Re: At What Range of FT3 Do People Feel Best?

[Guest guest]

Val said " I feel best with mine at 6.2 with my top of range at 4.2. " From her

post (lots more good info here):

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/message/39204

The best option I can see for convincing your Dr. is to document your normal,

healthy, temps and pulse. If you're really on too much T3, you'll be

hyperthyroid with too-high temps and pulse. Whether your Dr. is smart enough to

comprehend healthy vital signs vs. lab tests, well...mine is not.

Ferritin: yours is really low. T3 is sometimes not well tolerated if ferritin

is below 50. I know you're already on iron, but here's our standard-issue iron

recommendation anyway: 150-200 mg elemental iron daily, divided into two doses.

Many here have reported good results with Bluebonnet iron, here's the link:

http://www.iherb.com/Bluebonnet-Nutrition-Chelated-Iron-90-Vcaps/11571?at=0

>

> I've seen where folks say that they need to have their serum FT3 above the

normal range to feel good. I realize everyone responds differently, but in

general, what range works best for the people in this group? And how do you keep

your doctor from freaking out thinking you are on too much medication?

>

> I found this group a few weeks ago, and it has been a Godsend. I was feeling

hypo on 150 mcg Synthroid and 10 mcg cytomel, and last week I was able to get my

doctor to allow me to try T3 only. He is starting me off reeeeaaal sloooow, at

25 mcg cytomel for the first month, then I have to see him again before he will

increase it.

>

> I just received my labs today:

> Total T3: 204 (76-181)

> RT3: 43 (11-32)

> Ferritin: 4 (10-232)

> Iron: 28 (40-175)

>

> I'm taking a slow-release iron tablet and obviously need to increase it. But

how do I convince my doc that a high FT3 is " Normal " for T3-only therapy?

>

[Guest guest]

Val said " I feel best with mine at 6.2 with my top of range at 4.2. " From her

post (lots more good info here):

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/message/39204

The best option I can see for convincing your Dr. is to document your normal,

healthy, temps and pulse. If you're really on too much T3, you'll be

hyperthyroid with too-high temps and pulse. Whether your Dr. is smart enough to

comprehend healthy vital signs vs. lab tests, well...mine is not.

Ferritin: yours is really low. T3 is sometimes not well tolerated if ferritin

is below 50. I know you're already on iron, but here's our standard-issue iron

recommendation anyway: 150-200 mg elemental iron daily, divided into two doses.

Many here have reported good results with Bluebonnet iron, here's the link:

http://www.iherb.com/Bluebonnet-Nutrition-Chelated-Iron-90-Vcaps/11571?at=0

>

> I've seen where folks say that they need to have their serum FT3 above the

normal range to feel good. I realize everyone responds differently, but in

general, what range works best for the people in this group? And how do you keep

your doctor from freaking out thinking you are on too much medication?

>

> I found this group a few weeks ago, and it has been a Godsend. I was feeling

hypo on 150 mcg Synthroid and 10 mcg cytomel, and last week I was able to get my

doctor to allow me to try T3 only. He is starting me off reeeeaaal sloooow, at

25 mcg cytomel for the first month, then I have to see him again before he will

increase it.

>

> I just received my labs today:

> Total T3: 204 (76-181)

> RT3: 43 (11-32)

> Ferritin: 4 (10-232)

> Iron: 28 (40-175)

>

> I'm taking a slow-release iron tablet and obviously need to increase it. But

how do I convince my doc that a high FT3 is " Normal " for T3-only therapy?

>

[Guest guest]

Val said " I feel best with mine at 6.2 with my top of range at 4.2. " From her

post (lots more good info here):

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/message/39204

The best option I can see for convincing your Dr. is to document your normal,

healthy, temps and pulse. If you're really on too much T3, you'll be

hyperthyroid with too-high temps and pulse. Whether your Dr. is smart enough to

comprehend healthy vital signs vs. lab tests, well...mine is not.

Ferritin: yours is really low. T3 is sometimes not well tolerated if ferritin

is below 50. I know you're already on iron, but here's our standard-issue iron

recommendation anyway: 150-200 mg elemental iron daily, divided into two doses.

Many here have reported good results with Bluebonnet iron, here's the link:

http://www.iherb.com/Bluebonnet-Nutrition-Chelated-Iron-90-Vcaps/11571?at=0

>

> I've seen where folks say that they need to have their serum FT3 above the

normal range to feel good. I realize everyone responds differently, but in

general, what range works best for the people in this group? And how do you keep

your doctor from freaking out thinking you are on too much medication?

>

> I found this group a few weeks ago, and it has been a Godsend. I was feeling

hypo on 150 mcg Synthroid and 10 mcg cytomel, and last week I was able to get my

doctor to allow me to try T3 only. He is starting me off reeeeaaal sloooow, at

25 mcg cytomel for the first month, then I have to see him again before he will

increase it.

>

> I just received my labs today:

> Total T3: 204 (76-181)

> RT3: 43 (11-32)

> Ferritin: 4 (10-232)

> Iron: 28 (40-175)

>

> I'm taking a slow-release iron tablet and obviously need to increase it. But

how do I convince my doc that a high FT3 is " Normal " for T3-only therapy?

>

[Guest guest]

One thing I thought of is to cheat. Sorry, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

I've heard of people who would deliberately skip their t3 a day before getting

labs or whatever, just to make sure the test didn't come back high. Of course,

that doesn't help you know what your levels really are, but if you really need

the doc and he goes by labs, well....

About your question where we feel best at regarding labs, I don't know yet for

myself. But I suspect I don't have thyroid hormone resistance and may end up

with a lot lower labs than other folks. You can have rt3 issue and not

necessarily have thyroid hormone resistance. Dr. Honeyman (Dr Lowe's

exwife) only takes 50 t3 Val once told me. I think that's probably gonna be

about where I end up as I am on 43.75 and feel pretty darn good amd my temps are

good. I was on 50 but had to drop due to low ferritin and some adrenal issues. I

just have a gut I'll be on around 50 and not much more.

I also am not really sure HOW to test t3. I know we're supposed to test during

the " trough " , the morning before we take our meds. But the numbers can't be the

same as healthy people who make t3 consistently all day long. I did some

research on this once and couldn't find much, but I did find a few docs who want

their t3 only patients to test 4-6 hours after their first dose. I have tested

both ways and I *think* somewhere in the middle is what your real t3 is. I am

still waiting for the 2nd lab to come in...

My lab on 50, taking it the morning before meds, was only 319. But people taking

125 or so are getting much higher numbers obviously. But they could have thyroid

hormone resistance which means they need to have much higher levels in their

blood. I think many here DO need those kinds of levels, but probably not

everyone.

I don't think Nick even gets labs! He just goes by temps, pulse and how he feels

and in the end, that is probably the best way to go. I think labs are good if

you're stuck or having problems and need to see what's going on. Or to make sure

your rt3 has gone down, stuff like that. That's just my opinion.

My one doc told me to get tested during the day while you're feeling good, your

temps are good, and just see what the number comes up at. I thought that was an

interesting concept!

Kathleen

>

> Val said " I feel best with mine at 6.2 with my top of range at 4.2. " From her

post (lots more good info here):

> http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/message/39204

>

> The best option I can see for convincing your Dr. is to document your normal,

healthy, temps and pulse. If you're really on too much T3, you'll be

hyperthyroid with too-high temps and pulse. Whether your Dr. is smart enough to

comprehend healthy vital signs vs. lab tests, well...mine is not.

>

> >

> > I've seen where folks say that they need to have their serum FT3 above the

normal range to feel good. I realize everyone responds differently, but in

general, what range works best for the people in this group? And how do you keep

your doctor from freaking out thinking you are on too much medication?

> >

>

[Guest guest]

>He is starting me off reeeeaaal sloooow, at 25 mcg cytomel for the first month,

then I have to see him again before he will increase it.

That's going to make you more hypo, you need to increase the T3 weekly

as the T4 levels decay

Nick

--

for more information on RT3 and Thyroid Resistance go to

www.thyroid-rt3.com

[Guest guest]

>I don't think Nick even gets labs! He just goes by temps, pulse and how he

feels and in the end, that is probably the best way to go. I think labs are good

if you're stuck or having problems and need to see what's going on. Or to make

sure your rt3 has gone down, stuff like that. That's just my opinion.

>

The absolute numbers on labs are pretty useless. Different people need

different amounts and very few of us in this group are " simple cases

of hypo "

One benefit of labs is to get a set done at a time when you feel WELL

under controlled conditions (ie, a known time after you take your

meds). Record that reading, that is the sweet spot for YOU, and if you

feel less well at another time you can compart whet you got with your

refereence reading and adjust accoudinly.

You are right, I don't have lab tests done, I don't suggest other

people do it like this but it works for me.

Nick

--

for more information on RT3 and Thyroid Resistance go to

www.thyroid-rt3.com

[Guest guest]

>I don't think Nick even gets labs! He just goes by temps, pulse and how he

feels and in the end, that is probably the best way to go. I think labs are good

if you're stuck or having problems and need to see what's going on. Or to make

sure your rt3 has gone down, stuff like that. That's just my opinion.

>

The absolute numbers on labs are pretty useless. Different people need

different amounts and very few of us in this group are " simple cases

of hypo "

One benefit of labs is to get a set done at a time when you feel WELL

under controlled conditions (ie, a known time after you take your

meds). Record that reading, that is the sweet spot for YOU, and if you

feel less well at another time you can compart whet you got with your

refereence reading and adjust accoudinly.

You are right, I don't have lab tests done, I don't suggest other

people do it like this but it works for me.

Nick

--

for more information on RT3 and Thyroid Resistance go to

www.thyroid-rt3.com