low T3 only- increase synthroid?

[greenishmama]

So I posted a couple times in the past few weeks about my thyroid. I now have a copy of my blood work. I'm concerned that only my T3 is low and dr increased synthroid from 100 mcg to 112mcg and I got leg cramps and she told me to keep taking it and use Mg.

Here's what my levels were:

TSH 2.78 (0.27-4.20)
T4 6.2 (4.5-12.0)
T3 66 (80-200)

I've just today read about Low T3 Syndrome... and how taking T4 (synthroid or levothyroxine) usually does not help and can be more harmful. T3 only meds often do not help either and can also be harmful.

If anyone has knowledge or experience with low T3 only please let me know.
My main complaints/symptoms that are bothering me right now are feeling cold (freezing- which does get better for a while if I exercise), weight gain, and brain fog (brain fog I found out is often caused by low T3...))

[homesteadmama]

:hug

I have no answers, but the same symptoms, and am curious what others have to say.

[Soliloquy]

It sounds like you need to have more bloodwork. The FT3 (free T3) and RT3 (reverse T3) need to be checked at the same time so you can calculate the ratio (http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/rt3-ratio/).

I have (or perhaps had, my symptoms have drastically improved but I haven't had my bloodwork re-done to check) reverse T3 hypothyroid (http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/reverse-t3/). My thyroid appears to be just fine, it's cranking out T4 just like it should. But my liver isn't converting it to T3, it's converting it to reverse T3. It's what our bodies are supposed to do during famine, to conserve energy and help us survive when there isn't enough food. It's what happens in animals during hibernation. Yeah, not supposed to be happening to people with enough food . . .

I've been taking pretty high doses of iodine and selenium and feel SO much better. I take 8 drops of Lugol's 2% (http://www.amazon.com/J-CROWS%C2%AE-Lugols-Solution-Iodine-2%25/dp/B001AEFM9Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1359354117&sr=1-1&keywords=lugols+2%25) and 200mcg of selenium (http://www.amazon.com/Pure-Encapsulations-Selenium-selenomethionine-Health/dp/B0041OP1MI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1359354068&sr=8-3&keywords=pure+encapsulations+selenium) every day. (If you're starting iodine, you should start slowly, 1 or 2 drops, working your way up.)

---------- Post added at 10:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 PM ----------

And, if you have a RT3 imbalance, taking more T4 will only make things worse. Your liver will just make even more RT3. Taking dessicated thyroid probably won't help, either.

If your ration of FT3 to RT3 is fine, though, switching to dessicated thyroid (http://www.amazon.com/Standard-Process-Thytrophin-PMG-360/dp/B003Y2CVYY/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1359354244&sr=1-1&keywords=standard+process+thytrophin+pmg) could really help.

---------- Post added at 10:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:24 PM ----------

Forgot to add-- almost all holistic practitioners think a TSH above 1.5 shows hypothyroidism. So, your TSH is a concern, too.