High T4 but feeling better

[Thyroidconfusion]

I hope you are well? I recently went from 125 to 150mcg of T4 (results below). All my vitamin levels are good, tested within all the recommended parameters.

TSH: 0.01 range .270-4.2 mmol/l

T4: 24.5 range 12-22 mmol/l

T3: 4.4 range 3.1-6.8 mmol/l

I feel much better, just started to loose weight and headaches are getting better. My T3 is the highest it has been but my conversation rate is 5.5, the worst. I feel that the improvement in symptoms is down to my rising T3. Is it time to start to try and convince my GP that a T3 trial is the right way to go as my T4 is now above range.

Should I be concerned about an over range T4 when feeling good?

Any thoughts welcome. Thanks as ever for all your support.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

GP can’t prescribe T3 initially

To get T3 prescribed on NHS …..You will need to see thyroid specialist endocrinologist for 3-6 month trial of T3 prescribed via hospital before care (and cost) is transferred to GP

NHS referral unfortunately takes many months

Best option might be to consider seeing endocrinology who works privately and in NHS initially

Or private only

vast majority of endocrinologists are diabetes specialists and often useless for thyroid

List of Doctors….and also separate lists of endocrinologists

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Thyroidconfusion in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks Slow Dragon, I am aware that I need an endo as we are going through a T3 trial with my wife at the moment. I was hoping to get some comments on the high T4 levels and whether I should be concerned as I am feeling good. Thanks for your feedback

[Jefner in reply to SlowDragon]

not strictly true SlowDragon. I started my T3 through my GP after telling her I wanted to try it because of my low readings and poor conversion. I didn't need an Endo recommendation, unless it's all changed in the last 4yrs

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Jefner]

you were lucky

Officially for last 5-6 years at least it’s only supposed to be started via endocrinologist……that was only since price charged to NHS went up 6000% to £268 per 28 tablets

Now price down to £50 per 28;

[Gustie88]

If you are feeling good, I would counsel against going down the T3 rabbit hole. Could be months to years of trying to get the right T4 and T3 dose. Having good adrenal function is very important to proper thyroid function and feeling well. Have you had cortisol and DHEA tested?

[Thyroidconfusion in reply to Gustie88]

Thanks, not tested cortisol, not sure what a DHEA test is?

[Gustie88 in reply to Thyroidconfusion]

Carnivore diet will often lower T3 since glucose plays a role in T4 to T3 thyroid conversion. Get adrenals tested if you don't feel well, otherwise stay the course. Good luck!

[Thyroidconfusion in reply to Gustie88]

Thank you Gustie88. I am aware that a low carb diet can lower your T3 as a physiological response although I have no idea of the mechanism and whether that is a good or a bad thing. Generally I feel good but was concerned about my high T4. A slightly higher T3 seems to be having a positive effect so as discussed earlier on this chat I will keep going on the 150 for now and keep an eye on my levels and how I feel. Thanks for your response. Much appreciated.

[tattybogle]

There are some recent concerns that having relatively high fT4 promotes 'cancer cell proliferation' but it's not at all clear yet , it's very recent research...important to read it thoroughly , as not all 'cancers' are the same.

The research applies to 'all T4' ( regardless of whether it's from the thyroid in healthy people , or from levo in hypo 's )

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... levothyroxine-monotherapy-and-cancer

some replies in this post discuss the issue, & provide links :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... /over-range-t4?

it is also important to consider that fT4 testing is currently far from perfect, there can be significant differences between fT4 results from the same sample using different assays, so it's possible that another assay process from a different lab would give you a different fT4 result.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu.... freet4-testing-difference-in-reference-ranges-reading-matter-for-a-rainy-day-.

personally I tend to have relatively high / sometimes over range fT4, (sometimes 'very' over range ) and have done for the majority of the last 20 yrs. This early research re. cancer cells hasn't scared me off yet , but it is worth bearing in mind .

So it's no longer possible to confidently say that there is 'no problem whatsoever' with having a high T4 ... it might well prove to be 'safer' to have a relatively lower T4 with more balance in T4:T3 levels.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's the same with having a totally supressed TSH on levo ,( ie. below 0.04 ish) ...

~ yes this does seem to increase 'risk' a bit , but you have to balance those risks against Quality of Life ~ and the risks of feeling so unwell on a lower dose that you live life mostly on the sofa , that's very risky too .

And you have to remember that those risks of supressed TSH are still less than having a slightly high TSH (ie undertreated hypo. TSH 6/7ish ).. and endo's /GP's are NOT at all bothered by leaving hypo untreated until TSH gets up to 10.

So Endocrinologists /GP's are very inconsistent about their communication of what is 'risky'.

[Thyroidconfusion in reply to tattybogle]

Tattybogle, thanks for your response. Great feedback. Sounds like continuing with T4 for now seems to be a good idea and keep an eye on things. Not too worried about cancer. Already been through that and believe the primary driver for cancer is metabolic disfunction, too higher carb intake. I am now carnivore as a result which is another reason I feel good.