Hello, my name is Tim. 30 year old male. Last week I was feeling extremely fatigued and had difficulty concentrating. The Dr. did blood work and the results are back:
High calcium, high t-3 uptake, high Albumin, and high Albumin/Globulin ratio. I still feel tired and can’t focus as well. I was taking Finasteride for about 10 months but at a very low dosage as it would make my heart rate increase and make me feel like I just ran a marathon. I only had this when taking Finasteride, trust me. The heart rate changes were getting worse so I took a break drom Finasteride for 3 weeks. On Dec 25th (Christmas), I decided to take the whole 1 mg dose as I was feeling better after not taking it for 3 weeks. I felt really, really bad (worst sides ever) for the next 1.5 months with increased heart rate again and a a feeling of weight resting on my chest. Haven’t taken the Finasteride since as I still have the same sides (slightly less). I’m beginning to think the last mg full dose really screwed up my thyroid and hormones?? Can anyone offer feedback? I am lost. -Tim
Post your bloodtest results with ranges.
Ok, as you requested:
t-3 uptake: 36 (range is 22-35%)
Calcium: 10.4 (range is 8.6-10.2)
Albumin 5.4 (range is 3.6-5.1)
Albumin/Glubulin Ratio 2.2 (range is 1.0-2.1)
Although my levels are only slightly high, I think it is important to mention a few things:
-I had blood work done 1 year and 3 months ago and I had far better numbers with the Calcium, t-3uptake and Albumin/Globulin ratio.
-Also, the Finasteride definitely had an effect on my heart rate. 2.5 years ago my heart rate was in the upper 40’s per minute. Now, it is in the upper 60’s low 70’s per minute. When on the Finasteride, my heart definetely pumped harder. Like I was running a marathon or something. I get the feeling it was doing something to my thyroid which in turn was causing my heart rate to increase?? Not sure. Since off the Finasteride, my heart does not beat as hard which is good, but the number of beats per minute never returned to before Finasteride status. Any feedback? I feel so weird posting this cause I get the feeling that some people will think i’m wacko or something cause they never heard of such a side effect. Believe me guys, i’m 100% not crazy. Thank you.
Find it hard to believe that it would direcly increase one’s heart beat. But it can cause anxiety which indirectly increases one’s beat
edit: did not mean to belittle your problems or question you, just a thought about the anxiety…
So, what do you think, i’m making this stuff up? Seriously what would be the point of that!? I don’t understand it either!, But it is what it is. Shit.
Personally have never heard of increased heart rate, but that is common with Minoxodil… where you using it as well?
Anyway, I wouldn’t sweat it… go see some docs and see what they have to say. This is certainly not a common side effect for Fin, even in the minority of sufferers here.
.
Wow Solonjk, you know your stuff! Are you a doctor by chance, that was impressive.
When mentioned my test results previously, I only mentioned items that showed out of range. Looking at my results sheet, I can tell you that my:
-T-4 total is 6.1 (4.5-12.5 range)
-Free T4 Index (T7) is 2.2 (1.4-3.8)
-TSH, 3rd Generation is 1.70 (0.40-4.50 mIU/L
At the top of the sheet, the Dr. wrote in: Review Ca,Mg, Phos, PTH. I went in for more blood work a few days ago but will not receive results for a few more days.
I did not tell him I was on Finasteride since I had not taken a dose since Dec 25th, 2007. Maybe I should have?
-I believe that maybe I am predisposed to Thyroid issues and the stress of the Finasteride brought it out. The thing that doesn’t make sense to me is that:
-I felt like crap with the heavy chest for a good 1.5 months after stopping Finasteride. Started very, very slowly feeling better after that. Then I began a ridiculously heavy work load for my Masters class and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I’m thinking an already week thyroid from the Finas, then an external stressor from my grad class made things regress??
-I have a feeling I can get myself back to old good levels but only if I remain stress free for a while which is difficult. I am a teacher (I have a lot of stress in my job) on spring break which is good but i’m also writing several papers which can be tiresome and a bit stressful (especially cause I am not a good writer, it takes me forever.). Thanks Solonjk
Tim
SolonJk I have a few things to add if you wouldn’t mind giving feedback??
I noticed in your feedback to a guy named razor that you asked him if he has cold hands and feet. You also asked him if he was fatigued?
I would like to answer yes to both. Please allow me to elaborate:
I have always had freezing cold hands in the winter since I was a kid. I was diagnosed with Reynaulds (sp?) phenomenon. My veins are pretty much not visible in my hands during the winter months, but bulging veins in the summer. Maybe there is a link???
Also: I took it easy last week as I had spring break (I am a teacher). By the end of the week I almost felt back to normal with nice energy levels. I started back to work on Tuesday and today (Friday) i’m feeling like crap again. I look in the mirror and see a ridiculously tired individual who has difficulty concentrating. Also a little heaving feeling on my chest. I am not overweight and have the same wweight i’ve had for the last 5 years (i’m thin). It seems as though when I start to get stressed something bad starts happening in my body and the negative effects begin. I came home today and took a 1.5 hour nap. I feel a little better now since I napped. Also, mornings are difficult for me if I was feeling crappy the evening before. I swear stress induces my problems and I don’t know what to do. Any idea what my deal is considering my prior posts?? Is my thyroid, pituitary or para thyroid breaking down under stress? Confused with this stuff. Thanks, I really appreciate it! -Tim
what was helpful for me was thyroid antibody tests.
thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin. If these numbers are higher than 60(singularly) it could add another variable to consider. Thyroid antibodies causes sleep disorder and prohibits muscle regeneration. Also Tsh is not Tsh because if your reading is within range but your clinical condition shows otherwise then this may lead to impaired or resistive tissue.
In my case I believe I have a genetic weakness in this area from which a litle finasteride caused me to unbalance my thyroid.
I am taking T3 in a supraphysiological dose to combat symtoms. I am not 100 percent but I am a lot better than when I set out to recovery.
my knowledge of the thyoid comes from Dr Lowe also at thyroidscience.com
Regarding Thyroid function.
This article shows that the thyroid hormone is responsible for erectile function in rabbits.
ajol.info/index.php/njps/article … 3966/42508
The following article surprised me. It shows that 79% of men with thyroid dysfunction suffer ED.
thyroid.about.com/b/2008/09/18/t … nction.htm
NB, Thyroid disorders are difficult to diagnose via labs. (and often with difficulty by less aware doctors). It appears a REVERSE T3 is the best parameter to indicate hypothyroidism.
JN
JN,
I’m not surprised. I keep thinking about that Guy Mitch who was on here and began taking Armour thryoid and some other thryoid supp. His sides went away and he recovered.
My T3 number was very low, the last time I had it tested. Yet, my doctor did not think I had a thyroid problem. ALso, I had just read that raising T3 levels can raise IGF-1 levels as well. My IGF1 has been low just about every time I had it tested.
It’s time for another a blood test. I will be going for a new one tomorrow and will have T3/T4 tested. This should be interesting to see if these numbers are the same.
I ordered some Thyromine(natural supplement) I heard it’s one of best natural supplements out there…Besides that, definitely get a full thyroid panel. My doctor is doing one for me next week…yay!
Bear in mind that if Reverse T3 levels are high, indicating Reverse T3 syndrome, the treatment is T3 (NOT the classic T4, thyroxine) that is prescribed by docs.
Indeed, Armour thyroid contains T3 and it is encouraging that Mitch got better with Armour Thyroid. Furthermore, it may be encouraging than many others have not got better with T4 (thyroxine) treatment. This is because we are assuming there may be a problem with conversion of T4 into T3 (which is what reverse T3 problem is all about…the T4 is converted into the biologically INACTIVE rT3, not the REAL T3).
Essentially, the T3 on our blood panel could actually be the imposter rT3…inactive…thus explaining symptoms.
It may explain low Vit D levels (due to poor ezymatic conversion activity in skin) and possibly other deficiencies.
Just to add: my body temperature this morning (tested with a proper medical thermometer) was 34.9 C! Astonishingly low.
JN
Should anyone return a ‘high reverse T3’ test (abnormal), the following need to be considered:
- Adrenal issues
- Mercury poisoning
- Chronic gut wall infection.
Below is a link to a testimonial of a man who had high reverse T3, and found that removal of his dental amalgams (containing mercury!) improved his symptoms.
medical-library.net/index.ph … 12,quote=1
Also, of interest, J89 stated he had a return of libido when having a bowel cleanse. ?Possibly related to gut wall infection.
Mew stated an allevation of his symptoms when he had Norwork virus (diarrhoea).
In addition, read the part by Dr Kennedy in the above attachment (his response) in which he states antibiotics having a damaging effect on the gut flora. The use of antibiotics has been implicated as worsening symptoms on this website before.
JN
Nice my fellow brother…Good Read…
It wouldn’t doubt me one bit most of our thyroid readings came in with a high Reverse T3(Inactive). If this is the case and we are hypothyroid, this pretty much explains we are also victims of CFS(Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) as well…
Lets stay on this…
My reading tells me a thyroid panel is TOTALLY INADEQUATE without a reverse T3 level. Whatever it takes, this is essential, especially in our situation.
JN
Chaps, have a read of the following post. It comes from anabolicminds.com. The statement is made in response to a propecia sufferer’s request for help.
I believe the response below is made by ?? Dr Mariano (aka The Matrix). He is well regarded by Dr Crisler.
JN
An excerpt taken from the following literature about the effect of finasteride on frog thyroid hormones.
The Aromatase Inhibitor Fadrozole and the 5-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride Affect Gonadal Differentiation and Gene Expression in the Frog Silurana tropicalis
P. Duarte-Gutermana, V.S. Langloisa, K. Hodgkinsona, B.D. Paulib, G.M. Cookec, M.G. Waded, V.L. Trudeaua
Evidence that reverse T3 production is increased by finasteride in frogs.
JN
I just got off the phone to Kermit.
He says no need to worry on his behalf: he considered Propecia but in the end went with Rogaine and the laser comb.