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General health

Thyroid issues T3

6 replies

BigSexyCrimeUnit · 05/08/2019 21:54

I have issues with my thyroid due to a benign tumour on my pituitary, there is also a tendency to hypothyroid in my family. My TSH falls within the 'borderline' range but I was symptomatic for hypothyroid and my endocrinologist was not happy with my T4 levels so has put me on thyroxine until she felt my T4 cells were at more reasonable levels.

The only thing is that I still feel very tired and my metabolism is shot to bits, I've had to cut my calorie intake by a quarter and I still think I'm putting on weight despite the drastic cut. I sent off to check my T3 cells via a private testing company just out of interest to see if there was an issue with the conversion of T4 to T3 but they've come back at the low end of 'normal' - normal is 3.1 to 6.8 and I am at 3.5. Does anyone else have any insight as I just have no idea what to do now?

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NaToth · 06/08/2019 14:08

With secondary hypothyroidism, you should NOT be dosed by TSH as the nature of the condition is that the pituitary will never release enough TSH to stimulate the thyroid.

If you are also not converting T4 to T3, you will need additional T3. You should, according to the guidelines, also be under a consultant.

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BigSexyCrimeUnit · 06/08/2019 18:03

Thanks for your reply. I am under an endocrinologist. I'm not really sure what you mean by saying I shouldn't be dosed with TSH - do you mean levothyroxine? The levothyroxine has increased my Free T4 cells so I think it is doing the right thing TBH althought I think I could do with the levels being a bit higher as I am still symptomatic. I wasn't sure if the T3 levels were high enough at 3.5 and that was what I was asking about really in case that was why I was symptomatic.

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PrincessSarene · 06/08/2019 18:07

How long have you been taking the levothyroxine for? I was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism and it took me at least two months of taking the medication to feel really back to “normal” in terms of energy levels etc. and that was despite the blood tests showing my levels were back within normal range at 4 weeks.

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NaToth · 06/08/2019 18:39

Should not be dosed BY TSH, because it will always be artificially low because of the state of your pituitary function. FT3 needs to be above the middle of the reference range, so yours is too low, which will explain your symptoms.

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BigSexyCrimeUnit · 06/08/2019 19:28

@PrincessSarene thanks for that, that's interesting, but I've been taking Levothyroxine for a couple of years now.

@NaToth, thank you very much, that's very helpful.

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PrincessSarene · 06/08/2019 20:33

Ah well, it definitely should be working by now then!! Hope you get some answers soon x

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