I just finished Dr. Blanchard's new book The Funtional Approach to Hypothyroidism and it kind of threw me for a loop. I have read some opinions against his "98:2 ratio" of T4:T3 but this was the first time I'd read anything saying TSH needs to be present. From all the research and message board reading I've done in the past few years it was my understanding that once you're taking exogenous thyroid hormone your TSH almost HAS to be suppressed in order for your body to get the right amount of T4 and T3 (I may not be wording that right). But dr blanchard states that when the TSH drops too low there is less T4 to T3 conversion at the cellular level. So he's saying that even with normal FT3 and FT4 tests there is still a deficit in the cells if the TSH is too low? I don't know if this is completely ridiculous or the answer to why I haven't been able to feel human the last few years. I've been moving from one uncooperative dr to another, pushing them to up my doses in order to get my TSH low enough to feel well. I was also trying to get my free Ts up of course but I figured all 3 were related. Now after reading Dr Blanchards book I'm not so sure.
He also seems to think most drs that are willing to prescribe T3 are overdosing by a lot, leading to treatment failures. Its seems Dr Blanchard rarely prescribes more than 1.5mcg T3! Wow, I'm just not sure what to make of that.
Interesting thoughts. My understanding of the endocrine system or at least the relationship between the pituitary and thyroid is that there is a checks and balance. For example if there is not enough T3 and T4 the pituitary puts out TSH increasing levels, so the thyroid will produce some. Now if the pituitary detects enough T3 and T4 it does not put out TSH so the levels will be lower. To me if the T4, T3 are in range and TSH levels are low and in range then the system should be in balance and you should be good to go. Most importantly in my opinion based on the reading I have done, the test results are tools/indicators and the Dr should also listen to symptoms because not everyone fits into the same mold. Just my thoughts as someone new to this issue.
I just finished Dr. Blanchard's new book The Funtional Approach to Hypothyroidism and it kind of threw me for a loop. I have read some opinions against his "98:2 ratio" of T4:T3 but this was the first time I'd read anything saying TSH needs to be present. From all the research and message board reading I've done in the past few years it was my understanding that once you're taking exogenous thyroid hormone your TSH almost HAS to be suppressed in order for your body to get the right amount of T4 and T3 (I may not be wording that right). But dr blanchard states that when the TSH drops too low there is less T4 to T3 conversion at the cellular level. So he's saying that even with normal FT3 and FT4 tests there is still a deficit in the cells if the TSH is too low? I don't know if this is completely ridiculous or the answer to why I haven't been able to feel human the last few years. I've been moving from one uncooperative dr to another, pushing them to up my doses in order to get my TSH low enough to feel well. I was also trying to get my free Ts up of course but I figured all 3 were related. Now after reading Dr Blanchards book I'm not so sure.
He also seems to think most drs that are willing to prescribe T3 are overdosing by a lot, leading to treatment failures. Its seems Dr Blanchard rarely prescribes more than 1.5mcg T3! Wow, I'm just not sure what to make of that.
Any thoughts?
Just curious how you are feeling almost 2 years later. I haven't felt "normal" for 3 years and was going to attempt Dr. Blanchard's approach.
