How much T3 should you take for reverseT3 and h... - Thyroid UK

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How much T3 should you take for reverseT3 and hypothyroidism?

Nessiam profile image
9 Replies

My T3 is at the very bottom of the range at 2.3 and I have been taking 50mcg T3 only for almost a week and NDT for a month before that and I still have all my awful hypo symptoms. So should I increase? Or? I do have iron deficiency anemia and I know I definitely have reverse T3 because I come from a long history of eating problems. For the past five years I've been on clear liquid fasts more than I've had actual food. I've starved on 300 cals for months at a time. (This was not to lose weight btw, I have a lot of other health problems besides thyroid) Anyway, I saw that's one of the main causes of RT3 and the other cause is any trauma to the body like surgery, I've have 3 surgeries in the past year. So please tell me what you think I should do for the RT3 and Hypo?

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Clutter profile image
Clutter

Nessiam,

How high is your rT3?

Nessiam profile image
Nessiam in reply to Clutter

My doctor didn't test me for it, I just know I have given my background. It would be impossible that my body didn't produce rT3.

Clutter profile image
Clutter in reply to Nessiam

Nessiam,

We ALL make rT3. Something like 20-40% of T4 converts to rT3 and the rest converts to T3. I would have your rT3 level checked before you assume you have high rT3 and start adjusting dose and medication for something you may not have.

Clutter profile image
Clutter

Bruster,

The quickest way to clear high rT3 is to take the smallest dose of T3 one can cope with and even so, it can take 3-4 months to clear it.

Nessiam profile image
Nessiam in reply to Clutter

Hidden Clutter Wait which one is it, higher does or lower does for RT3?

Nessiam profile image
Nessiam

That makes sense, thank you so much for explaining!

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw in reply to Nessiam

Like Clutter, I have concerns about you assuming you have an RT3 problem - however, you've already started down the road.

T3, when used sensibly and carefully won't do any harm in genuine cases of hypothyroidism. But please take care - this stuff is powerful and you really do need to know what you're doing. It would be very easy to get into quite a mess with it all.

So, obligatory caution over...

See thyroidrt3.com/howisit1.htm

It's where most of the advice on reversing RT3 seems to come from. You'll see at the bottom that Clutter's method - keeping the dose low - is included, as well as Bruster's advice to go up in dose over time. Clutter's method is probably less risky.

Edited to add, your ferritin was very low a month ago: healthunlocked.com/thyroidu... so you may find you just can't tolerate T3. This may not work the way you're hoping.

Additionally, ferritin is needed for conversion of T4 to T3 in those with normally functioning thyroids. To be honest, the low ferritin might be the cause of your hypothyroid symptoms - it's actually quite likely that you don't have a thyroid problem at all.

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw in reply to Jazzw

I've also just spotted your "3 surgeries in the past year" comment. Did you have B12 tested? Anaesthetics can greatly deplete Vit B12 stores, with unpleasant consequences - symptoms very similar to hypothyroid symptoms, along with numbness, pins and needles etc. Something to consider.

Nessiam profile image
Nessiam in reply to Jazzw

Okay, well given everything you said, what do you actually suggest I do now?

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