Lab test abnormalities!

[AHI15]

Hi:

For the first time in years, there are two distinct out of range parameters in my recent blood workup, both of which may have a good chance of explaining constant tiredness despite moderately improved sleep these days with CPAP:

Vitamin D 25 total 25ng/mL range: 30-100

T3 total (triiodothyronine) (SJ) 58 ng/dL range: 76-181

What do you make of this?

I'm very happy to have some actual quantitative abnormalities besides OSA, which is under control!

Now I need to figure out what to do about this. I have two choices:

See the CFS expert at Stanford (in the infectious diseases dept.) or see the endocrinologist recommended by my PCP.

[kaiasgram]

My endocrinologist handled both my low D3 (vitamin D) and T3 (thyroid hormone) issues. Since you have demonstrated low T3, I'd suggest asking the endocrinologist about taking a T3 med, not just a T4 med which is what many docs will prescribe, assuming that our bodies will automatically convert T4 to T3. That is not always the case. I now take Synthroid (T4) and Cytomel (T3) together.

Hope this helps.

[AHI15]

My endocrinologist handled both my low D3 (vitamin D) and T3 (thyroid hormone) issues. Since you have demonstrated low T3, I'd suggest asking the endocrinologist about taking a T3 med, not just a T4 med which is what many docs will prescribe, assuming that our bodies will automatically convert T4 to T3. That is not always the case. I now take Synthroid (T4) and Cytomel (T3) together.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the input.

How much of your EDS would you associate with OSA vs. the low D3 and T3? How much improvement have you gotten from either treatment?

Thanks again.

[kaiasgram]

How much of your EDS would you associate with OSA vs. the low D3 and T3? How much improvement have you gotten from either treatment?

The D3 an T3 issues were addressed several years before I got diagnosed with OSA. So my EDS is not likely related to either. I've only been on pap for 4 months and I think my therapy may not be optimized yet. I'm using an oximeter for the first time this week to see if I'm still having O2 dips -- it can happen even when you're on successful cpap therapy (meaning AHI <5). I'll post the results when I have them, later this week hopefully.

[AHI15]

Hi,

So I took another test, this time for TSH, T4, free T3, and total T3.

This time the total T3 is normal, at 83 ng/dL. So I guess it was low due to Atkins.

Free T3 is also normal, 2.8 pg/mL within range: [2.0-4.4].

Frak!

So now I'm taking up to 3400IU of vitamin D3 to try to get the slightly deficient level of that up, and I'm still left wondering if the cortisol in the morning being at the low bound of the range is a part of my dillemma.

[1041]

Sorry to hear you didn't discover the reason for your poor sleep. Have you had any progress since August when you felt D- and F every day?

So you don't wake up at all; you sleep straight through but still feel exhausted in the day?

[Janknitz]

This time the total T3 is normal, at 83 ng/dL. So I guess it was low due to Atkins.

You might find this interesting: http://primalnorth.blogspot.ca/2012/10/ ... etter.html

[Todzo]

Hi:

For the first time in years, there are two distinct out of range parameters in my recent blood workup, both of which may have a good chance of explaining constant tiredness despite moderately improved sleep these days with CPAP:

Vitamin D 25 total 25ng/mL range: 30-100

T3 total (triiodothyronine) (SJ) 58 ng/dL range: 76-181

What do you make of this?

I'm very happy to have some actual quantitative abnormalities besides OSA, which is under control!

Now I need to figure out what to do about this. I have two choices:

See the CFS expert at Stanford (in the infectious diseases dept.) or see the endocrinologist recommended by my PCP.

Hi AHI15!

I do two things to help with Vitamin D:

First, I make an effort to get my Sun.

In my new digs this has worked wonderful – until lately - as the UV index has fallen below 4 for any time of day and is rapidly falling as winter approaches.

So, now, as I have done in the past – but – hopefully improved this time – I will gather supplies to use halogen spotlights (probably about six 120W lamps) and probably about 8 100W equivalent Daylight Spiral Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (probably about 26 watts each) with 8” aluminum reflectors behind them. The halogens are nice and hot and halogen runs at a temperature very similar to the surface of the sun. If they have not put too much anti-UV material in the glass of the lamps I should have sufficient sun like UV to get a light tan and still produce vitamin D. I will be doing considerable research into the specific spectrum output of all the lamps together and hope to produce good sunlight spectrum and lumen equivalence as well as a UV index of around 4. I plan to be under the lamps on my bed for a half hour a side (front/back) (note: I am tan, my skin tans well, ALWAYS start with light skin with very short exposures – say five to ten minutes). I will be using some kind of count down timer to make sure that – if I fall asleep – the light does not continue after the set time. I have gotten pretty close to this with some rigs in the past and it really does seem to help prevent the loss of mood in the winter time. If there is interest, I will post the particulars of what I did.

I think light is a good way since it exercises the skins “production and control” systems which probably do a lot of other things that make us healthy.

Second, I make a real effort to find and consume vitamin D rich foods in the fall, winter and early spring. In addition I take care of my microbiome by not eating processed foods, no GMOs, as well as eating good sources of probiotics such as Greek Yogurt and Kimchi. I think the good stuff in many foods are helped to become more available to us by a keeping a good active microbiome. I also think raw veggies keep things cleaner in there.

When I look at how thyroid works in the body I am impressed by the feedback control systems which get their feedback from bone, muscle, and the rest of the central nervous system. I am kind of guessing that if stress on the bones, muscles, and central nervous system are missing the loop will not work well. So, resistance, aerobic, and interval exercise as well as high activity sports (e.g. Tennis) are probably necessary to get the loop to work well.

“Just say no to drugs” is probably sage advise.

Have a lot of fun!

Todzo