.

doc keeps altering levo dose because not converting to t3

Well that doesn't make sense. If you're not converting then altering the dose of Levo isn't going to help conversion.

For good conversion to take place first of all you need optimal levels of vitamins and minerals which are

Vit D - 100-150nmol/L

B12 - top of range

Folate - at least half way through range

Ferritin - at least 70, preferably half way through range

A ferritin level of 17 is dire and suggests iron deficiciency anaemia so you should have an iron panel and full blood count done.

A B12 level of 300 is poor also. According to an extract from the book, "Could it be B12?" by Sally M. Pacholok:

"We believe that the 'normal' serum B12 threshold needs to be raised from 200 pg/ml to at least 450 pg/ml because deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550".

"For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml."

If conversion is still after optimising nutrient levels then consideration should be given to adding T3 to Levo.

[Nancy18 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I've had shaky legs too seen neurologist nerve tests normal I think it's low b12 but doc says no I will get copy of test results when I go back tomorrow think I need more levo no chance of getting t3 Medstead will ask to be referred to endo tho I've started taking b12 sIpplepen I bought myself thanks for helping

[Nancy18 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Antibodies on first test were 525

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Nancy18]

Nancy18

Antibodies on first test were 525

So that confirms autoimmune thyroid disease aka Hashimoto's. No need for further testing once they have tested positive.

Most doctors dismiss antibodies as being of no importance and know little or nothing about Hashi's and how it affects the patient, test results and symptoms. You need to read, learn, understand and help yourself where Hashi's is concerned.

You can help reduce the antibodies by adopting a strict gluten free diet which has helped many members here. Gluten contains gliadin (a protein) which is thought to trigger autoimmune attacks so eliminating gluten can help reduce these attacks. You don't need to be gluten sensitive or have Coeliac disease for a gluten free diet to help.

Gluten/thyroid connection: chriskresser.com/the-gluten...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

stopthethyroidmadness.com/h...

hypothyroidmom.com/hashimot...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...

Supplementing with selenium l-selenomethionine 200mcg daily can also help reduce the antibodies, as can keeping TSH suppressed.

Hashi's and gut absorption problems tend to go hand in hand and can very often result in low nutrient levels or deficiencies. We know your B12 and ferritin are low. What about Folate and Vit D, those need testing too.

Do you have low stomach acid - that causes absorption problems. Easy home test here - scroll down to The Baking Soda Stomach Acid Test

scdlifestyle.com/2012/03/3-...