How to increase Cellular Uptake of Thyroid Hormones?

[newbie85]

I am quite sure I have problem with cellular uptake of Thyroid Hormones. On typical blood panel hormones looks ok. However I have been very tired from when I was child, I am loosing hairs etc. Each time I try ALCAR (which is known to inhibit cellular uptake of the thyroid hormones) I get extremely tired. I have been self experimenting with thyroid hormones a lot in last 10 years. Even if I take 1-10 times higher amount of t3 only I don't feel anything, like nothing first day or two and after a few days I only get even more tired. Normal person would feel hot and sweat all the time when taking such amount of t3. My cortisol levels are normal, also other things, including reverse t3.

I have been also experimenting with iodine a few years ago. I remember very well that first time I tried iodine I finally got energy for the first time in many years. I felt warm, I felt my brains are working, my body temperature went up, when I was exercising I properly warmed my muscles and was finally sweating. Unfortunately this lasted only a few days and then I was getting back to old tired. No matter what I tried about iodine later I couldn't get this affect anymore to improve the situation but I only felt more tired. But I was happy to try it because for the first time in many years I saw how it is to be normal, how it is to have normal energy. If only could that last more than just a few days...

Anyway back to my question. Is there anything somebody could do to improve cellular uptake? Even if I had millions of dollar (which I don't), is there any doctor in this planet who could check this and help with this condition? Do there exist any medicine for this or anything?

[greygoose]

So, could you give us some numbers, please? What are these ok-looking blood test results - results and ranges? And how much is a 10 times higher amount of T3?

It's a problem I believe I suffered from, and at one point was taking 225 mcg T3 daily. Still felt hypo. But, with time, I was able to reduce that and now take about 75 mcg. Still a highish dose, but better.

You felt better when you first took iodine because to begin with it stimulates the thyroid to make more hormone. But, as you found out, that effect doesn't last and it because antithyroid, reducing how much hormone is made.

There is no way of checking how much hormone gets into the cells. And, as far as I know, there are no doctors that know how to treat the problem - or even admit it exists.

How are your nutrients? Have you had them tested recently: vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin? And cortisol? Have you had that tested? How is your diet? Do you eat much soy?

What is ALCAR?

[newbie85 in reply to greygoose]

I don't remember exact how much I was taking to be honest but I remember that even with really huge dose I didn't fell affect while I read how some bodybuilders are taking many times lower dosage and feel hot all the time. However I think I didn't go behind 200 mcg. How did you end up 225 mcg? Did you try first 100mcg and you didn't feel any difference? I remember that more I was taking more tired I was, my skin got very dry, very tired, was loosing even more hairs. Looks like the more I was taking more more was blocked by the cells and received even less within the cells. Then I stopped cold turkey and I felt better. But maybe I should go above 200 mcg and see if there will be a switch. I would appreciate if you answer how you ended to 225mcg and what was the process.

I don't have blood tests here but I checked levels 30+ times during last years. I tried to optimize levels to get TSH on low side below 1, t3,t4 on the middle or top and still didn't feel any better. Now I feel the least worst when my tsh is around 3 and t3,t4 on the low side without any medication. As soon I try to take medication I only feel worse even if my levels are better.

About idoine I am wondering why I felt this only first time and why I haven't felt this when I was taking t3?

Nutrients are ok, b12, folate, ferritin, vit D all good. Because I eat enough meat and I also take d vitamin. I don't eat any soy. Diet is balanced, no sugars, no pufas, enough vegetables, healthy fats, enough proteins and around 200g of carbs from rice.

ALCAR = acetyl l-carnitine

I just read that there is actually a test to show that:

"The most exact test for cellular hypothyroidism is to test for genetic expression of the thyroid transporters. Researchers currently use this testing method, but it is not available commercially." Source: palomahealth.com/learn/cell...

I will try to find out more about that.

[greygoose in reply to newbie85]

How did you end up 225 mcg?

I went from 6 grains of NDT, roughly the equivalent, and increased slowly by 5 mcg at a time.

NDT didn't suit me at all, made me positively ill. Levo + T3 hadn't been great, either, so I decided to try T3 mono-therapy.

Looks like the more I was taking more more was blocked by the cells and received even less within the cells.

I really don't think that's how it works.

Then I stopped cold turkey and I felt better.

That's perfectly normal. We usually feel better when stopping thyroid hormone replacement - for a while. But it doesn't last. Sooner or later the hypo symptoms start to creep back in.

I stopped my T3 for six months before the symptoms returned. It doesn't prove anything.

I tried to optimize levels to get TSH on low side below 1, t3,t4 on the middle or top and still didn't feel any better.

If you had thyroid hormone resistance, you would probably need your FT3 over the top of the range. Mid-range wouldn't help at all.

How did you take your T3? Split doses or all at once?

Nutrients are ok, b12, folate, ferritin, vit D all good. Because I eat enough meat and I also take d vitamin.

Doesn't necessarily follow that because your diet is good, your nutrients will also be. Hypos usually have low stomach acid, meanint they have difficulty digesting food and absorbing nutrients.

OK is not the same as optimal.

About idoine I am wondering why I felt this only first time and why I haven't felt this when I was taking t3?

Iodine and T3 are not the same things. Iodine is just one of the ingredients of thyroid hormone. If you were taking enough T3, you probably would feel good as you did at first with iodine. Did you have any labs done during the time you felt good on iodine? The question is: how much T3 is enough?