A.M. Morning Temperatures

My doctor asked me to take my morning temperature, under the arm for ten minutes, for the first couple days after each period the last couple of months.  Here are the results:

June:  97.3, 97.3

July:  97.5, 97.2, 97.4, 97.0

They're a bit low and obviously for July, they are all over the place.  Can you believe it's the end of July already?  Pretty soon, it will be back-to-school, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the dreaded Christmas. Actually, I love Christmas...just hate the bills.

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Thyroid Test Results - July 19, 2010

I have the latest and not so greatest test results:

• Total T3:  1.27  Normal range is 0.60-1.81 ng/mL.
• TSH:  less than 0.01
• RT3 (reverse T3):  36  Normal range is 11-32 but my doctor's "normal" range is 10-14. 
• Vitamin D:  30  (Normal range is 30-100 but my doctor's "normal" range is 50-100)
• Ferritin:  24  (my doctor wants it 100-130)

I believe the RT3 results might explain why I'm losing so much hair.  I have an appointment to see the doctor in nine days so I'll find out what the next steps are then.

According to my TSH, I should be experiencing hyperthyroidism right now but my Reverse T3 is skewing that so I am not. 

Free T3 to  Reverse T3 Ratio:  1.27*100 (127) divided by 36 = 3.527.  (This is supposed to be over 20.)

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Pregnant or Thyroid Problems?

Well, there is still no sign of that "monthly curse" telling me I am not pregnant.  I shouldn't be pregnant, but that doesn't mean that everything standing in pregnancy's way didn't fail at the right time and let a little swimmer in!  Am I going to be starting over with sleepless nights, personalized baby gifts, and diapers?

My husband thinks it is thyroid-related and not a pregnancy.  Perhaps changing me from compounded Armour to regular Armour messed me up this past month.  I've heard that the reformulated Armour isn't as good as the original Armour. 

Only time will tell (or a pregnancy test, which I haven't bought yet).  I'm chicken.

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Insomnia & Kids

Over the last few weeks, I have had a hard time sleeping.  My kids definitely aren't helping with my sleep habits.  They come in to wake me up to ask the silliest questions!  Don't they know not to wake momma up unless it's an emergency?  Guess not.  They leave me with the need for eye cream for dark circles.

I can't blame it totally on the kids.  I've had a hard time falling asleep initially anyway the last few weeks.  I've not heard if that is a thyroid symptom but with everything thyroid related feeling out of whack right now, I wouldn't be surprised. 

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What is Reverse T3 (RT3)?

Your thyroid makes T1, T2, T3 and T4.  T4 is supposed to convert into T3 (the active thyroid hormone) but may instead convert to RT3 due to stress, low ferritin, cortisol, etc.  This RT3 blocks the receptors and doesn't allow the T3 to get in and do its job, giving you hypothyroid symptoms.

I have a Reverse T3 problem.  I was diagnosed 8-1/2 years after being unsuccessfully treated for hypothyroidism by several other doctors.  Not one of them ever did a RT3 blood test!  My new doctor did this.  My other doctors treated according to labs - the TSH was within normal range so I must be normal...not.  I had swiss cheese memory, hair falling out, weight gain (boy those apidexin reviews and other diet pill reviews were starting to look good), irritable, bad skin, hard time conceiving, etc.  I'd tell my doctors this and they'd dismiss me because my TSH was within normal range.  I sure did learn to hate that TSH test!

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