Your FT3 is too low and considering it is the active thyroid hormone that runs our whole metabolism (brain and heart have the most T3 receptor cells) I cannot understand why doctors or endocrinologists seem to be very unknowledgeable and very poorly trained indeed.
I assume they only look at a TSH result and if 'in range' they just think that's o.k. They rarely test Free T4 and Free T3.
Your FT3 being low should be nearer the top of the ranges. How the 'experts' seem to have no knowledge puzzles me and we shouldn't really be searching the internet for help/assistance.
Request T3 be added to your T4 and I hope they give you a prescription.
The following link hopefully will be helpful for you.
When getting a blood test the appointment hould be the very earliest possible - it should be a fasting test (you can drink water). Don't take thyroid hormones before blood test but take it afterwards. Also request B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate to be checked.
You've done the right think sacking your Endo. It's not worth a waste of our time and effort trying to recover our health and be symptom-free as that is what they are 'supposed' to be doing.
You'll probably get more sense from members on this site than the majority of endos seem to give.
Before blood tests were introduced, making thousands of $$$s/£££s for Big Pharmas we were all diagnosed upon our clinical symptoms alone and prescribed NDTs (natural dessicated thyroid hormones) made from animals' thyroid glands. No blood tests required just concentration upon relieving patients' clinical symptoms until they were 'free of them'.
I know exactly how inept many medical professionals are when it comes to dysfunctional thyroid glands.
If you've not read my history and if you want to, click on my name and it will take you to my page.
I have been looking after my own thyroid hormones myself and at least I know what makes me well and what doesn't.
I have also had some comments from one GP in particular and I said 'I'm sorry doctor but you're wrong!
He definately was wrong as he phoned to tell me I was fine and had no problems. He didn't seem to understand what a TSH of 100 meant at all,
Also, if someone has to diagnose themselvs when TSH is 100 and GP had phoned to state (a few hours later) to tell me that I had nothing wrong with me you've lost complete faith
HiUm. Decissicated pigs thyroid is not reliable. Why because each pig thyroid is diggerent and no dosage is the same. There are warnings out everywhere.
Decissicated pigs thyroid is not reliable. Why because each pig thyroid is diggerent and no dosage is the same. There are warnings out everywhere.
I feel that your comment suggests that you are not fully aware of how desiccated porcine thyroid is processed.
First, to agree, each pig will have its own precise thyroid composition.
However, the manufacturers do not take the thyroid from one pig and make a small batch from that.
They collect larger numbers of thyroid glands and process them in batches. Details vary, but they are cleaned up, dried, and powdered.
Each batch will be assayed for its thyroid hormone content. Then quantities from various batches will be combined to achieve the target potency. Not sure exactly when, but at some point in processing, the manufacturer will add a diluent – such as lactose or calcium phosphate. This reduces the batch potency to the required level.
Only then is the powder used to process into tablets or, in some cases, fill capsules – with extra ingredients added according to the company’s process.
Everyone who warns that each pig is different seems to be quoting someone else. But I have never managed to find out where this originated.
(In the early period of using animal thyroid, some people did actually collect individual thyroids from abattoirs. Variation from one animal to another would then have been of significance. Standardization was one of the most important reasons for patients to select one make rather than another. For example, Armour nor only did what they could to assay potency using various physical/chemical procedures, but they also had an animal laboratory in which they tested the biological effects of batches.)
Thank you for the information. Like jaz03 I have heard the not use dessicated.I believe it is big pharma trying to stop competition because of course they can not patent dessicated. Must burn big pharma's behind.
While I do use a few big pharma items, I am NO fan of this disgusting industry.
Hi there jaz03.I have heard this as well. My investigation is that it is big pharma who is putting out innuendo to stop the use of dessicated as it cuts into their sales. Dessicated can not be patented so big pharma loses out.
I say this because I also use bioidentical hormones, not big pharma stuff, and big pharma is always bad mouthing bioidenticals.
Taken together, it seems a big pharma hate on with little evidence to back them up.
Helvella, you are right, it is a quandry, we need big pharma like in your example, but we also do not want them to limit access to products. That is where the consumer comes in to demand access and innovation across the big pharma and natural spectrum.
FT3 is too low but as you have only just started medicating levothyroxine you may find it raises more. It's best to test six weeks after starting Synthroid and post results for members to comment. You will most likely need another dose raise as 50mcg is usually a starter dose.
Also meds will convert/work better with optimal iron and nutrients and the usual four to get tested are ferritin, VitB12, folate and Vit D. How are you addressing the mould & candida?
Greetings radd!That Encrinologist was incompetent and the worst bedside manner. I am in Canada and doctors here are scarce as we only have public health care - do not get me started on the useless canadian system, 0 choice. So the useless drs get to stay on cause no one will fire them as they are scarce. In the US the ratings for this dr would be so bad he would leave voluntarily.
I am on 50 mg of Synthroid for the past 2 months and do notice a bit of improvement in symptoms. I just started some Cytomel yesterday as my Nath doctor says my T3 is way, way too low. So will run with this arrangement for a while.
My iron, D3, B12 are all ok as I supplement well.
On the candida and mold - my Natro dr has me on silver to break down the membrane of the candida, then a caprylic acid supplement plus stomach support. I will then do a SIBO breath test to see.
The mold, well my 4 yr old new house has water coming in the wall cavities as the house was built too low on the lot and there is water under the foundation - total builder incompetence. This has created excessive condensation on the basement walls then mold. My husband and I have both tested positive for asthma for the first time and we both have multiple molds in our urine, although mold testing on the arm was negative.
To get rid of the mold is TBD.
It is no wonder I have not been able to breathe (thyroid and mold) and have 0 energy.
Hi all, I’m very interested in this as my T3 last test was 3.22 which my endo said was fine. Yet I’m falling asleep if I sit in a chair for any length of time and my heart has been all over the place recently.
My endo had my dosage listed as 12.5mg twice daily but I had only been taking 6.25mg twice daily. So I doubled it in the last few days to see what effect it has.
I know things take time, but even on the second day I cycled to our local town to do some chores and normally my heart is going crazy - super high, then super low and dropping when it should be increasing if I’m going up a hill etc (I do have dysautonomia so that doesn’t help obviously).
But after the extra doses of T3, my heart was incredibly stable! And I’m definitely feeling much better.
I’m interested Askeptical Consumer on what the T3 level should be? As I feel mine was too low but will do another test myself in six weeks and see what I get. It would be good if you are able to provide some info on this.
Thanks all for the help you all give on this site, it is truly an amazing resource!
Hi ironchica.This site is simply outstanding as is a way to beat down big pharma and their bought off supporters. The internet certainly has helped remove power and control from the big pharma doctors as they have to confront knowledgeable consumers - that is why I fired the incompetent endocrinologist yesterday who stated he only focuses on the TSH - which of course has nothing to do with the thyroid, it is a message hormone from the pituitary gland - good grief.
Your free T3 should be in the top quarter of the range (mine is close to the bottom of the range). Often low T3 is caused by poor conversion of our own thyroid hormone or synthroid due to stomach issues (me) or other factors like stress, low D, iron, B12.
My heart rate was rapid as well when I was too low on free T4, when I started on Synthroid, it stabilized and I have not noted an issue since, so for me the heart stabilized on Synthroid, but for you it was T3 - each person is different indeed.
What I know and it is something radd above posted - in the old days before blood tests, doctors "treated to the elimination of symptoms" and it worked. We started blood tests and health has gone down hill because the blood tests are MORE important than the patient - another example of big pharma ruining things.
Yes very much so, thank you. Interesting you saw your heart rate stabilise too. I also have gut issues re absorption and also have to supplement iron, b12 and vitamin D3. So yes, I’m very much with you on that.Have a lovely weekend!
Its definitely not unusual for Endo to ignore FT3 heck I can’t even get mine to test it I pay out of pocket … One thing that irritates me is they can’t even explain to you why they won’t test it which is absolutely aggravating and down right pathetic.
Hi there Batty1.This board is a lifesaver and a kick in the face to medicine in general.
The training of encrinologists I believe is more focused on diabetes than anything. As a medical group, they are useless regarding adrenal and thyroid issues based on my experience and that of many others.
I also think medical doctors are sexist towards females and thyroid and adrenal issues affect females the most, so drs say it is all in your head and prescribe tranquilizers etc.
So that is why thyroid gets ignored and I think accounts for the poor uptake of knowledge about free t3.
Also big pharma has brainwashed drs into thinking synthroid is the thyroid cure, the typical give them the pill and out the door!
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Blood Test Results - Hypothyroid - Free T3 & Free T4
Low Free T3 and T4
High TSH and normal Free T3/T4
Is my Tsh too low t3 too high free t4 too high or is endo wrong
Comments on my TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 please
