Comments on: Thyroid Hormones (T3, T4): Roles, Functions, High/Low Levels

By: Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke — Sun, 04 Apr 2021 23:47:35 +0000

I am an old man with severe Hashimoto’s. A radio-Active take-up test showed that my Thyroid is totally dysfunctional.
This article revealed factors that my Dr’s do not know!
Thank you so much.

By: Meera

Meera — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 16:38:01 +0000

Really informative article. I was not aware that autoimmune disorder can occur in the thyroid gland too. I remember that when I had taken a hormone test, hypothyroidism was detected – dry skin and weight gain were some conditions I faced.

By: Margo M. Ozanne

Margo M. Ozanne — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 20:19:51 +0000

Thank you for the informative article on T3 and T4 thyroid hormones. May I ask what foods are beneficial in support of a healthy thyroid hormonal level? What foods should be avoided? I appreciate your time and consideration.

By: Jeffrey Florentino

Jeffrey Florentino — Mon, 06 May 2019 02:02:20 +0000

In reply to Tony Mainella.

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By: Tony Mainella

Tony Mainella — Sun, 05 May 2019 06:58:27 +0000

I was diagnosed with Graves Disease in 1996. I was treated with 2 doses of radioactive iodine. What is the optimal treatment plan for my situation? I currently take levothyroxine. I regret taking such a radical treatment plan initially, but i didn’t know any better.

By: irene coer

irene coer — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 16:46:41 +0000

how often should these test be taken?

By: Dylan

Dylan — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 15:52:28 +0000

Sometimes people have high RT3, and still cannot tolerate t3 by itself.

If cortisol is within acceptable ranges as is iron, and free t4 isn’t above range, (and inflammation isn’t too high: ESR/CRP/Ferritin), then paradoxically the person needs pure t4, and once they work there way up enough, possibly an additional 1-2 mcg of t3.

This is for people wit HPA-axis dysfunction, that can’t seem to tolerate thyroid hormone. You still need it, but what you take, and how much is the tricky part.

Let me know if this sounds like you.

By: Johanna David

Johanna David — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 08:23:31 +0000

I have a question what if the person is already removed her thyroid hormones what will happen to her?

By: Thud

Thud — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 18:32:50 +0000

A friend has thyroid problems; In 15 years no Doctor has been able to properly adjust the medication properly ! She has had less side effects with Armour thyroid medicine . Here skin is softer and the rash is clearing.

By: Amber Wiest

Amber Wiest — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 06:19:30 +0000

Very well written and educational. Great job and thank you for the information!

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 20:44:45 +0000

I’m appears that high TSH with low T4 free, but high T3 free if known as “pooling” of T3, according to the STTM website. It always that the real cause is low serum iron (which i already know i had super low ferritin, but moderate serum) and/or needed up cortisol levels.

To be with honest, i don’t think doctors know what to do besides give you through hormones. It’s pretty rare for someone to find an endo that’s willing to check ALL your vitamin and mineral levels to see what your real problem is, before supplementing with through hormones. I heard levothyroxine and/or synthroid is the most prescribed drug in America. Lame af.

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 01:29:23 +0000

Hi. I think it is better to be with dairy-free diet.
If your Tsh is less than 10 It is better for you to be without any medicines. Wish you good health

By: Allison Boyle

Allison Boyle — Sat, 03 Mar 2018 06:29:52 +0000

Hi there. I was just reading through comments and seen yours and wondered if it wasn’t too much trouble if you knew what to supplement with for low cortisol.?
Had cortisol and thy panel done and cortisol is practically dead.
Any help if you have spare time would be much appreciated.
Allison

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 08:52:48 +0000

Wondering if anyone knows why my TSH is elevated, always 8 or 9 something…. likely due to my free T4 being on the low end of the acceptable range (0.8 ng/DL), however my free T3 looks great at around 3.9 pg/mL.

My reverse T3 is also very low, so should I even bother taking synthetic T4 just to bring the TSH down? … or is the TSH not really that important. Most doctors I’ve seen will ONLY test TSH and free T4… not even considering the free T3 and reverse T3 (which I had to order myself from private labs). My last endo finally tested me for antibodies, which showed TPO ab’s in the mid-300’s…. but after cutting out gluten, my numbers dropped down to the 180’s. My TSH, free T4, & free T3 all stayed in the range I mentioned above. Should I just ignore the TSH and watch my free T4 and free T3? Or should I try to get the free T4 up as well? So confusing….

By: Olti

Olti — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 21:37:17 +0000

Hello.
I am sorry to hear people not getting better after treatment. It seems like you are having worse hypothyroidism symptoms and the cause is likely the treatment. Usually it is given T4 that in some people may make them worse. I suggest you to read the “CT3M handbook” and discuss it with your doctor. It suggests a treatment with pure T3. Good luck.

By: cynthia l laskowski

cynthia l laskowski — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 21:44:06 +0000

I have had hashimtos for 30+ years & have not used thyroid medication for the last 10 years- The meds caused increased severe inflammatory body pain & reduced energy so I stopped. I didnt neglect my disease & monitored my levels yearly & took supplemental tyrosine & glandulars keeping all TSH t3 free t3 t4 in norm range unfortunately both antibodies never budged & were always near the 1000 mark. About 2 years ago, I started getting rapid heart rate activity & gained 30 lbs in a months time. all markers still in the norm range, except I was told I am going through menopause & was sent to a cardiologist to monitor heart. Heart is in great shape & my symptoms of rapid heart rate are more often now in addition to the scary episodes of not being able to catch my breath. My sensitivity to food has increased where if I eat fast release foods like bread or rice, seems to set off the symptoms, so I am afraid to eat now. After reading, I notice that TSH rises at night- which is when my increased heart rate symptoms start. After my last severe episode of 100 beats per minute from 11pm til 6 am I went to the Emergency room thinking I was having a heart attack. My Tsh was at 10 during this episode. I had a CT scan & they have found nodules on my thyroid (which I have to have ultra sound on now) I guess my reason for writing my experience, is that all the doctors I have seen (for which I owe thousands of dollars to now) I still have no direction & explanation to my extremely debilitating episodes. If I were to make my own assumptions, seems I am hopping from Hypo to Hyper thyroidism & am desperate for some help. Has anyone else experienced these type of symptoms? thanks!

By: Helen

Helen — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 21:21:14 +0000

In reply to Carla. Hi Carla, sorry for the confusion! We've fixed the sentence now. It should say "Physical fatigue was associated with lower T3"

By: Carla

Carla — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 14:54:20 +0000

Huh? :The last sentence makes zero sense to me: “Thyroid dysfunction is likely the reason behind fatigue (R). General fatigue and fatigue due to strain is associated with lower free T4. Physical fatigue was assoicated with physical fatigue (R).”

By: Helen

Helen — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 17:24:50 +0000

In reply to Poornachandra Sridhar.

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By: Poornachandra Sridhar

Poornachandra Sridhar — Tue, 09 Jan 2018 07:57:10 +0000

Hello I want to send my Thyroid blood reports which I have got done over period of time for your help in letting me know the healthiness of myself. I am not taking any allopathy treatment but taking Indian Ayurveda treatment for the same. How to attach the Excel data file please. I am from Bengaluru, India

By: Evguenia Alechine

Evguenia Alechine — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 02:31:49 +0000

In reply to Therese Souza. Hi Therese, Thank you for your comment. We apologize for the mistake. It's already fixed now!

By: Therese Souza

Therese Souza — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 17:03:57 +0000

You state this in your article. “A higher total T4 count coincided with higher speeds between thinking about an action and ability to perform that action in people without Ehlers- Danlos Syndrome (a condition that lowers joint capacity).” I checked the reference and the EDS in the reference is “elevated depressive symptoms (EDS)”.

By: Monique

Monique — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 06:36:19 +0000

Ask for a thyroid ultrasound. Tell the ultrasound tech the doctor is looking for cysts, scarring and size. Thyroid should be 2.5 centimeters on each side. Anything larger shows the thyroid is being stimulated too much by TSH, because it is not functioning well enough. Scars can happen from too much stimulation overtime because of the thyroid not functioning well enough. Same thing for cysts. Possible Hashimoto’s? Ask the doctor for a nuclear thyroid uptake scan. This will show if there are any active cells in the thyroid. Hashimoto’s can kill off your thyroid and result in very few active cells. TSH will still be normal with Hashimoto’s. Have all of your antibodies checked for Hashimoto’s. My thyroid doctor told me that the thyroid levels from blood tests show the thyroid hormone that is floating around in your blood. This doesn’t mean your body is using the thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone can be floating around and your blood and not getting used by your body. There is no way of testing how much of the thyroid hormone is being used by your blood. That is why he goes off symptoms as well. You can have normal thyroid levels and your body not taking in the thyroid hormone and using it for energy for the cells. This is usually when a person has cellular resistants and needs T3 medication, Cytomel. The thyroid gland produces T4 hormone. It is for molecules of thyroid hormone. The body breaks one of these molecules off and it is only the T3 hormone that can enter cells . Only use name brand medication. They are coated so that they pass into the duodenum where they cross over into your blood. The generics are not coated with the enteric coating and they start dissolving in your throat as soon as you swallow them. The medication needs to crossover in the duodenum, past the stomach to be able to cross over into your blood system. If you do need T3 medication because your body is not breaking down the T4 hormone into a T3, then you will also have insulin resistance. Look up the symptoms for insulin resistance. Insulin resistance also makes it almost impossible to lose weight. Do you get shaky and crabby if you need to eat? Extremely sleepy right after eating? Need something sweet after you eat? Fatigue after working out? Cannot regenerate energy as quick as normal people? Wake up with achy restless legs? My doctor says he will start people on Metformin when their A1C is in the fives. An A1C of 6 or higher is diabetic. When someone has cellular resistance and insulin resistance symptoms, he will start them on 500 mg of metformin each day to get the body to recognize the insulin and start using it. Metformin will make your cells recognize the insulin and start using it so you will have more energy. It also will make your liver stop producing glucose constantly, sugar, to bind to all of the extra insulin floating around in your blood. The extra insulin that is in your blood is what causes the achy legs and tired after eating. He said metformin only lasts 4 to 6 hours so he eventually gets the patient up to the metformin three times a day. Start with getting the ultrasound and the thyroid uptake scan. Search on the internet for good thyroid doctors near you. So many thyroid doctors don’t believe in cellular resistance and the need for T3. Just keep going to doctors until you find one. Even paying $300 for the first visit is worth a lifetime of good health. Being hypothyroid and fat sucks and restrict lifestyle. Believe me, I know.

By: Rachael Shayna Nelson

Rachael Shayna Nelson — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 13:43:47 +0000

Make sure they look at a problem in your Thyroid too