T4 & T3 can some one explain in simple English
~~~~Ms. Dee Beattie ~~~~
I am Hypo,,, was diagnosed in November,,, but here it is Feb,,,, and I still don't feel much
better,,, I am currently off of the Synthroid because I am going for the iodine uptake test
tomorrow,,, and needed to be off of the hormone for 6 weeks....
Thanks in advance for any input..........
Nick
Hi
Let me try.
The hypothalamus is the master regulator gland and, in response to the
amount of thyroid hormone in the body, releases a substance called TRH
(thyrotropin releasing hormone). The function of this is to tell the
pituitary to produce TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).
Then the thyroid is exposed to TSH it increases it's output of thyroid
hormoneS (plural). The regulation system is a bit like the cruise
controller on your car, it tries to keep the levels constant.
These are T4 which is a relatively inactive hormone and T3 which is
what the body needs to work.
In addition to the T3 produced by the thyroid the T4 which it produces
is also converted to T3 at various places around the body s the body
needs it in the form of T3 to work.
This is why the most important tests are those for T3 levels, they are
the active ones.
For a TSH test to be meaningful it is necessary for the hypothalamus
and the pituitary to be correct, if they are 'out of calibration' then
anything can happen. Imagine trying to guess the speed of a car by the
position of the throttle lever.
Does any of this make sense, if not I'll try to explain it a different
way.
Nick
--
Warning, I am not a Doctor, If you are thinking of making any changes to your medication discuss it with your doctor first.
Check these sites for good information on thyroid problems
http://www.personal.u-net.com/~my4tune/appto_treatment.txt
http://www.personal.u-net.com/~my4tune/itg.htm
http://thyroid.miningco.com/
AH
Nick wrote in message <36fef1f8....@news.dial.pipex.com>...
Nick
>OK. Great and easy explanation - now please add some common english to explain the relation of thyroid function to adrenal function?
Ok, one very common route is they are both controlled by the Pituitary
gland. If this gland is malfunctioning in terms of thyroid
performance it may well do so for adrenal control. I understand that
Glandular fever (mono) can cause this problem.
Another route is that the body may have been compensating for under
active thyroid by running on adrenals until they are exhausted as
well, a bit woolly but people seem to feel that.
A third route is copper/zinc balance. According to a book I have just
got (ISBN 0-06-251569-1 by Ann Gittleman, a nutritionist) if the ratio
of zinc to copper in the body is wrong, either due to low zinc, high
copper, or both then several things happen.
Copper zinc imbalance can apparently impede T4/T3 conversion which
often does not show up on thyroid tests.
Zinc is also needed for the production of adrenal cortical hormone.
If you have this copper/zinc problem then both thyroid and adrenal
function can be inhibited. According the author dietary (or more
accurately eating pattern) changes can help this ratio. This can then
avoid the need for thyroid/adrenal support in some cases.
Interestingly enough a high protein/low carb diet is recommended which
ties in with what a lot of people have said in this group..
One of the effects listed for the natural progesterone treatment that
two people are using at the moment is to equalise copper/zinc
imbalances, it all ties together.
With that I'll leave someone else to fill in the bits I've missed.