posted
I just wanted to let you guys know that I have done treatment in the past for lyme and have done much better but still not myself. I feel like I am 75% there.
I have had a history of thyroid fluctuations throughout my illness. My doctors ran a thyroid panel and noticed that my Reverse T3 (rT3) was way high and all of my other thyroid numbers were in their normal ranges.
Apparently this is something that is not included much in thyroid panels/tests. My current doctor said this could be explaining a lot of the symptoms I currently have. Particularly hypo-thyroid symptoms.
But, this too is controversial it seems. Some doctors don't test because they don't think it is important. Some do but don't know how to properly treat it. Some say that it is a response to an illness or being in a state of dormancy (like hibernation)
Posts: 458 | From Miss | Registered: Mar 2009
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lightfoot
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2536
posted
We go to a Functional Medicine doctor (MD) primarily because of his expertise with thyroid function. He always uses reverse T3. If it is high it occupies the T3 receptors which prevent the active T3 from being used by the body.
The way the FM doc does it is based on the ratio of the items in the full test.
We also go to standard PC's.......they have no clue. So even if you ask for the test, they won't know how to use it.
I can say after being surgically hypothyroid for 45 years......this doc using the complete picture has brought me around.....ditto for my husband who has a thyroid intact. He had no eyebrows (symptom of hypothyroidism), presto....he's got them again.
-------------------- Healing Smiles.....lightfoot Posts: 7228 | From CO | Registered: May 2002
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Marz
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3446
posted
Last summer my MD did a reverse T3 which turned out to be high.
She reduced my levothyroxine (T4 & T3) dose and put me on T3, liothyronine pills in addition. Even at a low dose I got horrible anxiety. Changed to T3 cream and still felt crazy. So we gave up.
I felt the same way years ago on Armour.
The funny thing is that while I was on the T3 for several weeks, my Reverse T3 never came down, but went up a little.
Maybe this is why it's controversial?
Years ago before lyme I was started on synthroid and did well on it. Now maybe the lyme is causing my TSH to fluctuate.
Posts: 1297 | From USA | Registered: Dec 2002
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Marz
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3446
posted
Oops, I meant she reduced my levothyroxine which is only T4.
I had been on 112 mcg levothy. and she changed it to 100 mcg + .5 mcg (I think) of liothyronine (T3).
Posts: 1297 | From USA | Registered: Dec 2002
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posted
I had Reverse T3 tested as well, and it was high when I was sick (don't know if it would have been high prior to that) and free T4 was low. I'm taking thyroid complex and iodine from D.C.
-------------------- lj Posts: 34 | From Wisconsin | Registered: Jan 2012
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posted
I just learned that if you have high reverse T3 that it can be from low cortisol which can be from adrenal fatigue and that you must treat the adrenals first.
Mine reverse T3 is high as well and I have adrenal fatigue.
Posts: 581 | From CT | Registered: May 2008
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Marz
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3446
posted
I read that too somewhere Opus since having the test last summer.
I know my adrenals are shot and I'm wondering why my PCP who is supposed to be lyme literate wouldn't suspect that.
Posts: 1297 | From USA | Registered: Dec 2002
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