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Posted 9/2/2016 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking 48.75 MG nature throid for several months. I just got my latest results back and my dr is upping my dosage to 60MG. Here are my results:

TSH 1.59 (.450-4.500)
T4 1.23 (.82-1.77)
RT3 22.3 (9.2-24.1)
T3 3.2 (4.0-4-4)


He wants me to take this dose for 3 months and then redo my labs. Does this sound right? Any advice or input will be helpful.
Posted 9/2/2016 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
I am terrible for information on thyroid.

But I copied this from one of our Moderators, CD a long time ago because I didn't understand thyroid.

This is a tough holiday weekend for the US members, so you might not get an answer right away but here is my lesson from CD regarding thyroid.

Quick Thyroid 101:

The thyroid produces two main hormones: T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine). T4 is our storage hormone and is converted into T3, our active hormone. 20% of the conversion happens within the thyroid and the rest in various body areas (brain, pituitary, muscles,etc.).

TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone and is produced by the pituitary in response to the body's need for thyroid hormone (which fuels every single cell of the body). TSH is most responsive to the amount of T3 (active hormone) in the bloodstream.

An elevated TSH indicates an underactive thyroid - the pituitary is screaming at the thyroid to produce hormone. However, there are many, many things that affect TSH: infections, antibodies, pituitary dysfunction, etc. TSH can be skewed low because of these things and, therefore, it's not a reliable indicator of thyroid function.

Doctors get all caught up with the sensitivity of the test. Great, they can measure small amounts of TSH. That doesn't mean the test is a reliable indicator of thyroid function.

If you want the full skinny on proper hypothyroidism diagnosis and treatment, here's a good read:

www.thyroidscience.com/hypotheses/dommisse.feb.2008/dommisse.feb.2008.pdf

And, if you scroll towards the bottom of the following link, you'll read about the 300 different symptoms a person might experience ala hypothyroidism:

hypothyroidmom.com/300-hypothyroidism-symptoms-yes-really/

Thyroid-savvy doctors look at the actual levels of usable thyroid hormone to evaluate thyroid function: Free T4 (T4 or thyroxine, free direct) and Free T3 (tri-iodothyronine, free, serum).

The thyroxine test measures T4 that is bound to proteins and not usable by the body.

The T3 uptake test is an obsolete test in which T3 is used as a reagent in the test. This test measures how well your thyroid hormone binds to binding proteins. It's used to sort of estimate your Free T4 level when calculated with a T4 (thyroxine) result

And, you guessed it - the Free Thyroxine Index represents that calculation.

Why run all these lame tests that are trying to guesstimate your Free T4 level (and don't even measure your Free T3 level) when the actual tests are available to do so?

Loss of the outer third of the eyebrows is a classic symptom of hypothyroidism.


Aviva Romm – google and read.

Post Edited (PeteZa) : 9/2/2016 12:50:33 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/2/2016 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
A few things stand out immediately. T4 level should be a little higher, T3 is low, and RT3 is high. First, youre not on a high enough dosage, but even more important, youre not converting properly. I do not see antibody levels, or any other test results that would explain why you arent converting properly. Normally id not worry about high RT3, but since your T3 is low you need to find out why you arent converting.

Id expect raising to 60 isnt going to fix things. Its a good start, but you may end up adding T3. Or changing meds completely. There is a lot of variables as to why you arent converting. Did you ever have your liver values checked? Diabetic? Etc etc...you need more pieces to the puzzle.
Posted 9/2/2016 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't had my liver checked before but I have been tested for diabetes. That came back normal. I was just on cytomel before for low T3 but then he switched me to nature thyoid a few months ago.
Posted 9/2/2016 11:28 PM (GMT 0)
You've already been given great advice.

Please know that you don't need to wait 3 months for accurate labs after a dose increase. 3-4 wks. is more like it.

Since you are/will be taking a relatively low dose and will likely need more dose increases, why prolong the agony and wait 3 months for the next one?
Posted 9/2/2016 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Forgot to mention...

People taking T3-containing meds like Nature Throid will have suppressed (below-range) TSH when they are taking optimal doses. This means a TSH below .3 and more commonly <.005.

The Free T4 and Free T3 levels will be in the upper third of their respective ranges.

Once your doctor achieves those types of levels for you, it's appropriate to "wear" them for awhile to see if those final thyroid symptoms dissipate.

If not, tiny dose adjustments can help you "hone in" on the Free T4 and Free T3 levels that "fit" you best.
Posted 9/3/2016 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the advice. The problem for me is that I can't decipher what are thyroid symptoms and what are Lyme system. Any advice on telling the difference?
Posted 9/3/2016 3:55 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, lyme, thyroid, and even adrenal symptoms, as well as some systemic candida symptoms can be very similar, as they do overlap.

Night sweats, insomnia, anxiety from hyper AND hypo, and hot/cold feelings are common thyroid symptoms that can also re-surface in many people while adjusting thyroid meds. This freaks out many people as they assume the new dose level is wrong. However, these can be temporary symptoms that become less apparent in 6 to 7 weeks as your body gets use to the new thyroid level.
Posted 9/3/2016 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so glad the cd said that levels that "fit you best." While there are ranges some people do not feel well when their FT3 is at the higher end of the range. Again, it varies with the patient and what other factors may be occurring.

With relation to RT3, inflammation is a MAJOR factor in driving this up.
Posted 9/4/2016 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
Krimpet-how reliable are the C Reactive Protein blood test? Isn't that one that test for inflammation? Mine was low. Can Lyme mess with the results of this test?
Posted 9/4/2016 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
C Reactive Protein is supposed to be low. < 3.

Yes, it is marker for inflammation.

And with lyme, sometimes it can rise. (Mine was checked awhile back, and it was in normal range..my Dr. is having me do another one)
Posted 9/5/2016 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
The best test is the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). It is much more reliable than the regular CRP test.
Posted 9/5/2016 12:34 AM (GMT 0)

Krimpet 🍔 said...
The best test is the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). It is much more reliable than the regular CRP test.

I didn't know about the more sensitive test. I doubt if I'm getting that one.
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