Re: What happens to our free T4 levels when we switch to T3 only?

May 17, 2010

Hi Cindy

Read this brilliant site about RT3

Because T4 is the pro hormone for RT3, if someone has an RT3 problem, we actually want low levels of T4! T4 is only useful when its converted into the active T3.

When taking T3 only you want to take enough that it supresses your body's own production of T4.

Low ferritin levels are a big cause of RT3 so thats good that you are taking iron to get the levels up

Good luck

Josie

To: RT3_T3 From: cindy.darling@...Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 17:13:34 +0000Subject: What happens to our free T4 levels when we switch to T3 only?

Just curious. I want to approach my doc about T3 only treatment once I get my ferritin higher. But, last appt. he insisted on swithing me to 75 mcg Synthroid and 75 mcg Cytomel b/c he said my FT4 was so low and we needed to get that up. Maybe he doesn't know about T3 oly treatment. (Was previusly on 150 mg Erfa Thyroid, but the pain in my hands and feet was getting worse instead of better.) Do we even need T4 in our bodies? Will our bodies make T4 if we are on T3 only treatment? the Cytomel at 75mcg was way too high too fast. Heart palps this weekend, trembling, etc. Cut dose in half today. Ferritin also too low - 29. Have been taking iron since labwork about 3 wks. ago. Doc has me on 15 mg Cortef per day, but am reading this is probably making it lower instead of higher - that I need to be on at least 20 mg per day.

Get a new e-mail account with Hotmail – Free. Sign-up now.

May 17, 2010

Thanks Josie. Great site. Have scoured it, but didn't realize that we truly

wanted basically zero T4. I guess my doctor doesn't really understand all of

this if he is saying he was concerned because my FT4 was so low. Discouraging. I

sent him the link in an email asking about my heart palps and dose of T3. Wonder

if he will read it.

Thanks again for the reply.

>

> Hi Cindy

>

> Read this brilliant site about RT3

>

> http://thyroid-rt3.com/

>

> Because T4 is the pro hormone for RT3, if someone has an RT3 problem, we

actually want low levels of T4! T4 is only useful when its converted into the

active T3.

>

> When taking T3 only you want to take enough that it supresses your body's own

production of T4.

>

> Low ferritin levels are a big cause of RT3 so thats good that you are taking

iron to get the levels up

>

> Good luck

>

> Josie

>

> To: RT3_T3

> From: cindy.darling@...

> Date: Mon, 17 May 2010 17:13:34 +0000

> Subject: What happens to our free T4 levels when we switch to T3

only?

>

> Just curious. I want to approach my doc about T3 only treatment once I get my

ferritin higher. But, last appt. he insisted on swithing me to 75 mcg Synthroid

and 75 mcg Cytomel b/c he said my FT4 was so low and we needed to get that up.

Maybe he doesn't know about T3 oly treatment. (Was previusly on 150 mg Erfa

Thyroid, but the pain in my hands and feet was getting worse instead of better.)

Do we even need T4 in our bodies? Will our bodies make T4 if we are on T3 only

treatment? the Cytomel at 75mcg was way too high too fast. Heart palps this

weekend, trembling, etc. Cut dose in half today. Ferritin also too low - 29.

Have been taking iron since labwork about 3 wks. ago. Doc has me on 15 mg Cortef

per day, but am reading this is probably making it lower instead of higher -

that I need to be on at least 20 mg per day.

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/195013117/direct/01/

> We want to hear all your funny, exciting and crazy Hotmail stories. Tell us

now

>

May 17, 2010

Here's a good post from Val which mentions NOT needing T4:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/message/38609

If your Dr. is trying to raise your T4, then no, he is not knowledgeable about

RT3 and/or T3-only treatment. He is expecting you to convert T4 into T3...and

lots of folks do...but most of us here convert T4 into REVERSE T3, so raising T4

makes us WORSE instead of better.