selenium or additional T3?

[Kati_Lea]

Hi

My name is Kati.  I am 41 now but was born with my thyroid not working and have been on thyroxine since 23 months old.  I am currently on 300mcgs daily but am not shifting any weight.  The doctor wont prescribe T3/T4 so I bought some off ebay cos I heard it helps produce progesterone (I also have a fibroid I'm trying to shrink).

But then I read that selenium can help convert T4 to T3 so got some of that too,  also got some progesterone cream to try with helping to shrink fibroid,  but I'm not sure how much of my swollen abdomen is due to thyroid not working properly or the fibroid.

I am in UK so my GP wont prescribe armour and I'm worried about the ups and downs I prefer stability of T4, but dont know which to try first the T3 to shift a bit of weight quick then go onto selenium to let body continue to do it itself once i shifted a stone or two?

Last year when had scan for fibroid i was 11st  7 and nurse told me fibroid was about 11cm x 7cm or something.  I have physical disabilities too and am mainly housebound and wheelchair user due to balance and co-ordination problems (developed cerebellar ataxia in my early thirties).  

Now I cant get under 12st despite eating healthily (doing weight watchers) and doing as much physio as I can manage and I look pregnant cos abdomen is swollen but arms and legs are still thin.  Its making it uncomfortable to sit in wheelchair and can only sit for few hours then have to lie down so I'm mainly housebound.

which you think will get a few stone off quickest adding the T3 to it or using the selenium or both?

Thanks

Kati

[stella5349]

"swollen abdomen" = adrenal issues x's thyroid low function.

[stella5349]

Oh my gosh - this post is missing a whole lot of information.

First - progesterone cream is far from a fibroid cure . HAve you really had supporting labs to confirm you are progesterone deficient? All three levels of estrodiol/progesterone and testosterone HAVE to be looked at - compared to your cycles and then ratiod out CORRECTLY for precise treatment plans. Buying an OTC profesterone cream with out knowing these important things can whack the system out more.

Now on that.... thyroid relationships and your "weight" symptoms.... Without you getting your levels and knowing where you are then it all can be guess work. I deal with many UK patients and you can get your labs but it is more difficult. You have to know how to approach them to get them. Also you in the UK need to make it perfectly clear to your doctor that only the FREE tests and the TSH should be done.. Not lump you into a group od references ranges that can keep you at a low function that will cause other things to be happening as I suspect are happening with you.

Another light bulb moment... you say.... "I cant afford to go private as I can't work anymore due to progressive neurological condition I got diagnosed with 8 years ago." -

This again... is another symptom of LOW thyroid function and if the doctors are looking at medicating you neurologically more than thyroid... you won't find any relief there either getting to the root of your issues... which I suspect ARE undermedicated ( not with T4 meds at 300 mcg's!!! - Holy cow!!!) but not converting the T4 correctly and either needing a complete CHANGE of lowing that ENORMOUS amount of T4 DOWN and adding in the real medication you probably need. - Cytomel T3 medication.

If your buying things off the internet and looking at body builder sites understanding T3 then you should save your limited cash flow and get to a doctor that can fix this on-going issue. I have many reputable information links for UK patients to get proper care. Maybe some that wouldn't cost you as much as you think. Taking things into you own hands as I sense this post is - is wrong and you are not looking at ways to help you.

Let me provide you with a bit of information on those weight loss bodybuilder weigh ins regarding their promotion of T3 meds that you bought. Did you know that 30% of them have cardiac failure after taking the medication at their events? They may have lost their weight to compete but lying their after their heart failed them - it all didn't matter much anyway... Now look at your situation with taking 300MCGS of Synthroid - ALREADY overworking your heart most likely. Do you really feel comfortable taking that "advertised" T3 medication you bought now without knowing exactly where your levels are truly at?

Do you also know that many of those buff weight builder that self-induced T3 meds now have ruined their REAL thyroid functions? and they become disabled?

Fibroids don't cause weight. Progesterone and T3 medication won't help you lose weight. Finding out why your immune system is shot and fixing that will help you eventually - WITH getting on the right medication prescribed by your doctor ( the RIGHT) doctor is your best source of health.

Have you had an iodine loading test to see where you are getting these fibroids from. If you are hypothyroid as you are obviously then a senerio of iodine deficiency could REALLY be the issue here and getting on that with proper meds could solve ALL your issues. Now going out and just buying iodine certainly is not what you should do here but as I said - getting the HARD mineral test - finding out those levels and using that with right meds could make this a thing of the past.

Check your adrenals too.

[Kati_Lea]

I'm still waiting for the selenium to turn up but the T3 has.  

Had to stop from progesterone cos it says to stop when monthlies arrive so now waiting for 12th day to restart that.

I'm not really sure if weight is from fibroids or overweight from fat.  My wrists are thin, no fat on them at all and can get thumb and little finger to touch when wrapped around it.

My ankles and feet aren't swollen from water retention either just seems to be the same 5lbs that goes on and off depending on time of month.

I been on different diets and eaten hardly anything but that just seems to have put body in starvation mode and brought metabolism to a stand still.

My friend thinks its more from fibroids as stomach area is only big area,  as she put on weight form under active thyroid but is chubby all over and put weight on her arms,  face,  things,  and stomach.  mine is just swollen lower abdomen?  (and I'm larger chested than she is).

T3 is used by bodybuilders as a guaranteed way to lose alot of weight fast before weigh-ins though they are told to stop after so many days and for some reason to take them with steroids,  I guess thats cos they dont actually have an under active thyroid.  

I figured as there is such a thing as a combined T3/T4 pill then it be safer to take T3 with mine rather than those fat burning tablets to slim.  

In UK we don't given the numbers,  the nurse comes to take my blood then all I get when I phone up is whether it is OK or not.  I have asked for my numbers before and asked them to do T3 and TSH but she told me they only do T4 and thats enough for them to know.  Unfortunately I cant afford to go private as I can't work anymore due to progressive neurological condition I got diagnosed with 8 years ago.

[Barb135]

Selenium is not for weight loss; nor is it guaranteed to increase conversion of T4 to T3.  For that matter, bringing your FT3 up is not even guaranteed to help with weight loss, unless you watch your diet and exercise.

[Barb135]

What are your latest thyroid test results?  TSH, FT3 and FT4?  Please post those with the lab's reference ranges.  

Adding a T3 med if you don't need it could make you go hyper very quickly.  It's never wise to self medicate and buying products such as T3 med off the internet could be disastrous because you don't know for sure what you are getting.