Re: T3 conversion question

[Guest guest]

Hi

I cant help with the conversion problem but was wondering why you stopped the levo and went on to armour and did your doc prescribe it for you?

Your T4 is VERY high but if thats what suits you then its fine, I have autoimmune hypothyroidism too and take 150mcg of levo, my results are no where near yours though!

Didnt you feel symptoms of hyper on that high dose of levo?

From: catcne <catcne@...>Subject: T3 conversion questionthyroid treatment Date: Saturday, 28 June, 2008, 8:01 PM

Hi,Thanks for the welcome. As promised I have a question.I obviously have a T4 to T3 conversion problem. Before I started to take Armour I got my GP to run a FT3 test along with the TSH and FT4. My results were: FT3 4.7 (range 3.9-6.8)FT4 23.2 (range 12-22)TSH 0.14This was on 225mcg levothyroxine. I've always had to run my FT4 at the upper end of the range and my TSH as low as possible or I can't function. My question is does anyone know why the conversion problem arises? I have autoimmune hypothyroidism so I know my thyroid doesn't do much these days but if the conversion of T4 to T3 takes place in the liver why is that affected too? As far as I'm aware my liver functions are fine. Or was it simply because my adrenals were no longer up to the job of helping the conversion, and that's why I felt better on the steroids?Importantly since I've been taking Armour I

haven't needed steroids.Thanks.

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[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I had a very frank discussion with my doctor regarding my health, and

lack thereof, which was requiring steroids with increasing frequency.

Once an endocrinologist had said there was nothing wrong with me other

than my hypothyroidism I said to my GP I wanted to try T3. I felt, and

he agreed, that T3 was less of a problem if I needed that than to have

to take steroids more often.

My GP was also very frank that he doesn't feel that he can prescribe

T3, he doesn't want to be brought before the GMC basically, however he

wasn't going to discourage me from trying it if I could access some;

which I did via the internet.

He is fully aware that I am now taking Armour and has written it in my

records. He can see the difference that it has made to my health and at

the end of the day wants me to feel healthy.

I have totally cut out levothyroxine now, so I'll see how that goes

with 2.5 grains of Armour... I'm still trying to find my optimal dose.

And yes, my T4 has always been very high, when I started taking

thyroxine almost a decade ago my T4 levels (mid-range) and TSH (high of

normal) were within range but my antibody level was off the scale

(>2500 where the level should be <50) and I could barely function. And

no, I've never experienced symptoms of HYPERthyroidism with it that

high.

Thanks for replying.

>

> Hi

> I cant help with the conversion problem but was wondering why you

stopped the levo and went on to armour and did your doc prescribe it

for you?

> Your T4 is VERY high but if thats what suits you then its fine, I

have autoimmune hypothyroidism too and take 150mcg of levo, my results

are no where near yours though!

> Didnt you feel symptoms of hyper on that high dose of levo?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

I wonder why he feels that T3 would bring him to the attention of the GMC

as T3 is on the NHS list of prescribable meds unlike Armour. My GP

prescribes T3 with no problem- except she won't give me enough, so Dr. S

picks up the deficit.

Subject: Re: T3 conversion question

Hi ,

I had a very frank discussion with my doctor regarding my health, and

lack thereof, which was requiring steroids with increasing frequency.

Once an endocrinologist had said there was nothing wrong with me other

than my hypothyroidism I said to my GP I wanted to try T3. I felt, and

he agreed, that T3 was less of a problem if I needed that than to have

to take steroids more often.

My GP was also very frank that he doesn't feel that he can prescribe

T3, he doesn't want to be brought before the GMC basically, however he

wasn't going to discourage me from trying it if I could access some;

which I did via the internet.

Thanks for replying.

------------------------------------

Messages are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always

consult with a suitably qualified practitioner before changing

medication.

[Guest guest]

Hi,

He didn't want to prescribe T3 without an endocrinologist telling him

to do so. The endocrinologist I saw basically said they ONLY

prescribe T3 to patients that have (in his words) a rare inability to

convert T4 to T3. I don't believe the endocrinologist even tested my

T3 level. He was of the opinion that T4 is more than adequate for the

rest of us. Never mind if we feel better with it or not.

Needless to say I won't be seeing him again.

Interestingly I have been taking Armour since January and I haven't

needed any steroids in that time... coincidence? I also feel better.

Thanks for replying.

>

> Hi

> I wonder why he feels that T3 would bring him to the attention of

the GMC

> as T3 is on the NHS list of prescribable meds unlike Armour. My GP

> prescribes T3 with no problem- except she won't give me enough, so

Dr. S

> picks up the deficit.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I think that this is because many doctors believe they should not prescribe T3 because it is dangerous - and therefore, put the responsibility onto an endocrinologist to recommend it and give the stated doses. Again, this is because many doctors have not even bothered to learn exactly what T3 does and how it is the most important thyroid hormone in the body. If you do not have enough T3 and it is not supplemented with synthetic or natural T3 that is in Armour - quite simply, you will die. This is quite appalling. However, the sad part of all this is that your GP actually DOES know of the importance, but is too frightened to prescribe it - and that can ONLY be because he believes those anti-T3 doctors will report him to the GMC for daring to gop outside the recommended BTA guidelines. EVen though these doctors are not actually reported for doiong this - they find other reasons (perhaps that they are not running theyr surgery as they should) and try to get them that way.

Luv - Sheila

HiI wonder why he feels that T3 would bring him to the attention of the GMCas T3 is on the NHS list of prescribable meds unlike Armour. My GPprescribes T3 with no problem- except she won't give me enough, so Dr. Spicks up the deficit.

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