Thyroid Labs for Dixiewrecked

[DixieWrecked]

I have been taking 1.5 grain of compounded NDT for about a month along with Selenium and a trace mineral supplement. Here are my current numbers.
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TSH: not included, thought it was

Free T3: 3.5
T3 Range: 2-4.4

Reverse T3: 25.3 high
Reverse T3 range: 9.2-24.1

Free T4: 1.36
T4 Range: 0.82-1.77

TPO and antibodies were totally healthy undetectable
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I essentially don't feel any different than before. The reason I started taking NDT is becuase it was originally prescribed by Defy about 6 years ago but I never went down that path. I finally thought I would try to address this because I feel like my energy is suboptimal. The reason they prescribed NDT 6 years ago was to treat a TSH of 2.7. Is the best course of action to switch to a lower dose of NDT and add in some T3?

Thanks for taking the time to read.

 

[Cataceous]

I'm not saying this applies to you, but I went down the thyroid rabbit hole with Defy and now think it's a case of treating the side effects without looking into the underlying cause. I had top-of-range reverse T3, which they treated with a T3 prescription. It brought down rT3, but didn't seem to do much else. As I migrated to lower TRT doses I dropped the T3 and rT3 was normal. Grok says it's plausible that excessive testosterone can in some cases raise rT3.

Yes, it is plausible that an excessive dose of testosterone could raise reverse T3 (rT3) levels, particularly in the context of high-dose anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use or supraphysiological testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), based on studies showing mild thyroid impairment and patterns resembling low T3 syndrome (also known as non-thyroidal illness syndrome or euthyroid sick syndrome), where rT3 is often elevated.Evidence for Plausibility​

• Studies on AAS (which include testosterone derivatives like nandrolone decanoate) in animal models and humans demonstrate alterations in thyroid function that could favor rT3 elevation. For example, chronic AAS administration in rats led to decreased serum total T3, free T4, and TSH, with increased type 1 deiodinase (D1) activity in the liver and kidney. D1 converts T4 to both T3 and rT3, but in states of thyroid impairment, the balance can shift toward rT3 production.
• In human bodybuilders self-administering high-dose AAS, there were significant decreases in total T3 and T4, reduced thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), and a blunted T3 response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), indicating relative thyroid dysfunction within the normal range. This low T3 pattern mirrors non-thyroidal illness syndrome, where rT3 is typically elevated as part of an adaptive response to stress or metabolic changes, though rT3 was not directly measured in these studies.
• Anecdotal reports from TRT users suggest elevated rT3 in some cases, alongside symptoms of hypothyroidism (e.g., fatigue, low libido), with lab changes like increased TSH and decreased T3 after prolonged high-dose use. However, this is not universal and may depend on individual factors like dose, duration, and concurrent dieting or training stress.
• In contrast, physiological elevations in testosterone (e.g., in PCOS, where women have naturally higher testosterone) do not show elevated rT3; instead, free T3 and T4 are often higher, suggesting the effect is dose-dependent and more pronounced at supraphysiological levels.

 

[DixieWrecked]

Cat, thanks for that bad ass reply and sharing your experience and quick research.

I also have a saliva cortisol test that was sent in, and I am awaiting the results. My initial layman's thought is that high doses of test affect adrenal function and alter cortisol production and this in turn raises RT3. There are several new age thyroid gurus that state that cortisol affects RT3.

At any rate, the need for polypharmacy to sustain higher dose androgens seems really challenging.

 

[Vince]

Cat, thanks for that bad ass reply and sharing your experience and quick research.

I also have a saliva cortisol test that was sent in, and I am awaiting the results. My initial layman's thought is that high doses of test affect adrenal function and alter cortisol production and this in turn raises RT3. There are several new age thyroid gurus that state that cortisol affects RT3.

At any rate, the need for polypharmacy to sustain higher dose androgens seems really challenging.

Treating the thyroid can be a tough process. Most people I know feel no different. I do use thyroid meds to help lower my LDL particle numbers.

I use 90 mg of thyroid armor in the morning and 6.25MCG of t3 morning and afternoon.