If we have full functioning thyroid gland then it produces both the hormones, however if the gland is out like mine due to ca. or its dysfunction due to RAI treatment to stop graves disease that causing hyperthyrodism/goiter or perhaps its malfunctioning due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis then the uptaken synthetic T4 circulating in the body is converted to T3 in peripheral tissues, liver and kidney….

If we also have sluggish liver/kidney or whatever.., taking some additional T3 or maybe natural hormone could be of help. The endo will decide after some tests done as well as hypo/hyper symptoms we describe despite taking sufficient amount of synthetic hormones.

Sometimes thyroid hormone tests appear to be within normal range but we still get hypo symptoms, this condition called Wilson's Syndrome (reverse t3 dominance) will be cured by taking slow release T3 as well as T4 or sometimes body converts to t3 properly but due to some reasons (probably auto immune effect) doesn’t recognize/find this T3 hormone itself, in such case probably like in Trudi’s case the endo will give some stimulating supplemental drug to trigger t3 uptake.. For years I was complaining not sweating properly even doing sports like playing squash. This was in my early twenties, years later in my thirties my body started to retain fluid as well, only after my thyroid taken out and I was put on T4 that I learned what it means to sweat…. fluid retention stopped as well.


These hormone issues are far too complicated to judge for us, every individual is special due to genetic differences and other accompanying diseases/syndromes… so a good endo specialized in the field particular to your disease will be much preferred, there are some endo’s specialize in diabetics- weight gain/loss drug issues, some others in thyroid cancers/ suppressions and others in autoimmune diseases of thyroid and drug/hormone balancing…

One thing always recommended by the Thyca patients and endos is that always get the tests done through the same lab everytime a test is asked and make sure the lab is equipped with the latest technology and testing methods..

Also we may handle a bit of hair loss due to hypothyrodism or a little muscle spasm which in our case often confused with AS symptoms but persistent constipation, memory loss/discoordination, continues fatique, rampant heart beat, bone loss, overwhelm, depression etc. should not be underestimated and reported to both endo as well as rheumy doc.

In short, our bodies hormonal function is just as important with dealing various diseases/complains, whether it be through thyroid dysfunction, adrenal fatigue, anemia, inflamation or minerals/vitamin deficiency, it is all worth to suspect and have time to look into them…and its also needless to say that proper hormone functioning of body can also enhance the effectiveness of drugs taken to control other diseases as well … Regards

If have time these are good reads but each case is individual and an erudite endo will always have the final conclusion and say…

http://index.healthboards.com/wwwb/thyroid/time-to-convert-t4-to-t3/1/
http://www.project-aware.org/Resource/articlearchives/thyroid.shtml
http://www.endocrineweb.com/thyfunction.html
http://www.endocrineweb.com/tests.html
http://www.altsupportthyroid.org/hypotreatment.php
http://thyroid.about.com/cs/thyroiddrugs/a/overview.htm
http://www.womens-health-hrt.com/reverse-T3-dominance.html