RT3 dominance...?

In February, I had labs on 8 grains of Erfa daily (24 h after taking NDT):

TSH <0.01 (0.2-4.0)

FT4 0.9 (ref 0.8-1.6)

FT3 2.9 (ref 1.7-3.7)

Around this time, I managed to wean off Medrol for adrenal fatigue (I had been on it since late 2011).

In March, I switched to Thyroid-S, after finding Erfa inconsistent. About a month ago, I started to feel hyperthyroid, and cut back from 8 to 7 grains daily. I thought maybe that meant that my adrenal glands were starting to work better, thus making my body use the thyroid hormone more effectively. These are my latest labs (from 29 July):

TSH <0.01

FT4 0.9

FT3 2.9

So identical...but FTs on the low side given my huge dose of NDT, right...?

This makes me wonder if I have RT3 dominance; isn't that characterised by low FTs (whereas insufficient T4 to T3 conversion would show high FT4 levels along with lowish FT3 levels)?

The only thing is that I don't feel hypothyroid at all....my hands and feet are warm, I have energy, I am not tired, I don't lose hair, I don't put on weight, I am not bloated, nothing. Would RT3 dominance not basically leave you hypothyroid, with all that it entails...?

[greygoose]

Difficult to assess conversion when you are taking any form of T3. You need to be on T4 only to be able to see how you're converting. On NDT, the FT4 is bound to be low, but your FT3 should be higher on 7 grains. So, that rather indicates an absorption problem. How are your nutrients?

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Total proteins (protéines totales) below range, iron below range, B12 below range...

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Yup, sounds like an absorption problem. Are you doing anything about your gut? Or your stomach acid? Are you supplementing your B12?

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

I am taking a multivitamin daily...maybe not enough..?!

Also, I have been considering Betaine HCL for stomach acid, as I've read most hypos have low stomach acid levels...

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

A multivitamin is a total waste of time and money. There's not enough in it to treat a real deficiency, there are things that you don't want, and there are things that should not be in a tablet together because they cancel each other out. In the end, you get very little out of it for your money.

You should get your vit D, vit B12, folate and ferritin tested and work from there. If your B12 is below range, you should have been tested for Pernicious Anemia, it could be that you will need injections for life.

Yes, hypos usually have low stomach acid, so trying the betain would be good.

I'm amazed that your Hertoghe doctor has never addressed any of these issues!

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

To be quite honest, I am not that impressed with my doctor...it seems the label "Hertoghe doctor" is enough for some doctors to consider themselves hormone experts, but they rarely treat what you call real deficiencies...at least in my opinion I know others who say the same thing about other Hertoghe doctors, so it seems to be a general problem...they charge a lot, but deliver relatively little in return...

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

Bit of a scam, really, isn't it. I wonder if Dr Hertoghe himself realises what's going on in his name...