Re: Cytomel and Armour dosing--RT3 High

[Guest guest]

> I really need to know about this RT3 and how people are dealing with it and

using Cytomel and/or Armour. Also would my muscle knots/triggers be a sign of

this high RT3, or is it possible that taking the HC may have caused that?

All your symptoms sound hypoth to me. The T4 in the Armour is just converting to

RT3 and thje RT3 is blocking your cells receptors so less and less of the good

T3 are getting in. Most of us deal with Rt3 by taking T3 only. Then you won't

have to worry about T4 converting to RT3. I had a doctor who tried to solve the

RT3 problem with more Armour. I finally refused to take it anymore because I was

getting so bad so fast.

Dorothy

[Guest guest]

I also had a doctor that tried to treat the Rt3 with armour. I just got sicker

and then I fired him. You do need to be on just T3. I am feeling so much

better now that I switched doctors and to T3. Although I am still dealing with

stuff but I do believe I will get there.

Venizia

>

>

> > I really need to know about this RT3 and how people are dealing with it and

using Cytomel and/or Armour. Also would my muscle knots/triggers be a sign of

this high RT3, or is it possible that taking the HC may have caused that?

>

> All your symptoms sound hypoth to me. The T4 in the Armour is just converting

to RT3 and thje RT3 is blocking your cells receptors so less and less of the

good T3 are getting in. Most of us deal with Rt3 by taking T3 only. Then you

won't have to worry about T4 converting to RT3. I had a doctor who tried to

solve the RT3 problem with more Armour. I finally refused to take it anymore

because I was getting so bad so fast.

>

> Dorothy

>

[Guest guest]

> All your symptoms sound hypoth to me. The T4 in the Armour is just converting

to RT3 and thje RT3 is blocking your cells receptors so less and less of the

good T3 are getting in. Most of us deal with Rt3 by taking T3 only. Then you

won't have to worry about T4 converting to RT3. I had a doctor who tried to

solve the RT3 problem with more Armour. I finally refused to take it anymore

because I was getting so bad so fast.

>

> Dorothy

>

I was thinking the same thing about the Armour. But I figured I'd listen to my

holistic guy. If I were to use the Cytomel only, would I need to wean down on

the Armour, or is it safe to just stop it.

Can I take the Cytomel sublingual too? I have been so far. Also is it better to

take it all at once in the morning, or in divided doses?

[Guest guest]

>

> I also had a doctor that tried to treat the Rt3 with armour. I just got

sicker and then I fired him. You do need to be on just T3. I am feeling so

much better now that I switched doctors and to T3. Although I am still dealing

with stuff but I do believe I will get there.

>

How much T3 do you take? Do you use Cytomel? Do you take it sublingual and when

do you take it? Once a day, etc. How long have you been on just the T3? Have you

had your levels checked periodically to see if the RT3 corrected itself?

[Guest guest]

I have slowly gone up to 85mcg total for the day. I cytomel 3 times a day but I

am thinking of adding something at bedtime. Although I am sleeping great. I do

not take it sublingually. I am due for a free t3 test. I have been on T3 since

April 22nd but started out with time-released compounded T3 and did not do well

on it. So I started cytomel I believe May 19th and I am seeing improvement in

how I feel. The jury is still out on the actual Rt3 reading.

As Val has probably told you, you need to find out what is causing your Rt3 or

it will come right back if you do not address that problem. For me I believe it

is my liver for which I will be seeing my gastroenterologist and possibly

suggest a liver cleanse although I have no idea what that will entail. I do have

high liver enzymes and have had for a couple of years. He justs keeps his eye

on them....I am going to ask him to do more than that.

Hope this helps.

Venizia

> >

> > I also had a doctor that tried to treat the Rt3 with armour. I just got

sicker and then I fired him. You do need to be on just T3. I am feeling so

much better now that I switched doctors and to T3. Although I am still dealing

with stuff but I do believe I will get there.

> >

>

> How much T3 do you take? Do you use Cytomel? Do you take it sublingual and

when do you take it? Once a day, etc. How long have you been on just the T3?

Have you had your levels checked periodically to see if the RT3 corrected

itself?

>

[Guest guest]

>If I were to use the Cytomel only, would I need to wean down on the Armour, or

is it safe to just stop it.

You can just substitute the equivalent amount. A usual dose is about 75 mcg T3.

You don't need to do T3 sublingual, but you can. Split into 2 -4 daily doses.

Dorothy

[Guest guest]

>

> >If I were to use the Cytomel only, would I need to wean down on the Armour,

or is it safe to just stop it.

>

> You can just substitute the equivalent amount. A usual dose is about 75 mcg

T3. You don't need to do T3 sublingual, but you can. Split into 2 -4 daily

doses.

>

> Dorothy

>

My doctor won't let me take that much. He wants me only on 10mcg a day in

addition to the 90mg of Armour. I figure the Armour for 90mg is 57 T4 and 13.5

T3. When I add in the 2 doses of Cytomel it's 23.5 T3. He wants me to do his way

for a month and return to talk about symptoms and then go for further blood

test.

I'm thinking if I stop the Armour and do the 10mcg of Cytomel if that is too

little T3 for my high RT3 number.

[Guest guest]

> I'm thinking if I stop the Armour and do the 10mcg of Cytomel if that is too

little T3 for my high RT3 number.

It is also too little to keep you from being more hypo. You may have to look for

a doctor who actually understands how to treat RT3 or buy your own T3.

Dorothy

[Guest guest]

Well you can do ti his way for a month and prove t him he i wrong, with

labs but DO rerun the RT3 and FT3 again then INSIST on it and hope he is

right! OR you can buy your own T3 or find a doctor that jnows how ot

treat this properly which can be very tough,.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

[Guest guest]

" Colleen " colcroke@... wrote:

>I'm thinking if I stop the Armour and do the 10mcg of Cytomel if that is too

little T3 for my high RT3 number.

If you are truly hypothyroid, you will probably need a T3-only dose in

the range of 75mcg-150mcg to put your FT3 high enough to feel well.

10mcg of T3 isn't going to control your hypoT.

[Guest guest]

Remember that the problem with  using Armour is it has way more T4 than T3 - and if you're prone to RT3 - taking Armour, no matter how high a dose trying to get more of the T3 - is only going to add more *RT3* - which will further block your absorption of the T3 you are taking!  If you truly have an RT3 issue - the Armour is just going to make it worse until *after* you've cleared out the RT3.  As far as whether RT3 really can get cleared out - I, and many others on here, have proven you CAN do so by using T3-only for a minimum of 12 weeks!

Best wishes!- Jacki

>

> >If I were to use the Cytomel only, would I need to wean down on the Armour, or is it safe to just stop it.

>

> You can just substitute the equivalent amount. A usual dose is about 75 mcg T3. You don't need to do T3 sublingual, but you can. Split into 2 -4 daily doses.

>

> Dorothy

>

My doctor won't let me take that much. He wants me only on 10mcg a day in addition to the 90mg of Armour. I figure the Armour for 90mg is 57 T4 and 13.5 T3. When I add in the 2 doses of Cytomel it's 23.5 T3. He wants me to do his way for a month and return to talk about symptoms and then go for further blood test.

I'm thinking if I stop the Armour and do the 10mcg of Cytomel if that is too little T3 for my high RT3 number.

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

> > >

> > > >If I were to use the Cytomel only, would I need to wean down on the

> > Armour, or is it safe to just stop it.

> > >

> > > You can just substitute the equivalent amount. A usual dose is about 75

> > mcg T3. You don't need to do T3 sublingual, but you can. Split into 2 -4

> > daily doses.

> > >

> > > Dorothy

> > >

> >

> > My doctor won't let me take that much. He wants me only on 10mcg a day in

> > addition to the 90mg of Armour. I figure the Armour for 90mg is 57 T4 and

> > 13.5 T3. When I add in the 2 doses of Cytomel it's 23.5 T3. He wants me to

> > do his way for a month and return to talk about symptoms and then go for

> > further blood test.

> >

> > I'm thinking if I stop the Armour and do the 10mcg of Cytomel if that is

> > too little T3 for my high RT3 number.

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

>>But if the T4 is not at a good level, mine was 1.3 at latest blood draw then

won't taking only T3 cause problems? Is it safe to have the T4 completely non

existent? If I take just the Cytomel will my thyroid still produce some T4

without the Armour?<<

The body has NO receptors for T4. NONE. The ONLY thing T4 is needed for is to

give your body a constant supply of T3. As you will be doing that with T3

dosing, you do nto need T4. Mine was .26 that last time I had it tested. It just

mes I cnl;t stop T3 cold turkey as very quickly I would go into Myxedema as I

have no T4 for back up converskion when the T3 runs out.

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

[Guest guest]

>

> >>But if the T4 is not at a good level, mine was 1.3 at latest blood draw then

won't taking only T3 cause problems? Is it safe to have the T4 completely non

existent? If I take just the Cytomel will my thyroid still produce some T4

without the Armour?<<

>

> The body has NO receptors for T4. NONE. The ONLY thing T4 is needed for is to

give your body a constant supply of T3. As you will be doing that with T3

dosing, you do nto need T4. Mine was .26 that last time I had it tested. It just

mes I cnl;t stop T3 cold turkey as very quickly I would go into Myxedema as I

have no T4 for back up converskion when the T3 runs out.

>

> --

Okay. So then if doing a course of T3 only at optimum doses (if that happens for

me) for several weeks, then before coming off, one would have to lower doses

gradually and then at the same time add in low doses of Armour at the same time

to make sure one doesn't go into this myxedema problem?

[Guest guest]

Yes you woudl lower the T3 a bt and add in some Armour, then wait and

lower some more then waiot thne lower and add in more Amrour it is a

seesawign dosing to get back on natiral thyroid .

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

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

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

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

[Guest guest]

>

Great. Thank you, Val.

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

>

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

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

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

>

[Guest guest]

Hey, Colleen...!  Val already answered your questions about T4 not being necessary in the body...  I wanted to add that another " goal " of T3-only treatment to lower RT3 is to lower T4 that you're taking - AND to lower the T4 in your body - because *both* can go to RT3!  So - yes, going T3-only for 12 weeks minimum is what is recommended if you have RT3 issues going on...

Best wishes as you try this all out!  It IS tricky, but worth it.- Jacki

But if the T4 is not at a good level, mine was 1.3 at latest blood draw then won't taking only T3 cause problems? Is it safe to have the T4 completely non existent? If I take just the Cytomel will my thyroid still produce some T4 without the Armour?

Or is it that because the T4 is there only to make T3 and thus taking only t3 is okay?

>

>

[Guest guest]

> > Or is it that because the T4 is there only to make T3 and thus taking only

> > t3 is okay?

That's it exactly. T4 is the storage form of thyroid hormone and is inactive

until converted to T3.

Dorothy

[Guest guest]

My doctor wants me on 90mg of Armour and 10mcg of Cytomel only until I go back

next month. I'm beginning to wonder if taking estrogen bio HRT for the last year

caused that high RT3. Maybe I should wean off of the Estrogen and then test

again?

I do have one scary thought. I did read that high RT3 can be caused by a liver

problem. I also have nails that look like " Terry's Nails " where beneath the

white tip the nail looks transparent and irregular shaped then a light normal

pink down to the cuticle. I read that, that is also a sign of liver disease. Now

I'm scared I may have liver disease. I don't drink either. But I have taken a

lot of vitamins and minerals and herbs the last 2 years trying to help my

symptoms.

I've showed my nails to m GP and he didn't think anything of it, but I think

nails show signs of disease but not one doctor has paid much attention to them.

They grow fine, in fact since starting Estrogen and Biotin my nails grow faster

than ever, but they are transparent in 1/2 the nail. Is this low thyroid?

Maybe the high RT3 is from a liver problem? I'm going to ask for a complete

liver enzyme blood work and a sonogram at my next GP appointment just to be

safe.

[Guest guest]

>

> >I'm thinking if I stop the Armour and do the 10mcg of Cytomel if that is too

little T3 for my high RT3 number.

>

> If you are truly hypothyroid, you will probably need a T3-only dose in

> the range of 75mcg-150mcg to put your FT3 high enough to feel well.

> 10mcg of T3 isn't going to control your hypoT.

>

I know but my doctor will only allow 10mcg a day at this point. I'm afraid to

order this online too (safety reasons) and to dose myself (safety reasons too).

I don't want to go into cardiac arrest or something in case there may be some

issue with me in taking just T3. I have one child who is young and I'm nervous

about taking anything and yet I feel awful and want to feel good enough for him

too. It's a awful place to be.

[Guest guest]

Ok. THanks Dorothy. I have a few online pharmacies that were recommended to me

from my thyroid board. I'm going to try one more doctor soon and see what he

suggests. Then I suppose I'll be on my own.

Do you think I should go up now to 15mcg on my own. I have enough for now to

play with I suppose. Maybe take 5, 5, 5?

[Guest guest]

Dorothy, I have the list for HC but don't have for thyroid hormones.Can you

please email it to me. I will appretitate it.

Thank you.

Milena

>

> Hi Colleen.

>

> You will do more damage to your heart being hypothyroid than in taking a

proper amount of T3. There is a list of online, offshore

sources for thyroid hormones and HC that have been used successfully by many on

this list and others. You will feel much better, more emotionally stable on

sufficient T3 and HC, if you need it. 10 mcg T3 is not enough for anyone who is

significantly hypothyroid.

>

> If you rely too heavily on a doctor who is afraid to use T3 you will not get

well.

>

> Dorothy

>

> > I know but my doctor will only allow 10mcg a day at this point. I'm afraid

to order this online too (safety reasons) and to dose myself (safety reasons

too). I don't want to go into cardiac arrest or something in case there may be

some issue with me in taking just T3. I have one child who is young and I'm

nervous about taking anything and yet I feel awful and want to feel good enough

for him too. It's a awful place to be.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Umm. Patty or someone. My list is possibly not up to date.

> Dorothy, I have the list for HC but don't have for thyroid hormones.Can you

please email it to me. I will appretitate it.

> Thank you.

> Milena

[Guest guest]

>

> Ok. THanks Dorothy. I have a few online pharmacies that were recommended to me

from my thyroid board. I'm going to try one more doctor soon and see what he

suggests. Then I suppose I'll be on my own.

>

> Do you think I should go up now to 15mcg on my own. I have enough for now to

play with I suppose. Maybe take 5, 5, 5?

>

[Guest guest]

> Do you think I should go up now to 15mcg on my own. I have enough for now to

play with I suppose. Maybe take 5, 5, 5?

If your temps are stable and you feel hypo, go for it. Are you charting temps?

Dorothy