[quote]PureChance wrote:
unfortunately for some people (or most depending on who you ask), simply taking more T4 does not lead to any improvements. There is a link to a youtube video on the STTM site. The video itself is bizarre, but the information it provides is pretty spot on (and kind of shows the typical patient doctor conversation).
If your body has excess T4 and can not convert it to T3 because of whatever reason (lack of ferritin, lack of cortisol, lack of D1?, D2?, D3? enyzmes or something like that) then your body will convert the T4 to Reverse T3. Reverse T3 simply block your T3 receptors stopping whatever Free T3 you have from actually working.
Reverse T3 is then converted/removed by the body but it uses the same enzyme that convert T4 to T3, and getting ride of Reverse T3 takes priority, so the more RT3 you have, the less T4 to T3 conversion takes place, which leaves excess T4 which is then dumped off into more RT3. You have to break to cycle by taking T3 only for a period of time to give your body a chance to get out of that cycle (plus balance all of your other systems).
you might want to check out thyroid-rt3.com
they have some great information there.
I personally had high RT3 when I was taking Armour,and had to go on T3 only for time (still on it - looking to wean off in the near future). Taking Hydrocortisone and T3 only I was able to get my RT3 levels from 40 down to 12.
best of luck with whatever direction you decide to go. I know it is a hard road to travel.[/quote]
I see what you are saying about RT3. I am going to see if I can get that tested on my next labs. And I am going to discuss the desicated hormone instead. I am hoping my RT3 levels have not gotten out of control yet. Damn Human bodies are so complicated.
Do you think there is anyway to correct the conversion to T3 (or at least optimize)? It seems like there are too many variables to me.
Also I have been trying to find the why there is a connection between reactive hypoglycemia and hypothyroidism but I cannot find any sites that really discuss the mechanisms. They only say that there is a connection. Do you have any thoughts on why? The cortisol and adrenal fatigue maybe?
good ferritin levels help T3
good iodine levels can help T3
good cortisol levels can help T3
eliminating RT3 can help T3
good selenium levels can help T3
all per the STTM site I believe
yes, insulin, thyroid, cortisol, hormone, CHOL, Vitamin D3, etc. all are connected. there is wayyyy tooo much information out there about all of the possible rabbit holes. a simple google search of insulin thyroid connection pulls up a number of sites.
Yeah I have looking through them trying to explain my rouge glucose level considering my fasting glucose is perfect. Even though it was a good meal. Complex carbs. Lots of protein. No sugar. Lots of fiber and green veggies. Also confused on why I didnt have symptoms. Oh well more research and hopefully fixing the hypothyroidism will help. Thank you for all of your help and input PureChance.
Of course. I can’t guarantee it will be fast. I have a couple of big projects to do. Large lab report and then a presentation so I need to get those done so research will have to take a back seat for a bit.
So this is my thought please anybody add thoughts.
Adrenal fatigue normal comes with hypothyroidism and this normally entails lower cortisol levels especially in the morning. Most likely that should influence blood sugar levels (probably low) since cortisol is necessary to maintain blood sugar levels during fasting. Yesterday I had a fasting glucose test done at 830am. I had done a heavy leg training session starting at 630 and that went until 745.
This should make it hard for my blood sugar to be normal if I have adrenal fatigue (less cortisol to raise blood sugar without having ingested any carbohydrates). But my test came back right in the middle of normal range. Would this mean that I do not have adrenal fatigue? I’m sure it is more complicated but this is just a thought I had.
Well an update. I met with my doctor today and it did not go well. I was really hoping he was not going to be a doctor that went only by the labs, but it turns out he is. Even though I still have symptoms and do not feel right he says my labs are normal and he cannot help me further. I asked what he thought we should do to make me feel better if he did not want to change anything in my treatment and he did not have an answer.
I will be returning home from college in 3weeks. I am going to continue reading the finding a doctor sticky but I thought I would throw this out there now.
Does anyone know of a good doctor for thyroid and testosterone therapy preferably in the minneapolis, rochester, eau claire area? Those would be the best but I would be willing to go anywhere in MN or WI if I had to go get a good doctor. Thank you anyone for your help as always. I will post more specific questions as I read more.
Edit: So rereading the sticky, and also a couple of other posts the best way to find a doctor is through a compounding pharmacy and asking for a doctor that is good with TRT and Thyroid? If they suggest an endo or urologist should I go with it? Or look for a DO or a GP?
Basically what you are wanting to ask the pharmacy is a referral to doctors who have written scripts through them for the stuff that you are looking for (T+AI+HCG combo and specific thyroid meds)…Since you are younger, inquire about that as well because some docs will treat older patients but not older ones…
Obviously also asking if the doctor is good or not is a good question…
How far are you from Michigan? Dr. Crisler is pretty much the father of modern TRT and he resides there…may be worth the trip…he also does his follow ups as a phonecon as long as you see him in person once a year…
[quote]VTBalla34 wrote:
Basically what you are wanting to ask the pharmacy is a referral to doctors who have written scripts through them for the stuff that you are looking for (T+AI+HCG combo and specific thyroid meds)…Since you are younger, inquire about that as well because some docs will treat older patients but not older ones…
Obviously also asking if the doctor is good or not is a good question…
How far are you from Michigan? Dr. Crisler is pretty much the father of modern TRT and he resides there…may be worth the trip…he also does his follow ups as a phonecon as long as you see him in person once a year…[/quote]
Is that who you see. I would be willing to make the trip to MI once a year. Its not the closest but its doable for once a year and to have a very good doc, since I swear everyone on here has problems with their docs accept for a couple of the more prominent members.
I know I read your doc does the phonecon is yours Dr. Crisler? Where in MI does he practice?
Thank you for this info this is a huge help. The questions for the pharmacy make sense and that it was i figured. I didnt even think that some may only treat older patients.
I am not sure how I feel about him. His website makes it feel more like its all about money and less about the patient. I have little knowledge with HRT doctors, but paying up front and on repeat visits only getting 15min and having to pay for extra time and questions. That just doesnt seem right to me. I am going to continue searching. I am going to try a GP near my home once I return from college. Any suggestions on approaching him with over seeing my treatment.
This GP is the one that referred me to an endocrinologist. I believe there were 2 reasons for this: 1 i wasnt close to home anymore (had to go back to school), and I also do not think he felt comfortable doing the diagnosis. But now that I have a diagnosis and treatment I am hoping he will help me tweak it and treat the symptoms and not just the labs. Any thoughts or advice?
[quote]ryanbCXG wrote:
This should make it hard for my blood sugar to be normal if I have adrenal fatigue (less cortisol to raise blood sugar without having ingested any carbohydrates). But my test came back right in the middle of normal range. Would this mean that I do not have adrenal fatigue? I’m sure it is more complicated but this is just a thought I had.[/quote]
adrenaline can kick in to maintain blood sugar levels if cortisol gets too low.
that is why some people wake up at night with a racing heart and have problems going back to sleep. their cortisol dropped to low at night because of misfiring adrenals (or something), their blood sugar starts dropping, and at some point the body kicks out adrenaline to get the blood sugar back up and wham wide awake.
I did I guess I was just looking for further info on convincing him to treat my symptoms not labs and help tweak the treatment. I will bring in all of my labs and a list of symptoms and also my thoughts on the adjustments. Like dessicated thyroid and Injections instead of adrogel.
it’s a crap shoot on whether you can convince him.
I went through 9 different doctors before I found one that would work with me AND who knew what he was talking about. I count myself as one of the lucky ones.
Yeah I recently read your thread. Makes me disappointed that this is what it comes to. A desperate search for that one in a thousand doctor that will listen to you and know what it going on. I figure its a crap shoot but if it works it will be very convenient. If it doesnt oh well i wasted a an hour of my day. I am willing to keep searching because right now I do not feel 100%. I feel better than without any treatment but not 100%. I am not getting treatment to feel mediocre. Im 22 and I want to feel like it.
Yeah, Crisler does come across as a bit of a blowhard…some of his posts on his own forum are very hard to begrudingly read…he could use a crash course in professionalism, IMO
BUT…he is widely recognized as the best out there…I would take my chances personally…definitely try to find someone local that you feel comfortable working with, and if that fails, keep him in the back of your mind…
you’re right though–you need to feel comfortable with the person you are working with…
even the best docs don’t know everything and will never be as vested in your QOL and health as you are.
best thing to do is be your own advocate, do your own research, and go into conversations with your doctor as a true partner to fully discuss the situation, treatment implications, and various options.
VTBalla34- I will keep him in the back of my mind just in case.
Yep and QOL is very important. I have my appointment with the GP on the 17th. I am trying to compile as much evidence for switching to shots for t replacement and switching to desiccated thyroid. I am trying to find studies and protocols so it looks legit instead of taking things off of a forum.
I will priint it all out along with my previous labs and see what happens.