Hi, Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction. I am unable to tolerate levothyroxine as I don't convert it and end up feeling very unwell and toxic on it. My private endo has started me on T3 which has basically given me my life back, I feel so much better, however my GP wants me to see an NHS endocrynologist to support things. I feel I may have a bit of a battle on my hands and require evidence based research, NICE guidelines that back up my problem. Can anyone help?
Thank you
I think it comes down to the endo not what research you take in. If your endo is unhelpful, poor knowledge on thyroid function or anti T3, no amount of research will help. You would be better off researching a good, helpful and open minded endo who is not against T3. I wasted a lot of time and energy seeing 2 local endos, one is/was on tuk list who was more interested in pushing HRT with levo, one who I took to ombudsman believed that even without a thyroid I most probably didn't need levo and dismissed my baseline cortisol of 95 (150-550)
My experience is some endos couldn't care less, know less and in some cases dangerous. I travel 45 miles to see a good one on nhs but saw him privately first appt. My endo listened to what I said looked at my test results (nhs and private ones) he accepted I was thyroid resistant and levo just pooled rt3 with me. I had already tweaked what worked for me 75-100mcg T3 daily and he was happy to continue that as long as no signs of over replacement. X
Roughly where in UK are you
You need to pick NHS endo with great care
Email Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialists, some are T3 friendly and NHS
please email Dionne
tukadmin@thyroiduk.org
The reasons are probably quite complex. Attached is a completely OTT 50 page PDF of notes for a medical lecture on the subject. I hope someone else has a simpler precis such as a youtube animated description. Make sure that you have some SELENIUM in your diet (I like Brazil nuts as my source).
The very best reference I have ever read on the subject of T4 to T3 conversion is by Greg Kelly. It is a paper that I studied in order to understand all of the deionization processes when I found myself at the mercy of under educated medics. The link is:
web.archive.org/web/2004121...
If that doesn't work (it should, I tested it) then Google:
Peripheral Metabolism of Thyroid Hormones: A review. Greg Kelly
The figures alone will spell it all out.
Now, you are taking selenium and yet you are not generating any T3. Get a blood test and measure your Free T3 and your selenium levels. If your selenium is not optimal then increase the dose. I take my Selenium via Brazil nuts but (as we all know) it is possible to hit on a poor source, again though, the remedy is the same, increase your intake be it from pills or Brazil nuts. The reason I push Brazil nuts is that you are less likely to overdose from a food source than from a pill. Your choice.
Thank you for this, very helpful.
Six Factors Which Can Affect The Conversion of T4 to T3
I am done with the NHS can anyone recommend a source of NDT?
t3.. t4.....???????????????????
please can any one tell me what a normal reading of this sort should be and what all this t3. t4 mean
In the current climate, how can I get help to trial T3 - if I am prepared to fund meds myself? Felt unwell for years on T4.
I am new to the site and do not now a lot about underactive thyroid 
