Adrenal/RT3 Problem?

September 4, 2010

Hi Val,

I posted the following post titled, TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT HC/ARMOUR DOSE on

the adrenal chat board on 9/2nd (Digest #579)and received only one reply from a

member suggesting that I come here as my problems seems to be RT3. I don't know

a thing about RT3 and wonder what you think of my situation, current

meds,supplements and labs that follow. Thanks for any help you can offer me as

I'm feeling quite desperate

Hi,

I have been reading this site for a month or so and so impressed with your

knowledge and appreciate your willingness to help others.

I am 48 years old, have Hashi's, adrenal fatigue and Epstein Barr virus and have

been treated by traditional doctors for 15 years for thyroid with Synthroid

only. Last October, I saw an Endo who added Cytomel and for a brief time, I

felt somewhat better but it ended when he told me he'd see me in a year. He was

also the one to tell me I had Hashi's. I then found a holistic nurse

practitioner and I have been working with her since April. She's very agreeable

to my input, knows I'm motivated to get well and views us as a team.

At first, she prescribed some adrenal support capsules, Corvalen for EBV, B12,

D3, EPA/fish oil, changed my diet drastically to include protein/good

fat/vegetables at each meal while staying off of anything refined, coffee and

alcohol. During this time, I stayed on Synthroid and Cytomel. By July, I

wasn't feeling much better and started taking HC. At first, I didn't think I'd

be able to tolerate it but I worked up very slowly and am now taking tolerating

20 mgs well (6am-10mg, 10am-5mg & 2pm-5mgs.) By the time I was on 15 mgs, I

felt like my old self. This lasted for 2 weeks and when we replaced Synthroid

with Naturethroid and did away with the Cytomel … all my symptoms reappeared.

Once on 20 mgs HC, I was successfully able to increase from 60 mgs of

Naturethroid to 75 mgs of Armour. I think because Armour's now available, she

switched me to it. We're about to increase to 90 mgs Armour but from what I

read here, I'm thinking I need to step up the HC first. Below are my labs and

ZRT cortisol test. I'm hoping you can give me your advice on what you think I

should be doing as I'm confident my NP will be open to trying it.

ZRT Hormone test done 3/29/10 (no hormones taken and I wasn't having periods at

this time:

Cortisol Morning 1.3L (range 3.7-9.5)

Cortisol Noon 2.3 (range 1.2-3.0)

Cortisol Evening 0.6 (range 0.6-1.9)

Cortisol Night 0.2L (range 0.4-1.0)

Lab Corp results from 3/25/10

I tested negative for celiac disease

Testosterone, Free 0.92 (range 0.10-0.85)

B12. 899 (range 211-911)

D3, Hydroxy, 33.8 (range 32.0-100.0)

B6, 26.0 (2.1-32.8)

TSH, 0.486 (range 0.450-4.500)

Free T4 Direct, 1.41 (range 0.82-1.77)

Zinc, Plasma or Serum, 77 (range 70-150)

Ferritin, Serum, 54 (range 10-291)

TPO Ab, 111 (range 0-34)

Antithyroglobulin Ab, <20 (range 0-40)

T3, Free, Serum, 3.8 (range 2.0-4.4)

Magnesium, RBC, 5.5 (range 4.2-6.8

Lab Corp results from 8/17/10

TSH, 3.410 (range 0.450-4.500)

Hemoglobin Alc, 5.7 (range 4.8-5.6)

T4, Free, Direct, 0.78 (range 0.82-1.77)

Vitamin D, Hydroxy, 48.0 (range 32.0-100.3)

Insulin, 6.8 (range 0.0-24.9)

TPO Ab, 174 (range 0-34)

Antithyroglobulin Ab, <20 (range 0-40)

T3, Free, Serum, 2.1 (range 2.0-4.4)

Note: I have other lab results but am trying to give you just the important

results. Please let me know if you need something different.

My symptoms have subsided a bit but I am still very weak with body tenderness,

emotionally frazzled much of the time and can't tolerate any exercise. I have

no energy and am hot and sweaty all the time. I had a taste of what feeling

well was like while on 15mg HC and Synthroid but am determined to find the

correct dose on natural thyroid and HC. I'm hoping you can help me here.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Kari

September 4, 2010

First thing I see is at one point your T4 was too high so this indicates

oyu need ot have Reverse T3 tested. We use a ratio of Rt3 to Ft3 to tell

if natuiral is best for you or if oyu actually need ot og to straight T3

to reduce the RT3. Your Vitamin D is still very low I would suggest

going ot 10,000IU daily to raise it quicker. Your Ferritin is quite low

so I woul also suggest a full iron panel ot knwo the true status as it

causes high Rt3. It also vcauses adrenla stress when you try to raise

thyroid to a correct dose. Your A1c is indicating glucose dysregulation,

so I htink you need ot have sex horoens tested as your insulinis not

high ESTROGEN woudl be a biggie. Low estrogen can cause low insulin and

thus high glucose form this type of dysregulation.

http://www.nthadrenalsweb.org/

http://www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

http://www.faqhelp.webs.com/

http://www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

http://www.thyroid-rt3.com/

> Hi Val,

>

> I posted the following post titled, TRYING TO FIND THE RIGHT HC/ARMOUR DOSE on