How do you know if you have thyroid problems
Symptoms of under-active thyroid include:
- fluid retention
- hair loss
- yellow skin on the palms
- sensitivity to heat or cold
- fatigue
- poor mental function
- slowed heart rate
- irregular periods
- very dry skin
- constipation
- high cholesterol
What tests might you need?
- If thyroid disease is suspected, blood tests should not be limited to TSH.
- Other useful tests include thyroid antibodies, free T3, free T4 and reverse T3
Thyroid resistance syndrome (elevated reverse T3)
- After some months on conventional thyroid treatment, T4 resistance can develop.
- The syndrome occurs when T4 is not adequately converted to its active form: T3.
- The conversion is easily disrupted, because it occurs in the liver, and requires many nutritional cofactors.
- Instead of being converted to T3, a large amount of T4 is converted to reverse T3, which is inactive thyroid hormone.
- The high level of reverse T3 causes symptoms of under-active thyroid, despite a normal blood test for TSH, T3 and T4.
- Impaired conversion of T4 to T3 can also be caused by the elevation of the stress hormone cortisol.
- Elevated reverse T3 can persist even once cortisol is normalised.
Contact us if you are have concerns about symptoms of a thyroid problem – Call 1300 113 310 or 02 8188 2571 Thyroid Clinic Sydney.
