rT3 result help please

[drll]

I had a my rT3 tested: 455 ref( 140-540).

What does this mean please,

thanks

drll

[greygoose]

It means your rT3 is not high enough to be causing a problem. Why did you get it tested? Do you have a high level of unconverted T4?

[drll in reply to greygoose]

thank you greygoose...I had a battery of tests late last year ordered by my integrative (functional)doctor. What he didn't tell me was how to take T3 which he prescribed and I simply did not know what I now know about how to take it (slowly). This resulted in my almost having a thyroid storm which put me in hospital and has also resulted in my experiencing non stop pressure in my head since last year. I thought that there might have been some relationship between that rT3 reading and the ongoing pressure that I constantly feel. I should as that I am taking 150mcg eltroxin and tertroxin 20mch per day, and that I lost my thyroid 40 years ago to cancer.

[greygoose in reply to drll]

Even if your rT3 were high, I doubt it would have any connection to pressure in the head. And I'm not sure that taking 20 mcg T3 could cause a thyroid storm, even if you didn't introduce it slowly. your FT3 was pretty low.

[drll in reply to greygoose]

thank you again. I am at a loss with this because the addition of the T3 was the only change to my thyroid tablet intake. What I do know is the head pressure and the research I have done indicates some sort of inter cranial hypertension but again, I am not sure whether the fast introduction of T3 triggered that outcome.

[greygoose in reply to drll]

It doesn't sound very likely.

[drll in reply to greygoose]

I will be going to see another integrative doctor in 2 weeks to see if I can get to the bottom of this head pressure. On a positive note, the T3 I am taking has led me to stop feeling cold, have soft skin, and sleep like a baby! But is also means that the GP I go to will have a fit when he sees my low TSH. and yes, I did go to another GP who asked me what Eltroxin is, and another who refused point blank to prescribe T3 calling it witch medicine.

[leoopard]

Your liver can convert T4 either into T3 (that revs up your metabolism) ot reverse T3 (that puts your body into a rest / hibernation mode). There will be both some T3 and some rT3 present in results. rT3 may matter in two circumstances. Either when it's out of range, or when the ratio of rT3 to T3 is out of range.

Different units are used to measure each, so it's far better if you have both tested at once and the lab can then indicate what your ratio is and whether that ratio is out of range.

The most common reasons for an elevated amount of T3 are: adrenal issues such as high cortisol, infection or inflammation, and gut issues.

My own test was useful in that I did have high rT3 and a high ratio to T3. I knew I had had elevated Cortisol - taking steps to reduce the Cortisol produced improvement in my hypo symptoms and confirmed (for me personally) the need for more T3.

[Clutter in reply to leoopard]

Leoopard,

T4 is converted into T3 and reverse T3. rT3 is the body's brake on converting too much T3 which would cause hyperthyroidism. Only high levels of rT3 are likely to be problematic.

[drll in reply to Clutter]

thank you Clutter, I sent grey goose a detailed response that if you have a moment perhaps you could have a loot at that for me,

[Clutter in reply to drll]

Drll,

As Greygoose said, rT3 is within range so unlikely to be a problem. What are your TSH, FT4 and FT3 results and ranges?

[drll in reply to Clutter]

As of 27/03/17 TSH 0.93(0.5-6.0), FT4 21.2 (11.0-22.0), FT3 4.1 (3.2-6.4). Since that date, I also started very slowly taking 10mcg T3 twice a day partly because my T3 was not in the top 25% of the reference range and partly because I thought that it might help me run relation to the constant pressure I feel in my head as a consequence of almost having a thyroid storm last year. I have had 2 MR/CAT scans and they are all clear.

[Clutter in reply to drll]

Drll,

You really need another thyroid function test to check FT3 remains within range now you've added 20mcg T3 to 150mcg Eltroxin.

Has there been any improvement since you've been taking T3?

[drll in reply to Clutter]

Yes indeed. I have stopped feeling cold, have soft skin and nails.hair, and sleep really soundly as well as more energy. I am seeing a new integrative doctor in 2 weeks who will probably order some new bloods.

[leoopard in reply to drll]

Two questions:

Did your labs report the ratio of T3 to rT3 (it's not simple calculation)?

When you had those thumping heads, was your general blood pressure raised or was the issue local to your head? Was T3 checked to diagnose this 'Thyroid Storm'?

[drll in reply to leoopard]

thanks Leoopard for your feedback. No, the hospital did not do a T3, and yes, my BP was really elevated. When I first started taking T3 last year (really quickly as unknown to me), after a couple of weeks I was starting to get 'whoosing' type feelings in my head and pain shortly after ingestion. They keep getting worse and I then made a decision to stop taking them. It was then that my head pressure was so bad that my wife took me to the local hospital. That was last August before I discovered this site. Since then the pain has diminished somewhat, being worse in the morning and then subsiding by the afternoon. Because I take my thyroxine at night, I thought that there may be some sort of connection there, but I am not sure. When described these symptoms to the compounding pharmacist making up my T3, he said that it might be that the T3 may have caused intercranial hypertension and my subsequent research showed that the pattern of morning pressure worse than the afternoon is typical of that condition. But I am at a loss with all of this. I have been dealing with this for 40 years and I have only one goal in all of this: to at least feel normal in relation to thyroid before I die.

[drll in reply to Clutter]

sorry, that is on 150 mcg eltroxin

[leoopard in reply to Clutter]

Thanks for the correction. The items I mentioned above lower the RATIO of T3 to rT3.

[Hidden]

drll - I know this is an older post, but I had to write you to see if you resolved your head pressure? I too had high reverse T3 last year (which also caused "low" RT3 ratio - too much Rt3 and not enough T3) and this started when I was prescribed T3. I ended up severly overmedicated and I have been through hell this last year trying to get through it. BUT your symptoms are IDENTICAL to mine - head pressure that started as soon as I started T3 last year - continued to get worse (along with a bunch of other horrible symptoms - weakness, fatigue, dry mouth, felt AWFUL) - so, I have come a long way but I do still have head pressure most days and SO CRAZY how it is worse in the morning and mostly better by later afternoon - just had to reach out to you to see if you are better and to connect with someone who has experienced this!