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cytomel

Hi Dr. Lupo, I was diagnosed about 9 month ago with borderline hypothyroid, I do not have the antibodies, I think I just overdieted and overexercised until my adrenal glands an or thyroid just gave out, my labs were showing low and I had all the symptoms, my doc made me stop running and up my calories to see if the symptoms would reverse, but they did not, so I am back exercising again, after checking my labs last month my TSH and FT4 were normal, but now my FT3 is low, so my doc started me on cytomel 5mcg once a day--oh and he started me on syn about 8 months ago, .50mcg, I just had my labs done again yesterday and my labs actually got lower??  Is that possible??

My Tsh is now done to .40, which I think is kinda low, but my Ft3 went down to 1.9??  When I started on the cytomel It was 2.2??  and I have started feeling tired again--those syptoms had actually gone away but they are back, and I was retaining bodyfat, in which I was hoping the cytomel would get my metabolism raring again, but it seems to be going the opposite way??  Oh my TSH last month was 1.20 and now 0.40??  

I am back exercising full force--does that affect my meds and the dosages?  Why would my T3 drop if I am taking T3 now by mouth--it makes no since to me??

An my TSH dropped which I am not to worried about that, but would like to know if normally when you start someone on T3 do they adjust or drop the dose of syn.??  Or does my exercise and diet have something to do with this as well??

Now mind you--last month I was only exercising half as much, I was dieting, but not expending much energy??  

thanks for your help, Desiree
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Avatar universal
The problem is since starting the cytomel,  my labs actually went lower?  Is this common or normal--the problem is I am having the symptoms again since starting the cytomel, my hair is breaking off--ALOT and my energy levels are low and I am holding onto fluids---Retaining lots of water, and my labs went down--my syn dose was not adjusted, doc just added cytomel??  and my labs are like this TSH .40, FT3 1.99 and Ft4 is .64???  borderline low even with syn??  What are your thoughts??  I am on a very strict diet--could that be the problem??  
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97953 tn?1440865392
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The lower TSH is expected due to increase in thyroid meds (addition of cytomel).  The synthroid (t4) is usually lowered when one starts cytomel -- there is no proven benefit of combining T4 and T3 -- if you feel better with it and the level of TSH is not too low (<0.3 usually) then it may be reasonable, but if not then there is no clear role for routine use of cytomel with a slightly low free T3 level.

T3 levels fluctuate during the day so interpret labs w/ caution.  TSH remains the best reflection of appropriate dosing.
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