What have you done to successfully Lower your rT3 (or Ft3:rT3 Ratio)??

[TappedOut]

Hi All,

Nearly everything I've read regarding rT3 lowering, suggests that improving this number is paramount to any and all successful hashis and or hypoT treatment plans. However, I've yet to come across a "success story". Have you been able to lower your rT3? How did you do it?

Thank you for your time.....

Respectfully,

TappedOut

[Clutter]

TappedOut,

T4 converts to T3 and rT3. rT3 is a brake on converting too much T3. rT3 becomes high because of illness to slow down the body to aid recovery or because of overmedication.

If your FT4 or FT3 are high and causing high rT3 reducing dose should reduce rT3.

tiredthyroid.com/blog/2015/...

[TappedOut in reply to Clutter]

Hi Clutter! Thank you for this reply! Adding it to my notebook!! This is a great explanation.

For me, I have an elevated rT3, lowwwww Ft3, and low/"normal" Ft4. Since I have had Type 1 diabetes for essentially my entire life (age 5, I'm now 38), many studies agree that an elevated rT3, for a female type 1 of more than two decades, is to be expected, unfortunately. My "stress" is the type 1, among other typical stresses.

I'm on a low dose, of 1.25g of Nature Throid. I intend to titrate up, but I'm concerned about the rT3, in light of my low FT3.

So much to consider.

[Clutter in reply to TappedOut]

TappedOut,

Can you post your thyroid results and ranges?

[TappedOut in reply to Clutter]

Oh yes...Thank you. I have to disclose my August lab may be skewed as I was not fasting and had ingested iron and biotin (lowers levels) within hours of the draw. But these are my June (bottom) and August (first listed) results (thank you Clutter):

::::::

Currently On 1.25g Nature Throid

*******

August 18,2017 (at this point I was on 3/4g daily of Nature Throid)

TSH 1.60 (.45 - 4.5) uIU/mL

FT3 2.4 (2.0 - 4.4) pg/mL

rT3 12.5 (9.2 - 24.1) no/dL

FT4 .9 (.82 - 1.77) ng/dL

TPOab 11 (0 - 34) IU/mL

Tgab <1 (0.0 - .9)

Iodine 35.7 (40-92)

Vit d. 54.2 (30 - 100)

B12 1021 (211 - 946) pg/mL

Folate 3.8 (>3.0)ng/mL

DHEA 280.1 (57.3 - 279.2)ug/dL

Iron Panel

Ferritin 18 (15 - 150) ng/mL

TIBC 312 (250 - 450) ug/dL

SATURATION 27 (15 - 55)%

SERUM 83 (27-159) ug/dL

June 2017

Last basic thyroid labs (same range)

TSH 1.73

FT3 2.1

rT3 14.8

FT4 1.13

TPOab 15

Tgab <1

[Clutter in reply to TappedOut]

TappedOut,

There was nothing at all wrong with your rT3, 12.5 is low, not high.

Most people taking NDT are optimally dosed when FT3 is in the upper third of range with TSH 0.45 - 1.0 or even lower.

[TappedOut in reply to Clutter]

thank you Clutter for your time. I get different numbers from different docs. One was concerned about it because of my FT3:rT3 ratio? He also said my goal should be an rT3 under 11? Another doc said she thought it should be a low as possible, "preferably in the single digits." I have had an rT3 of 24.5, but it has come down.

What fr3:rT3 ratio do you believe? I'm not sure that I'm computing thy correctly. Went to STTM link but still had trouble with even that.

[Clutter in reply to TappedOut]

TappedOut,

You might be interested in this about FT3:rT3 ratio tiredthyroid.com/rt3-3.html

[TappedOut in reply to Clutter]

My last lab before that was an rT3 of 14.8.

My recent August rT3, I'm having redone because I didn't do the labs under a fasting conditions.

[Clutter in reply to TappedOut]

TappedOut,

I've no idea what FT3:rT3 ratio should be. rT3 is within range so it's not too high.

It's TSH which drops after eating and drinking not rT3.

[TappedOut in reply to Clutter]

I understand. Thank you for your help. Well then I'm glad to know it's not a high rT3. I'm working on so much at once....