Cytomel until RAI - do I start taking even if I don't feel bad?

[KJ5854]

My ENT prescribed Cytomel for me to take from now until my RAI treatment (I just had total thyroidectomy 10 days ago and have a small papilliary cancer w/ follicular variant).

Anyway, I'm not having any symptoms, except hair loss, since my surgery and I'm wondering if I should go ahead and start taking the Cytomel now or should I wait until I actually feel bad and need it?  

What is everyone's experience with Cytomel?  I had to feel fine and then start taking something that may actually give me symptoms.  I've never been on any thyroid med before, so taking something like this is making me nervous.

What do you all think?

[KJ5854]

Thanks for your comments guys.  I'm going to discuss this with endo on Wednesday.  I agree that if I can avoid or alleviate some of the hypo-hell symptoms I've heard about, I certainly want to do that.

[redhed87]

I was not on any thyroid meds before my RAI after tt for thyca.  He waited for my tsh to get to 30 or higher before he did the rAI.  I felt like a truck ran me over by the time I went in.  If he says it's okay, i would take it so you can avoid being so hypo.  My tsh was well over 60 when I went in the hospital for RAI and he said it can double in just a few days when it is that high.  It wasn't fun.

[stella5349]

I am totally at a loss here and I am sorry. I just am not familiar with your doctors decision to alter your T3 before RAI

Maybe run this past the endo at your appointment Wednesday. See what they say. I suppose if your doctor ordered you to take it - do that but speak to the endo.

[KJ5854]

I have never been on synthroid or any other thyroid med in my life.  I didn't even know I had thyroid problems until two months before my TT when I was told I had Hashimoto's and suspicious cancer cells.  I had the TT 10 days ago and it was a small papilliary cancer with a follicular variant.  So, now I'm waiting for appoinetment with Endo this Wednesday to start discussing RAI.

My ENT, who is also my surgeon, said that Cytomel is a med they can give people in between surgery and RAI so that their symptoms don't get too bad.  He said without any meds people can become almost unrecognizable physically and mentally.  I'm assuming he means "hypo hell".  I haven't had any symptoms yet, except hair loss which I had before my surgery.

I noticed today that I'm suppose to take two pills of 25mcg each day.  Wouldn't that be 50mcg per day.  Doesn't that seem high?  I'm just so confused about whether to take this stuff or not.

[stella5349]

I agree - It doesn't make sense to only use T3 - Did your physician say you have issues with Synthroid?

[ifupleze]

I would question the reason for being on cytomel instead of synthroid.  Cytomel is strictly T3.  Unless you  have a problem converting T4 to T3, I would be hesitant.  I was on cytomel for a few days and thought I was going to die.  My situation is different than yours, though, so I would ask the doctor why he is putting you on cytomel.