Feeling Good in Smaller Jeans

Two days until my doctor appointment and I'm excited!  Since when is anybody excited to go to the doctor's? 

I was at the stable today for my daughter's riding lesson and I felt GOOD!  I was walking around in a size smaller jeans and a fitted top instead of a baggy top and I felt much better about myself than I did a year ago.  It feels really, really good to feel better about how I look.  That may seem superficial to some but when you are walking around 30 pounds or more overweight when you are used to being a small size, there's nothing attractive about myself, to me personally, when I look in the mirror. 

It's a good thing we have insurance because it took me going through a few doctors before I found a good one.  Without insurance, I would have had to stop looking for a good doctor and continue to be unhealthy because there is no way we could afford repeated doctor visits without insurance.  I guess I could have bought a short-term insurance like a short term health insurance NC policy I recently saw but I'm glad we have long-term insurance through my husband's employer right now. 

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Forgot to Take Medication on Vacation

We just got back from vacation.  I slacked a little bit on my thyroid medication.  I didn't do it on purpose.  I just forgot to take it a few times (including an entire day).  When you're on vacation, you're thinking about fun, sun, and lazing about in the pool floats. We were actually so busy running to different events (band recital, night out on the town, hair appointments), that it just slipped my mind.

My next appointment with my new doc is Friday.  It's a good thing I'm not due for labs so I didn't mess anything up in that respect.  If he does what I think he will, he'll put me on a straight T3 prescription to clear out all the T4 and RT3 in my system.  Let's see if I'm right!

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Latest Thyroid & Other Blood Test Results

My doctor called to tell me they received the hospital results (after I'd called the hospital to remind them:) a little while ago.  Here is what she gave me:

• Free T3:  6.15 (normal range 2.32-6.09)
• Free T4: 1.83 (normal range 0.09-2.35)
• TSH:  0.3 (This is within normal range, on the low end of normal which is where I want it.)
• Saturated Iron: 24 (normal range 20-55)
• Iron:  85 (normal 37-170)
• IBC (iron binding capacity): 353 (normal 260-400)
• Vitamin D:  30 (normal range 25-80)

With the reverse T3 of 53 (normal 11-32), I have a RT3 problem.  The ratio between Reverse T3 and T3 is supposed to be about 20 but I am told mine is at 11.6. 

I will also need to increase my Vitamin D intake. 

They didn't have my results for:  Cortisol, Hashimoto's antibodies, and they didn't mention ferritin yet.

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Reverse T3

Well, the hospital failed to send my lab results to my doctor that were done almost two weeks ago so the only lab I have back is my Reverse T3 lab.

Results:    53  (normal range is 11-32)    High

So I googled REVERSE T3 (and Reverse T3 Dominance) since I wasn't sure what this could mean.  Here are the notes I jotted down:

• Causes metabolic break
• Hypometabolism
• Reverse T3 (RT3) is the non-active form of T3 that is similar in composition to T3 (the active form).  Because it is so similar, it fits into the receptors where T3 should go, taking its place.  Therefore, the non-active form is in the place where the active (T3) form should be.
• Reverse T3 is a T4 metabolism malfunction (T4 is supposed to convert into T3 and some RT3 but when too much is being converted into RT3, it creates problems).
• Caused by prolonged stress, which increases cortisol, which interferes in the conversion of T4 to T3.  (Huh...years of dealing with hubby's ex will do that to a person.) 
• If blood tests show T3 and T4 levels in blood are within normal range, a reverse T3 problem will result in continued hypothyroid symptoms because the T3 circulating in the blood isn't the same as the T3 at tissue-level (where the RT3 takes the place of T3 in the body's cells).
• RT3 dominance
• Some web sites indicate a slow-release T3 (like cytomel) is needed while others say it isn't.  Taking regular T3 is ok if you break it up into 4-5 doses per day.  I will have to wait to see what my doctor thinks once the rest of my results are in.

So all these years of complaints to my various doctors about continued hypothyroid symptoms despite my other thyroid levels being ok (according to the blood tests and docs) may have been cleared up with a simple Reverse T3 blood test?   For more than eight friggen years?  That makes me angry.

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19 Pounds of Weight Gone

I am now at a 19 pound weight loss since changing my thyroid medications and dosages in the fall.  I've added my weight loss ticker to my blog here to keep track.

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Lab Results Late, Changed Doctor Appointment

I had to reschedule my doctor appointment.  None of the thyroid labs I had drawn a week ago were sent to my doctor.  Ridiculuous.  I found a lab to draw the Reverse T3 that the hospital couldn't do and that was just done the other day and won't get there for a few days yet.  The appointment is rescheduled for April now.  I would guess that once my doctor does see them, if there is any drastic change needed right away, they'll contact me.  Otherwise, it's just another wait.  I'm not good at waiting.

I have lost 18.5 pounds so far. 

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Thyroid Tests Done and Now I Wait

I had my blood tests done on Friday.  The lab the hospital uses doesn't do the Reverse T3 test though so I had all but that one done.  I'll have to get the Reverse T3 done at another lab because my new doctor wanted to look at ratios for something.  That is one area of my thyroid I don't understand yet. Considering it took me eight years to understand all I do, and most of that has come within the last year, I'll get that figured out too.

I am STILL at the 17 pound weight loss mark I was at over a week ago.  I was hoping to see another pound or so go away.  These plateaus are frustrating.  You just hang there for awhile, day after day, seeing the scale never fall below a certain mark.  My metabolism needs a kick in the pants to get it moving again I guess.  If it were warmer, I'd start walking.  It's supposed to be in the 40's this week so that should be warm enough for a walk -  maybe.  Not sure my little one can handle it though.

I am anxious to know the results - to see what the big increase in medication has done.

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