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Why would naturethroid cause FT3 and FT4 to go down?
Hi everyone,
I've been having health issues for quite awhile, which have stumped all the physician's I have seen. My naturopath hypothesized that it may be hypothyroidism (significant diffuse hair loss, weight gain, complete exhaustion, exercise intolerance, constipation, TSH of 3.8). But, when she placed me on Naturethroid, my TSH decreased (which is great), but my FT3 and FT4 plummeted to the bottom of the range. I appreciate any input on why this could have happened.
I've been having health issues for quite awhile, which have stumped all the physician's I have seen. My naturopath hypothesized that it may be hypothyroidism (significant diffuse hair loss, weight gain, complete exhaustion, exercise intolerance, constipation, TSH of 3.8). But, when she placed me on Naturethroid, my TSH decreased (which is great), but my FT3 and FT4 plummeted to the bottom of the range. I appreciate any input on why this could have happened.
I have gone through all my lists of potential doctors. I then looked up info through Google and checked their ratings and patient reviews. Found a couple, but I am sending PM with info on the one that looks like best prospect.
Yes, I'm on long island but have no problem traveling to nyc to see a doctor. Also, because I can't order my own labs in NY, I go to CT a few times a year. It's crazy.
Yes, I'm on long island but have no problem traveling to nyc to see a doctor. Also, because I can't order my own labs in NY, I go to CT a few times a year. It's crazy.
Thank you so much for the thorough response. I don't know why I forgot to mention my issues with nausea, specifically with motion sickness. For the past two years, I get really nauseous when I am a passenger in a vehicle.
Now, I need to find a doctor who is willing to work with me with this--which seems to be impossible in NY. This may be a reach but do you happen to know of any?
Thank you!
Now, I need to find a doctor who is willing to work with me with this--which seems to be impossible in NY. This may be a reach but do you happen to know of any?
Thank you!
When a Reverse T3 test is as high in the range as your in , the ratio of Free T3 to Reverse T3 will be lower than recommended (either 1.8 or 2.0, depending on which source you choose to follow). That low ratio is reported to indicate low tissue thyroid levels, which will cause hypothyroid symptoms.
To correct that condition, you can test/evaluate for possible causes of excess Reverse T3 as follows.
dieting
stress
low iron (including ferritin)
high cortisol
low cortisol
low B12
low selenium
low zinc
low chromium
low B6
low B12
leptin resistance
Should any of those look to be a problem then it can be addressed. If not, then another option is to reduce your T4 med, thus reducing its availability to be converted to Reverse T3, and increase your T3 med. This can most easily be accomplished by switching to separate T4 and T3 meds. I had to do this myself over a year ago.
Getting a Reverse T3 test along with Free T3 and Free T4 would be a good idea. Also good to update the 4 panel saliva cortisol tests. Low cortisol somewhat counteracts thyroid meds, but if that were a significant problem I would expect some related symptoms like nausea.
While doing a lot of searching for the optimal levels of ferritin, I found this.
"I frequent another board where the role of iron in the metabolism of thyroid hormone is discussed. Along with selenium, iodine, L-tyrosine, zinc and other vitamins/minerals/amino acids, iron plays an important role in the conversion of the less inactive T4 form of thyroid hormone to the more bio-active T3 form.
I've seen iron discussed a bit on this board but not so much about ferritin . I thought you might be interested in what I found. Ferritin levels often begin dropping before serum iron levels become critically low or before full-blown anemia becomes apparent.
Many hypothyroid patients find that having good ferritin levels improves their use of thyroid hormone (their own body's or supplemented). The range of 70-90 is quoted as optimal for hypothyroid patients. Someone on another board asked me if I knew of any research she could show her doctor to support this. He wanted her to stop supplementing iron when she raised her ferritin from 17 to 44.
Here's some of the research I found that suggests a minimal ferritin
range of 50-70 and an optimal range for hypothyroid treatment of 70-90. I have read that in Dr. Gillespie's book, "You're Not Crazy, It's Your Hormones", she advises a ferritin level of around 100. I haven't read her book, so I can't confirm the research basis for her recommendation, but the experience of many hypothyroid patient certainly bear her out.
Improving ferritin levels can be beneficial for both reducing or eliminating hair loss & unexplained fatigue. Both of those are also frequently associated with hypothyroidism."
As for Vitamin D, a good level is 55 - 60. B12 needs to be in the upper end of its range.
Not sure about your weight loss/gain. If you had thyroid antibodies, we could say that it was due to the nodules that sometime form and leak hormone faster than normal, resulting in cycles of hyper followed by hypo. There is also something called Silent Thyroiditis, which is characterized by a period of hyperthyroidism followed by hypothyroidism. You can read more about it here.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000388.htm
To correct that condition, you can test/evaluate for possible causes of excess Reverse T3 as follows.
dieting
stress
low iron (including ferritin)
high cortisol
low cortisol
low B12
low selenium
low zinc
low chromium
low B6
low B12
leptin resistance
Should any of those look to be a problem then it can be addressed. If not, then another option is to reduce your T4 med, thus reducing its availability to be converted to Reverse T3, and increase your T3 med. This can most easily be accomplished by switching to separate T4 and T3 meds. I had to do this myself over a year ago.
Getting a Reverse T3 test along with Free T3 and Free T4 would be a good idea. Also good to update the 4 panel saliva cortisol tests. Low cortisol somewhat counteracts thyroid meds, but if that were a significant problem I would expect some related symptoms like nausea.
While doing a lot of searching for the optimal levels of ferritin, I found this.
"I frequent another board where the role of iron in the metabolism of thyroid hormone is discussed. Along with selenium, iodine, L-tyrosine, zinc and other vitamins/minerals/amino acids, iron plays an important role in the conversion of the less inactive T4 form of thyroid hormone to the more bio-active T3 form.
I've seen iron discussed a bit on this board but not so much about ferritin . I thought you might be interested in what I found. Ferritin levels often begin dropping before serum iron levels become critically low or before full-blown anemia becomes apparent.
Many hypothyroid patients find that having good ferritin levels improves their use of thyroid hormone (their own body's or supplemented). The range of 70-90 is quoted as optimal for hypothyroid patients. Someone on another board asked me if I knew of any research she could show her doctor to support this. He wanted her to stop supplementing iron when she raised her ferritin from 17 to 44.
Here's some of the research I found that suggests a minimal ferritin
range of 50-70 and an optimal range for hypothyroid treatment of 70-90. I have read that in Dr. Gillespie's book, "You're Not Crazy, It's Your Hormones", she advises a ferritin level of around 100. I haven't read her book, so I can't confirm the research basis for her recommendation, but the experience of many hypothyroid patient certainly bear her out.
Improving ferritin levels can be beneficial for both reducing or eliminating hair loss & unexplained fatigue. Both of those are also frequently associated with hypothyroidism."
As for Vitamin D, a good level is 55 - 60. B12 needs to be in the upper end of its range.
Not sure about your weight loss/gain. If you had thyroid antibodies, we could say that it was due to the nodules that sometime form and leak hormone faster than normal, resulting in cycles of hyper followed by hypo. There is also something called Silent Thyroiditis, which is characterized by a period of hyperthyroidism followed by hypothyroidism. You can read more about it here.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000388.htm
In 8/2013, I had a saliva test that showed the following:
Morning 5.7ng/mL [7.0-10.0] Low
Midday 4.5 ng/mL [3.0-6.0]
Evening 3.4 ng/mL [2.0-4.0]
Night 3.0 ng/mL [<1.5] High
DHEA 586.8 pg/ml [57.0-615.0]
Also, I had my RT3 tested in 4/2014, after four months of NT, and it was at 12.2ng/dL [9.0-27.0]. I had it tested in 2/2013 as well, and it tested at 24.0ng/dL [9.2-24.1]
One thing that I forgot to mention, which is probably important. Between 1/2012-6/2012, I lost 25 pounds with absolutely no effort. It was really odd because I always had to strictly watch what I ate and had to exercise almost everyday to maintain my weight of 130. I did that for about 5 years. Then, I gave up because I was exhausted so I went up to 145 lbs. I weighed 145 on 1/2012 and lost 25 lbs without any effort by 6/2012. And my hair loss started in 6/2012. When I had my cortisol tested a year later, it showed low cortisol in the morning. My physician hypothesized that the low cortisol could be why I lost so much weight in such a short time. But, since 1/2014, I have gained back the 25 pounds. I should probably get another cortisol test done.
In your opinion, what are the optimal levels of ferritin, b12, and vitamin D?
Morning 5.7ng/mL [7.0-10.0] Low
Midday 4.5 ng/mL [3.0-6.0]
Evening 3.4 ng/mL [2.0-4.0]
Night 3.0 ng/mL [<1.5] High
DHEA 586.8 pg/ml [57.0-615.0]
Also, I had my RT3 tested in 4/2014, after four months of NT, and it was at 12.2ng/dL [9.0-27.0]. I had it tested in 2/2013 as well, and it tested at 24.0ng/dL [9.2-24.1]
One thing that I forgot to mention, which is probably important. Between 1/2012-6/2012, I lost 25 pounds with absolutely no effort. It was really odd because I always had to strictly watch what I ate and had to exercise almost everyday to maintain my weight of 130. I did that for about 5 years. Then, I gave up because I was exhausted so I went up to 145 lbs. I weighed 145 on 1/2012 and lost 25 lbs without any effort by 6/2012. And my hair loss started in 6/2012. When I had my cortisol tested a year later, it showed low cortisol in the morning. My physician hypothesized that the low cortisol could be why I lost so much weight in such a short time. But, since 1/2014, I have gained back the 25 pounds. I should probably get another cortisol test done.
In your opinion, what are the optimal levels of ferritin, b12, and vitamin D?
Your symptoms of "significant diffuse hair loss, weight gain, complete exhaustion, exercise intolerance, constipation", are very typical of hypothyroidism. Even though hair loss can be related to a number of other possible causes, your having those other symptoms makes me think that hypothyroidism is the basic problem.
So, starting on thyroid meds was directionally correct. Unfortunately even though your dose was gradually increased, it never got your Free T3 and Free T4 high enough to relieve symptoms. In addition, at various times your Vitamin D and ferritin have been suboptimal. The last thing is that you should split any T3 med and take half in the morning and half in the early afternoon. Taking the whole dose at once may account for your fast heart rate for a couple of hours afterward.
So I suggest that you consider starting back on the thyroid med, and gradually increasing as necessary to relieve symptoms. Be sue to split the dose. Also, make sure your Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin are at optimal levels.
The only other thing I can think of is that at next panel of tests, request to be tested for Reverse T3, just to be sure of it. Also, I would ask the doctor to check your adrenal function, by a 4 panel test of saliva cortisol, just to check that out.
So, starting on thyroid meds was directionally correct. Unfortunately even though your dose was gradually increased, it never got your Free T3 and Free T4 high enough to relieve symptoms. In addition, at various times your Vitamin D and ferritin have been suboptimal. The last thing is that you should split any T3 med and take half in the morning and half in the early afternoon. Taking the whole dose at once may account for your fast heart rate for a couple of hours afterward.
So I suggest that you consider starting back on the thyroid med, and gradually increasing as necessary to relieve symptoms. Be sue to split the dose. Also, make sure your Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin are at optimal levels.
The only other thing I can think of is that at next panel of tests, request to be tested for Reverse T3, just to be sure of it. Also, I would ask the doctor to check your adrenal function, by a 4 panel test of saliva cortisol, just to check that out.
My symptoms were fairly the same. The one improvement was that my menses was more regular in comparison to prior NY (over 50 days..sometimes months late). Also, while I did feel better on NT, I needed a dose increase every two weeks because I felt absolutely horrible if I didn't increase it. But, every time I did increase it, my heart would feel like it's beating out of my chest for a few hours and then I would feel great. It was truly a love/hate relationship with NT. Throughout the protocol, my weight stayed the same and the level of hair loss stayed the same as well.
Thank you so much gimel for your input on this. It is daunting my physicians because I guess it's not typical of the 22 year olds that typically come to them. I'm 25 now by the way.
Thank you so much gimel for your input on this. It is daunting my physicians because I guess it's not typical of the 22 year olds that typically come to them. I'm 25 now by the way.
At any point between 6/2012 and now, did any of your symptoms get any better, while taking thyroid med and supplements? Or did they stay the same?
It's funny that you mention that because when my problems started (back in 2012), I had an ultrasound which was negative. But, last week, my primary said that he may have felt a very small cyst on my thyroid. He wasn't sure though so he is sending me for an ultrasound.
The reason for the different range is because that labwork was done through my insurance--I obtain private labs usually. I did not list the ranges on my most recent lab because I do not know them. I did them through insurance.. They weren't inputted in my electronic file but I will request a paper copy to see what the labs were.
Regarding the Vitamin D...no I did not supplement when it was high back in 2013. I'm really confused regarding my Vitamin D levels actually because I've read that levels of Vitamin 1,25-D are more important than Vitamin 25-D, the latter which is typically tested. From my understanding, if Vitamin 1, 25-D levels are high, than there is sufficient Vitamin D present (or, VDR dysregulation). I may be wrong..which is probable. I haven't had my Vitamin 1, 25-D levels tested since then...usually it's only Vitamin 25-D which almost always shows up on the lower side of the range.
My hair loss started during the last month of my Accutane regimen. Unfortunately, I do not have any blood tests relating to thyroid, ferritin, Vitamin D, or b12 prior to my hair loss starting.
6/2012: Significant diffuse hair loss began.
8/2012: Blood test through insurance to test cause of hair loss (was not supplementing with anything)
Vitamin B12 849pgmL (200-1100)
Folate 18.0ng/mL (>5.4)
Iron, total 160mcg/dL (40-175)
TIBC 425mcg/dL (250-450)
Transferrin saturation 38% (15-50)
Ferritin 26ng/mL (10-154)
8/2013: A couple of months before starting the Naturethroid (was supplementing with 100mg elemental iron since 8/2012)
TSH 2.870 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 3.2[2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.25 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 44.5 [30.0-100.0]
Ferritin 81 [15-100]
2/2014: After 2 months of Naturethroid (at .5 grain; supplementing with 100mg elemental iron)
TSH 3.180 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 3.2 [2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.25 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
Ferritin 72 [15-100]
4/2014: After 4 months of Naturethroid [at 1.25 grain]
TSH 2.670 [0.270-4.200]
FT3 2.6 [2.6-5.2]
FT4 1.10 [0.93-1.70]
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 54.6 [30-100]
B12 617pg/mL (211-911)
5/2014: After 5 months of Naturethroid (at 1.5 grain, supplementing with b12, stopped with iron therapy a month prior because unsure if I needed it]
TSH 0.742 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 2.9 [2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.07 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
B12 1152 (211-946) High
Iron 82ug/dL (35-155)
TIBC 291ug/dL (250-450)
UIBC 209ug/dL (150-375)
Iron Saturation 28 (15-55)
Ferritin 59 (15-150)
8/2014: 2 months after getting off of Naturethroid
TSH 3.30 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 3.2 [2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.39 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
9/2014: Currently (no supplementation with vitamin B12 or iron since May)
TSH 3.780 uIU/mL
FT3 3.740 pg/mL
FT4 1.52 NG/dL
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 37.5 NG/mL
Ferritin 47 NG/mL
Vitamin B-12 755 pg/mL
Folate,serum 23.8 NG/mL
Iron,serum: 143 ug/dL
Uibc: 227 ug/dL
Iron Binding Capacity,tot: 370 mcg/dL
Also, my MMA was very low so I do not believe that I have a b12 deficiency.
Regarding the Vitamin D...no I did not supplement when it was high back in 2013. I'm really confused regarding my Vitamin D levels actually because I've read that levels of Vitamin 1,25-D are more important than Vitamin 25-D, the latter which is typically tested. From my understanding, if Vitamin 1, 25-D levels are high, than there is sufficient Vitamin D present (or, VDR dysregulation). I may be wrong..which is probable. I haven't had my Vitamin 1, 25-D levels tested since then...usually it's only Vitamin 25-D which almost always shows up on the lower side of the range.
My hair loss started during the last month of my Accutane regimen. Unfortunately, I do not have any blood tests relating to thyroid, ferritin, Vitamin D, or b12 prior to my hair loss starting.
6/2012: Significant diffuse hair loss began.
8/2012: Blood test through insurance to test cause of hair loss (was not supplementing with anything)
Vitamin B12 849pgmL (200-1100)
Folate 18.0ng/mL (>5.4)
Iron, total 160mcg/dL (40-175)
TIBC 425mcg/dL (250-450)
Transferrin saturation 38% (15-50)
Ferritin 26ng/mL (10-154)
8/2013: A couple of months before starting the Naturethroid (was supplementing with 100mg elemental iron since 8/2012)
TSH 2.870 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 3.2[2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.25 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 44.5 [30.0-100.0]
Ferritin 81 [15-100]
2/2014: After 2 months of Naturethroid (at .5 grain; supplementing with 100mg elemental iron)
TSH 3.180 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 3.2 [2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.25 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
Ferritin 72 [15-100]
4/2014: After 4 months of Naturethroid [at 1.25 grain]
TSH 2.670 [0.270-4.200]
FT3 2.6 [2.6-5.2]
FT4 1.10 [0.93-1.70]
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 54.6 [30-100]
B12 617pg/mL (211-911)
5/2014: After 5 months of Naturethroid (at 1.5 grain, supplementing with b12, stopped with iron therapy a month prior because unsure if I needed it]
TSH 0.742 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 2.9 [2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.07 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
B12 1152 (211-946) High
Iron 82ug/dL (35-155)
TIBC 291ug/dL (250-450)
UIBC 209ug/dL (150-375)
Iron Saturation 28 (15-55)
Ferritin 59 (15-150)
8/2014: 2 months after getting off of Naturethroid
TSH 3.30 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 3.2 [2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.39 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
9/2014: Currently (no supplementation with vitamin B12 or iron since May)
TSH 3.780 uIU/mL
FT3 3.740 pg/mL
FT4 1.52 NG/dL
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 37.5 NG/mL
Ferritin 47 NG/mL
Vitamin B-12 755 pg/mL
Folate,serum 23.8 NG/mL
Iron,serum: 143 ug/dL
Uibc: 227 ug/dL
Iron Binding Capacity,tot: 370 mcg/dL
Also, my MMA was very low so I do not believe that I have a b12 deficiency.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Have you had thyroid ultra sound indicating goiter/swollen, inflamed thyroid?
Before going further, please clarify a couple of things. First, you show different ranges for the FT3 and FT4 tests after 4 months of NT. Which made me wonder what is the range for the latest results.
Second, your Vitamin D was unexplainably high back in 2013, but each test since then has been okay, except the latest which is somewhat low. Have you ever supplemented D in the past?
At what point did you start having the hair loss?
Could you please copy and paste the above test results and add to them a rough date when they were done, and then identify on there when you started supplementing ferritin. Also B12.
Second, your Vitamin D was unexplainably high back in 2013, but each test since then has been okay, except the latest which is somewhat low. Have you ever supplemented D in the past?
At what point did you start having the hair loss?
Could you please copy and paste the above test results and add to them a rough date when they were done, and then identify on there when you started supplementing ferritin. Also B12.
Hi Barb135,
No, I don't think so. Whenever I have my antibodies tested, I consistently receive the following values:
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Ab: 7 [0-34]
Antithyroglobulin Ab: <20 [0-40]
No, I don't think so. Whenever I have my antibodies tested, I consistently receive the following values:
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Ab: 7 [0-34]
Antithyroglobulin Ab: <20 [0-40]
A couple of months before starting the Naturethroid,
TSH 2.870 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 3.2[2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.25 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 44.5 [30.0-100.0]
Ferritin 81 [15-100]
After 2 months of Naturethroid (at .5 grain)
TSH 3.180 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 3.2 [2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.25 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
Ferritin 72 [15-100]
After 4 months of Naturethroid [at 1.25 grain]
TSH 2.670 [0.270-4.200]
FT3 2.6 [2.6-5.2]
FT4 1.10 [0.93-1.70]
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 54.6 [30-100]
After 5 months of Naturethroid (at 1.5 grain]
TSH 0.742 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 2.9 [2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.07 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
2 months after getting off of Naturethroid
TSH 3.30 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 3.2 [2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.39 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
Currently
TSH 3.780 uIU/mL
FT3 3.740 pg/mL
FT4 1.52 NG/dL
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 37.5 NG/mL
Ferritin 47 NG/mL
Regarding Vitamin D, I do not supplement because my Vitamin D, 1,25 (oh) 2, total was high [out of range] which I was told means that I am converting well. It was odd because I was not supplementing at all, so my physician was confused about why that level was high. Here were the results back in 8/2013:
Vitamin D, 1, 25 (oh) 2, total 83pg/mL [18-72]
Vitamin D3, 1, 25 (oh) 2 83pg/mL
Vitamin D2, 1, 25 (oh) 2 <8pg/mL
No, I did not split the dose. And no, I did not take the NT before any blood draw.
Thank you so much for your input gimel. I truly am so lost and in despair.
TSH 2.870 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 3.2[2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.25 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 44.5 [30.0-100.0]
Ferritin 81 [15-100]
After 2 months of Naturethroid (at .5 grain)
TSH 3.180 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 3.2 [2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.25 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
Ferritin 72 [15-100]
After 4 months of Naturethroid [at 1.25 grain]
TSH 2.670 [0.270-4.200]
FT3 2.6 [2.6-5.2]
FT4 1.10 [0.93-1.70]
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 54.6 [30-100]
After 5 months of Naturethroid (at 1.5 grain]
TSH 0.742 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 2.9 [2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.07 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
2 months after getting off of Naturethroid
TSH 3.30 [0.450-4.500] uIU/mL
FT3 3.2 [2.0-4.4] pg/nL
FT4 1.39 [0.82-1.77] ng/dL
Currently
TSH 3.780 uIU/mL
FT3 3.740 pg/mL
FT4 1.52 NG/dL
Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy 37.5 NG/mL
Ferritin 47 NG/mL
Regarding Vitamin D, I do not supplement because my Vitamin D, 1,25 (oh) 2, total was high [out of range] which I was told means that I am converting well. It was odd because I was not supplementing at all, so my physician was confused about why that level was high. Here were the results back in 8/2013:
Vitamin D, 1, 25 (oh) 2, total 83pg/mL [18-72]
Vitamin D3, 1, 25 (oh) 2 83pg/mL
Vitamin D2, 1, 25 (oh) 2 <8pg/mL
No, I did not split the dose. And no, I did not take the NT before any blood draw.
Thank you so much for your input gimel. I truly am so lost and in despair.
Definately would be good idea to split dose into half in morning nand half in evening.
T3 which is a big proporation of the nature thyroid peaks in your bloodstream about 2-4 hours after taking it and then fades away. So be taking it in two doses you take the 2nd dose as the first dose is wearing off. This also helps you from feeling Hyper for a couple of hours then Hypo and fatigued by the end of the day when there is little T3 left.
TSH is a screening tool of little value outside of mass screening. When on medication may as well almost discard the test. This is even more true when taking T3 as TSH is commonly suppressed but can be suppressed by even T4 medications alone.
You can almost expect your TSH to be suppressed with taking dessicated thyroid or any T3. As stated above you're getting low in the typical range for TSH but it is not yet suppressed most likely. But as stated TSH is irrelevant and causes no symptoms.
When on medication your symptoms are most important. The blood levels of Free T4 and Free T3 which are your actual thyroid hormones you body uses are important to know. You can then make correlations between effects a dosage change has with both FT4 and FT3 as well as your symptoms. The lab results are secondary and used to help gauge the size of the next dosage change as a yardstick as to how you responded previously.
T3 which is a big proporation of the nature thyroid peaks in your bloodstream about 2-4 hours after taking it and then fades away. So be taking it in two doses you take the 2nd dose as the first dose is wearing off. This also helps you from feeling Hyper for a couple of hours then Hypo and fatigued by the end of the day when there is little T3 left.
TSH is a screening tool of little value outside of mass screening. When on medication may as well almost discard the test. This is even more true when taking T3 as TSH is commonly suppressed but can be suppressed by even T4 medications alone.
You can almost expect your TSH to be suppressed with taking dessicated thyroid or any T3. As stated above you're getting low in the typical range for TSH but it is not yet suppressed most likely. But as stated TSH is irrelevant and causes no symptoms.
When on medication your symptoms are most important. The blood levels of Free T4 and Free T3 which are your actual thyroid hormones you body uses are important to know. You can then make correlations between effects a dosage change has with both FT4 and FT3 as well as your symptoms. The lab results are secondary and used to help gauge the size of the next dosage change as a yardstick as to how you responded previously.
Have you been supplementing Vitamin D? What are you actual B12 and ferritin levels. Ferritin is best at about 80 minimum. What was your latest level?
Sorry about all the questions, just don't want to overlook anything. What were your Free T3, Free T4, ferrritin and TSH levels before starting on the NatureThroid? What were those same test results in your latest several series of tests? When you were taking the NT did you split the dose in half and take in the morning and early afternoon? When taking NT, did you take it before the blood draw for tests?
Yes it is possible, even likely, but there are always other possible contributors. At .7 your TSH was still not in the suppressed condition. If you want to read more about this, here is a good link.
http://www.thyroidscience.com/hypotheses/warmingham.2010/warmingham.7.18.10.pdf
Sorry about all the questions, just don't want to overlook anything. What were your Free T3, Free T4, ferrritin and TSH levels before starting on the NatureThroid? What were those same test results in your latest several series of tests? When you were taking the NT did you split the dose in half and take in the morning and early afternoon? When taking NT, did you take it before the blood draw for tests?
Yes it is possible, even likely, but there are always other possible contributors. At .7 your TSH was still not in the suppressed condition. If you want to read more about this, here is a good link.
http://www.thyroidscience.com/hypotheses/warmingham.2010/warmingham.7.18.10.pdf
Thank you for the thorough response gimel. My Vitamin D is at the high end of the reference range. My b12 and ferritin are optimal now as well due to supplementation (always had difficulty keeping ferritin above 50).
I started on Naturethroid in January at .25 grain and went up to 1.25 grain by May. But, I wound up going off of it in May due to fear caused by my decreased Ft3 and Ft4 (both progressively went from midrange to the low end of the range over the course of 5 months), as well as my low TSH (.7), and because my hair loss did not get better. Also, I felt like my body needed a dose increase every 2 weeks but every time I increased it, my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest.
So it could be possible that my TSH was not low enough for my Ft3 and Ft4 to increase?
I started on Naturethroid in January at .25 grain and went up to 1.25 grain by May. But, I wound up going off of it in May due to fear caused by my decreased Ft3 and Ft4 (both progressively went from midrange to the low end of the range over the course of 5 months), as well as my low TSH (.7), and because my hair loss did not get better. Also, I felt like my body needed a dose increase every 2 weeks but every time I increased it, my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest.
So it could be possible that my TSH was not low enough for my Ft3 and Ft4 to increase?
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A good thyroid doctor will treat a hypo patient clinically by testing and adjusting Free T3 and Free T4 as necessary to relieve symptoms, without being constrained by resultant TSH levels. You can get some good insight into clinical treatment from this letter written by a good thyroid doctor for patients that he sometimes consults with after initial tests and evaluation. The letter is then sent to the participating doctor of the patient to help guide treatment. In the letter, please note the statement, "the ultimate
criterion for dose adjustment must always be the clinical response of the patient."
http://hormonerestoration.com/files/ThyroidPMD.pdf
One thing further is that hypo patients are also frequently too low in the ranges for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin. So, if not tested for those, you should request those tests as well. When you see the doctor next, it would be a good idea to find out if the doctor is going to be willing to treat clinically, as described above. If not, then ultimately you will need a doctor that will do so.