Re: RT3 test useless after being on T3-only, right?

[Guest guest]

What would some of those reasons be? Could you point me in the direction of

more information. I'm a root-cause kind of gal.

Thanks Kitty,

>

> the ratio needs to be above 20 the more above the better, but you don't need

rt3. You really shouldn't have any if everything is working well. Rt3 at all is

saying there is a reason for your body to try and block the use of the t3.

[Guest guest]

Some of the reasons for high RT3 are:

- High T4

- Starvation, anorexia, fasting, extreme calorie restriction

- Dietary deficiencies of selenium and zinc

- Extremely low carbohydrate diets

- Extremely low protein diets

- Chronic and acute illness/Surgery (adrenal fatigue, diabetes, chronic viral or

bacterial infections, etc)

- Prolonged cold temperature exposure

- Sedentary lifestyle

- Initiation of exercise routine in an out-of-shape person

- Physical and emotional stress

- Certain prescription drugs (i.e. beta-blockers)

- Heavy chronic alcohol consumption

- Aging

Most of these are part of the body’s defense system. So for example if you go

on a low calorie diet, your body lowers your metabolic rate to help conserve

energy; this is how humans historically stayed alive through periods of famine.

If your T4 is elevated your body creates more RT3 so that you don't go too

hyper. When you get sick your body creates more RT3...your bodies’ goal is to

slow you down so that you can heal. When your body creates less T3 it is

usually a protective mechanism to slow down the metabolic rate and in these

cases your Reverse T3 level will rise.

Even if everything is working perfectly normal some of the T4 you produce will

convert into RT3...it's the way the body works. I don't remember the exact

percentage, but I think it's something like 60% will convert to T3 and 40% to

RT3.

The thing that I'm still having a hard time getting my head around is why we

seem to get stuck making too much RT3 and why some people are never able to use

anything but T3 only meds. There are definitely reasons that our bodies make RT3

and it is a protective mechanism, but it is also obviously a problem for a lot

of people. I'm guessing because so many of us have adrenal issues that it

becomes self perpetuating. In other words our thyroid makes too much RT3 because

of the adrenal issues and our adrenals can't heal because we are hypothyroid

because we are making too much RT3.

--Steph

> >

> > the ratio needs to be above 20 the more above the better, but you don't need

rt3. You really shouldn't have any if everything is working well. Rt3 at all is

saying there is a reason for your body to try and block the use of the t3.

>

[Guest guest]

Yep...yep. I listed it as an example of a chronic illness, but yes diabetes is a

huge one. I think that it also ends up being a cycle, because untreated

hypothyroidism can lead to diabetes and then diabetes is a big factor in reverse

T3. Wish I could convince my mom of that one. I finally have her starting to

think about it, but can't convince her that she would be better off on T3 meds

:-(

--Steph

> >>

> >>> the ratio needs to be above 20 the more above the better, but you don't

need rt3. You really shouldn't have any if everything is working well. Rt3 at

all is saying there is a reason for your body to try and block the use of the

t3.

> >>>

> >>

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------

> >

> > We are not medical professionals here, just patients sharing our

experiences. Please use this information with the help of a competent doctor.

[Guest guest]

Now I understand what is meant by tissue resistance. I've heard it mentioned

before, but it makes sense now.

I've recently found out that both my girls (4 and 6) have high RT3 and because

of the bodies " protective " mechanism I'm a bit nervous about putting them on T3

only. I still can't convince myself that it's the right thing for my kids. I

totally know that it is the only thing that will work for me right now...because

of my adrenals, but seems like maybe there is a reason that their bodies are

making more RT3 than T3. I feel like I need to figure out why before trying to

" fix " it.

--Steph

>

> >

> >The thing that I'm still having a hard time getting my head around is why we

seem to get stuck making too much RT3 and why some people are never able to use

anything but T3 only meds.

>

> For me it's because I have some other form of tissue resistance to

> thyroid hormone. This led me to needing a lot of natural to clear hypo

> symptoms which in turn led to too much T4, production of RT3 and then

> more resistance still, vicious circle time.

>

> Going onto T3 only and staying there lets me take enough to feel

> normal without building further resistance.

>

> Nick

>

> --

>

> for more information on RT3 and Thyroid Resistance go to

>

> www.thyroid-rt3.com

>

[Guest guest]

>

> Some of the reasons for high RT3 are:

> - Sedentary lifestyle

> - Initiation of exercise routine in an out-of-shape person

, this is very helpful - I've been wondering what caused my RT3 because

it really just showed up this year. I hadn't read that either a sedentary

lifestyle or initiation of exercise routine in an out-of-shape person could be

the cause. I used to be very fit and active, but then we discovered my Celiac

disease and I was told I could not exercise - I needed to let my body heal.

That was 4-1/2 years ago and I haven't been able to begin a successful workout

regime since. I've tried - and perhaps trying to restart the exercise routine

too aggressively is what cause my RT3.

Thanks for sharing this - it is the first explanation that I can relate to!

Peaches_II