Re: High normal T3 but continuing symptoms esp. breathing problems

[Guest guest]

Hi Jess I am sure others will add to this . Yes your breathing problem can be

due to hypothyroidism { I know this from personal experience and is reversible

when put on the correct dose of meds ] Your TSH is far too high anyway . Sheila

can probably give the reference [bromptom Respiratory lab ? } I have used this

reference . Send it to your GP with a letter plus you need a reference for your

TSH . I am sure somebody can help you on this . At least you are questioning

this which is the first step . Best wishes

[Guest guest]

Jess, as I need to send important information to all members

from time to time, we need your email address so please would you show this by

clicking 'Edit Membership' on the Home Page of this Forum with immediate

effect..

It does take thyroxine approximately 6 weeks to be fully

utilised in the cells, but your dosage may need titrating from time to time.

You need to ask your GP to test your levels of ferritin, vitamin B12, vitamin

D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc because if any of these are low, you

will need to supplement them for the thyroid hormone to be absorbed at cellular

level. When you get these results, please post them here together with the

reference range for each of the tests done and we can help with interpretation,

which many doctors are unable to do properly.

About your breathing problems, please read the following http://www.drlowe.com/jcl/comentry/breathingproblems.htm

I hope this is of some help.

However, before anything else, please alter your membership

details to show your email address.

Luv - Sheila

Hi all, am new here... a bit about me:

I'm a 20 year old female and have recently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism

following years of generally feeling ill and 3 months of constant (literally

24/7) breathlessness and chest tightness (it's difficult to draw a full breath

and hurts when I do get it), which is still ongoing despite beginning

thyroxine. I've been at 75mcg for 5 weeks now. All other causes for shortness

of breath have been excluded. I've just had blood tests done for T3 and T4

which have come back as being in the 'normal' ranges. My TSH is now down to

4.94 (it was 8.49) but I still feel awful (can't walk quickly, dance, laugh,

talk too much, sleep very well as my chest is just so tight) and my GP is

unwilling to do anything else, saying my bloods are normal.

I've read a good article written by Dr Lowe about adding T3 when you have

hypo-induced breathing problems but as my T3 (4.9) is in the high normal range

(I think, as I'm unsure of the reference range) would adding it benefit me? I

just don't know what the issue is.. is my body just not utilising the T3?

Because it doesn't seem like I'm having conversion issues due to it being 4.9.

Maybe dessiccated thyroid would help? I just don't know what route to pursue!

Or do I need to give the thyroxine more of a chance/increase the dose?

Sorry for the essay, am just desperate for any advice as the breathing issues

and others are making my life a misery..

Thanks, Jess

[Guest guest]

Thank you all so much for your responses! Very much appreciated.

Yes I think I do need to give it more time to work, and get my TSH down a lot

more. I've realised I can't expect a quick fix. I was just appalled yesterday

when the on-duty doc rang me re. blood results and said " oh, you're normal, i'd

recommend stopping the thyroxine altogether and have another test in 4 weeks. "

What?! My regular GP listens to me though and is willing to go along with what I

suggest, so that's good.

Will definitely see about getting those vitamin levels checked, thanks for the

list. I do have a history of asthma, by the way, and am on a fair few meds for

it, but as my chest tightness is literally 24/7 and reliever inhaler never works

and I don't wheeze, asthma has been ruled out. Have also had lung function tests

which apparently show my lungs are good, so I think it may be the lung mechanism

that's been affected, or my respiratory centre.

Sorry, have unchecked the box hiding email, hopefully okay now

Kind regards, Jess