Thyroid gurus- help appreaciated

[jroc86]

*Warning* long read
Well guys ive gota question(s) while I wait to see an Endocrinologist:

Ive been feeling like ****ing garbage for a while, and recently got a boatload of bloodwork done. I dont use AAS (except for 10mgs of dbol daily during a 4 day hockey camp as a teenager lol). Everything came back normal (glucose, platelets, kidney, liver, STDs, etc etc).

But due to family history, some knowledge of the endocrine system, and a gut feeling I paid out of my pocket (because my GP is a dick) and got a full thyroid panel done.

Well ... my TSH came in low (like 2.4 on a 3.8-8.5 scale) indicating HYPERthyroidism.
My T4 levels were normal.
But my T3 was also in the basement indicating HYPOthyroidism.
There was no thyroid antibodies, therefore, not an autoimmune disorder.

My symptoms are HYPOthyroid all day (aside from having a massive appetite)
ex, low body temp (waking is like 94.5 then it climbs to about 97.5), no energy, aches, pains, just feel like an irratible slug.
*despite eating like a ****ing madman im the leanest ive been since highschool, but could be because ive been avoiding sugars, breads, and eggs completely due to allergies - so my diet is primarily chicken, fish, steaks, and vegtables.

So... My GP is sending me to an endo where Ill get a whole ****load of tests done, but hes convinced that my adrenal glands are played out which is screwing up the conversion of T4 to T3 ... all the T4 in the world wont help you without T3. This is a very real possibility because I live and work in an extremely stressful environment (family business bullshit) plus about half a dozen relatives are basically on their deathbeds which has some strain on the house also.

FYI- im only 21 years old, hardly drink, no rec drugs, etc if that makes any difference.

If your still reading I appreciate it.

If youve had any similar experiences or have any insights im all ears.

Thanks

 

[partagus]

You're a plat. Do a search on a suppliment called ZIP. It is a thyroid support supp. It might help. Good luck bro.

 

[Donnie Darko]

Check with your doctor to see if there is a possibility of a generalized resistance to thyroid hormone (GRTH). I have a thyroid clinical textbook but I'd have to reference it since I haven't studied in a long time.

 

[gjohnson5]

I don't think you're going to get thyroid medication
true hypothyroid will have low T4

 

[jroc86]

yeah, but T3 is the metabolically active hormone ... all the T4 in the world wont help you if it isnt converting to T3. Ill keep you all posted.

 

[gjohnson5]

Adding more thyroid hormone to a normally functioning one can cause that thyroid to shutdown. But the only reasonn why I said this is because I've tried the same thing you have with 3 other endos and I'm just repeating what they told me after ultrasounds and all...

A true hypothyroid condition should have symptoms as well as low T4

As far as the adrenal glads , watch the stress as well as exercise. Hopefully you're not suffering from depression as well. But keep the stress low. Make sure you do cardio. I've found that since I've joined the army (and hence have had to do alot of body weight exercises) That these help. So doing alot of body weight work can help get your activity levels up as well as reduce stress.

Get your diet in check as well. This board has good diet advice. You'd need to post your diet so we can suggest changes if any

But the main thing is keep your head up and dont assume some drug is going to automagically fix your issues

yeah, but T3 is the metabolically active hormone ... all the T4 in the world wont help you if it isnt converting to T3. Ill keep you all posted.

 

[jroc86]

I agree ... the thyroid itself IMO isnt the direct problem, due to my TSH levels being low - which is indicative of hyperthyroidism. My T4 is normal, but T3 is low indicating poor conversion.

IMO its either a form of secondary hypothyroidism brought about by something haywire with my pituitary, or a conversion problem which is turning my normal amounts of T4 into the metabolically inactive and usless reverse T3.

My diet its clean as a whistle, perhaps too clean. Its basically fibrous carbs, natural fats, and animal proteins.

*ps, im not a bodybuilder.
Ex:
Breakfast: stirfry with cucumbers, red peppers, onions, totmato, and scallops.
-along with an organic peice of sockeye salmon
-glutamine
1030AM: half a sweet potatoe, a few chopped vegetables, and a small chicken breast.

12:30: curried sole fillet with turkey bacon on top with onions, and green pepper.

2:30: hemp protein and greens shake with glutamine

Dinner:
Salad, half a potatoe or a cup of rice, with some steak/fish/chicken (ex, 2.5 chcken breasts)

PWO meal: plain oats, with cinnamon, hemp protein, and glutamine.

Supps are nothing exotic: fish oils, cal-mag, multi, joint care.

Despite eating frequently, and heavily (but clean) im incredibly lean and vascular right now and always hungry - that goes hand in hands with being hyperhyroid.

But like I said, im lethargic as hell, take forever to recover from workouts, feel very weak, am sensitive to cold, and have a low body temperature indicating hypothyroidism.

 

[gjohnson5]

If you are always hungry this would indicate that you have low leptin levels.
Things which cause high leptin are
1, high bodyfat
2. high calories
So conversely low leptin levels are due to caloric restriction and low bodyfat.
leptin levels and thyroid output may not have as strong a correlation however...
http://www.eje-online.org/cgi/reprint/139/4/428.pdf

So I would not assume that you are hyperthyroid if you're always hungry.
It could simply be the need for more calories

One of the major indicators of poor conversion of T4 to t4 is diet

1. Check your iron intake and supplementation
2. Also iodine and maganese help in the synthesis of t4 to t3. Eating more tree nuts can help here.
3. increase tyrosine. It's extremely cheap and an amino acid used in the synthesis of neurotransmitters. Also eat more protein. This can supply more tyrosine to the thyroid
4. check your selenium needs. Do not overdose selenium as it can be toxic at high dosages, but Look into what your intake is
5. excess copper and calcium can inhibit conversion


But IMHO the biggest inhibitor to thyroid function is stress. If your calories are in check there there is no starvation issue causing decreased leptin and thyroid output then my guess is still on mental issues not physical ones.
Also sorry for the confusion I had low and high leptin symptoms in reverse.

 

[jroc86]

thanks brothers ... you know what? Ive added carbs back into my diet, and already my body temp is rising back to normal and im not going batshit crazy between meals.

Im naturally a pretty shredded guy without a super strict diet ... I think im going to give the carb-cutting a break and see how it goes.

Thanks again for all the feedback boys