Re: Dizzy with T3??

[Guest guest]

If

this was me Polly, I would stop the T3 and check out the associated conditions

that go along with being hypothyroid to ensure you are not suffering with any

of these. Your body obviously is objecting to the T3 right now.

There

are MANY reasons and many medical conditions associated with thyroid disease

that stop thyroid hormone from getting into the cells, where it does its work.

I mention these over and over and over again - ad nauseum - people must be bored

with the same old stuff, but as each new member joins us, they need to know

about these.

The

main condition responsible for stopping thyroid hormone from working is, quite

simply, a patient’s thyroxine dose is too low because the doctor or

consultant refuses to increase it, because the serum thyroid function test

results appear OK. Sometimes, the thyroxine dose is too high, yet patients

still don't feel well. They continue to suffer. Some reasons for this:

They

may be suffering with low adrenal reserve. The production of T4, its conversion

to T3, and the receptor uptake requires a normal amount of adrenal hormones,

notably, of course, cortisone. (Excess cortisone can shut production down,

however.) This is what happens if the adrenals are not responding properly, and

provision of cortisone usually switches it on again. But sometimes it

doesn’t. If the illness has been going on for a long time, the

enzyme seems to fail. This conversion failure (inexplicably denied by

many endocrinologists) means the thyroxine builds up, unconverted. So it

doesn’t work, and T4 toxicosis results. This makes the patient feel quite

unwell, toxic, often with palpitations and chest pain. If provision of adrenal

support doesn’t remedy the situation, the final solution is the use of

the active thyroid hormone, already converted, T3 - either synthetic or

natural.

Then,

we have systemic candidiasis. This is where candida albicans, yeast, which

causes skin infections almost anywhere in the body, invades the lining of the

lower part of the small intestine and the large intestine. Here, the

candida sets up residence in the warmth and the dark, and demands to be

fed. Loving sugars and starches, candida can make you suffer terrible

sweet cravings. Candida can produce toxins which can cause very many

symptoms of exhaustion, headache, general illness, and which interfere with the

uptake of thyroid and adrenal treatment. Sometimes the levels - which we

usually test for - can be very high, and make successful treatment difficult to

achieve until adequately treated.

Then

there is receptor resistance which could be a culprit. Being hypothyroid

for some considerable time may mean the biochemical mechanisms which permit the

binding of T3 to the receptors, is downgraded - so the T3 won’t go

in. With slow build up of T3, with full adrenal support and adequate

vitamins and minerals, the receptors do come on line again. But this can

be quite a slow process, and care has to be taken to build the dose up

gradually.

And

then there are Food allergies. The most common food allergy is allergy to

gluten, the protein fraction of wheat. The antibody generated by the body, by a

process of molecular mimicry, cross reacts with the thyroperoxidase enzyme,

(which makes thyroxine) and shuts it down. So allergy to bread can make

you hypothyroid. There may be other food allergies with this kind of effect,

but information on these is scanty. Certainly allergic response to

certain foods can affect adrenal function and imperil thyroid production and

uptake.

Then

we have hormone imbalances. The whole of the endocrine system is linked; each

part of it needs the other parts to be operating normally to work

properly. An example of this we have seen already, with cortisone.

But another example is the operation of sex hormones. The imbalance that

occurs at the menopause with progesterone running down, and a relative

dominance of oestrogen is a further case in point – oestrogen dominance

downgrades production, transportation and uptake of thyroid hormones.

This is why hypothyroidism may first appear at the menopause; the symptoms

ascribed to this alone, which is then treated – often with extra

oestrogen, making the whole thing worse. Deficiency in progesterone most

especially needs to be dealt with, since it reverses oestrogen dominance,

improves many menopausal symptoms like sweats and mood swings, and reverses

osteoporosis. Happily natural progesterone cream is easily obtained: when

used it has the added benefit of helping to stabilise adrenal function.

Then,

we must never forget the possibility of mercury poisoning (through amalgam

fillings) - low levels of iron, transferring saturation%, ferritin, vitamin

B12, vitamin D3, magnesium, folate, copper and zinc - all of which, if low,

stop the thyroid hormone from being utilised by the cells - these have to be

treated.

As

Dr Peatfield says " When you have been quite unwell for a long time, all

these problems have to be dealt with; and since each may affect the other, it

all has to be done rather carefully.

Contrary

to cherished beliefs by much of the medical establishment, the correction of a

thyroid deficiency state has a number of complexities and variables, which make

the treatment usually quite specific for each person. The balancing of these

variables is as much up to you as to me – which is why a check of

morning, day and evening temperatures and pulse rates, together with symptoms,

good and bad, can be so helpful.

Many

of you have been ill for a long time, either because you have not been

diagnosed, or the treatment leaves you still quite unwell. Those of you

who have relatively mild hypothyroidism, and have been diagnosed relatively

quickly, may well respond to synthetic thyroxine, the standard treatment

For

many of you, the outstanding problem is not that the diagnosis has not been

made – although, extraordinarily, this is disgracefully common –

but that is has, and the thyroxine treatment doesn’t work. The dose

has been altered up and down, and clinical improvement is variable and doesn’t

last, in spite of blood tests, which say you are perfectly all right (and

therefore you are actually depressed and need this fine antidepressant).

The

above problems must be eliminated if thyroid hormone isn't working for you.

Luv

- Sheila

Started taking T3 a few days ago. Taking BP,

pulse, temperature on waking, mid-day and on going to bed. Dropped my Levo from

125 to 100mcgs and am taking 10mcgs of T3 in the morning. ....am Dizzy - like

being drunk!!!

Temperature is in the 36 degree range, Pulse started at 59 bpm and is now

around 73, Bp lowest was 84/49 this morning, highest 132/83.

TSH at last test was suppressed and T4 over the top of the range.

Question should T3 make you dizzy or it it a settling in time? Sorry for daft

question. Haven't taken T3 so far today and don't feel quite so dizzy. Any help

would be gratefully appreciated.

Polly x

[Guest guest]

Hi Polly,

Check out my earlier posts and replies. Have received enormous help from the

forum contributors.

I recently started T3, and was all over the place. My consultant

endocrinologist started me on 60mcgs!!! I then was advised to go 175mcgs T4 and

10+10+10 T3, and that was crazy too! Basiclly too much T4 in system, so dropped

T4 to NIL, and 10+10+10 T3, and was better but still not right, so now doing

50mcgs T4 and 10+10 (+10 if necessary) T3, and feeling much better. Seeing

positive results.

The contributors said slow, slow progress, and listen to your body, and they

were right!

Matt

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

Sheila's advice is pretty sensible.

Many thyroid patient's when they get their mits on the thyroid hormone that they

think 'will do the trick' for them often find that this isn't the case.

We have to be the tortoise and not the hare.

Checking out the basics is really important as several problems can often need

to be resolved before thyroid hormone (of any kind) can actually work right.

Your dizziness seems indicative that adrenal levels may be low. If this is

coupled with low blood pressure at the time you feel this way then this may also

indicate this.

The T3 itself isn't a problem. However, T3 more than any other thyroid hormone

puts demands on the other necessary elements for cells to function correctly.

So, T3 can often expose issues fully that were just 'lurking' in the past.

I'd take Sheila's advice and when my book comes out then take a peak at that

also as it may also help. This was meant as a serious suggestion - not just a

sales plug!

Good luck and be patient. Those who stay the course usually get there.

>

[Guest guest]

...thank you so much for that...I know you are busy and to have you respond

was great......am not a 'teary' person....but am low at the mo....and only came

on with taking the T3.....will take advice from you and Sheila...WILL get your

book......am just a tad fed up with being messed about by Drs who know little

about this area...tho do respect their general medical knowledge.

Question....would the NDT be an option? Have looked at the things that might

cause Levo not to work....will take a closer look at adrenals as you suggest.

Polly xx

[Guest guest]

Hi Polly,

I would always encourage people to try natural thyroid prior to going with T3/T4

but in all honesty I doubt whether your symptoms would be any different in this

case. The low BP / dizziness is so typical of adrenal issues. Adrenal issues

themselves may be brought on by other things (many of which were mentioned in

Sheila's initial message).

The other thing to consider is that while you are investigating other causes

including adrenal issues if the symptoms are not diabolical then do you stop or

continue with the small dose of T3? Do you cut it in half or take in in two

doses? I'm not sure what the answer should be but sometimes it takes a while for

the adrenals to pick up and sometimes having a little extra T3 is just what they

need as long as the symptoms are manageable. On the other hand sometimes the

right answer is to take a step back as Sheila suggested and do the basic work

first.

You do need to look into the things suggested and ensure you are working with a

doctor who is giving you the right level of support.

Take care.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi and Sheila and anyone else who is on the T3 route to recovery.I am STUPID......leave all my meds out on my chest of drawers so the dogs cant get them .....take Levo plus citalopram - 1 tablet a day.....T3 downstairs on the work surface -in the kitchen because I need a knife to cut the tiny tablet. Started T3 on Thursday.....Citalopram blister pack empty, forgot to remind myself !!!! -( being hypot is such a pain!!) hence the dizzyyness - driving today I realised what was happening ( has happened only once before). So there is every possibilty and probably that it was not the T3 - will try again one more time and as I am taking such a small dose and monitor VERY carefully will know straight away if T3 is not for me and then I will go the natural thyroid route. T3 cost money - so I will try - and then dispose of if it is not the answer.Will also do the Adrenal Q and maybe Genova test. Re tablets T3 is 0.02mg - cut into half and take half in the morning - plus 10mcg Levo - (down from 125) that is all. Wanted to try that first for a little while before I took the second half later in the day,so didn't get to the second dose. I wish I could have a Dr that I could work with - have requested all the tests that were recommended - wont happen -so I will now go down the private route, as much as that pains me politically - will put my principles to one side !!!Thank you both for your interest and support and yes - I will take care Polly xHi Polly,I would always encourage people to try natural thyroid prior to going with T3/T4 but in all honesty I doubt whether your symptoms would be any different in this case. The low BP / dizziness is so typical of adrenal issues. Adrenal issues themselves may be brought on by other things (many of which were mentioned in Sheila's initial message).The other thing to consider is that while you are investigating other causes including adrenal issues if the symptoms are not diabolical then do you stop or continue with the small dose of T3? Do you cut it in half or take in in two doses? I'm not sure what the answer should be but sometimes it takes a while for the adrenals to pick up and sometimes having a little extra T3 is just what they need as long as the symptoms are manageable. On the other hand sometimes the right answer is to take a step back as Sheila suggested and do the basic work first.You do need to look into the things suggested and ensure you are working with a doctor who is giving you the right level of support.Take care.