RE: Re: feeling very low just been doctors

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Free

T4 is too low. For anybody not taking thyroid hormone replacement, their free

T4 should be just above the middle of the reference range which means that your

level should be around 16/17. Free T3 is OKish, but would be better in the

upper third of the reference range.

What

I would do in your case is not to allow this doctor to sit on her backside and

do nothing. Sadly, there are too many of those.

Write

a letter to her and tell her first, that you are quite unwilling to continue to

suffer the symptoms you are without finding the cause, and be nice to her, and

say that you would like her to help you down this road.

First,

list all of your symptoms and signs. You will find these in our web site www.tpa-uk.org.uk

under 'Hypothyroidism' in the Menu, and then in the drop down Menu. Check your

symptoms and signs against those there. List every one of them in your letter.

Next,

take your basal temperature for 4 or 5 mornings before you get out of bed. If

they are 97.8 degrees F (36.6 degrees C) or less, list these.

Next,

list any of the members of your family who have a thyroid or autoimmune

disease.

Next,

list all of the blood tests that you would like done as well as your previous

thyroid function test results.  Ask that you be tested to see if you have

antibodies to your thyroid. These are TPO and Tg antibodies.

Next,

ask for your levels of specific nutrients to be tested to see if any of these

are low in the range. These are iron, transferrin saturation%, ferritin,

vitamin B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc. Mention in the

letter that if any of these are low in the range, no amount of thyroid hormone

can get properly utilised in the cells (not even your own) until whatever is

low has been supplemented. If she tries to tell you that there is no particular

association between these and low thyroid, then add the following references to

just some of the research/studies done to show of such a connection.

Low iron/ferritin:

Iron deficiency is shown to significantly reduce T4 to T3 conversion, increase

reverse T3 levels, and block the thermogenic (metabolism boosting) properties

of thyroid hormone (1-4). Thus, iron deficiency, as indicated by an iron

saturation below 25 or a ferritin below 70, will result in diminished

intracellular T3 levels. Additionally, T4 should not be considered adequate

thyroid replacement if iron deficiency is present (1-4)).

1.

Dillman E, Gale C, Green W, et al. Hypothermia in iron deficiency due to

altered triiodithyroidine metabolism. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative

Physiology 1980;239(5):377-R381.

2.

SM, PE, Lukaski HC. In vitro hepatic thyroid hormone deiodination

in iron-deficient rats: effect of dietary fat. Life Sci 1993;53(8):603-9.

3.

Zimmermann MB, Köhrle J. The Impact of Iron and Selenium Deficiencies on Iodine

and Thyroid Metabolism: Biochemistry and Relevance to Public Health. Thyroid

2002;12(10): 867-78.

4.

Beard J, tobin B, Green W. Evidence for Thyroid Hormone Deficiency in

Iron-Deficient Anemic Rats. J. Nutr. 1989;119:772-778.

Low

vitamin B12: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18655403

Low

vitamin D3: http://www.eje-online.org/cgi/content/abstract/113/3/329

and http://www.goodhormonehealth.com/VitaminD.pdf

Low

magnesium: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC292768/pdf/jcinvest00264-0105.pdf

Low

folate: http://www.clinchem.org/cgi/content/full/47/9/1738

and http://www.liebertonline.com/doi/abs/10.1089/thy.1999.9.1163

Low

copper http://www.ithyroid.com/copper.htm

http://www.drlwilson.com/articles/copper_toxicity_syndrome.htm

http://www.ithyroid.com/copper.htm

http://www.rjpbcs.com/pdf/2011_2(2)/68.pdf

http://ajplegacy.physiology.org/content/171/3/652.extract

Low

zinc:http://www.istanbul.edu.tr/ffdbiyo/current4/07%20Iham%20AM%C4%B0R.pdf

and http://articles.webraydian.com/article1648-Role_of_Zinc_and_Copper_in_Effective_Thyroid_Function.html

Next,

ask your doctor for a copy of all your blood test results and remember to

always get the reference range and post them on the forum. This is because

doctors will often tell you that there is not a problem because blood tests

have come back within the reference range. You need to know where about in the

reference range they are. We will again, help with their interpretation.

Next,

ask for a trial of levothyroxine and in case of a refusal, ask for a referral

for a second opinion, preferably of an endocrinologist of your choice - you

need one who has an interest in thyroid disorders, and not be seen by a

specialist in diabetes only.

Next,

ask for your letter of requests to be placed inside your medical notes and send

a copy to the Head of Practice if you have one. Always keep a copy of the

letter yourself, as you may need to refer to it at some later date.

Good

luck - and remember, your doctor is there to help you get back your normal

health, and if she is not prepared to do that, then find one who will.

Luv

- Sheila

TSH 0.57 L (0.4 – 4.0)

T4- 96.9 (58-154)

Ft4- 13.6 (10 -22)

ft3- 4.82 (2.8-6.5)

followed by this-

Lower than optimal Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) Level.

i do have alot of symptons otherwise i wouldnt of been so upset by how my

doctors attitude was towards me she wouldnt even listen to my symtpons i feel

so lost my mum and granma both had problems to and it wasnt till my mums was so

bad they had to remove it by operation that did in show up alot on blood tests

she suffered most her life and they told her she was only borderline

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