Low FT3 and low RT3

[Guest guest]

I have Hashimotos and am also being treated for adrenal fatigue with Cortef. I

am on the higher end of dosage with cortef (40 mg/day, divided doses). I am

also on DHEA, 12.5 mg per day, as well as supplementing my iron, as my stores

were low.

I started having trouble back in December with tolerating my thyroid medication

(doesn't seem to matter Armour or Naturethroid - can't tolerate either). I was

down to taking only 1/4 grain (15 mg) of dessicated thyroid. I barely tolerated

that, and any attempt to raise it up by 1/4 grain just sent me into

uncomfortable hyper symptoms by day 4 or 5.

Labs as of 4/5/10 were as follows:

TSH - 14.740 (0.450 - 4.5)

FT4 - 0.31 (0.82 - 1.77)

FT3 - 1.8 (2.0 - 4.4)

Ferritin, Serum - 88 (10 - 291)

DHEA - 315 (110 - 554)

I subsequently requested RT3 labs from my doctor. While I have a doctor who

believes in adrenal fatigue - she seems to have different views on treatment and

the whys of certain things than I read about on sites such as Stop the Thyroid

Madness. Such as - she tests my cortisol levels - even though I take Cortef

(and most information I read indicates this is useless). So, she did the RT3

test - and it was as follows:

RT3 - 62 (90 - 350)

The FT4, FT3 and RT3 are all in the same units of measure - pg/mL. My doctor

included a note with my copy of the labs that indicates, " reverse T3 also low

(proportionally low compared to rest of tests). I do not feel she has a problem

with reverse T3).

However, in my reading - it appears that the ratio is off between the FT3 and

RT3. One site indicated that FT3/RT3 should be greater than 20.

I am trying to understand the sense of the ratios - because most sites indicate

T3 will be low and RT3 will be HIGH.

Interestingly enough, my doctor let me switch to sustained release T3. Started

with 7.5 mcg last week, added in a 2nd t.5 mcg capsule this week, will add

another 7.5 mcg next week. I do notice surges of what might mildly be described

as hyper - but it hasn't gotten unbearable - and this far is better than the 1/4

grain of dessicated. I have read mixed reviews on whether one needs sustained

release T3 or straight T3 (ie cytomel).

I am looking for feedback on this - because I kind of feel that while I sort of

have support from my doctor, there is not a full understanding - and I may end

up doing this on my own - in which case I need to have a better understanding!

Dawn