Poor T3 conversion

[Gymbunni]

Hi not posted on here for a long time as I’ve been really well on levothyroxine for around 5 years now. Had dose increased yearly as test results required but recently been feeling similar symptoms to when my tsh levels are too high... fatigue, low mood, muscle pains generally just fuzzy. TSH levels were lowest they have ever been so I ordered private bloods to check various hormone levels. Usually only ever get tsh levels checked with GP.

Showed up that I am not converting T4 into T3 so my FT3 levels are low.

Free T3 4.02 (4.61-5.38) lab ranges test company gave me

Free T4 19.8 (12.87-19.3)

T4 total 106 (77.2-153.15)

TSH 0.91 (my endo wants to keep this at 0.5-2 for me)

On 125mcg of levo a day which was upped last April.

Last took levo morning before test (not on day of test which I did fasted at 9am)

Incidentally showed my oestrogen levels are way too high too.

Vit D low at 77.0

Have been folate anaemic in the past but that wasn’t tested here.

Waiting to see if GP will refer me back to my original endocrinologist but wondered if anyone had any advice in the meantime?

Thanks in advance 😊

[tattybogle]

can you add some missing details :lab ranges for fT3 and fT4 ?

What dose Levo ?

TSH result ?

time of test and time of last dose levo before test ?

ps. did you mean "but recently been feeling similar symptoms to when my tsh levels are too low.. " or did you mean to say when TSH is high ?

(high TSH usually associated with Hypo symptoms , low TSh with 'Hyper' or overmedicated symptoms )

[tattybogle in reply to tattybogle]

Oh, just seem TSH at bottom .. ignore that bit of reply

[Gymbunni in reply to tattybogle]

Have edited post with all that info and yes I did mean how I feel when my tsh level too high as I am hypo (have half a thyroid gland left after operation)

[tattybogle in reply to Gymbunni]

That fT3 range doesn't look right to me.. it's FAR too narrow . is it some sort of 'suggested optimal range' rather then the actual 'lab range' ?

What test company is it ?

[Gymbunni in reply to tattybogle]

Yes sorry it’s suggested optimal range test company is Omnos as I got a full female hormone set done

[tattybogle in reply to Gymbunni]

is the actual lab range something like 3.1 -6.8 ish ?

just a thought (while you're waiting for an endo to appear ).... too much T4 can feel pretty lousy for some people , and also very high fT4 can actually mean you get worse conversion of T4 to T3 ( high T4 increases T4 to RT3 conversion, so less T4 to T3 conversion happens )...... did you feel better than now on a lower dose .?

Since your fT4 is slightly over range even after 24 hrs from last dose, you might consider reducing it slightly to 112.5mcg for couple of months .. see how it feels ... this might improve some symptoms if any of them are due to high fT4 .. and it might actually improve your fT3 slightly.

[Ann-Simpson]

I am interested in your reply just now. Please could you message me privately with details of your wife’s consultant. My consultant doesn’t seem to quite get it! Thank you Ann

[Kauaii]

I've read that high estrogen levels will interfere with T4 to T3 conversion. One web site recommends eating raw carrot salad as a means of flushing excess estrogen from body, but I'm not sure that all fiber might assist in that.

[Me1157]

Having suffered with high reverse T3 - I'm with you Jonathan, I don't think it's a red herring. The effects of having too much T3 in my body applified my hypo symptoms, I couldn't lose weight no matter if I did low carbs or calories. I was a mess. I would fly off the handle at the drop of a hat. My mental and phsycial health were both poor, which caused me further upset. Normally, I'm very even tempered and easy to get a long with. Anyone that's a poor converter, could possibly have too much reverse T3 and that needs addressing. The private blood test for this is expensive, but gives it you peace of mind and a place to start from. You can do this without additional testing by cutting back on levo and adding T3 and testing every couple of months to see if your conversion rate has improved. Alternatively, taking amour thyroid ( it's a combo of T4 & T3) which is what I'm back on. None of these solutions are cheap as the NHS and endos just seem to go by the TSH....which I think keeps us in the dark ages with thyroid treatment. Sadly, a private doctor that specializes in advanced 20th century thyroid treatment is the only way to go. I hope you start to get the help you need and feel better soon!

[yveh]

HiI was on Levothyroxine for 10 years and fine. Then suddenly changed to being overactive and my GP couldn't get it sorted. I saw a consultant who came up with the idea that I wasn't converting T4 into enough T3, not sure why either developed an alergy to the Levo but it stopped working and I am now on a combination of T3 and T4 which is working ....I just hope it keeps working!