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sammy64 · 04-26-2012, 10:32 AM

bee01

I understand what you're saying about the math but, we don't know for sure just what units Spencer1's lab uses for each test.

I don't think tissue resistance is a possible explanation for my need for high FT's. Every person has different requirements for hormone and most of us need levels well above mid-range.

Since I'm a very active person and a life-long exerciser (cardio/weight-training), I wasn't surprised to discover that I need high FT's to be symptom-free.

In fact, it's very common for Graves' patients to need levels such as mine (I don't know why but, this is a fact reported by the author of "Graves' Disease - A Practical Guide")

This same author confirms what I've said about rT3 - the FT3 test basically replaced its usefulness. I've read quite a bit on both sides of the controversy and still put my stock in the FT3 test.

I was optimized on T4 only (FT4 at 95% and FT3 at 75% of their respective ranges) before my FT3 level dropped below my comfort zone. 5mcg T3 restored my FT3 level.

If tissue resistance is valid concept, I don't have published risk factors for it anyway. I think I just developed conversion issues (and I was taking 100mcg selenium for a year before that happened).

In fact, my conversion seems to have improved because I recently needed my T3 dose reduced to 2.5mcg.

I do believe in what is called "thyroid hormone resistance" which would follow the concepts of tissue resistance. However, in cases such as these, the patient has high/over-range FT's and ongoing hypo symptoms.

In fact, I've found that some of these people actually overshot their goals and, once they got their doses reduced so their levels were similar to the "most commonly comfortable" levels, their symptoms dissipated. They were confused by their symptoms which can happen easily since many hypo/hyper symptoms overlap.

Most of the people I've seen on forums had either/both low-range FT's. I helped them achieve wellness when they got their focus off rT3 and onto the FT's.....maybe it was pure luck but, I'm not inclined to think so.

04-26-2012, 10:32 AM	#10
sammy64 Senior Veteran (female) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: USA Posts: 3,422	Re: Reverse T3 and gaining weight bee01 I understand what you're saying about the math but, we don't know for sure just what units Spencer1's lab uses for each test. I don't think tissue resistance is a possible explanation for my need for high FT's. Every person has different requirements for hormone and most of us need levels well above mid-range. Since I'm a very active person and a life-long exerciser (cardio/weight-training), I wasn't surprised to discover that I need high FT's to be symptom-free. In fact, it's very common for Graves' patients to need levels such as mine (I don't know why but, this is a fact reported by the author of "Graves' Disease - A Practical Guide") This same author confirms what I've said about rT3 - the FT3 test basically replaced its usefulness. I've read quite a bit on both sides of the controversy and still put my stock in the FT3 test. I was optimized on T4 only (FT4 at 95% and FT3 at 75% of their respective ranges) before my FT3 level dropped below my comfort zone. 5mcg T3 restored my FT3 level. If tissue resistance is valid concept, I don't have published risk factors for it anyway. I think I just developed conversion issues (and I was taking 100mcg selenium for a year before that happened). In fact, my conversion seems to have improved because I recently needed my T3 dose reduced to 2.5mcg. I do believe in what is called "thyroid hormone resistance" which would follow the concepts of tissue resistance. However, in cases such as these, the patient has high/over-range FT's and ongoing hypo symptoms. In fact, I've found that some of these people actually overshot their goals and, once they got their doses reduced so their levels were similar to the "most commonly comfortable" levels, their symptoms dissipated. They were confused by their symptoms which can happen easily since many hypo/hyper symptoms overlap. Most of the people I've seen on forums had either/both low-range FT's. I helped them achieve wellness when they got their focus off rT3 and onto the FT's.....maybe it was pure luck but, I'm not inclined to think so. __________________ Graves' 2007...remission 2009....hypo 2010 Last edited by sammy64; 04-26-2012 at 10:42 AM.