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Thyroid Levothyroxine T4 conversion
Hello,
Can anyone tell me how you can see if you are really converting T4 to T3?
I am using levothyroxine but have severe hairloss, muscle ches, I can almot not function anymore - I started levthyroxine 50 mcg 1 month ago due to slightly elevated TSH 5.
Can anyone tell me how you can see if you are really converting T4 to T3?
I am using levothyroxine but have severe hairloss, muscle ches, I can almot not function anymore - I started levthyroxine 50 mcg 1 month ago due to slightly elevated TSH 5.
You can see your FT4 fluctuating with the amount of levo you were taking before the blood draw.
In all cases, you can also see FT3 fluctuating in parallel to FT4. FT3, as a percentage of range, is quite low, indicating that conversion might not be completely up to par. At the highest (second set of labs after 100 mcg), FT4 is at 79% with FT3 at 32%.
However, given your age and other health considerations, I'm kind of wondering if your lower FT3 (compared to FT4) might not be more "normal" for you due to aging. Your FT3 level is responding to your FT4 level. What we often see in slow converters is an FT3 level that stubbornly refuses to move no matter what the FT4 level.
In all cases, you can also see FT3 fluctuating in parallel to FT4. FT3, as a percentage of range, is quite low, indicating that conversion might not be completely up to par. At the highest (second set of labs after 100 mcg), FT4 is at 79% with FT3 at 32%.
However, given your age and other health considerations, I'm kind of wondering if your lower FT3 (compared to FT4) might not be more "normal" for you due to aging. Your FT3 level is responding to your FT4 level. What we often see in slow converters is an FT3 level that stubbornly refuses to move no matter what the FT4 level.
Thank you very much - Ive been on 50 mcg Generic levothyroxine for 5 weeks, My TSH changed from 4.5 to 1.2 in this time.
But I feel awful, crazy hair loss and extreme muscle / joint ache in my legs.
This is why she has now reduced my dosage to 25 mcg and also has prescribed a brand name....ps I hate Thyroid disorders.
But I feel awful, crazy hair loss and extreme muscle / joint ache in my legs.
This is why she has now reduced my dosage to 25 mcg and also has prescribed a brand name....ps I hate Thyroid disorders.
I've asked docs two years in Guatemala about conversion. Now you give me a pointer. Please see these results taken at six week intervals this year.
fT3 2.29 (range 2.02-4.43) fT4 1.32 (range 0.8-1.9) TSH 3.03 (0.49-4.67)
" 2.79 " " 1.67 " 0.73 "
" 2.35 " 1.19 " 4.55 "
The tests were made respectively after one month .75 Levo, six weeks 100, six weeks .25.
This was my own experiment to see if Levo causes my night sweats. (I dont think so)
please say how the conversion looks.
fT3 2.29 (range 2.02-4.43) fT4 1.32 (range 0.8-1.9) TSH 3.03 (0.49-4.67)
" 2.79 " " 1.67 " 0.73 "
" 2.35 " 1.19 " 4.55 "
The tests were made respectively after one month .75 Levo, six weeks 100, six weeks .25.
This was my own experiment to see if Levo causes my night sweats. (I dont think so)
please say how the conversion looks.
The first thing you have to do is make sure your doctor tests FT3, FT4 and TSH every time you have labs.
If you started levo a month ago, you should be re-testing in the next week to see if your levo dose needs adjusting.
Since you are just starting out on levo, my advice to you would be to start out by getting your FT4 to approximately midrange. Keep in mind that I have found FT3 to lag behind a little (conversion has to ramp up once FT4 levels are adequate). Once your FT4 is adequate, you can start comparing FT3 to FT4. You have to do this as a percentage of range, not raw numbers (we can help if you post your results with ranges). Labs also often improve before symptoms completely go away (our bodies need time to heal).
This is a process, especially at the beginning. When are you due for labs?
Do you know if you have Hashi's?
If you started levo a month ago, you should be re-testing in the next week to see if your levo dose needs adjusting.
Since you are just starting out on levo, my advice to you would be to start out by getting your FT4 to approximately midrange. Keep in mind that I have found FT3 to lag behind a little (conversion has to ramp up once FT4 levels are adequate). Once your FT4 is adequate, you can start comparing FT3 to FT4. You have to do this as a percentage of range, not raw numbers (we can help if you post your results with ranges). Labs also often improve before symptoms completely go away (our bodies need time to heal).
This is a process, especially at the beginning. When are you due for labs?
Do you know if you have Hashi's?
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Getting levels adjusted takes time, so since you've only been on the med since April 1, you might want to give it another few weeks.