Cytomel and real side effects

[RenKat]

I have posted before-Hashimotos, previous nodules, sifting through doctors to find a balance..Initially, hypothroid.  
I was so excited to finally find a doctor to listen, and considerfr adding the T-3 to my Synthroid.  The 5 mcg 2 x daily generic Cytomel he added, to my reduced from 100 mcg to 88 mcg of Synthroid, was way to much, with heart palpatations and breathing distress.
So we cut it to 2.5 twice daily, mostly only once a day.  I found increased anxiety, insomnia and irritability somewhat tolerable, although uncomfortable and was striving to deal with this.  But, after a month, I recently noticed a serious increase in weight (8 lbs and a full bra size larger ) and a swollen throat, with difficulty in real difficulty swollowing.  I just stopped taking the Ctyomel, 2 days ago, on advize of my primary and the endo, and while I am seriously disappointed,  I am now concerned.
Will this throat swelling abate, and how hard is it going to be to lose the increased weight?  I had such hope and am now incredibly distressed  Has any one ever heard of this?  I will post labs when I have them, next week.  

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Thyroid surgery usually does not help smooth out the hypothyroid symptoms.
If the throat pain is thyroid - it would be a transient (usually) inflammatory pain.  however if this persists, would consider seeing ENT for evaluation of the pain as it may not be thyroid.  

There are no specific diet recommendations.

[RenKat]

Thanks for the reply.  I am at a real loss here, as to the next step.  I have not felt good, or truly myself in so long.  And now I have another problem to add to my list of unpleasantness. The discomfort in the throat is a real aggravation.  Could this be a hashi's episode? And, are there certain foods to avoid, or to incorporate into the diet, with this disease?
Words can not express how frustrating this path has been.  Would I be better to just have the thyroid reomved, altogether?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

T3 (cytomel or liothyronine) has a very short duration of activity and should be out of your system by now.  There should be no durable side-effects and it would be unusual to see such weight gain and swelling from the T3 hormone itself, so this may have been an allergic reaction or other cause.

The anxiety, insomnia and heart palpitations are symptoms of too much thyroid hormone from any source.  This is why we use small doses of T3 (usually no more than 5mcg per dose) as it is a very potent thyroid hormone.