Reverse T3

[Lynne_L]

Where do I get RT3 tested please in UK? I haven’t had it done for years and think I should get it tested now I’m on T4.

Many thanks!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking

What was latest Ft4 result

Reverse Ft3 test is extremely expensive and slow to process test (gets sent to USA apparently)

We don’t usually recommend it

Blue horizon and Medichecks usually offer it

Looks like Medichecks can’t offer during pandemic

support.medichecks.com/hc/e...

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

Have you had high RT3 in past?

[Lynne_L in reply to SlowDragon]

I did have high RT3 many moons ago which is why I went on T3, to clear it.

I started on T4 last Easter after my crash (felt like I had no option) and have now added 37.5 mcg of T3 to my (now reduced) 50 mcg of T4.

Most recent results were low T4, mid range T3 and suppressed TSH.

Haven’t got the actual figures to hand at the minute as I have to go to work soon.

[Lalatoot]

Rt3 doesn't tell you very much about about thyroid really as there are many reasons why it might be high and only one of those is thyroid related.If you want to look at how well you are converting T4 better to get TSH, ft3 and ft4 done.

[Lynne_L in reply to Lalatoot]

Thanks, already done those. I don’t convert very well (Hashimoto’s) and if my RT3 was high also that would affect my T3 uptake too.

Perhaps I won’t bother then and just taper off the T4 altogether as it’s a bit rubbish.

[helen0]

Hi lynne very expensive hun over £300 to get a reverse T3 one done, you should get a £29 thryoid test done at monitor my health you will see by those results whether you have a problem but paying out a huge amount of money first when you might have no need

[Lynne_L in reply to helen0]

I’ve don’t the Monitor my Health one many times.

Just looking to get a full picture but perhaps I won’t.

[greygoose]

The question is: if it were high, what would you do about it? Or, maybe you should ask: does it matter, anyway? rT3 is inert, so it doesn't cause symptoms. It doesn't do anything much. And, it only hangs around for about two hours before being converted into T2 and then T1, and then the iodine is recycled.

[Lynne_L in reply to greygoose]

I thought it affected how your body utilises T3?

[greygoose in reply to Lynne_L]

That's what used to be thought. People used to think that rT3 blocked T3 receptors. More recent research shows this not to be true. It's just a form of over-flow, a safety valve to stop you going 'hyper'. And, a way of recycling iodine.

[Hidden in reply to greygoose]

Unfortunately, many doctors still claim you need to clear high rT3 by reducing or going off levo/NDT and taking T3 only. I have come to believe that that rT3 does not matter as you say, and that it´s just a safety mechanism to get rid off excess T4. But there are doctors who claim you need to rid yourself of rT3 dominance in order to lose weight and rid yourself of a lot of hypo symptoms. Those tend to be doctors who prescribe T3. Been there, done that. Never worked for me.

[greygoose in reply to Hidden]

No. It's not logical, anyway, when you think about it.

[Lynne_L in reply to Hidden]

Doctors know about RT3?

Doctors prescribe T3?

Show me these mythical creatures. Lol.

[Hidden in reply to Lynne_L]

Sorry, maybe I should have said doctors in the US...I know of no doctors in Europe who treat rT3 dominance or prescribe T3 only. Not to say they don´t exist, only that most "alternative" doctors I know of in Europe will prescribe NDT or T3+T4, not T3 only. I know of no doctors in Europe who recognise the condition "rT3 dominance"...which, in my own experience, seems to be used frequently on US websites run by charismatic alternative practitioners trying to promote their overpriced supplements...could be wrong though.

[Lynne_L]

Thanks all for your input.