Lyme blocks hormone receptors - Pirouette?

Hey P,

I remember reading posts of yours wherein you mention your theory that something else is going on when people have optimal thyroid levels yet still have thyroid symptoms.

In re-reading Dr. B's 2008 Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines, I discovered that Lyme can "also potentially interfere with hormone action by blocking hormone receptors".

This could be the "something else".

In fact, I plan on using the guidelines as "ammo" with my PCP (who treats my thyroid). She's become frustrated with the fact that I seem to need thyroid hormone dose increases almost every month. We now have an explanation why...

Post Edited (cd3764) : 7/27/2015 5:57:46 AM (GMT-6)

Hotze told me that Lyme blocks thyroid hormone receptor sites. I was told by them that no amount of thyroid hormone would be of benefit until the Lyme was cleared.

In my case, it was true. I am currently off thyroid meds until I can get the Lyme under control. I may not even need thyroid meds!

Thanks to those who posted!

One would hope that our doctors are aware of the details associated with thyroid function but we know many aren't...or maybe they forget because they're so busy.

I long ago identified the types of FreeT4 and FreeT3 levels that keep me free from thyroid symptoms by keeping a symptoms journal as it relates to my thyroid labs. I've shared this with my PCP from time-to-time but she doesn't necessarily remember the actual numbers. She just remembers "high normal" (and "high normal" really isn't accurate for me in regards to my FreeT4 level - I feel best with it slightly over-range)

I have suggested and sometimes had to push for every dose adjustment.

More recently, I've heard comments from my PCP like "we just can't keep increasing and increasing the dose".

I've told her I'm not looking for a particular dose but, instead, particular thyroid levels...the ones that keep me free from thyroid symptoms. And, I blamed Lyme. (LDN seems to have helped with conversion, though, because I actually needed a T3 dose decrease after starting LDN)

Those of us with thyroid issues know that it's no fun to be dealing with less-than-optimal levels.

Per her request, I'm loaning her my go-to book on Graves' when I see her next week for my monthly thyroid check. (I joined the 20% of Graves' patients who go hypo after remission but I think my continued suppressed TSH is concerning her).

I'm praying she doesn't get mad at me for slightly increasing my dose without discussing it with her last time (she was on vacation).

My FreeT4 level last month was 5% below the low end of my "comfort zone"....that is enough to take away my afternoon energy, some of my concentration and also cause me achy knees.

This was the first time I calculated the percentage of how "off" my level was....and 5% might not seem like a lot but we thyroid patients know what we feel like when our levels aren't right.

It seems hard for my doctor to realize that a Free T4 level of 1.73 (ref range .8 - 1.76) won't work for someone who needs a level around 1.8 - 1.84. Yes, it's "only" a 5-6% difference but it's a big difference for this girl's body lol

I don't know if I'll need any "ammo" for my PCP but I often go in "armed".

I'll let you know how it goes...

Post Edited (cd3764) : 7/27/2015 6:03:40 AM (GMT-6)

Hello, my son's T3 / T4 hormones were all over the place over the last years (as we tried to figure out what was wrong with him), sometimes normal, many times low.

Most interesting (and scary), though, was a different hormone, his testosterone, which back in the fall of 2011 a wonderful, investigative "orthomolecular" MD in Toronto found to be at a dangerous level of 9 (newborn) ...when it should have been above 31 or 32.

And, true to the doctor's promise, by using natural products he was able to raise it slowly up into normal levels over about 5 or 6 months.