Can someone explain to me in simple terms about the effects of reverse t3. I’m on 125mcg Levo and my T3 is over the range(& has been for the last 6mths) my T4 is also way over. My TSH is 0.01.
Do I have too much T3?
Brain fog
Very dizzy/spaced out
Test results /dosage for the last year:
July2018 Dr’s
T4 17.6 (12-22)
FT3 4.4 (3.1-6.8)
TSH 0.01 (0.3-4.2)
Dose put up from 125 to 150mcg daily after I insisted I wasn’t feeling good
April 2019 Dr’s T4 27(12-22) no T3
Medichecks
T4 24.5 (12-22)
FT3 6.7 (3.1-6.8)
TSH 0.005 (0.27-4.2)
Reduced to 125/150mcg alternate days
June 2019
Medichecks
T4 25 (12-22)
FT3 7.2(3.1-6.8)
TSH 0.007 (0.27-4.2)
Reduced to 125mcg daily
July 2019 dr’s
T4 25 (12-22)
No T3
TSH 0.01 (0.3-4.2)
Written by
Rennixon
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I’ve been reducing for the last 6 mths, was originally on 150mcg, then 125/150 alternate days and now 125mcg. Trouble is waiting 6/8 weeks between reductions to test.
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if Thyroid antibodies are raised
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and fasting. This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip, best not mentioned to GP or phlebotomist)
Last Levothyroxine dose should be 24 hours prior to test, (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).
Is this how you do your tests?
Private tests are available. Thousands on here forced to do this as NHS often refuses to test FT3 or antibodies or all vitamins
Medichecks Thyroid plus ultra vitamin or Blue Horizon Thyroid plus eleven are the most popular choice. DIY finger prick test or option to pay extra for private blood draw. Both companies often have special offers, Medichecks usually have offers on Thursdays, Blue Horizon its more random
Medichecks currently have Thyroid plus ultra vitamin on offer at £79
Hi - I’ve edited my post to show results for last year and dosage. My antibodies have come down considerably in last two years since being GF. Hope this all helps. The T3 never got off the ground as it made me really ill
I don’t take supplements. I do take the same brand of levorthyroxine (Actavis and wockhardt). Doctor’s are indifferent and have not said to reduce again. So I’ll do thyroid and vitamin test asap.
You say your antibodies have come down. But, I'm afraid that means absolutely nothing. Antibodies fluctuate all the time, and are highest just after an immune attack on the thyroid. The fact that they have dropped just means there hasn't been an attack lately. But you still have Hashi's. It doesn't go away. And it's probably the Hashi's that is causing those over-range results - otherwise, the FT4 would go down when you reduced the levo.
But, all this has nothing to do with rT3. Why do you ask? Have you had your rT3 tested and found it high? It probably is high with that high FT4. But, it's just a safety valve to stop your FT3 going to high - yes, your FT3 is a little high, but could be a lot higher without the rT3 mechanism to stop it.
What happens is, when the FT4 level gets to a certain point, the T4 starts converting to more rT3 and less T3. But, the rT3 itself is inert, and only stays in the body for a couple of hours before being converted to T2. It doesn't do you any harm. So, I really wouldn't worry about that, if I were you.
Thank you! I was worried that rt3 was causing symptoms. I’ve been dizzy and a little out of it on and off for a few months and this weather has not helped. I don’t feel like I’ve had an attack for some time ( I usually get some swelling in my throat and my voice goes hoarse and of course I feel crappy) I’ve been really well since last year and have even lost a stone in weight. Having hashi’s is always a guessing game though so I could be having a different attack to the ones I’m used to. It’s very frustrating as I keep having to change my dose and the doctors I’m under are not the best, and don’t really understand the reasoning behind what they are doing or what I am requesting. 😤
Now I understand it’s not rt3 then I can look at other things.
There aren't different sorts of immune system attacks. There's just the one where the immune system kills off a few cells of the thyroid, and the dying cells dump their stock of hormone into the blood, causing FT4/3 levels to rise and the TSH to drop. That's when the antibodies come in to clean up the traces of TPO and Tg that have leaked into the blood.
So, symptoms at that point would be hyper-type symptoms. What symptoms are you having now?
In July last year, you were under-medicated. You had an increase of 25 mcg. Then, June this year, your levels are well over-range. That has nothing to do with your dose of levo. It's not possible. Whether you think so or not, I'm putting my money on a Hashi's attack on your thyroid. Try leaving your levo off for a few days, and see how you feel. Start taking it when you feel hypo again. But, best not to get your doctor involved because once they've reduced a dose, they're very reluctant to raise it again.
Because you have Hashi's. Who knows. There's no fixed level antibodies should be. They vary from person to person, and fluctuate all the time. And, there are even some people who have Hashi's without ever having high antibodies. The antibody range, like all ranges, is arbitary.
OK, but that doesn't prove anything. And it doesn't mean that your Hashi's is worse than other people's. That's just the way it is. You just happened to catch them up high like that. Another day, they could have been much lower.
rT3 doesn't , as far as we know, have a direct effect on anything. All the time you are taking T4 and converting some of it into T3 and the rest (most of it) into rT3 - your body adjusts the amount of each on an ongoing basis. Both T3 and rT3 are then converted into T2, then T1 and expelled. If your metabolism is too high for your needs or nutritpnal status (eg you are overmedicated, ill, or starving/dieting), you will convert lots more T4 into rT3 than T3 in order to slow your metabolism). If you have high free T4 and/or free T3 and high rT3 you are probably overmedicated. If you have normal free T4 and free T3 and high rT3, you might be dieting, malnourished or have an illness which makes your body need to slow down - no way to tell which.
Thanks for this. My T4 and T3 seem to be getting higher, so the dose has been lowered. I thought rt3 may have had an adverse affect, but it seems I’m just experiencing some kind of hashi’s attack, from what everyone has said. I’ve felt great for the last 11 months, so this is s little blip hopefully. I am menopausal as well though so this could be a factor. 😩🤷🏻♀️
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