LOTS of interesting labs!

[engineer2000]

Hi guys, I’m attaching here a lot of hormone lab work I’ve gotten done. Do you know what’s going on with my high RT3? Additionally, if my Testosterone is so high, then why is my DHEA so low?

I am a 21yo male and I started taking Armour Thyroid in February 2020. Dates are on all the labs so you’ll be able to see the trends before and after thyroid hormone replacement started.

Thanks!

[greygoose]

Do you know what’s going on with my high RT3?

Nothing is going on with your rT3, it's low in-range. Beware of these so-called 'optimal' ranges that some people give. They are, for the most part, meaningless where thyroid is concerned. And, rT3 is irrelevant, anyway. There are many, many causes of high rT3 and only one has anything to do with thyroid, and that is when your FT4 is top of the range or over. Yours isn't at the top of the range, and your rT3 is low, so nothing is going on with it. rT3 is inert, anyway, and only stays in the body for a couple of hours and is then converted to T2.

On the other hand, your FT3 is quite a bit over-range, so maybe you're a bit over-medicated. But, how do you feel?

[engineer2000 in reply to greygoose]

I feel way way better than I used to before I started on Armour. I was a 1/10 before and now I’m a 6/10. I definitely don’t feel hyperthyroid, not to mention my #1 worst symptom hasn’t gone away yet: constipation. Greygoose, can you also check out these Iron Panel + Liver Enzyme labs?

I’m worried about Hemochromatosis bc of the iron and cirrhosis bc of the liver enzymes. Thanks!

Iron: 137 (66-175)

Iron Binding Capacity: 219 (261-462)

% Saturation: 63% (20-50)

Ferritin: 264 (18-464)

ALK Phosphatase: 58 (48-230)

AST 18 (12-32)

ALT 24 (8-46)

[greygoose in reply to engineer2000]

Neither your iron nor your ferritin are over-range, so I wouldn't worry about that.

Sorry, I know nothing about the liver results.

As for constipation it's something a lot of us get. The best things to help are magnesium citrate and large doses of vit C.

Four things to think about with constipation:

1. Are you getting enough fibre? You need fibre for your transit, BUT you don't want too much fibre because it could affect the absorption of your levo, making you more hypo, and therefore possibly more constipated. It's a matter of finding the right balance.

2. Are you drinking enough water - especially in this heat wave. Your body needs a constant supply of water, and if it's not getting enough, it will suck your poo dry (sorry for that image!) to get the water, leaving you more constipated and unable to 'go'.

3. Do you have low stomach acid? Low stomach acid can be caused by being hypo, but also by low-salt diets and B12 deficiency (also old age, but not much you can do about that). Low stomach acid will cause constipation. So, you need to check your nutrients, and your stomach acid level (bicarb test), and if either are low, you need to raise them.

4. Do you, by any chance, have high levels of calcium? Because that, too, can cause constipation. So, that’s another thing that wants testing.

I would add that getting your nutrients tested: vit D, vit B12, folate, ferritin - will give you a clue as to your stomach acid level. If they are low, then your stomach acid will also be low.

[Josephineinamachine]

Hi I had weird liver results in one of my blood tests. I went back to the GP because it worried me. She said it was not unusual in hypothyroidism and that it was only one part of the test - the other part indicated liver was fine. I think the best thing is to go back to your GP and talk about it so that you don’t worry anymore. Hopefully all will be fine for you 😊 glad you’re feeling well which is nice to read. Take care.

[ljk1]

Try taking a probiotic-it sorted my constipation!