CONVERSION PROBLEM

[GKeith]

I’m on T3-only and want to check to see if my T4 is converting to T3. Shouldn’t I be able to stay off T3-only for a 24-hour period, due to the half-life of T3, then add some T4 and take it; see if it converts, from my thyroid?

[Jazzw]

Hi GKeith

That would work if you took Levo (and no T3) for several months—BUT... it would need to be the amount of Levo you personally need to take to get your FT4 levels to the top of the reference range. For most of us, that’s going to be at least 100mcg Levo if not more (and you’d have to slowly work your way up to your optimal Levo dosage which would take months). Because the half life of Levo is 7 days it takes several weeks for each increase in dose to build up in your system.

It wouldn’t work in just a few days, I’m afraid.

[GKeith in reply to Jazzw]

Why several months? If you're clearing out the T4 & you have already taken no T4 for over 3 months are you saying it takes longer than 90 days to clear out any remnants of T4? I've taken only T3 for the past 2 or three weeks & does it not clear out totally within 24 hours?

[Jazzw in reply to GKeith]

Sorry, have I misunderstood your question? Apologies if I have.

Are you saying you’re planning to take no thyroid hormone replacement?

Or that you’d take levothyroxine only?

I thought you were proposing to take Levo only for a few days and then testing. Which wouldn’t work because the half life of levothyroxine is 7 days. It takes weeks to build up in your system.

[GKeith in reply to Jazzw]

I would love to take no thyroid hormone drugs if possible? Wouldn't you? And, if I can find the right medical support I will, as many others have in the past and will do so in the future. It just depends on the individual person & the people helping him. May peace be upon you.

[Jazzw in reply to GKeith]

So which is it? Sorry, I’m so confused by what you’re asking.

Then again, maybe you’d rather I just shut up. I can do that too.

[GKeith in reply to Jazzw]

Okay, brother. I am currently taking no prescribed medications. None. I've done this before, many times. I really, truly do not know how long it will last this time and what I will take when & if I begine hormones T4 &/or T3 or NTD. again. Peace be upon you.

[Jazzw in reply to GKeith]

OK. I hope it works out for you, I truly do.

I think I’m cautious on your behalf because I tried to stop taking NDT myself, a while ago now. It didn’t end well, I was unwell for a long time. Hopefully it’ll be different for you.

PS. Sister. Not brother.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

What is you TSH result on T3?

Presumably very low

The only way to add levothyroxine back in, is SLOWLY at a constant unchanging low daily dose for 6-8 weeks (perhaps 50mcg) then retest levels

Obviously you need optimal vitamin levels too

[GKeith in reply to SlowDragon]

My endo stopped taking the TSH when I went on T3. And, what do you mean slowly? I already tried that, multiple times but “gave up” after the thyroid storm headaches that I could not get rid of for hours, or even weeks at a time. By vitamins I suppose you mean Vit C, D, Zinc, B12, Selenium, & a CBC?

And how about Iodine? I visited a health food store recently and noticed that they had a Tri-Iodine supplement that has 3 beneficial forms of iodine to nourish multiple body systems: a blend of potassium iodide, sodium iodide & molecular iodide, which together form a wider spectrum of benefits. This one pill combines 12,500 mcg’s of these three iodine’s altogether, compared to the synthetic T3 & T4 that many of us take at 1,000 mcg’s less. Now, I haven’t taken any of these pills yet but the whole purpose of them is to replace these hormone pills we can’t even take without a doctor’s prescription? They even have one there called L-Tyrosine, that has 60 vegetarian pills for $6.99 and each pill contains 1000 mgs of iodine that they suggest you take 6 pills a day? Who could take that many milligrams, it’s 1,000 stronger than ours? Peace be upon us all in these pandemic times.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

There’s nothing on your profile

Do you have Hashimoto’s- high thyroid antibodies

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested.

Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Never supplement iodine unless tested in depth by an iodine specialist. Iodine use to be used to treat hyperthyroid patients

[Jazzw in reply to SlowDragon]

SlowDragon - healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[GKeith in reply to SlowDragon]

Did you see my answer below?

[GKeith]

I still have my thyroid; no Hashimoto's. My last test was last week: T4, Free, is 0.64, while range is 0.82-1.77 or at ug/dL is 4.5, while range is 4.5-12.0, My T3 Free is 200 ng/dL, while range is 71-180 or, at pg/mL is 5.2 with a range of 2.0-4.4 and Thyroid Peroxidase is: (TPO) Ab <9 complete IU/mL 0-34

BTW, the function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine, found in many foods, and convert it into thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid cells are the only cells in the body which can absorb iodine. These cells combine iodine and the amino acid tyrosine to make T3 and T4. The physicians prescribe pills so Big Pharma can capitalize on their money & power when they overprice T4 & other synthetic & generic drugs, while the insurance companies, as well as innumerable doctors, take their orders from those very companies. Peace be upon you.

[Jazzw in reply to GKeith]

SlowDragon won’t see your latest comments as you didn’t hit “reply”. Now tagged in.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to GKeith]

You need to test both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies

Significant minority of Hashimoto’s patients only have high TG antibodies

Ever had ultrasound scan of thyroid

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...

If you do well on just T3 then you can stay on just T3

But if going to make any changes, it has to be done extremely slowly with very small adjustments and waiting for rest of endocrine system to catch up, typically 6-8 weeks wait after each dose or brand change

[GKeith in reply to SlowDragon]

It's never been out of range for the past 3 years?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to GKeith]

Do you mean TPO or TG antibodies.

What about ultrasound scan

[GKeith in reply to SlowDragon]

Both; I don't have an autoimmune disease, to the best of my knowledge: they've never been that high, as far as I now know but I will check recent bloods & let you know, if you are really interested.

[GKeith in reply to SlowDragon]

No, I don't believe I'ever had an ultrasound scan to scan for Antibodies, I didn't

know they did that? Mine all all bloodtests. I take it scans would cost more?

[GKeith]

Didn't hit reply where?

[asidist]

t3 in the form of synthetic liothyronine takes about two weeks to completely leave your system, depending on your size and metabolism. 24 hour half life means that in 24 hours half of your dose is left, and in another 24 half of that dose etc - it needs to be halved many times to be undetectable.

[GKeith in reply to asidist]

T3 is too strong, and very addictive to wait 2 weeks. The headaches would "kill" me, maybe even literally.