tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57644621261583551.post6698593610762530544..comments2023-05-23T14:31:22.445+05:30Comments on Stork Stalking: The thyroid sagasAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15553205805046479504noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57644621261583551.post-26476075160197429632010-12-23T23:52:58.422+05:302010-12-23T23:52:58.422+05:30I'm way late on this one, but have you conside...I'm way late on this one, but have you considered switching to Nature Throid or Armour instead of Synthroid? They are desiccated bovine thyroid and give you both T3 and T4 (as well as the others - it's the full complement of thyroid hormones). I had normal TSH, but low T4 and abysmal T3, so I had a definite conversion problem. My naturopath did say that in people without a conversation problem, whose T4 is low but their T3 is normal, the Nature Throid or Armous can cause them to get too much T3. So, yeah, testing free T3 and T4 is what you need. I find my naturopath to be so much more helpful and knowledgeable about those kinds of things than a typical MD.~C~https://www.blogger.com/profile/17023387821284924172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57644621261583551.post-30458322148646819952010-11-15T19:41:10.070+05:302010-11-15T19:41:10.070+05:30It must be so frustrating to have to go through al...It must be so frustrating to have to go through all this on top of just regular pregnancy worry. Take care.Tiarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17511522028218347560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57644621261583551.post-84984567148654853292010-11-15T05:15:21.361+05:302010-11-15T05:15:21.361+05:30Jay,.. I think you should definitely tell your doc...Jay,.. I think you should definitely tell your doctors that you have doctor friends (Shannon and I) and we encourage free T3 and T4 testings.. It always help to tell doctors that you have friends who are physicians.. trust me on this one. It's just professional courtesy.<br /><br />I don't know much about thyroid stuff, but when you have your baby, I will can answer all the pediatric questions.The Baby Chase Projecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06597972326038892118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57644621261583551.post-25867654990261605312010-11-14T23:13:35.745+05:302010-11-14T23:13:35.745+05:30Thanks Shannon, I'll talk to them next week.
...Thanks Shannon, I'll talk to them next week.<br /><br />Its very interesting that TSH is supposed to get suppressed in the first trimester. In my last pregnancy, it rose up in the first trimester, and even in this one (though its been super suppressed compared to my pre-synthyroid days) it went up from 0.4 to 0.9 between 4 weeks and 6 weeks of pregnancy. I thought that just meant that thyroid hormone requirement was increasing (logical), but it seems like most women have a negative feedback (with sufficiently increased T3/T4) that suppresses it, but I have not reached that point yet.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15553205805046479504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57644621261583551.post-44368114982180549402010-11-14T23:12:49.311+05:302010-11-14T23:12:49.311+05:30This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15553205805046479504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57644621261583551.post-3571741955754551442010-11-14T22:26:27.363+05:302010-11-14T22:26:27.363+05:30There was a study last year that showed that free ...There was a study last year that showed that free T4 levels do drop in pregnant women (without thyroid dysfunction) in the second and third trimester, and I do usually accept a free T4 at the low end or even just below normal as ok, as long as the TSH is ok (ie, < 2.5). My problem with doing just a total T4 is that you don't know exactly how much is bound up with proteins. If they're going to insist on doing a total T4, then they have to do a free T4 index along with it, otherwise they can't really comfortably go with just a total T4. Here's the only reference I can find with normal free T4 values in pregnancy, though those normals really do depend on what lab you're using: http://www.obfocus.com/high-risk/Thyroidtests.htm<br /><br />To the best of my knowledge, TSH reflects both T3 and T4 equally.Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14647211529119137824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57644621261583551.post-21420033922659899362010-11-14T21:49:48.097+05:302010-11-14T21:49:48.097+05:30@ Shannon: I've tried to get them (UCSD endocr...@ Shannon: I've tried to get them (UCSD endocrinology) to test free T3 and T4. The argument they gave me against it used some of the same facts you presented (that protein binding globulins increase in pregnancy) only they concluded that because of that, the free levels will be 'too low' and hence might be misleading. But what they did not factor in is the bound form is inactive (!!!!)<br /><br />The other thing that drives me mad about them is that they refuse to test T3 (in any form)! They are supplementing with T4, so they'll test T4 and be done with it. Nevermind that T3 is the big player and rates of conversion depend on too many variables. IDIOTS.<br /><br />Also I wonder if they have managed to figure this one out- what are TSH levels reflective more on? T3 or T4? <br /><br />I'm going to go back and tell them what you said<br />Are there articles talking about this? If I can throw literature at their heads it might also help them see reason faster. And also, are the reference ranges for free T3/t4 different in pregnancy? If so, that information would be useful cause I have a feeling they have no idea how to interpret, never having done it before.<br /><br />About the selenium, yes, I am worried about that as well. My supplement has 100 mcg of selinomethionine and my prenatal supplies 50 mcg. Papers that discuss selenium supplementation in pregnancy talk about 200 mcg doses/day, so according to THAT, I'm ok. But its still amateur hour, but then, my docs seem to be amateurs too, so AARGH!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15553205805046479504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57644621261583551.post-15439717061226455112010-11-14T19:32:39.602+05:302010-11-14T19:32:39.602+05:30I definitely agree that you need to listen to your...I definitely agree that you need to listen to your instincts. I have not felt any increased body temp myself until the past few days, notice I still get chilly as easily as usual, etc, but then our a/c was out at work and I discovered that I do NOT handle increased temps as well as I usually do at all. So I guess my basal temp has definitely increased! (I don't usually check, because when I tried it for the first time a year or so ago, I was also on strict diet and training for a half marathon, and that screwed everything up so much that I vowed to never check again!)<br /><br />Two things - please please PLEASE make them get a FREE t3 and FREE T4 on you next time. Total values are of NO use in pregnancy, because of pregnancy causes an increase in protein binding globulins that bind both T3 and T4 - and what's bound is inactive, but is measured when you get a total T3 and T4. It's impossible to interpret total values in a pregnant woman, and yet most OBs continue to get total values because all they remember from medical school is to get the totals, either because frees didn't exist at the time, or because early in the history of these labs the tests for the free values were wildly inaccurate (which has not been the case for years). You need to insist on this - tell them you have a friend who in an endocrinologist and that I'm reviewing your labs, and then tell them exactly what I said. You'd be amazed how much more responsive some docs can be when they know an outside doctor is involved.<br /><br />Second, be careful with selenium. It is very easy to get too much, and it can be highly toxic. I've read case reports of people getting liver disease from selenium because they ate too many walnuts (a selenium rich food). It's reasonable to supplement now for the reasons you gave, just be careful!Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14647211529119137824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57644621261583551.post-9233790762042383132010-11-14T18:28:53.402+05:302010-11-14T18:28:53.402+05:30You explained that in non-scientific terms very we...You explained that in non-scientific terms very well. And I agree... listen to your body, your temps, your instincts!BBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14837140513071674102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57644621261583551.post-48664070216102363032010-11-14T11:42:58.261+05:302010-11-14T11:42:58.261+05:30I hate when you feel like you are onto a good theo...I hate when you feel like you are onto a good theory and your doctors poo-poo it!<br /><br />For the record, I felt like I started regulating my body temperature better too after I started treating my thyroid!S.I.F.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15037271343194689612noreply@blogger.com