Rverse T3

[LIsaD69]

I have been diagnosed with reverse t3 of 555.  My doctor has taken me off Amour and ordered slow release
T3 and Progesterone and DHEA.  Has anyone else been treated for this?
Cheers Lisa

[stella5349]

It sounds like you have an amazing doctor over there.

[LIsaD69]

Wow, it is so nice to talk to someone thinking about and going through similar medical challanges.  However I have never heard of conversion problems?  Except when my doctor talks about my incorrect conversion of T4 to Reverse T3, which I had read about and brought up with him.  Can you explain any more?  I'm always looking for new clues to the puzzle as my mother also has Hashimotos (but for much longer).  The only reason I knew what was wrong with me was because I had already been researching on and off for years for my mum.  She was on Thyroxine for years (when her thyroid finally crashed and they started to treat her for hypo as before that her sickness was apparently in her head) until I researched and found armour.  She feels heaps better now, as thyroxine 'fixed her T3 and T4 blood levels, but not her.  She still struggles with weight etc.

Facinating to hear about your endos blood levels.  I've definitely got to look into that more!  when you say ' high to normal range of T3, what is the range?  Same for T4 ?  In Australia the blood print out states TSH .4 - 4, T4 10 - 20, T3 2.8 - 6.8. My doctor says that these are outdated.
My Dr believes that TSH should be less than 1.5  T3  over 4.8 he didn't tell me the upper limit, and T.4 over 15......back to you on that one
Dr also says that there is no 'perfect levels' for T3 and T4, some of his patients do well in the high ranges and some not.  He believes it is all about adjusting, making the patient feel their best.
However he fully admits he is still learning and is open to looking at any new info I bring him.  He is away for 3 months and I will be testing out a new doctor that I've heard is very good.
I'll let you know how I go
cheers Lisa
P.s  I'm having ' good week' with my Hashimotos.  I hope you are fine too!

[laura1967]

Lisa.....All very well stated! You are becoming nicely informed. You are very fortunate that you have found a very good doctor. I too have a great dr. Her and I had looked at each other and suggested testing reverse T3 just to be sure. Mine was within normal limits, so I am on Armour....I have a conversion problem. It is so nice to have drs that think outside of the box....especially with nutrition and strenthening the immune system, looking at hormonal balance of other hormones.  I am even doing acupuncture to assist with that! When we get sick like this, we are willing to try anything to get our health back!
Hashimoto's seems to be a tough one for drs to learn to treat....how early for treatment...which meds are best....running the proper tests....and most popular, where is normal range for hashi patients? My endo says that Hashi patients should have that TSH suppressed to a .50-1.0. And of course the Free T3 should be mid to high normal, and Free T4 mid normal.
Thanks for the heads up on the book....I will look into it. Hope you get to feeling better soon!!  :)

[LIsaD69]

Yes, it's being made by a compounding pharmacy.  I will let you know how I go if you like.  My !st doctor couldn't understand why my TSH was normal if I had Antibodies and refused to treat me with low dose thyroid med, which I read was the right thing and protective to do for Hashimotos.
I changed to a more informed doctor.  I asked for the reverse T3 test because it was the only thing I had read up on that could explain all of my long term symptoms since my TSH, T4 and T3 were in normal ranges.  I had this test done straight away, before I started medications.   2 days later I started 15mg of thyroid extract and I did feel better than previously but still not well.  Then I was sure my T3 was not being utilised but had to wait 3 months for the test results.  Eventually felt worse than before, but still stuck waiting for test results.
No previous Doctor I talked to in 4 years would test more than my TSH. Here you have to have abnormal TSH or they won't test your T3 or T4.  Therefore most Hashimotos patients aren't diagnosed!  They don't qualify as 'being sick' (diagnosed) until they have hypothyroidism and are then treated for that.  The implications and complications of auto immune problems aren't really looked at... just treating symptoms.  
Reverse T3 tests are not often run, or asked for, let alone recognised as a possibility...at least in my case...for 4 years.
I think the low rate of diagnoses could be skewed by the low rate of these tests??? and understanding when they are needed???
Leave that one to you!
My doctor does run these tests and said he will run another one in 6 months (reverse T3).  He said that with Hashimotos (an immune function disorder ) it can be part of the whole process of my immune system attacking my thyroid and causing it to not work correctly, and needs to be treated for now by replacing T3 and balancing other low hormones such as Dhea and Oestrogen dominence by balancing with progesterone before I need retesting.  I have other bloods done every 6-8 weeks.  He is very pro diet to reduce over firing immune system in the first place.  He showed me studies where immune responses are now normal after being  treated with diet alone and patients are able to feel good and come off medications.  For now he will balance my system and help me to feel normal, but when better I intend to work on my immune system that led to this condition.  I am really aware that this same immune problem could lead to other immune disorders if I don't!  Have you read the book Elaine Gottshall wrote?  Called 'Breaking the vicious Cycle"?  It heals leaky gut syndrome which is being linked to autoimmune diseases and recovery from!
Anyhow, going to try this all and will let you know.  Personally, just desperate to feel well again and get my life back.
cheers Lisa

[laura1967]

It isn't very common, so you are one of the lucky ones. :) :) Is your dr having a compound pharmacy put it in time release for you?
Did he give you a probable cause of your body making so much reverse T3? From what I have read it is a temporary thing....did he confirm this? Please keep us informed of what your dr tells you, as this is educational for the rest of us.
:)  :)