T3 question …

[JoJoloveschocolate]

just wondering…does taking t3 actually help to improve the conversion of t4 to t3?

[Star13]

As far as I’m aware it does not. I was told by my Consultant I was a poor converter and I was given T 3 to replace the T3 I was unable to make for myself.

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to Star13]

Thank you Star13 . That’s what I thought. I was just looking through all my test results and it set me off thinking.

[SlowDragon Ambassador]

many patients feel better/ become more active/ warmer after adding T3

We frequently see Ft4 levels dropping after adding T3

Many people find they may need to increase dose Levo back up a little

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, SD. Yes, my ft4 level dropped and I had to increase levo again. I just wondered if as well as improving t3 levels directly, if taking the t3 actually improved conversion of t4 to t3 after a while.

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

I think metabolism improves and this improves conversion

And frequently adrenal levels balance too…… out of balance adrenal levels probably reduces conversion

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to SlowDragon]

Ahhhhh…yes!! That makes sense. Thanks, SD. x

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

Maybe the conversion also improves as the vitamins and minerals and ferritin etc improve once on a therapeutic dose of hormone treatment?

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

Yep…..the whole orchestra starts playing the same tune

[tattybogle]

maybe , a bit , sort of , in some circumstances ,,,,

"D1 is a two-faced, multi-purpose enzyme.

It is helpful for metabolic flexibility because it can perform all types of thyroid hormone conversion, both “inactivation” and “activation.” DIO1 is located in or near the cell’s plasma membrane and converts hormones as they enter the D1- expressing cell.

What makes DIO1 epigenetically biased toward the T4-T3 conversion path more than T4-RT3 conversion path? Higher T3 levels in blood. This is because DIO1 is unique in containing two thyroid response elements that are sensitive to T3 hormone. (Maia et al, 2011) " thyroidpatients.ca/2020/06/...

from same article " Our bodies are less effective at activating T4 to T3 when there is less thyroid gland tissue, when T4 is higher in reference, when T3 is lower in reference (this means a low Free T3:T4 ratio), and when TSH is lower"

[tattybogle in reply to tattybogle]

haven't read this one, but worth a look : thyroidpatients.ca/2021/02/...

.

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to tattybogle]

Well…sums it up nicely

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to tattybogle]

Thanks tattybogle

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to tattybogle]

Very, very interesting. Thanks for sharing that tattybogle . It’s complex isn’t it…it beats me how so many doctors think thyroid problems are so simple to treat ..and that treatment is the same for every person…and based on just testing tsh. There is just so much more at play.

[tattybogle in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

yes ....and i really wouldn't mind if a GP said , "look it's very very complicated , we don't understand half of it yet , and our chances of figuring out exactly howto fix you 100%... are slim ... but we'll have a go "

they seem to think we all want reassurance and certainty ( even if it's hogwash)

i just want someone to think about it with , who is capable of discussing it intelligently and honestly ,, including the 'known unknowns'

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to tattybogle]

Yep. 100% agree. They cling on to their little set of beliefs and ranges and hogwash and end up inventing and diagnosing mysterious “other” illnesses from lists of ridiculous, inconclusive tests so they don’t have to deal with the real issue at hand! It’s abominable!

[tattybogle in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

next time some random GP want's to "discuss my thyroid" ......

i'm going straight in with :

"oh good , i'm interested to know your thoughts about what factors might upregulate Deiodinase' , especially in relation to acute exercise, and how that might relate to 'my fatigue' "(as they like to call it)

( oh , sorry , didn't realise you don't know what a deiodinase is doc ... erm , why am i talking to you then , is there someone else here who can at least spell it ? )

[JoJoloveschocolate]

🤣🤣They’ll be like…. “Eh? What’s that you said? The Iron Age…what’s that got to do with thyroid?”

[tattybogle in reply to JoJoloveschocolate]

'The Iron Age' spat me tea out , lol ,

am also quite looking forward to pushing one of them into repeating what my recently retired GP has written in my notes as his parting shot:

" i believe we have now done all we can for her fatigue "

in 22yrs ,they've not done a single iron panel done, not ever .... or a B12 test. ... no , cos they couldn't shed any light on the cause of 'fatigue' could they ,,, oh wait ....

[JoJoloveschocolate in reply to tattybogle]

Wow…I mean…”done all we can for her fatigue”… it’s nuts! I’d love to read my notes back from when they diagnosed CFS…