T4-T3 Conversion Issues: Got new lab results as... - Thyroid UK

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T4-T3 Conversion Issues

Advocate1 profile image
7 Replies

Got new lab results as of Oct 12th:

TOTAL T: 908 H (250-827)

FREE T: 61 (46-224)

ALT: 56 H (9-46)

AST: 35 (10-40)

TSH: 0.74 (0.40-4.50)

TOTAL T3: 81 (76-181)

T3 FREE: 2.8 (2.3-4.2)

T4 FREE: 1.4 (0.8-1.8)

REVERSE T3: 17 (8-25)

LH: 6.4 (1.5-9.3)

FSH: 3.1 (1.6-8.0)

IGF-1: 279 (63-373)

CRP: 0.3 (<8.0)

PROLACTIN: 4.6 (2.0-18.0)

I know for a fact that i asked my PCP to put e2 and shbg on there but for some reason ignored that.

These results were taken a few days before i stopped armour thyroid (because it gave me a really upset stomach) and also during clomid & nolvadex. When i took my test levels last month they were in the low 200s and my fsh and lh were abysmal so i decided to do a low dose pct.

With my free t being low we can assume shbg is high and my t3s did get better but still need them towards the top third percentile for optimal function.

Question is where to go from here? what should i be looking for or looking into?

I’m going to see a nurse practiciner this Monday. I couldn’t get an MRI from my previous endo but maybe this guy can do it.

Let me know what you guys think and what else I should test to get a clearer picture.

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greygoose profile image
greygoose

TOTAL T: 908 H (250-827)

FREE T: 61 (46-224)

Sorry, but what are these? You've got your FT3 and FT4 below, and that range doesn't correspond to anything I know. There isn't just a plain 'T', it's either T3 or T4.

Advocate1 profile image
Advocate1 in reply to greygoose

It’s testosterone and free testosterone

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Advocate1

Ah ok! Not used to seeing it written like that. :)

Well, your Free Testosterone is rather low, but not surprising if you're hypo. Your FT3 is very low.

Are your nutrients optimal? They do need to be when taking NDT. Have you had your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested?

Advocate1 profile image
Advocate1 in reply to greygoose

Vitamin I believe was 70 from a range of 30-100. Ferritin and B12 were above the maximum reference range but I haven’t had folate tested since last February. I’ve been taking supplements but I’m also not sure if I’ve been taking too much and if there’s any sort of interaction that could be interfering with my body.

I’m currently on t3, 5mcg twice daily which is pretty low, I’ll see the endo again on the 14th of Nov to bump it up. However I don’t want to be on t3 forever if I don’t need to.

I’m just baffled, what the <Admin removed offensive word> could be causing my low t3 syndrome? Is there something that I’m overlooking or not considering, it just doesn’t make any sense.

I see a nurse practitioner this Monday. Thinking about asking him for a pituitary MRI and some additional bloods.

Seriously considering taking hgh as well. When I read low GH symptoms they do hit home for me. I’d rather not have to but my options are severely limited at this point as to a reason for all these issues.

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply to Advocate1

So, you're taking T3 only? I thought you were taking NDT. Presumably your FT3 is low because you're not taking enough. Your FT4 and TSH will be low when taking T3 or NDT.

Your IGF1 is about mid-range so not sure you need HGH. But, if you have access to it, why not try some. You do know it has to be injected, don't you?

Advocate1 profile image
Advocate1 in reply to greygoose

I was taking NDT but I had to stop. About 4 days into taking it, after a meal, I got an intense stomach pain and I was running to the toilet all night. I was like that for 3 days until I realized it might be the NDT.

I stopped it and everything went back to normal. Since NDT is about 80% t4, I believe I was converting most of it to Rt3.

And I might not need HGH, but I’m losing my mind at this point. How is it that my symptoms don’t fit anything and everything?!?!

And I have a past steroid history so injecting is nothing new lol.

danym profile image
danym in reply to Advocate1

did you find something that worked?

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