Thyroid help

[thenxtgrt1]

How do these thyroid numbers look:

T3, Free 282 (230-420)
T4, Free 1.1 (0.8-1.8)
TSH 1.42 (0.40-4.50)

I've never looked closely at my thyroid. And just recently began thinking about it. Primary care Dr never mentioned anything about these results, because she's not knowledgeable about hormones.

[hardasnails1973]

not pituitary issue...Could they be higher possible, but how do you feel?
you could suggest a trial of armour if you can find a dr and see how you feel. As strange as it may be I know of people with T levels of 300 who are able to build muscle and bang their wife 2-3 times a day ..It just makes no sense to me how guys on TRT with double the levels are having even the worst time getting it up..

[JanSz]

How do these thyroid numbers look:

T3, Free 282 (230-420)
T4, Free 1.1 (0.8-1.8)
TSH 1.42 (0.40-4.50)

I've never looked closely at my thyroid. And just recently began thinking about it. Primary care Dr never mentioned anything about these results, because she's not knowledgeable about hormones.

T3, Free 282 (230-420)---->27% LOW

I think that you should do good thyroid testing before using Armour.

27 T3 Free
28 T4,Free
29 reverse T3 (rT3)
30 Ultrasensitive TSH
31 Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (7260X)

7 • Iodine Panel - (2503)
8 Selenium
9 Copper, serum
10 Zinc

possibly also:

17 • Iron and Iron Binding Capacity (7573X) - (356N)
18 • Iron, Total (571X) - (24984P)
19 • Ferritin (457X) - (22764P)
20 • Transferrin (891X) - (30346P)
21 • Folate, RBC & Hematocrit - (1768N)
22 • Hemoglobin A1c (496X) - (45484P)
23 • Hemoglobin, Plasma (514X) - (7211P)

[wondering]

simple...many many hormones are in play. T is just one of them... an important one, but just one..as are other things in life.


not pituitary issue...Could they be higher possible, but how do you feel?
you could suggest a trial of armour if you can find a dr and see how you feel. As strange as it may be I know of people with T levels of 300 who are able to build muscle and bang their wife 2-3 times a day ..It just makes no sense to me how guys on TRT with double the levels are having even the worst time getting it up..

[thenxtgrt1]

not pituitary issue...Could they be higher possible, but how do you feel?
you could suggest a trial of armour if you can find a dr and see how you feel. As strange as it may be I know of people with T levels of 300 who are able to build muscle and bang their wife 2-3 times a day ..It just makes no sense to me how guys on TRT with double the levels are having even the worst time getting it up..

I'm definitely not feeling as I should. Libido is way off. Not sleeping as well. Constipation has been a problem. And no real appetite for food. This is just to name a few things. I'm thinking adrenals are playing a part in this too. Can bad adrenals lead to thyroid issues?


T3, Free 282 (230-420)---->27% LOW

I think that you should do good thyroid testing before using Armour.

27 T3 Free
28 T4,Free
29 reverse T3 (rT3)
30 Ultrasensitive TSH
31 Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (7260X)

7 • Iodine Panel - (2503)
8 Selenium
9 Copper, serum
10 Zinc

possibly also:

17 • Iron and Iron Binding Capacity (7573X) - (356N)
18 • Iron, Total (571X) - (24984P)
19 • Ferritin (457X) - (22764P)
20 • Transferrin (891X) - (30346P)
21 • Folate, RBC & Hematocrit - (1768N)
22 • Hemoglobin A1c (496X) - (45484P)
23 • Hemoglobin, Plasma (514X) - (7211P)

I had much of this tested for today at Dr's office. Should know something in a week. I really dislike the idea of going on thyroid meds. Any natural remedies to boost thyroid levels? Does exogenous Test lower thyroid output?

I believe Armour is combo of T3/T4. Could a T3 only therapy work in this situation?

[anyman]

OK, I can already hear people saying "WTF??", but I personally cannot shake the feeling that thyroid problems, while often real, are sometimes an almost trendy thing to claim. Seems that unless a person is at the top of the range then doom is imminent.

I'd really like to separate the truth from the opinion and substance from hype. What is the real deal on thyroid? HAN says it an be an issue. I much respect his opinion, which is why I am considering it. Otherwise, I'd be more skeptical. Seems that on many boards people are convinced even minute variations in thyroid are at fault. I'm just not sure.

[Drew]

not pituitary issue...Could they be higher possible, but how do you feel?
you could suggest a trial of armour if you can find a dr and see how you feel. As strange as it may be I know of people with T levels of 300 who are able to build muscle and bang their wife 2-3 times a day ..It just makes no sense to me how guys on TRT with double the levels are having even the worst time getting it up..

I'm curious to know why you don't think it could be a pituitary issue. His free's are both very low, while also having a low-ish TSH. Going by his free's, he looks hypo, yet his TSH looks ok. Usually that means TSH isn't getting the signal it should from the pituitary.

To the OP, have you had LH, FSH, ACTH, or Prolactin checked?

[thenxtgrt1]

I'm curious to know why you don't think it could be a pituitary issue. His free's are both very low, while also having a low-ish TSH. Going by his free's, he looks hypo, yet his TSH looks ok. Usually that means TSH isn't getting the signal it should from the pituitary.

To the OP, have you had LH, FSH, ACTH, or Prolactin checked?


I was tested about a month ago...LH was 2.1 and FSH was 3.2 (I don't have results in front of me). This yielded a total T of about 680. Didn't check prolactin, and I've never tested ACTH. I probably should have cortisol tested.

[JanSz]

I was tested about a month ago...LH was 2.1 and FSH was 3.2 (I don't have results in front of me). This yielded a total T of about 680. Didn't check prolactin, and I've never tested ACTH. I probably should have cortisol tested.

LH=2.1
FSH=3.2
TT=680

With numbers like these, testosterone is a last thing to thinker with.

[chilln]

How do these thyroid numbers look:

T3, Free 282 (230-420)
T4, Free 1.1 (0.8-1.8)
TSH 1.42 (0.40-4.50)

I've never looked closely at my thyroid. And just recently began thinking about it. Primary care Dr never mentioned anything about these results, because she's not knowledgeable about hormones.


The simplest therapy is iodoral (iodine + iodide). It's over-the-counter. If 1 tab causes gut issues, then switch to half a tab.

Iodine and iodide are critical thyroid hormone production ingredients.

Most food are iodine deficient, so natural diets are invariably too low in iodine and iodide.

[Drew]

Iodine defficiency could very well be your problem. Talk with your doctor about doing a 24 hour urine iodine loading test.

[hardasnails1973]

Before jumping to the iodine theory, I do not see checking antibodies or adrenal issues , ferritin function. If he did the rhiens test or iodine spot/load test it can under cover a hidden iodine defieincy if the practioner knows what he is looking for..

[chilln]

Before jumping to the iodine theory, I do not see checking antibodies or adrenal issues , ferritin function. If he did the rhiens test or iodine spot/load test it can under cover a hidden iodine defieincy if the practioner knows what he is looking for..


test =yes, iodoral = yes. ie: both are likely to be required.

Do you suspect that he cannot do both ?

###

Most likely his diet will be deficient in iodine - from a statistical perspective.

In addition he needs to do these tests.

[thenxtgrt1]

Before jumping to the iodine theory, I do not see checking antibodies or adrenal issues , ferritin function. If he did the rhiens test or iodine spot/load test it can under cover a hidden iodine defieincy if the practioner knows what he is looking for..

How would antibodies play a part in all of this? Spoke to my dr a few days ago about blood work, and she mentioned that I had mono infection. Or that it appeared I recently had it. Apparently because of certain type of elevated antibodies came back on test. This is weird b/c I never was "mono" sick. Very weird???

[thenxtgrt1]

She also didn't run all the tests that I thought she would. Under thyroid panel, she only ran 3 items:

TSH: 1.287 (0.300-4.900)
Free T3: 2.53 (1.71-3.71)
Free T4: 0.90 (0.70-1.48)

It appears TSH is fine. But T3 and T4 are lower than what they should be. Are these levels sufficient? Is it a possibility that infection and elevated antibodies could be contributing to my less than optimal health (i.e. libido, mental clarity, EQ, appetite, etc.)?

[JanSz]

She also didn't run all the tests that I thought she would. Under thyroid panel, she only ran 3 items:

TSH: 1.287 (0.300-4.900)
Free T3: 2.53 (1.71-3.71)
Free T4: 0.90 (0.70-1.48)

It appears TSH is fine. But T3 and T4 are lower than what they should be. Are these levels sufficient? Is it a possibility that infection and elevated antibodies could be contributing to my less than optimal health (i.e. libido, mental clarity, EQ, appetite, etc.)?

Go back to your doctor.
To the tests listed on post #3 add
TotalT3
TotalT4
all done at the same time.
--------------

T3, Free 282 (230-420)---->27% LOW

I think that you should do good thyroid testing before using Armour.

27 T3 Free
28 T4,Free
29 reverse T3 (rT3)
30 Ultrasensitive TSH
31 Thyroid Peroxidase and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (7260X)

7 • Iodine Panel - (2503)
8 Selenium
9 Copper, serum
10 Zinc

possibly also:

17 • Iron and Iron Binding Capacity (7573X) - (356N)
18 • Iron, Total (571X) - (24984P)
19 • Ferritin (457X) - (22764P)
20 • Transferrin (891X) - (30346P)
21 • Folate, RBC & Hematocrit - (1768N)
22 • Hemoglobin A1c (496X) - (45484P)
23 • Hemoglobin, Plasma (514X) - (7211P)

[chilln]

She also didn't run all the tests that I thought she would. Under thyroid panel, she only ran 3 items:

TSH: 1.287 (0.300-4.900)
Free T3: 2.53 (1.71-3.71)
Free T4: 0.90 (0.70-1.48)

It appears TSH is fine. But T3 and T4 are lower than what they should be. Are these levels sufficient? Is it a possibility that infection and elevated antibodies could be contributing to my less than optimal health (i.e. libido, mental clarity, EQ, appetite, etc.)?


Have you followed up re my suggestion to try Iodoral ?

What are you prepared to do to get all your thyroid hormones measured, instead of just this subset ?

[thenxtgrt1]

My doctor led me to believe that she would be testing all thyroid hormones. But apparently there was some confusion or she just didn't do it.

I'm taking a kelp supplement currently to test how add'l iodine makes me feel. I will be ordering iodoral within next week. I don't believe I need any heavy duty thyroid meds like cytomel or armour. But we'll see..

[researchin]

OK, I can already hear people saying "WTF??", but I personally cannot shake the feeling that thyroid problems, while often real, are sometimes an almost trendy thing to claim. Seems that unless a person is at the top of the range then doom is imminent.

I'd really like to separate the truth from the opinion and substance from hype. What is the real deal on thyroid? HAN says it an be an issue. I much respect his opinion, which is why I am considering it. Otherwise, I'd be more skeptical. Seems that on many boards people are convinced even minute variations in thyroid are at fault. I'm just not sure.

to make you more confused my labs were almost identical to this:


How do these thyroid numbers look:

T3, Free 282 (230-420)
T4, Free 1.1 (0.8-1.8)
TSH 1.42 (0.40-4.50)

I've never looked closely at my thyroid. And just recently began thinking about it. Primary care Dr never mentioned anything about these results, because she's not knowledgeable about hormones.



EXCEPT I had a TSH of 50 and was near death.:thumbup::cheers2:

Pituitary signal troubles maybe? When my T4 Free is in the low range, my TSH spikes through the roof.

[researchin]

How would antibodies play a part in all of this? Spoke to my dr a few days ago about blood work, and she mentioned that I had mono infection. Or that it appeared I recently had it. Apparently because of certain type of elevated antibodies came back on test. This is weird b/c I never was "mono" sick. Very weird???

i remember reading addison's and hypothyroidism apparently can be sparked by mono, tuberculosis, or even strep.

Well, that's what some ppl had just before their thyroid failing.

So then, if you take the iodine and you have antibodies, you're going to feel even worse..., it's worth a test.

[thenxtgrt1]

i remember reading addison's and hypothyroidism apparently can be sparked by mono, tuberculosis, or even strep.

Well, that's what some ppl had just before their thyroid failing.

So then, if you take the iodine and you have antibodies, you're going to feel even worse..., it's worth a test.

Not sure what you mean by this statement. If one has antibodies and takes iodine, how does that worsen situation?

What made your TSH so high? Are you on thyroid meds currently?

[Drew]

For many with thyroid antibodies, supplemental iodine can stimulate the thyroid. This then allows your body to make more antibodies to attack your thyroid and make you feel more hypothyroid. I've been through it, and now keep iodine to a minimum.

[JanSz]

For many with thyroid antibodies, supplemental iodine can stimulate the thyroid. This then allows your body to make more antibodies to attack your thyroid and make you feel more hypothyroid. I've been through it, and now keep iodine to a minimum.

Is there a way to deal with antibodies?
.
.

[wondering]

Understand that I am NOT a doctor, but seems depriving your body of Iodine IF it is needed out of worry of aggravating another issue, is just sweeping the dirt under the carpet.

I would think that if you need Iodine, then you should take Iodine. What is good for you, is good for you.

If antibodies are causing problems, then deal with them separately. Are you Hypo? Should you be on Armour ?



For many with thyroid antibodies, supplemental iodine can stimulate the thyroid. This then allows your body to make more antibodies to attack your thyroid and make you feel more hypothyroid. I've been through it, and now keep iodine to a minimum.