advertisement
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-31-2015, 10:53 AM #1
questionmark questionmark is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 16
8 yr Member
questionmark questionmark is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 16
8 yr Member
Default Anybody dealing with low T3 syndrome?

Apparently I have an untreated thyroid issue. My thyroid tests are normal except for Low T3. Anyone dealing with this??? I also have isolated high phosphorous.
questionmark is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote

advertisement
Old 05-31-2015, 11:14 AM #2
mrsD's Avatar
mrsD mrsD is offline
Wisest Elder Ever
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Great Lakes
Posts: 33,508
15 yr Member
mrsD mrsD is offline
Wisest Elder Ever
mrsD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Great Lakes
Posts: 33,508
15 yr Member
Lightbulb

Here is a post I made recently with links about high phosphorus (in response to a question about high phosphorus coming from vitamins):

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post1133636-128.html

Low T3 means you are either not making some from the thyroid, or not converting T4 properly. It needs an endocrinologist to evaluate.
The thyroid makes both some T3 and mostly T4. Under stress T3 should increase, but sometimes it does not.
__________________
All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.-- Galileo Galilei

************************************

.
Weezie looking at petunias 8.25.2017


****************************
These forums are for mutual support and information sharing only. The forums are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.
mrsD is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
questionmark (05-31-2015)
Old 05-31-2015, 01:58 PM #3
caroline2 caroline2 is offline
N/A
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Posts: 3,313
8 yr Member
caroline2 caroline2 is offline
N/A
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Santa Monica, CA
Posts: 3,313
8 yr Member
Default

I struggled for 10 miserable years trying to get HELP from an MD back from 1991 to 2002...his mantra was "you are normal".....I was not and back then knew nothing about thyroid, I was 53 when this all started and I was in depression for 10 long years....

I could write a book, today all these docs go by numbers and we are not numbers...we are symptoms..back before labs existed the docs knew when patients came in with laundry lists of symptoms, they knew to start with Armour as it's been around for 100 yrs or so.

Anyway, my D.O. back in 2002, on the phone called in for Armour and in 4 days the long years of depression lifted....this old D.O. knew, he was from the Dr. Broda Barnes era...he was stilling working PT into his 90's....my D.O. that is. He did no labs, he just knew.

I follow the folks and book Stop The Thyroid Madness and take only desiccated thyroid drug....no synthetics for me, I could write my book. I am fortunate too that I see only integrative MD's....I had a lot of hard lessons with the conventional MD's.. STTM have a blog too. The STTM theories are for best optimal thyroid support, TSH needs to be almost suppressed, and T3 and T4 coming in at the upper end of their ranges. That's where I am about now after with Armour since 2002. And for the most part feel good, except this hip mess, I know an old record, but it's the worst thing I never dreamed I'd end up with.

PS: I see that there is not a thyroid section here.

Last edited by caroline2; 05-31-2015 at 02:21 PM.
caroline2 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
questionmark (05-31-2015)
Old 05-31-2015, 06:48 PM #4
Littlepaw's Avatar
Littlepaw Littlepaw is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,537
8 yr Member
Littlepaw Littlepaw is offline
Senior Member
Littlepaw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,537
8 yr Member
Default

Hi,

Did your doctor want to refer you to endocrinology? There are a lot of different thyroid tests and results for say T3 as opposed to Free T3 can be interpreted different ways. Also just because a GP thinks your other levels are normal doesn't mean an endocrinologist would agree. Lab ranges are usually above what an endo wants to see which is typically a TSH between 1-2.

There is synthetic T3 called cytomel. When added to Synthroid Or other T4 replacement it allows a little more flexibility over Armour where the ratio of T3-T4 is fixed. This can be a good option for some. I have taken it for over 13 years in addition to the standard T4 treatment which left me still exhausted and not myself even with "normal" levels. The addition of a tiny amount made a huge difference in my well-being. It was like flipping a switch and getting the old me back from before my post-baby thyroid crash.

When in doubt consult the specialist! I hope you find answers soon.

Last edited by Littlepaw; 05-31-2015 at 07:05 PM.
Littlepaw is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
questionmark (05-31-2015)
Old 06-02-2015, 09:22 PM #5
questionmark questionmark is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 16
8 yr Member
questionmark questionmark is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 16
8 yr Member
Default Ranges

I have my actual results if anyone knows what this looks like....and has any idea what might cause it


My results are as follows

I believe the last time my TSH was tested it was at 1.8, normal range .3 - 3

free T3 3.6, normal range 4 - 6.8

free T4 14 normal range 12 - 22
questionmark is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 06-03-2015, 12:19 AM #6
mimc mimc is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 40
10 yr Member
mimc mimc is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 40
10 yr Member
Default

I've been dealing with low T3 for about a year now. There's not a whole lot they can do for it. They think it is more of a chronic illness problem than a thyroid problem, at least for me. They just keep monitoring my thyroid levels every 3 months. My endo talked about starting cytomel but said there was only a10% chance I would feel any better. That didn't seem worth going through all the trouble of adjusting the synthroid to get it all balanced.
mimc is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
questionmark (06-03-2015)
Old 06-03-2015, 05:39 AM #7
mrsD's Avatar
mrsD mrsD is offline
Wisest Elder Ever
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Great Lakes
Posts: 33,508
15 yr Member
mrsD mrsD is offline
Wisest Elder Ever
mrsD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Great Lakes
Posts: 33,508
15 yr Member
Lightbulb

While I am not an expert on thyroid.... I do have some suggestions based on your test results.

T4 has 4 iodine molecules on it, and T3 has 3. T4 is mostly made by the thyroid gland and is inactive. T3 is also made in small amounts and will respond to stress/injury/trauma hopefully. If you do not consume iodine in your salt (say you are on a low salt diet) or you do not use iodized salt, or you do not use a multivit with iodine in it, then you should consider using a kelp tablet daily. The average suggested iodine dose is 150-200mcg a day.
Here is a monograph on Iodine:
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/iodine

T4 is distributed to the tissues and converted there to T3 as needed. This is supported by two minerals, zinc and selenium.
So if you are low in either or both, you won't convert well.

Make sure you are taking a good multivitamin.... Centrum Silver will have all 3 nutrients in it.

Another thing to consider is that T3 is the cofactor for conversion and activation of betacarotene (pro-vitamin A). If a person is low in T3, or not converting, or any other hypothyroid reason, then you will not be making real Vit A for your needs.
When a person is an extreme hypo...their skin can turn orange...with the build up of betacarotene. But not everyone does. Centrum has a mixture of Vit A and betacarotene. It has 2500IU combined, with betacarotene listed at 40% of that.

When I was hypo years ago I had the orange skin. It went away slowly as I was corrected with T4.

Today I use 8000IU of Vitamin A acetate , to supplement the A separately because multivits don't have enough. I had a noticeable improvement in dry eyes, and skin after only a month on this. Once I seemed so much better I dropped from one a day to one tablet 3 times a week. I bought my Vit A at Target. It was very inexpensive. One should not increase doses of A....past the RDA. Vit A is toxic in long term high doses (upper limit is 10,000 IU) but it is critical for hypothyroid patients IMO. Just use it carefully.
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-Consumer/

I think getting tested for Hashimoto's is a good idea. But not all hypothyroid issues are autoimmune. The thyroid is also in a partnership with adrenal functions. This is why going to an endocrinologist is a very good idea. This type of doctor can evaluate both adrenal issues and the thyroid issues.

http://www.holtorfmed.com/adrenal-he...id-connection/
__________________
All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.-- Galileo Galilei

************************************

.
Weezie looking at petunias 8.25.2017


****************************
These forums are for mutual support and information sharing only. The forums are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.
mrsD is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
"Thanks for this!" says:
questionmark (06-03-2015)
Old 06-03-2015, 08:41 AM #8
questionmark questionmark is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 16
8 yr Member
questionmark questionmark is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 16
8 yr Member
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsD View Post
While I am not an expert on thyroid.... I do have some suggestions based on your test results.

T4 has 4 iodine molecules on it, and T3 has 3. T4 is mostly made by the thyroid gland and is inactive. T3 is also made in small amounts and will respond to stress/injury/trauma hopefully. If you do not consume iodine in your salt (say you are on a low salt diet) or you do not use iodized salt, or you do not use a multivit with iodine in it, then you should consider using a kelp tablet daily. The average suggested iodine dose is 150-200mcg a day.
Here is a monograph on Iodine:
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/minerals/iodine

T4 is distributed to the tissues and converted there to T3 as needed. This is supported by two minerals, zinc and selenium.
So if you are low in either or both, you won't convert well.

Make sure you are taking a good multivitamin.... Centrum Silver will have all 3 nutrients in it.

Another thing to consider is that T3 is the cofactor for conversion and activation of betacarotene (pro-vitamin A). If a person is low in T3, or not converting, or any other hypothyroid reason, then you will not be making real Vit A for your needs.
When a person is an extreme hypo...their skin can turn orange...with the build up of betacarotene. But not everyone does. Centrum has a mixture of Vit A and betacarotene. It has 2500IU combined, with betacarotene listed at 40% of that.

When I was hypo years ago I had the orange skin. It went away slowly as I was corrected with T4.

Today I use 8000IU of Vitamin A acetate , to supplement the A separately because multivits don't have enough. I had a noticeable improvement in dry eyes, and skin after only a month on this. Once I seemed so much better I dropped from one a day to one tablet 3 times a week. I bought my Vit A at Target. It was very inexpensive. One should not increase doses of A....past the RDA. Vit A is toxic in long term high doses (upper limit is 10,000 IU) but it is critical for hypothyroid patients IMO. Just use it carefully.
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-Consumer/

I think getting tested for Hashimoto's is a good idea. But not all hypothyroid issues are autoimmune. The thyroid is also in a partnership with adrenal functions. This is why going to an endocrinologist is a very good idea. This type of doctor can evaluate both adrenal issues and the thyroid issues.

http://www.holtorfmed.com/adrenal-he...id-connection/
Thanks for the response. I have the orange/yellow skin issue on my hands and feet. This happened many years ago when I had an eating disorder. It has never gone away. I am thinking maybe I did more damage than I thought and even though its been 6 years I have not quite healed yet.
questionmark is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 06-03-2015, 09:18 AM #9
mrsD's Avatar
mrsD mrsD is offline
Wisest Elder Ever
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Great Lakes
Posts: 33,508
15 yr Member
mrsD mrsD is offline
Wisest Elder Ever
mrsD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Great Lakes
Posts: 33,508
15 yr Member
Wink

It took about a whole year for my heels to lose the orange color.

My hands were quicker.

My bloodwork was very borderline, but the endo did check my skin and see the orange. I had a right sided goiter, and a no take up of the radioactive technicium for the testing on the left side.
So the final diagnosis was "atypical" since I had no Hash antibodies. My goiter regressed, and after more than a decade, I started having palpitations from the T4. Even after 1/2 dose lowered from 75mcg ... so I stopped the thyroid. My tests have all been about the same as when I was on it....so whatever was wrong with me seems to be over.

It has all been a great mystery.
__________________
All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.-- Galileo Galilei

************************************

.
Weezie looking at petunias 8.25.2017


****************************
These forums are for mutual support and information sharing only. The forums are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.
mrsD is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Is this Post Concussion Syndrome I'm dealing with? lynny31 Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome 7 11-14-2013 12:28 AM
Dealing with Others blink14 Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome 17 01-21-2012 10:17 PM
Dealing with Post Concussion Syndrome CodyM91 Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome 47 12-18-2011 12:04 AM
Sicca Syndrome/Sjogrens Syndrome darlindeb25 Autoimmune Diseases 4 04-01-2010 06:53 AM


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:47 AM.

Powered by vBulletin • Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

vBulletin Optimisation provided by vB Optimise v2.7.1 (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
 

NeuroTalk Forums

Helping support those with neurological and related conditions.

 

The material on this site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment
provided by a qualified health care provider.


Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.