To those who posted thyroid results that do not include reverse T3 (RT3):
Without RT3, your results may be useless. If FT3 and FT4 are in range but you have high RT3, it means that your body is not able to use the T3, usually because of low cortisol, and takes evasive action by converting it into RT3. If you have low cortisol and you do NOT test for RT3, you will have good thyroid values but low metabolism.
m_81,
The last time I checked I tested high RT3. I began using Armour once I had taken HC for 6 weeks and nothing happened. I’m wondering if I didn’t give it long enough or maybe didn’t ramp the dose up high enought? Or could it be that we should be using slow release T3 to help this problem.
There seems to be a group of people that believe we need to use only T3 to resolve the problem and others believe that just T3 will spike up our SHBG levels and bind up our testosterone further. I know purely speculating, but you got any ideas on this?
I’m going to be making another attempt to go back on thyroid meds, but I"m torn as to wether T3 or a natural type of Armour makes more sense.
I thought youre suppose to take T3 only when you have high RT3…I’d have to check STTM.com to be sure…
From reading the forum I gather a few people have low body temperatures. I myself now have a complete intolerance to cold that I never had before using finasteride. So I decided to go out and buy a thermometer to measure my own body temperature.
My result: 34.3ºC
Actually, the thermometer that i bought only went as low as 34ºC!
Normal human body temperature is around 37ºC.
I therefore think it is a good idea to see how common this is and to accumulate results in one place. This is a good objective symptom - something a doctor cannot ignore (or put down to depression!).
Yep. Of course it is. Your metabolism is badly messed up. Therefore, as your post suggests, it’s going to be relatively easy to get medical help.
oscar there is already a thread for this. Most people took readings throughout the day and posted. Most are low.
My current avg is 97.8. It’s almost a full point below the avg body temp. This is higher than what it was without HC.
I am charting my temps closely. The problem is some days I feel better and the temp is lower and vice versa. So, that aspect is not as cut and dried as you might think.
IMO, this very important to the core of what is wrong with is.
Which thread are you talking about -the thyroid function thread? Only two people posted their body temperature in that whole discussion!
It is an important symptom to gather info on it and may or may not be related to any detecable thyroid dysfunction and may or may not be related to other symptoms.
Here are all the body temps from this forum that I could find.
My 3 most recent body temp readings done at doctors office, all 3 are tympanic (ear) readings.
2/5/10 2:15pm 97
5/10/10 4pm 96.5
6/14/10 4pm 97.1
Results from 05/14/2011 (on maca)
TSH - 1.43 [0.40 - 5.00] uIU/mL
Free T3 - 2.9 [2.18 - 3.98] pg/mL
Free T4 - 0.9 [0.7 - 1.5] ng/dL
Reverse T3 - Not tested.
Results from 07/09/11 (no supplements)
TSH - 1.35 [0.40 - 5.00] uIU/mL
Free T3 - 3.3 [2.18 - 3.98] pg/mL
Reverse T3 - 229 [90 - 350] pg/mL
Free T4 - 1.2 [0.7 - 1.5] ng/dL
Results from 08/03/11 (After 21 Days of daily 50mg 1% Testim gel)
TSH - 1.88 [0.40 - 5.00] uIU/mL
Free T3 - 2.9 [2.18 - 3.98] pg/mL
Reverse T3 - 200 [90 - 350] pg/mL
Free T4 - 1.1 [0.7 - 1.5] ng/dL
Any others???
I recently got my reverse T3 tested and it was above range.
You guys need to understand that
TSH, T3, and T4 can all look great, but you can still be hypothyroid if your reverse T3 is high (it doesnt even need to be above range).
This is correct
you can test it yourself at privatemdlabs.com
it costs $45ish
they email you a lab requisuite, you go to any PA Labs near you, then they email you the results within a few days
What your cortisol is at right now does not matter. rT3 can elevate from numerous causes…
illness
inflamation
high or low cortisol
low iron
too much t4
etc
For instance, JN, who started this thread and “discovered” the rT3 problem, always had somewhat highish cortisol levels.
He then discovered rT3 issue, and when he went on T3 to “fix” it, his cortisol began to plummet and he needed HC to help adrenals.
Since adrenal is very relative to thyroid, we should also test adrenals via…
24 hour urinary analysis (cortisol)
or
4x a day, saliva (cortisol)
.
Result at 07/25/2011:
FT3 2.77 pmol/L (ref: 2.30 - 6.30)
FT4 16.76 pmol/L (ref: 10.30 - 24.50)
rT3 0.763 nmol/L (ref: 0.24 - 1.46)
FT3/rT3 = 2.77/0.763 = 3.6, the 3.6 is less than 20
I have doubling ATCH and COR (cortisol) vaule over range at blood test, but in range high at 24 hour urine test. Besides, I have high Progesterone, Prolactin and E2.
Does these symptom indicate a rT3 issue?
Your ft3 is very low.
9/27/2004 (On Propecia, no side effects at this time)
TSH - 2.3 (0.4-5.5 uIU/mL)
T4 Total - 9.6 (4.5-12.5 UG/DL)
2/23/2006 (On Propecia, no side effects at this time)
TSH - 2.9 (0.4-5.5 uIU/mL)
T4 Total - 9.4 (4.5-12.5 UG/DL)
6/7/2007 (On Propecia, around the time my side effects began)
TSH - 2.3 (0.4-5.5 uIU/mL)
5/12/2010 (Off Propecia for 2.5 years)
TSH - 5.21 (0.40-4.50 mIU/L) HIGH
T4 Total - 8.2 (4.5-12.5 UG/DL)
T4 Free - 1.5 (0.8-2.7 ng/dL)
5/28/2010 (Follow up tests ordered by andrologist)
TSH - 4.22 (0.40-4.50 mIU/L)
Thyroid Peroxidase AB - 19 (<35 IU/mL)
3/29/2011 (Off Propecia for over 3 years)
TSH - 5.700 (0.450 - 4.500 uIU/ml) HIGH
T4 free - 1.48 (0.82-1.77 ng/dl)
Thyroid Peroxidas AB - 21 (0-34 IU/ml)
Thyroid Antithyroglobulin AB - < 20 (0-40 IU/ml)
6/28/2011 (Off Propecia for 3.5 years)
TSH - 3.760 (0.450 - 4.500 uIU/ml)
T4 free - 1.45 (0.82-1.77 ng/dl)
T3 free - 3.4 (2.0-4.4 pg/ml)