I'd be interested in your links. I just had some blood tests done, all of which were normal. I've experienced such huge changes, and there is such a huge mass of sumptomatic evidence that I don't believe what the numbers and docs say, yet.

i'd like to know what the difference is! i've got TSH4. i'd like to know more about what the TSH levels are & what they mean.

Tissue levels of T3 with T4 only preparations


Tissue and pituitary levels of T3 with T4 only preparations
Journal of Clinical Investigation 96:2828-2838

Replacement therapy for hypothyroidism with thyroxine alone does not ensure euthyroidism in all tissues

Escobar-Morreale HF, Obregon MJ, Escobar del Rey F, Morreale de Escobar G



Only the combined treatment with thyroxine and triiodothryoidine ensures euthyroidism in all tissue

Escobar-Morreale HF, Escobar del Rey F, Obregon MJ, Morreale de Escobar G



Levothyroxine (T4) only replacement with products such as Synthroid and Levoxyl are the most widely accepted forms of thyroid replacement. This is based on a widely held assumption that the body will convert what it needs to the biologically active form T3. Based on this assumption, most physicians and endocrinologists believe that the normalization of TSH with a T4 preparation demonstrates adequate tissue levels of thyroid. This assumption, however, had never been directly tested until these studies were published. The first study investigated whether or not giving T4 only preparations will provide adequate T3 levels in varying tissues. Plasma TSH, T4 and T3 levels and 10 different tissue levels of T4 and T3 were measured after the infusion of 12-13 days of thyroxine. The second study compared the plasma TSH, T4 and T3 levels and 13 different tissues levels of T4 and T3 when T4 or T4/T3 preparations were utilized.



These studies demonstrate that the normalization of plasma TSH and T4 levels with T4 only preparations provide adequate tissue T3 levels to only a few tissues including the pituitary (hence the normal TSH) but almost every other tissue will be deficient. They show that it is impossible to achieve normal tissue levels of T3 by giving T4 only preparations unless supra-physiological levels of T4 are given. The authors conclude, The current replacement therapy of hypothyroidism should no longer be considered adequate



The second study found that a combination of T4/T3 is required to normalize tissue levels of T3. The study found that the pituitary was able to maintain normal levels of T3 despite the rest of the body being hypothyroid on T4 only preparations. Under normal conditions, it was shown that the pituitary will have 7 to 60 times the concentration of T3 of other tissues of the body and when thyroid levels drop, the pituitary was shown to have 40 to 650 times the concentration of T3 of other tissues. Thus, the pituitary is unique in its ability to concentrate T3 in the presence of diminished thyroid levels that is not present in other tissues. Consequently, the pituitary levels of T3 and the subsequent level of TSH is a poor measurement of tissue hypothyroidism as almost the entire body can be severely hypothyroid despite a normal TSH level.



These studies add to the large amount of studies that demonstrate that pituitary thyroid levels are not indicative of other tissues in the body and demonstrate why the TSH level is a poor indicator of a proper thyroid dose. They also demonstrate that it is impossible to achieve normal tissue thyroid levels with T4 preparations such as Synthroid and Levoxyl. It is no surprise that the majority of patients on T4 preparations will continue to suffer from symptoms of hypothyroidism despite being told their levels are normal. Patients on T4 only preparations should seek out a physician who is well-versed in the medical literature and understands the physiologic limitations and inadequacy of commonly used thyroid preparations.

If any of this is repetative, please forgive me. The links and/or some of the information I entered did not seem to have posted, so I'll try to post it in seperate entries.

In a study published in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism, clinical signs were compared to blood tests. The authors demonstrated that individuals have varying degrees of thyroid resistance in different tissues. The authors describe this as a metabolic hypothyroidism in different tissues. They state tissue hypothyroidism at the peripheral target organs must be different in the individual patient. The authors summarize their findings by stating that they agree with the statement in an endocrinology text book stating, "The ultimate test of whether a patient is experiencing the effects of too much or to little thyroid hormone is not the measurement of hormone concentration in the blood but the effect of thyroid hormones on the peripheral tissues" The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism Basic and clinical endocrinology, 3rd ed. London: Appleton

In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, it was shown that T4 preparations such a Levoxyl and Synthroid resulted in very minimal increase in metabolism while supplementation with T3 was shown to increase metabolism by an average of 18%. For a person consuming a 2000 calorie diet, 18% is equivalent to burning an extra 360 calories per day. Thus giving T3 would equate to approximately a 40 pound weight loss in a year. This is equivalent to approximately jogging on a treadmill for 1 hour per day. If we would simply optimize everyones thyroid, we would no longer have the obesity crises in this country. This could easily be remedied and drastically cut he incidence of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke and cancer. Thyroid should never be given as a weight loss medication but appropriate replacement with the proper preparations often elevates a number of symptoms, often including continued weight gain.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

An finally the links.

www.biodia.com (HPA - HPT Axes)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal_axis

www.thyroid-into.com/articles/shamesadrenal.htm

Please let me know what you think and if you take it to your doctor it would be interesting to know what he/she replies.

Please keep me posted.