Free T4 high, what to do? Also IR

[ITHY]

I am 63, 1m70, 62 kg

Free T4 = 21.80 (pmol/L) or 1.69 (ng/dl) is high (ref. value 11.90 - 21.60 OR 0.92 - 1.68 )

TSH 0.431 (mIU/L) (ref. value 0.27 - 4.2)

Free T3 = 3.80 (pmol/L) or 2.47 (ng/dl) (ref. value 3.13 - 6.76 OR 2.04 - 4.40)

Also rather worrying: HA1c = 6.0 (pointing toward diabetes 2 and insuline resistance)

I weigh 62 kilos for 1m70 almost never eat sugar (also not the hidden types)

Had a total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer (2000) and also have primary hyperparathyroidism = PHPT (relapse)

What to make of this high free T4? I feel very lousy (tired, brain fog, pains, depressed, a lot of intestinal problems; some are because of the PHPT, some may not be related)

Maybe someone can give some interpretion, some ideas?

Thank you very much!

[pennyannie]

Hello Ithy :

Looking back I see you trialled T3 and then thinking about Efra - which is a brand of Natural Desiccated Thyroid -

since you have ' lost ' your own natural production of T3 when you ' lost ' your thyroid - I do think you will need to reconsider your treatment option and incorporate some T3 thyroid hormone replacement to re-balance these 2 vital thyroid hormones.

The accepted conversion ratio when taking T4 monotherapy - once T4 is up in the top quadrant - is said to be 1 / 3.50 - 4.50 T3/T4 and we generally feel at our best when we come in this little ratio at 4 or under -

so if I divide your T4 by your T3 I'm getting your conversion coming in at 5.74 so very wide from the centre and showing you struggling to convert T4 into T3 - and the logical solution is to drop a little T4 and add in a little T3 to restore metabolism and health and well being.

No thyroid hormone replacement works well until the core strength vitamins and minerals of ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D are up and maintained t optimal levels - and I know now, as I self medicate NDT that I need my ferritin at around 100 - folate 20 - active B12 around 125 ( serum B12 500++ ) and vitamin D at around 125.

A fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on daily basis with trace elements of T1, T2 and calcitonin + a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg + a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg :

T3 is said to be around 4 times more powerful than T4 which is basically a pro- hormone which needs to be converted by your body into T3 which is the active hormone that runs the body - with the thyroid being responsible for full body synchronisation from your physicality through to your mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, your inner central heating system and your metabolism.

[ITHY in reply to pennyannie]

Thank you for this information.

I also have severe osteoporosis and was told T3 is not good for osteoporosis. It is so difficult to find a doctor who wants to prescribe T3 but I got it from Italy. At times it fastened my heartbeat so I am not sure about taking it.

Thank you pennyannie!

[pennyannie in reply to ITHY]

Too low a level of T3 may well cause osteoporosis as your body is not metabolising so unable to repair and restore itself -

just like everything - it is a question of balance -

Too high a level of T3 is just as dangerous as too low a level of T3 -

as it is needed by every cell in your body -

and currently you are robbing Peter to pay Paul : does that even make sense !!

Your T3 is much too low to do all that it is meant to be doing within your body -

and your T4 too high - and that in itself is not a good idea either :

We all need optimal levels of T3 and T4 for our bodies to function well and support us with both energy, a clear brain and full cognitive function with our brains and hearts taking the lions share of the T3 - just to keep us ticking over - let alone have a ' life ' !!