Hi, I'm new here and never had a thyroid problem before and am not on any thyroid medication. I recently had a thyroid test at GPs and it was 'normal'. I decided to havea more detailed private one and the results are strange. Can I post the results for advice please? I will add that I'm currently in withdrawal/recovery from valium that was prescribed due to sudden family bereavements. My recovery is protracted and I think this has affected my whole endocrine system. I took valium for nearly 2 years, unbeknown to me that it would cause such hell after coming off 3 years ago. I'm now beginning to wonder if my thyroid is messed up from this. I have made an appt to see my GP, but since my T3 and T4 are ok I doubt they will be concerned. My TSH is really low and RT3 massively high. I have suffered with symptoms from the valium for so long, I'm desperate to get better. Sorry if this is complicated.
New here, no previous thyroid issues, no meds. ... - Thyroid UK
New here, no previous thyroid issues, no meds. Need help as had tests and they are weird.
Hi Catherine, welcome to the forum. 
Please do post your results - we won't be able to help you, otherwise. But, don't forget to put the ranges! Results are meaningless without the ranges.
Thank you. I've just added them
These are my results. Just to add my TSH was 1.22 2 months ago. I really don't know what to do.
Thyroid Function
THYROID STIMULATING HORMONE *0.033 mIU/L 0.27 - 4.20
FREE THYROXINE 18.5 pmol/L 12.00 - 22.00
TOTAL THYROXINE(T4) 108.0 nmol/L 59.00 - 154.00
FREE T3 5.36 pmol/L 3.10 - 6.80
REVERSE T3 *42 ng/dL 10.00 - 24.00
REVERSE T3 RATIO *8.31 15.01 - 75.00
Thyroid Antibodies
THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY 12.800 IU/mL 0.00 - 115.00
THYROID PEROXIDASE ANTIBODIES 9 IU/mL 0.00 - 34.00
HAEMATOLOGY
Vitamins
VITAMIN B12 233 pmol/L 140.00 - 724.00
FOLATE (SERUM) *2.83 ug/L 2.91 - 50.00
25 OH VITAMIN D 64.7 nmol/L 50.00 - 200.00
Interpretation of results:
Deficient <25
Insufficient 25 - 49
Normal Range 50 - 200
Consider reducing dose >200
BIOCHEMISTRY
Inflammation Marker
CRP - HIGH SENSITIVITY 1.2 mg/l 0.00 - 5.00
Iron Status
FERRITIN 68.8 ug/L 13.00 - 150.00
Have you had any sort of illness recently? Or are you on a low-calorie diet? Either of those could account for the high rT3. But, I don't think it would be caused by taking valium, or that the valium has messed up your endocrine system. Apart from the high rT3, the endocrine system seems to be working very well.
But, you B12 and folate are a bit low. You might like to take those results over to the Pernicious Anemia forum.
No, I haven't had any other illness apart from this horrible benzodiazepine protracted WD, which causes lots of symptoms similar to hypo as well as many more. The stress of this could have contributed maybe, so guess yes I have been ill from that for an extended period and trying to work at the same time etc. Is the RT3 not a problem and the low TSH? I have learned that benzos can create havoc with the endocrine system. Maybe it is just that. I've started a folate supplement and do eat foods rich in b12 as supplements for this make me worse. Sorry if this is complex.
Thank you for your reply
There's always some rT3 in the system, but it rises as a safety valve for the body, so that the body has to slow down and conserve energy when there's any sort of crisis. If there's a lot of unconverted T4 in the system, it will often convert to rT3 to get rid of it. The rT3 is then converted to T2, so that nothing is wasted. The only problem is that it can get stuck in the T3 receptors, so that the ordinary T3 can't get into the cells. And, that could be giving you hypo symptoms. But, there's not a lot you can do about it, except remove the stress that's causing it. If you can.
Low TSH is not, in and of itself, a problem, as long as your Frees are in range. And your Frees are in range, not excessively high in range. But, it is something to keep an eye on. GPs, of course, will only test TSH, but if it goes lower, you need to get your Frees tested, to make sure they haven't gone over-range. You could be heading towards hyperthyroidism. The antibodies you had done, there, are for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Might be interesting to get them done for Grave's.
I think high reverse T3 may be caused by reduced clearance from the liver. There are other reasons too, but that is one known reason. Do you know if you have any liver problems? Have you had any liver function testing in the last few months?
Also high cortisol can cause high reverse T3.
And low iron.
For more reasons see this link : stopthethyroidmadness.com/r...
I just found this post on another forum that may be of interest to you. The topic title is
HOW BENZOS CAUSE HPA AXIS DYSREGULATION
benzobuddies.org/forum/inde...
I found it by googling for "benzodiazepine withdrawal cortisol" and there was a LOT more to read on the subject, if you're interested.
From the same source I found this :
Vitamin C & Cortisol
benzobuddies.org/forum/inde...
The reason I went looking at cortisol is that I can imagine benzo withdrawal must be hugely stressful. And any situation which is hugely stressful is bound to have pronounced effects on cortisol.
Thank you so much. Yes it is like being majorly stressed all the time and any added stress feels like it will kill you. Just awful. I think my cortisol must be through the roof, I've started taking vit C don't know if it will help.
Can anyone advise on this please? I think my high RT3 is giving me hypo symptoms. Would taking a small dose of T3 help in any way. I'm seeing my GP on monday but not expecting any help with my other levels being normal.
In the long term you would be better off trying to identify the cause of your high reverse T3 and fixing it.
Your GP may never have heard of Reverse T3. It isn't something of any interest to the NHS. Many doctors don't even believe that Free T3 is important.
Since your Free T3 is actually not bad, I don't think your doctor will help.
A website that discusses reverse T3 is this one. It has useful info even for people who don't have to worry about reverse T3 :
There is also this website :
The website above is no longer updated, it is old-fashioned and ugly, and is horrible to navigate. But it is worth browsing.
Some people go on to T3-only to eliminate high reverse T3. But if you don't fix the things that are causing it then it will just come back again if you go back on Levo or NDT.
Thank you for this. The reason for my disregulation is benzo withdrawal, it has depleted my cortisol. Once this resolves I should be ok. I wonder in the meantime if it would be worth trying some T3. I sort of feel in a vicious cycle. If I tried it, it wouldn't harm me would it?
I think you need to know whether your cortisol is high or low. Have you considered doing a saliva test to find out which it is?
I have, I'm just so short on funds. The thyroid test was nearly £200 and I've had to take a lower paid job because of health. Do Gp's do this do you know? If i do nothing will the RT3 clear and resolve itself?
GPs will test cortisol via a blood test, if they agree to test at all.
The only time that I know of when the NHS will do a saliva test for cortisol is at midnight when testing someone for Cushing's Disease. They get the patient to do the test at home, and then take the sample in to the hospital the next day.
I can't really say whether the RT3 will clear itself. The fact that your TSH has changed so dramatically in just two months is a puzzle. You don't have positive antibodies, which would have helped explain it.
I'm still of the opinion that you should work on your nutrients. If you read posts by SeasideSusie you can see what optimal levels of nutrients should be and what kind of supplements people need.
You'll be amazed what a difference it makes getting nutrients optimised.
You should ask the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum for help on your low B12 and under the range folate.
You can find them here :
I really think you should work on your nutrients before going on T3.
If you did take T3 you would need to cut your Levo before taking it, or your Reverse T3 would be likely to get even higher.
I'n not on any thyroid meds at all and never have been.
Something you may find of interest...
This post comes from another forum and is well worth reading :
forums.phoenixrising.me/ind...
The book it comes from is available on Amazon :
amazon.co.uk/Still-Thyroid-...
I will confess I've bought the book but haven't got very far into it yet, but it does get good reviews.
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