I have a great respect for Paul Robinson's life work and for CT3M method, but I consider it to be a mistake to overlook the importance of RT3 as an indicator of the degree of CT3M method's effectiveness for the individual patient.
Compared to the CT3M method, RT3 is not so relevant because the only source of RT3 in our bodies is T4, while CT3M method works by T3 alone. Nevertheless, calculating the ratio rT3/TT3 can be extremely helpful in identifying those patients who will achieve the greatest effect of CT3M method. The poorer rT3/TT3 ratio, the better effect of CT3M method.
Normally, T4 is converted to T3, which is the active hormone, the body's cells use to sustain life. While many of us, in general, have problems with the conversion of T4 to T3, there is perhaps even more of us, who converts T4 to far more RT3 than is good for us. This means that proportionally more cell receptors become "blocked" by the excess RT3 molecules and this prevents the active T3 from reaching into the cells. Patients experiencing that their hypothyroidism gets worse, despite the fact that blood samples are shown, although the most ideal levels of hormones in the blood.
Unless the patient is measured both the RT3 and Total T3 separately from each other, and then calculates T3/rT3 ratio, there are no other methods to determine which patients convert T4 to too much of RT3 , and who does not.
Converts the patient's T4 to too much of RT3, will any treatment with either synthetic T4 or desiccated thyroid lead to continued conversion of T4 to RT3. The only way forward for these patients is to interrupt the flow of T4, from whatever source, and replacing T4 with a slowly increasing supply of pure T3.
Provided that T4 is no longer applied - it takes approx. 12 weeks before RT3 is "cleaned out" from cell T3 receptors, but it is not useful to measure the RT3 in the blood to confirm it, since RT3 disappears from the blood long before it disappears from the T3 receptors.
This means that for patients with a (too) low rT3/T3 Ratio, will slowly increasing supply of pure T3 be not expected to provide the full effect until at least from 12 weeks after the phasing out T4 is completed and the supply of pure T3 is started.
I will therefore conclude by claiming that it is a mistake to ignore the role of RT3 in relation to CT3M method, because it imparts this method, the ability to predict the degree of effectiveness of the method in the individual patient.
I hope this mistake will be corrected, so more "hopeless" hypothyroid patients may achieve an improvement, since the insight into their rT3/TT3 Ratio can give them the courage to give CT3M method a chance. Not least because this can make us independent of fluctuations in the supply of desiccated thyroid in the future. I don't thing, that Big Pharma will never stop sabotaging desiccated thyroid, for protecting, safeguarding and promoting the sale of synthetic levothyroxine.
Best wishes for all sick in our cold North, and in the rest of the world. kram1
Dansk: Jeg har en stor respekt for Paul Robinsons livsværk og for CT3M-metoden, men jeg anser det for at være en fejl, at man overser betydningen af rT3 som indikator for graden af CT3M-metodens effektivitet for den enkelte patient.
I forhold til selve CT3M-metoden, er rT3 ikke så relevant fordi den eneste kilde til rT3 i vores kroppe er T4, mens CT3M-metoden fungerer ved T3 alone. Alligevel kan udregningen af rT3/TT3 ratioen være yderst behjælpelig med at udpege de patienter, der vil opnå den største gevinst ved CT3M-metoden. Jo dårligere rT3/TT3 ratio, jo bedre effekt af CT3M-metoden.
Normalt bliver T4 omdannet til T3, som er det aktive hormon, kroppens celler bruger til at opretholde livet. Mens mange af os, i det hele taget, har problemer med omdannelsen af T4 til T3, er der måske endnu flere, der omdanner T4 til langt mere rT3 end godt er. Det betyder, at proportionelt flere cellereceptorer bliver "tilstoppet" af de overskydende rT3-molekyler, og dermed forhindres det aktive T3 i at nå ind i cellerne. Patienterne oplever forværring af hypothyreose på trods af, at blodprøverne viser, selv det mest ideelle indhold af hormoner i blodet.
Medmindre patienten får målt både sit rT3 og Total T3 separat fra hinanden, og derefter udregner T3/rT3 ratio, er der ingen andre metoder til bestemmelse af, hvilke patienter konverterer T4 til for meget rT3, og hvilke ikke gør.
Konverterer patienten sit T4 til for meget rT3, vil enhver behandling med enten syntetisk T4, eller Thyroid betyde, at konverteringen af T4 til rT3 vil fortsætte. Den eneste vej frem for disse patienter er at afbryde tilførslen af T4, uanset fra hvilken kilde og erstatte T4 med en langsomt stigende tilførsel af rent T3.
Forudsat at T4 ikke længere tilføres - tager det ca. 12 uger før rT3 er "renset ud" fra cellernes T3-receptorer, men det nytter ikke at måle rT3 i blodet for at bekræfte det, da rT3 forsvinder fra blodet længe før det forsvinder fra T3-receptorer.
Det betyder, at for patienter med en (for) lav rT3/T3 Ratio, vil den langsomt stigende tilførsel af rent T3 ikke forventes at yde den fulde effekt før tidligst fra den 12. uge efter at udfasning af T4 er tilendebragt og tilførsel af rent T3 er påbegyndt.
Jeg vil derfor afslutningsvis hævde, at det er en fejl når man ignorerer rT3's rolle i forhold til CT3M-metoden, da den bibringer denne metode muligheden for at forudsige graden af metodens effektivitet for den enkelte patient.
Jeg håber at denne misopfattelse vil blive rettet, så flere "håbløse" hypothyreose-patienter kan opnå en bedring, idet indsigten i deres rT3/TT3 Ratio kan give dem mod på at give CT3M-metoden en chance. Ikke mindst fordi dette kan gøre os uafhængige af svingninger i forsyninger af Thyroid i fremtiden, idet jeg tror at Big Pharma vil aldrig ophøre med sabotere Thyroid, for at beskytte, fremme og sikre salget af syntetisk levothyroxin.
Bedste ønsker for alle syge i vores kolde Nord, og i resten af verden. kram1
