Re: T3- To Laurel

[Guest guest]

Hi Laurel and Chris-

This peripheral conversion is a problem for those of us that are taking T3.

Since the brain requires more energy than the rest of the body to operate

efficiently, taking T3 exogenously causes a bit of a problem. When

everything is working properly, the brain converts T4 to T3 at a higher rate

than other peripheral tissues because it requires more energy. What I've

noticed is that for my brain to work well, I need to take more T3 which

leaves the rest of me hyperthyroid. While I was trying to get pregnant, I

opted to keep the rest of me just right and took the right amount of T3 for

the rest of me. This leaves my brain sluggish. It's still better than not

taking T3 when I have an inability to convert T4 to T3 efficiently because

that leaves both my brain and body hypothyroid and I'm still getting more T3

to my brain than I would if I didn't take it at all.

Laurel, I'm thinking that if we've been left hypothyroid for a long time, we

might end up with a reduced number of cell receptors for thyroid hormone.

This makes sense to me because it takes extra energy to make cell receptors

that we're not using and, evolutionarily, our bodies tend to conserve energy

whenever they can. This happens with diabetes and insulin receptors and

they don't know enough about thyroid function to say it can't happen with us

too. They haven't looked into it. What this means if it does happen is

that we may have tons of thyroid hormone circulating but it's not being used

at the cellular level. I brought this idea up to my endo and he said they

just don't know enough to say.

After I have these babies, we're going to try to reduce the amount of T3 I

take since it appears that I'm doing fine in the conversion dept right now.

I'm hoping that I don't go back to my old prepregnancy ways (inefficient T4

to T3 conversion) afterwards. If so, then it'll be back to high doses of

T3. And it'll be enough to let my brain work well even if the rest of me

does become a little hyperthyroid. With twins, I can't afford to be

exhausted all the time like I was when I was breastfeeding my son. I was

very lucky because he slept well after 6 weeks. I can't imagine what it

would have been like to be so exhausted and not getting any sleep either.

By the way, thank you everyone for all the nice comments about my picture

and the house. I wanted to respond to everyone that has written but I

didn't want to clog up mailboxes.

Take care,

dx & RAI 1987 (at age 24)

> Hi Laurel -

>

> Those are some good questions, and it sounds like you have an unusual

> problem with the T3 levels. You say that you have a " reasonably high

> T3 and T4. " Is this when you are taking a T3 supplement in addition

> to the thyroxine, or not?

>

> It's interesting that you mention that the T3 is circulating, but

> might not be going where it should. This is something to consider,

> but I'm lost as to how to interpret this. I know that T4 is

> converted to T3 in peripheral tissues (outside the thyroid gland

> itself) mostly in the liver, but also in the brain, pituitary, brown

> adipose tissue (body fat, basically). Maybe some of the conversion

> sites are retaining the T3 and not letting it circulate to where it

> can be used? Or maybe it ends up somewhere that might affect the

> heart more than it should?

>

> I'm really stumped here, but I would venture to say that you might

> need to more closely monitor your FT3 levels (yeah, I know how the

> docs pooh-pooh this, so it's a challenge just getting their

> attention) and try to find the right level for you. A level that

> will give you the benefits of ENOUGH T3, but not so much that it

> affects your heart adversely.

>

> Even though you have had RAI, you still have the conversion sites

> (liver, brain, etc.). Since synthroid, etc. is supposed to be

> identical to the thyroid's thyroxine, it " should " convert to T3 in

> the same manner. However, some people seem to have conversion

> problems anyway. In my case, I seem to be converting too much T4

> into T3. My liver enzymes are all at good levels, so I figure I'm

> getting too much selenium.

>

> Have you had a liver profile lately? Maybe you can find some answers

> there. Just a wild guess.

>

> I've posted a few links and excerpts on selenium and triiodothyronine

> (T3) - maybe you can find something in there that will ring a bell.

>

> I did find one study that showed *low* selenium caused *high* T3--

> just the opposite of all the other studies I've seen...... That

> really set my head to spinning. Anyway, look through these links and

> see if you find something that might help. If not, we'll try some

> more theories.

>

>

> http://www.psycheducation.org/thyroid/studies.htm

>

> Quote:

>

> Translation: The authors tried adding T3 in nine people who were

> already on T4. These patients were all having symptoms of depression,

> and all taking antidepressant treatment. They were on T4 because of

> known thyroid problems, which were identified separately from the

> depression problems. When T3 was added to the T4 they were already

> receiving, seven of the nine patients (78%) clearly became less

> depressed. End Quote.

> ------------------

>

> http://www.whale.to/m/selenium1.html

>

>

> Quote:

>

> Regarding the thyroid, selenium is a component of the enzyme that

> helps convert T4 to T3 peripherally, so deficiencies of selenium may

> impair thyroid function and promote hypothyroidism. According to the

> New England Journal, " selenium deficiency can result in thyroid

> injury and decreased extrathyroidal triiodothyronine production "

> (reduced peripheral T3 production.) Some experts believe that low T3

> levels may be characteristic in areas with insufficient selenium.

> Studies also show that excess intake of selenium may also depress T3

> levels . With some scientists suspecting that there may be a viral

> component or trigger to certain autoimmune conditions such as the

> common thyroid condition known as Hashimoto's Disease, the anti-viral

> properties of selenium also become more interesting, and further

> research into that connection as relates to thyroid disease

> particularly would be illuminating. End Quote.

> ------------------------

> Quote:

>

> Hypothyroidism:

> Selenium is a component of the enzyme that is needed to produce the

> thyroid hormone triiodothyronine (T3). T3 is the preponderant

> metabolic thyroid hormone. The selenium-containing enzyme,

> iodothyronine deiodinase, converts the prohormone thyroxine (T4) into

> T3. [20]

> This explains the observation that selenium deficiency impairs

> thyroid hormone function. Impaired thyroid hormone function is called

> hypothyroidism and affects many body functions. End Quote.

> --------------

>

> Best Wishes,

> Chris