Thyroid function

[Weatherlite]

Not quite TRT but it's related.

I have a question regarding this. First, I know T4 converts to T3. Is there a general conversion rate? I'm asking because my wife has been having numerous problems and one of the things the doc checked was thyroid function.

TSH was "in the range"....it was in the lower 25%. I asked him to check T3, T4 and Free T3/4. Well, he would only check T3 and 4, not the Free. Anyway, T4 came out exactly at the 50% mark. However, T3 came out barely above the bottom of the range. His comment was that as long as the labs are within range she is fine and that the conversion ratio isn't 1:1. Well, I know that the conversion isn't 1:1 but I would think that if T4 was at 50% T3 should be higher than it is.

Does anyone have some better knowledge of this?

 

[HeadDoc]

http://www.ehealthspan.com/download/Thyroid Optimization2.rtf

this might help. Although Dr. Vliet's site should be checked also.

 

[Glaim]

I believe that it varies between individuals. As far as I know, even things like aspirin can effect the conversion.

 

[Weatherlite]

Dr. Vliet's site? Do you have an address?

 

[HeadDoc]

Dr. Vliet's site? Do you have an address?

http://www.herplace.com/

 

[Weatherlite]

Ahhh, ok. Been there. Just thought there may have been another site.

Lots of good info there. Just have to weed through all of it. There's actually almost too much! Going to go to the library to see if they can get any of the books referenced on that site.

 

[SinginHawk]

Thyroid

First of all the doc should take T4 total and free and T3 total and Free. The levels especially of T4 free and T3 free should be "AT LEAST " at the midline. You can get the midline by adding up the low range and high range and devide by 2.

TSH is a standard that a lot of alternative docs don't even use.

 

[SinginHawk]

TRT and Thyroid

I have a question in regard to TRT and Thyroid. I am taking both Testosterone and Thyroid med. Does anyone know if taking Testosterone would cause thyroid meds to be more effective thus making it necessary to CUT the dose of Thyroid med?

 

[Glaim]

I have a question in regard to TRT and Thyroid. I am taking both Testosterone and Thyroid med. Does anyone know if taking Testosterone would cause thyroid meds to be more effective thus making it necessary to CUT the dose of Thyroid med?

From what I've read, thyroid hormone causes an increase in total T but causes it to bind to SHBG resulting in lowered bioavailable T. I don't think testosterone enhances the effects of thyroid, however.

 

[SWALE]

Discussion of thyroid function is TOTALLY appropriate for this Forum.

 

[Weatherlite]

First of all the doc should take T4 total and free and T3 total and Free. The levels especially of T4 free and T3 free should be "AT LEAST " at the midline. You can get the midline by adding up the low range and high range and devide by 2.

TSH is a standard that a lot of alternative docs don't even use.

The problem there is that we know what is optimal but docs don't generally care. They only care when it's outside of the "norms".