Thread: Thyroid Problems-Check Your Reverse T3!

If you have thyroid issues, I want to tell you something I have just run into myself because it might help you. I've been struggling with 15 pounds ever since doing the keto diet several years ago. My adrenals and thyroid tanked, and I've never really been the same since no matter what I do. I saw a new doctor in AZ last spring and we changed my medication to Naturothroid. I've been feeling okay but still struggling with adrenal issues (and fatigue) as well as those lousy 15 pounds that don't want to stay off. I lose them but they don't want to stay off. When I first lost the 75 pounds maintaining was easy, and I couldn't figure it out.

The doctor wanted me to take a reverse T3 test and I agreed though I thought it was a waste of time since my free T3 was at 4 which was really awesome I thought. I had NO idea my free T3 could look okay and I still had a reverse T3 problem. I was shocked when I got the test results. My reverse T3 is through the roof which means the T3 is not getting into the cells, hence my stubborn 15 pounds. What happens is that you can get "pooling" where the free T3 looks okay but my TSH strangely enough had risen above the usual .1 and was at over .5 which is the highest I've had in years. I thought maybe my adrenal issues were resolving and my TSH was rising a bit which would make my doctors happy because they never like seeing it fully suppressed but again, that wasn't the issue. The pooling is what caused my TSH to rise. So I'm going to go back on straight T3 to clear out the reverse T3.

Here is a website with tons of information that might be helpful: https://www.restartmed.com

I'll keep you posted on my progress!

So many doctors don't listen. I'm lucky that my GP has always listened to me. He first gave me Cytomel probably 20 years ago when I took some stuff by Dr. Lowe to him about fibromyalgia. He was happy to let me try it and my fibro was gone in 2 weeks. Unfortunately he's retiring next month but I've found a prescribing naturopath in AZ. She actually does phone and Skype consults and she's great. Dr. Karen Freeze if you want to look her up.