Poor conversion from T4 to T3: Hi all. I did a... - Thyroid UK

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Poor conversion from T4 to T3

Refat profile image
13 Replies

Hi all.

I did a thyroid health check through medichecks and here are my results

Tsh 0.451 (0.27 to 4.2)

t4 20.1 ( 12 to 22)

t3 3.16 (3.1 to 6.8)

thyroglobin 11.5

Tpo 9!!!!

I have had underactive thyroid for 20 years and never have I ever been given my T3 results. So im a poor converter and this probably explains why im so tired and have very thin hair. I am taking iron supplement as ferritin levels were at 16 approx 2 months ago. Please tell me what else i should do to help with my conversion. Should I take selenium and zinc. My vitamin D is at a very good level, b12 was very low and I am taking supplements for that.

Also i am suprised that my tpo is 9. Where as my 10 year olds is elevated to 700. Why is mine so low. Im very confused.

Please help

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Refat profile image
Refat
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SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

20% of Hashimoto's patients never have raised antibodies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Paul Robson on atrophied thyroid - especially if no TPO antibodies

paulrobinsonthyroid.com/cou...

You need to test folate too. B12 and folate work together

How low is B12

Are you currently taking a daily vitamin B complex or just B12 supplement

Are you vegetarian or vegan?

Email Dionne at Thyroid UK for list of recommend thyroid specialist endocrinologists...NHS and Private, who will prescribe T3

tukadmin@thyroiduk.org

Refat profile image
Refat in reply to SlowDragon

Thank you for your reply. My b12 was very low if I can remember it was 311 with ref range being 211 to 911.

I have taken 1000 units of b12, and finished bottle bought from holland and barrets. I did take b12 complex for a while but started to get itchy eyes, head and skin so topped that. could it be that it was too strong. I bought this b complex from holland and barrets.

Also I am not a vegetarian either. I have heard that some herbs can help with conversion. There is a very good chinese doc near me should i visit him or find private endo?

Do u know of anyone that has prescribed t3 for a patient. I live in the north of England.

Thank you

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Refat

supplement a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) may be beneficial.

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance and will also improve B12 levels

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

Many Hashimoto’s patients have MTHFR gene variation and can have trouble processing folic acid.

thyroidpharmacist.com/artic...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Igennus Super B is good quality and cheap vitamin B complex. Contains folate. Full dose is two tablets per day. Many/most people may only need one tablet per day. Certainly only start on one per day (or even half tablet per day for first couple of weeks)

Or Thorne Basic B or jarrow B-right are other options that contain folate, but both are large capsules

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

own brand supplements are usually cheap ingredients and poorly absorbed

Email Dionne at Thyroid UK for list of recommended thyroid specialist endocrinologists

tukadmin@thyroiduk.org

NWA6 profile image
NWA6

Oh dear 😞 yes it looks like you are not a great convertor. Mine looked like that and I had to add T3. Definitely keep going with the supplements add selenium,zinc and Vit c.

Don’t forget that you’ve had Hashi’s for 20yrs and so your body has ‘cleaned up’ already which why you don’t have any antibodies, there’s no more work to do.

Refat profile image
Refat in reply to NWA6

Hi Thanks for your reply.

Ah I now understand why Tpo is so low.

Please can you tell me if the vitamin supplements will help me convert to t3.

Also where did you get the t3 from? or shall i ask which endo did you see. My GP will never take me seriously if I show him these results as they have never checked my conversion.

Thank you

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator in reply to Refat

NHS extremely reluctant to admit many thyroid patients need T3.....largely due to outrageous price charged to NHS. (£176 for 28 tablets of 20mcg - typically need 10mcg or 15mcg per day ) T3 is cheap in rest of world (30 euro for 100 tablets from Germany)

So you are unlikely to persuade GP to refer you on NHS ....though it’s not impossible ....but likely very long wait

Best option is to pick a recommended endocrinologist from the list who is private and NHS and start via private consultation and private prescription....currently private prescription enables access to cheap T3 from EU ...though no deal Brexit may scupper that option

Media coverage of T3 price issues

mjauk.org/wp-content/upload...

dailymail.co.uk/news/articl...

medscape.com/viewarticle/90...

thyroidtrust.org/media-cove...

theyworkforyou.com/search/?...

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAdministrator

Before considering adding T3 you need to improve low ferritin and B12

Ferritin will need retesting soon if on iron supplements

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

List of iron rich foods

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/Websites/...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thyroid disease is as much about optimising vitamins as thyroid hormones

Helpful post about iron supplements and testing

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

silverfox7 profile image
silverfox7

I completely reversed my conversion issue but getting my doctor to test Vit D, B12, folate and Ferritin. I was needing to get folate and VIT D optimal. Vit D I got optimal fairly quickly but folate took me a year! So just to say it’s not an instant fix, it may take much longer but once optimal I never looked back!

Meadowsmom profile image
Meadowsmom in reply to silverfox7

What did you do to improve your b12, folate and ferritin?

Refat profile image
Refat in reply to Meadowsmom

Hi Meadowsmom

I supplemented on high dose Vitamin B12 as advised on this forum for a month only, but you should also take a good vitamin b complex at the same time too. I havent had b12 checked again but im hoping my levels have increased. My Folate surprisingly has been very good.

I am currently prescribed Iron supplements and have been advised by GP to take them for approx 4 months as ferrtin level was at 16 and then do another blood test.

Meadowsmom profile image
Meadowsmom in reply to Refat

Thank you!

Meadowsmom profile image
Meadowsmom in reply to silverfox7

Silverfox7,

What did you do to improve your b12, folate and ferritin?

Refat profile image
Refat

Thanks for your reply Silverfox7.

My vitamin D is good last time it was checked it was in its 90's. Have to admit that I have slacked a bit with taking it for a few weeks but will start again.

My folate is at a very good range but b12 was quite low and not to mention ferritib which was very low.

I am taking iron supplements and will now make sure that i continue to take vitamin b complex too. Its reassuring knowing that there is a possibility of increasing t3 without getting T3 at the moment.

I will do private blood test again in approx 3 months, so fingers crossed.

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