My daughter has been hypo for some years, on increasing levels of T4 but remaining fatigued and with a TSH that although reduces for a while after new dose, starts to increase again thereafter
She did really well on Nutri Thyroid for a while some years ago but endo advised her to stop
She’s not open to self-medicating at mo so takes no T3
She has been informed by GP that she has poorly functioning kidneys (i don’t have specifics) and he wants repeat bloods & a kidney scan, whilst increasing her T4 dose again due to riding TSH again
Is anyone aware of a known connection between hypo and kidney function and if so, how does this present? What should she be doing to support her kidney function?
Thanks in advance and apologies I don’t have blood results
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Jacs
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Thanks Slowdragon, I’ve responded more thoroughly to radd below but she doesn’t have her most recent results showing the kidney results but is trying to obtain. I’ll ask for her thyroid results from the previous tests. It will probably take a few days until she has time at the weekend to go and lookup.This set of thorough tests were performed because she is constantly fatigued despite always taking her T4 first thing in morning without eating or drinking - she is religious with this so that she knows she is absorbing as much as possible. The brand is whatever is given to her and changes regularly
I wasn’t aware of thyroid/kidney connection, though know of course that thyroid hormone or lack thereof affects the whole body
The connection between inadequate thyroid hormone and impaired renal function is well known. Thyroid hormone enables the kidneys to function at a normal rate and when deficient glomeruler filter action rate (GFA) decreases, and creatinine levels will raise.
Other markers are increased proteins in urine (frothy pee) which ironically can increase thyroid hormone levels to drop further as a small proportion is wee’d out. Also, as the kidneys convert a small amount of thyroid hormones, T3 levels may drop further. (Low T3 levels are extremely common in CKD patients).
If hypothyroidism has affected her renal output it may have lowered cardiac output and if stressed adrenals get involved (compromised through inadequate thyroid hormone) then electrolyte imbalances and elevated BP may be seen.
Nutri-Thyroid isn't available anymore but some members have recommended Metavive as an alternative. It sounds as if your daughter is under-medicated and sometimes increasing Levo isn't enough to raise T3 levels if enough conversion isn't happening. Has she any recent results to post including ranges (numbers in brackets) for members to comment?
Thanks radd for the simple english explanation; I’ve tried reading some of the papers helpfully posted by Slowdragon but finding them difficult to understand. I believe my daughter has been under-treated for years but is reluctant to go it alone because she tried T3 some years ago (i can’t remember the details) but didn’t have a good experience so is nervous about trying again.
She is constantly fatigued and has regular infections but as a new teacher is putting this down to stress (which I’m sure ida contributor because of the affect on cortisol etc) but her issues pre-date her training - She is so very overworked though that she is not prioritising her health which we all know is a downward spiral. She eats well & takes regular exercise but supplements and follow-up have dropped off
She hasn’t got her latest results as they were taken by an out-of-hours gp and therefore not posted, but he is worried enough to say she can’t wait until half term to repeat the bloods
I’m just looking at this now but they’re (GP & endocrinologist) are considering it’s not related, there’s evidence elsewhere to say it is if you look it up.If your daughters is creatinine like mine there’s few papers out there suggested under medicated when medicated properly it improves.
So when my creatinine levels are high it correlates when my Tsh is high, so keep at them regarding this, I’ve had scans and nothing found no other symptoms or anything yet in tests.
I’m not sure if my vitamin D also causes high creatinine too it’s a process of elimination with me but to be fair I’m moving more towards it’s my thyroid as my vitamin D are on low side and my creatinine is slightly raised still... unfortunately can’t say if T4/T3 plays in mine yet most likely, as mines not looked at regularly.., but waiting results now.
Thank you. She’s going to try to get access to the out-of-hours results but otherwise I’ll post when she has her new ones. I’ll also do more research but useful to know others have experienced similar results and improve
My eGfr & Creatinine improved after 6 Months on NDT (egfr less than 60 & now mid 60's). Also less foam in my pee - which got worse with severe hypo when first diagnosed 18 months ago. Kidney & Liver function should both improve as FT3 improves (but for me that has to be on NDT not LEVO which makes me feel so ill).
I will try Lio (cytomel) in future... pure FT3 only route.
Others have already told you of the correlation; here's my father's story.
My father had stage 4 kidney disease and his free T3 (I convinced his ophthalmologist to run that test) was at the very bottom of the normal range, 2.3 (2.3 - 4.2 pg/mL) perhaps due to receiving amiodarone for a-fib (amiodarone has ~75mg of organic iodide per capsule). emedicine.medscape.com/arti...
When I presented his kidney doctor (D.O.) with a published medical paper showing a correlation between low thyroid function and kidney disease, she said, "There's absolutely no correlation between the two. No treatment necessary. "
It's very hard to fix ignorant. The only advice you'll get is to eat a kidney-friendly diet. You can find various books on that. Low sodium, low magnesium, low protein, low taste, etc.
The more specialists I encounter the more narrow minded attitude is quite apparent. 🙄They are so specific in particular fields finding an open minded one is hard.
There needs to be an area of accredited Functional practitioners to bridge the gap, we are missing out due to too much ignorance.
Specialist in the same field of medicine sometimes can’t agree with each other it’s ridiculous!
Unfortunately medicine is lead by reliance and tests and pharmaceutical intervention not common sense by joining up the dots.
We have amazing medicines to keep us alive, and medics in areas which can rebuild us after accidents and remove diseased problems... but general ongoing problems seem to present one shoe fits all approach.
We are not all the same our organs and hormones may function alike but what is actually circulating is not like the next person, our genetics and epigentics play a big part, gut microbiome etc, even twins aren’t the same .., look at Professor Tim Spectors twin study.
Along with one diet fits all, outdated science being plodded out in various
areas, pharmaceutical companies pushing drugs we don’t need and food manufacturers adding rubbish to cheapen food to make bigger profits ... is there any wonder we are getting sicker.
I’m not belittling professionals knowledge capabilities and I know how much dedication it takes to get to their level, my daughter has gone down that route of a decade of extra education to get a doctorate.
Luckily she has some of my common sense to see the bigger picture ... just wish she was an endocrinologist
Thank you for your story. I’m sorry to hear that dad wasn’t well and had a frustrating time with doctors.The diet/menu is particularly useful and i’ll take time to absorb it.
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