Are you in the UK? If so, no way will you get an rT3 test. It isn't even necessary because it won't give you any useful information that you can't get from testing FT4 and FT3 at the same time. And, with your levels of FT4 - FT4: 1.61 pmol/l (Range 0.7 - 1.9) 75.83% - even if your rT3 is high, it will have nothing to do with your thyroid because your FT4 isn't high enough. There are many, many causes of high rT3, and only one of them has anything to do with thyroid.
FT3, on the other hand, is essential to know how well you convert.
Thanks for reaching out, in not in the UK, brazil here. got me
-even if your rT3 is high, it will have nothing to do with your thyroid because your FT4 isn't high enough
What thyroid mate? I mean, i had to remove it , due to health issues(ptc)... But you're saying that my FT4 is low anyway, that what you're saying Isnt It?
-FT4 and FT3 at the same time.
I Will do that then, today i will ask the doc for these to be measured, i will get the rT3 Just to base myself om how its going in general
I will update here once i get It, do you think that i should lower my t4 dose to start with T3? Im hypo on that dose already, what do you think?
Yes, ok, you've had your thyroid removed, but when we use the word 'thyroid' on here, we mean 'thyroid status' - i.e. FT3/4 levels. Not necessarily the gland itself.
No, I didn't say your FT4 was low, it isn't. It's 75.83% through the range, which is a good level for most hypos. But, it isn't high enough to cause high rT3. Which is good.
will get the rT3 Just to base myself om how its going in general
Doesn't matter how it's going in general, it's totally irrelevant. rT3 is inert - it doesn't do anything - it's just a step in the recuperation of iodine, which is recycled in the body.
And suppose it was high? What would you do about it?
do you think that i should lower my t4 dose to start with T3? Im hypo on that dose already, what do you think?
I don't think it's necessary. Your FT4 will drop anyway when you start T3, because that's the way it works.
But, the reason you're still hypo on that dose is probably because you aren't converting it to T3 very well. So, get the test and let's see the results.
No, I didn't say your FT4 was low, it isn't. It's 75.83% through the range, which is a good level for most hypos. But, it isn't high enough to cause high rT3. Which is good.
But, the reason you're still hypo on that dose is probably because you aren't converting it to T3 very well. So, get the test and let's see the results.
a fully functioning working thyroid would be supporting you on a daily basis with trace elements of T1. T2 and calcitonin + a measure of T3 at around 10 mcg + a measure of T4 at around 100 mcg - with T3 said to be around 4 x more powerful than T4.
When on T4 only we generally feel best when the T4 is up in the top quadrant at around 80% through the range with the T3 tracking just behind at around 60/70% through its range and at around a 1/4 ratio T3/T4.
No thyroid hormone replacement works well until your core strength vitamins and minerals are up and maintained at optimal levels - and these are ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D.
Some people can get by on T4 only.
Others find T4 seems to stop working as well as it once did and that by adding in a little T3 - at around a similar level to that they had when they had a thyroid - restores T3/T4 hormonal balance and they feel better.
Some can't tolerate T4 and need to take T3 only - as you can live without T4 but you can't live without T3.
Whilst others find their health restored better taking Natural Desiccated Thyroid which contains all same hormones as the human thyroid gland and derived from pig thyroids, dried and ground down into tablets referred to as grains.
In order to help you better we need a blood test showing :-
TSH, Free T3 + Free T4, inflammation, antibodies and ferritin, folate, B12 and vitamin D -
This needs to be a fasting, early morning blood draw -
just take in water until after the blood draw -
and having left a 24 hour window from your last dose of T4 -
and having been of all supplements being tested and anything containing biotin for around 7 days - so we measure what your body is holding rather than that just recently ingested.
OK - we can all read what is being written by you - this is an open patient to patient forum but sometimes questions get repeated simply because of timing issues - so there is no need for you to keep repeating information.
Go easy on the cycling until your medication is optimal - going that extra mile - and pushing yourself not a good idea at the moment - your thyroid was your gear change mechanism - and your body needs time to recuperate and reset itself.
The thyroid is a major gland responsible for the full synchronisation of your body from your physical ability and stamina, through to your mental, emotional, psychological and spiritual well being, your inner central heating system and your metabolism.
Get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested as next step
For good conversion of Ft4 (levothyroxine) to Ft3 (active hormone) we need good vitamin levels
Many patients on replacement thyroid hormones need to supplement vitamin D, magnesium and vitamin B complex continuously to maintain good levels
Some people also initially need separate B12
Some need to work on improving low iron/ferritin
How much levothyroxine are you taking
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
is this how you did your test
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Get vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 levels tested as next step
I take b12 ocasionally, Rice bran also, It hás b vitamins and other stuff as iron, folate, others vitamins, i use caciltriol, active form of D, day on day off, i measured my D levels again today. Last time It was 37ng/ml despite calcitiriol
How much levothyroxine are you taking
100mcg
Recommended that all thyroid blood tests early morning, ideally just before 9am, only drink water between waking and test and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test
Ate an Orange and bread some several hours before testing, around 7 hours before. Tested around 12pm, took the dose of levothyroxine at 5 am.
I will update here on the thread as soon as i get the new results
End of the day, the doc ended not asking for fT3 levels, but t3 count in the blood.I will go to the lab and pay out of pocket for the FT3.
since the day i got the former updated results, i upped my dose from 100 mcg to 125mcg.13 days or so on that dose.
my TSH lowered from 5,64 µUI/mL a bit to 3,21 µUI/mL,
FT4 is 2,2ng/dl
(not fasted when i measured, not 24h from the last dose)
T3 in blood (not free T3) is 104 ng/dl
Despite this i got back to my 100mcg, felt that It didnt changed anything , fatigue still high, maybe worst even, as i wasnt feeling well with it i got back to 100mcg
Will update once i test fT3, and i will get the TSH again and FT4 again , this time i will get it done properly as you folks advised
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Levo/T3 take at night?
Is anyone on high doses of T3?
Increase my t3 and levo
Does anyone else take this much T3? 
