Aa
Just started Erfa thyroid...
I just got my doctor to give me a trial of dessicated thyroid for my enlarged thyroid (results always come back normal) and I just wanted to sort of share my experience. Although it's only been a week, I wanted to continue updating my progress here. It's been almost a year since I started natural treatment for my adrenals; my cortisol was very low during the day and then very high during the night. I have been taking Adapt during the day which has vit B6, panthothenic, ashwaganda and other extracts and then I would take Seriphos at night which contains phosphorylated serine. They have helped a bit with my adrenals but I still get very fatigued and I still get the very cold spells with periodic hot flashes. I also take 12.5mg of Iodoral because I am deficient in iodine. My throat has also been feeling tight and a bit more swollen in the thyroid area so I thought it was time to be persistent with my doctor. He was very reluctant but believed that it might help considering my "hypothyroid-like" symptoms are still with me after a year since I started seeing him. He started me on 15mg and in a couple of days I can move up to 30mg and then move up again if I don't feel a difference.
Here's the thing, I did notice a difference in my temperature and energy in the first couple of days. People use to play around with me and put cold things next to my skin so I can start having a cold flash (feels like I'm getting cold from the inside out), but they tried it on me this week and the cold item didn't bother me as much. Well that was a couple of days ago and it seems that cold flashes still hit me every now and then throughout the day. I will continue to up my medication and see if there is a difference. Problem is I'm not sure if my adrenals are fixed cause I still get exhausted during the day and I actually don't take my thyroid meds till the afternoon cause that's when I wake up. I'm afraid to take a higher dose cause I heard it can be a problem if your adrenal problem is not fixed. My adrenal situation feels better now than I did a year ago but it's still not perfect. I need some advice on this. Should I continue with the dessicated thyroid? Is it normal to feel better the first few days and then have the symptoms creep back a little? Dessicated thyroid also makes me hungry, is that normal??? I really don't need to gain more weight.
Thanks for reading!
Here's the thing, I did notice a difference in my temperature and energy in the first couple of days. People use to play around with me and put cold things next to my skin so I can start having a cold flash (feels like I'm getting cold from the inside out), but they tried it on me this week and the cold item didn't bother me as much. Well that was a couple of days ago and it seems that cold flashes still hit me every now and then throughout the day. I will continue to up my medication and see if there is a difference. Problem is I'm not sure if my adrenals are fixed cause I still get exhausted during the day and I actually don't take my thyroid meds till the afternoon cause that's when I wake up. I'm afraid to take a higher dose cause I heard it can be a problem if your adrenal problem is not fixed. My adrenal situation feels better now than I did a year ago but it's still not perfect. I need some advice on this. Should I continue with the dessicated thyroid? Is it normal to feel better the first few days and then have the symptoms creep back a little? Dessicated thyroid also makes me hungry, is that normal??? I really don't need to gain more weight.
Thanks for reading!
Yes - BC will interfer with thyroid hormone. Its a balancing act for sure when we are on multiple hormones.
Sorry I should clarify considering so much has changed. I was on 15mg Erfa but i cut that in half so now its 7.5mg? I wasn't feeling so great on it cause of hot flashes and sweating. I couldn't handle 12.5mcg of Cytomel with the ERFA so I cut it in half, so its now 6mcg? I am also taking 20mg Celexa for my panic attacks but I've been on this for the last 10 years.
I also take ALA and chromium picolinate other issues but they've never cause me side effects as I have taken them before. Last but not least I am taking the Birth Control pill, other than preventing pregnancy it helps with my pms cramps and the heavy periods.
Overall the thyroid meds have helped but not 100%..so theres going to be some tweaking. I just wanted to distinguish what was normal and what wasn't. Sometimes I feel that I should have more information that way I can be more persistent with my doctor.
I also take ALA and chromium picolinate other issues but they've never cause me side effects as I have taken them before. Last but not least I am taking the Birth Control pill, other than preventing pregnancy it helps with my pms cramps and the heavy periods.
Overall the thyroid meds have helped but not 100%..so theres going to be some tweaking. I just wanted to distinguish what was normal and what wasn't. Sometimes I feel that I should have more information that way I can be more persistent with my doctor.
Sorry to jump in here!, but...Maybe it's the BC pills added to the equation? Stella, you've always said that thyroid issues/meds and BC pills aren't a good mix, right?
You in a catch 22 for sure trying to find the right equasion on these. I'd call the doctor and see if you could run a blood panel prior to the appointment. This way your killing 2 birds with one stone and be tested already.
Most always when on any direct T3 med your TSH will be near non-exsistant. Not sure if you know. I'm reading back on the post and I suppose I need more clarification on dosages of meds and all that you are taking. I see BC is in the mix and maybe we need to re-look at all the things both meds and supplements you are taking to see if their would be other things we hadn't talked about.
Most always when on any direct T3 med your TSH will be near non-exsistant. Not sure if you know. I'm reading back on the post and I suppose I need more clarification on dosages of meds and all that you are taking. I see BC is in the mix and maybe we need to re-look at all the things both meds and supplements you are taking to see if their would be other things we hadn't talked about.
Arggh I am anxiously awaiting my next doctors appointment which isn't until the 22nd and I just have so many questions about how I am feeling. I know i don't have my results yet but I just wanted to make sure what I am feeling on ERFA and cytomel is normal. I notice that when I take ERFA and cytomel together my symptoms are either the same or I start sweating more in my sleep. So I decided to cut out the ERFA and take a quarter of a cytomel pill on its own and I felt much better. Although I felt better I did notice that I was more anxious. I can't describe it, its not enough to get an anxiety attack but sort of on edge, like I'm more aware of things around me. That scared me a bit so I added half of 15mg ERFA back and this helped with anxiety but the sweats came back again. Is this normal? I read that some people can't take T3 on its own and must take it with some sort of T4.
wow you really know your stuff!! Well I had a iodine loading test months ago and I was low in iodine, which is why I was started on Iodoral, and tests also showed I was low in estrogen...Also keep in mind I am taking the birth control pill...Sorry for leaving the info out.
I think you may need an iodine loading test to see your levels. It may be to high.
Iodine will remain in the system for 3 days after discontinued. You can track things after 3 days.
I don't see any Free T3/RT3 labs done to determine a Wilson theory. Another thing would be to look at the estrogen dominant lane too.
If you increased your adrenal function with supplementing the thyroid can swing off. Balancing the 2 issues together can be difficult. Usually adrenals need the TLC care first if possible then a slow thyroid repair can be smoother. If treating the 2 issues wasn't quite right then estrogen will go crazy and could put you in a fake/menopausual state.
Iodine will remain in the system for 3 days after discontinued. You can track things after 3 days.
I don't see any Free T3/RT3 labs done to determine a Wilson theory. Another thing would be to look at the estrogen dominant lane too.
If you increased your adrenal function with supplementing the thyroid can swing off. Balancing the 2 issues together can be difficult. Usually adrenals need the TLC care first if possible then a slow thyroid repair can be smoother. If treating the 2 issues wasn't quite right then estrogen will go crazy and could put you in a fake/menopausual state.
Oh I forgot to add I was also started on ashwagandha to support my adrenals and had to stop ADAPT cause it gave me heartburn. Ashwagandha didn't cause stomach problems but it did make me feel a bit warmer too. Although I didn't take it when I started Cytomel cause I wanted to see how Cytomel affected me. Now I'm afraid to take them together cause I might overheat lol.
Yes I do! Hmm..I wont be able to see my doctor for another couples of weeks but I don't think it would be harmful to pause the Iodoral for a bit and see what happens. It's either that..or cut my T3 down in half and work my way up??? what do you think? Once again I woke up feeling hot and sweaty but to my surprise I woke up to PINK lips!! My lips usually look colorless/purple and I almost fell over after looking in the mirror. This makes me wonder if I might have Wilsons Syndrome and maybe T3 is the way to go.
posting the labs would be good. Raising the T3 can make you sweat. Don't you take iodine too?>
The iodine with raising the T3 hormone can warm you and you may need to adjust the iodine to make things better.
The iodine with raising the T3 hormone can warm you and you may need to adjust the iodine to make things better.
Just back to write a little update as I have added 12.5 cytomel to my daily pill intake. I stuck with the 15mg of ERFA thyroid and my symptoms (ie.cold, hot, fatigue) were still with me just not as unbearable. That's when my doctor decided to add the cytomel thinking maybe I'm not converting the T4. I took my first pill today and i noticed a bit more energy n i was very warm. I took a nap and i couldnt even use my blanket cus i was sweating. Is this normal?? Last time i was sweating on Erfa thyroid my doctor thought i was taking too much but i hope this will go away as i intend to stay on cytomel for at least 6 weeks. Also im gaining a bit of weight around my stomach after starting ERFA and im hoping cytomel will help with this. Do you guys take cytomel and is it working for you??
PS. I just got a blood test so i will post the results in a week or two.
PS. I just got a blood test so i will post the results in a week or two.
Ioderal hey? I see his train of thinking...
Read up on the heat from the iodine. This may also cause you to sweat some.
Read up on the heat from the iodine. This may also cause you to sweat some.
ok just a short update. I was up to 45 mg and just couldn't handle the sweating. I was trying on clothes in a changing room and didn't realize how much I was sweating till I took off my shirt and it was heavy from sweat and when I put it back on..it was cold!!! EWwwww...I told my doc and he thinks I am on too much thyroid meds so I'm back down to 15mg and wants me to add Iodoral to it. I did question him about my adrenals but he wanted me to stay on the Adapt and Seriphos for now. He also wants me to stay on the 15mg for about 4-6 weeks until I go for the Free T, ANA tests again.
"Now if only the night sweats will stop asap =("
- possibly not untill levels are correct for awile. Half way doesnt count. Been there.
- possibly not untill levels are correct for awile. Half way doesnt count. Been there.
thanks for clearing that up lazymoose! To Stella, well I have to continue with my Adapt and the Seriphos cause we know for sure that my adrenals need them. They are not strong enough I think cause when I stress I still have certain symptoms that are still there but this is better than not taking anything for them. But adding the thyroid meds seems to just exasperate(sp?) some symptoms, like feeling hot and sweating. Maybe I will give the 30mg more than 2 weeks cause boy, I didn't feel so great after moving up the dose. Now if only the night sweats will stop asap =(
This is pretty common in desiccated thyroid meds when you are new to them.
Pressure and the hot/cold changes are common. That's why starting slow and small doses is good.
The normal increase times are 2 week = 1/4 grain - but you may need more time to stabilize. That's just a random timeframe most go by.
I thought you were going off supplementing until you find your best dose with thyroid meds?
Pressure and the hot/cold changes are common. That's why starting slow and small doses is good.
The normal increase times are 2 week = 1/4 grain - but you may need more time to stabilize. That's just a random timeframe most go by.
I thought you were going off supplementing until you find your best dose with thyroid meds?
Excuse me for being straightforward. Withdrawal is more of a chemical 'brain' thing. Stopping thyroid med is stopping hormones. Hormones are a chemical that in a way, helps the body work in a chemical, mechanical way, if that makes sense. - In addition to mental. Cant really compare the two.
Changing thyroid med changes your body. If you decide you dont need the med it might be best to taper off, not just stopping all at once.
Splitting is good. If you have a normal work day / life, dont take dessicated after 5 pm - wont sleep with The T3 in it. Dont take anything with T3 at night. Its not like a T4 med. If you do mess up eating with med timing in the afternoon, ERFA can be taken sub-lingual. It dissolves in 20 minutes in the cheek. Absorbion might be different this way, so only do this if you forget in the afternoon and eat something.
Changing thyroid med changes your body. If you decide you dont need the med it might be best to taper off, not just stopping all at once.
Splitting is good. If you have a normal work day / life, dont take dessicated after 5 pm - wont sleep with The T3 in it. Dont take anything with T3 at night. Its not like a T4 med. If you do mess up eating with med timing in the afternoon, ERFA can be taken sub-lingual. It dissolves in 20 minutes in the cheek. Absorbion might be different this way, so only do this if you forget in the afternoon and eat something.
Well I already know how I feel on the other supplements because I have been taking them for awhile and the dessicated thyroid was only added recently. These symptoms are definitely from the thyroid med. I will give this another week and then I will go up by another 15mg. I'm worried, is there withdrawal when you come off dessicated thyroid medication?? I'm asking because I just went through major withdrawal from antidepressants 4 months ago and had to go back on them, I really don't want to go through something like that again and don't want to depend on medication unless its life or death.
When I get to 60mg should I split it into 30mg in the morning and then 30mg in the afternoon? Will it be okay to take it at night in case I miss the second dose?? I have been taking magnesium glycinate for a while now and I really like it. Thanks again for your help.
When I get to 60mg should I split it into 30mg in the morning and then 30mg in the afternoon? Will it be okay to take it at night in case I miss the second dose?? I have been taking magnesium glycinate for a while now and I really like it. Thanks again for your help.
A lot of info here. I will answer specifically on ERFA. And I did not read this whole thread.
It is hard to tell what is going on when other supplements and meds are in the picture. Why its important to add one at a time if possible.
Starting any dessicated you will feel odd the first two or three weeks , feeling better as you taper off to one month. Felling hot, feeling heart is some of these symptoms from starting any pig thyroid, it has more T3 to T4 ratio, takes a while to get use to it. Its more noticeable immediately under stress, within minutes you can feel flushed. This will pass. Must start out on a lower than optimal dose and increase 15 mg per two weeks- this eases the transition. You might need to start lower. Dessicated is often split.
Taking a good magnesium (matate, cytrate, glycinate, NOT oxide) at night (separate 4 hrs from thyroid med) can help sleep and calm you during this transition.
It is hard to tell what is going on when other supplements and meds are in the picture. Why its important to add one at a time if possible.
Starting any dessicated you will feel odd the first two or three weeks , feeling better as you taper off to one month. Felling hot, feeling heart is some of these symptoms from starting any pig thyroid, it has more T3 to T4 ratio, takes a while to get use to it. Its more noticeable immediately under stress, within minutes you can feel flushed. This will pass. Must start out on a lower than optimal dose and increase 15 mg per two weeks- this eases the transition. You might need to start lower. Dessicated is often split.
Taking a good magnesium (matate, cytrate, glycinate, NOT oxide) at night (separate 4 hrs from thyroid med) can help sleep and calm you during this transition.
OK so i've been on 30mg dessicated thyroid for a week now and I'm noticing somethings that worry me. My cold attacks aren't as bad but are still there, and now my hot attacks are hotter and I sweat more and feel like my head will explode when I experience them(more so during stressful situations). One thing that I notice more often now is my heartbeat. At random times of the day I can really feel my heart pounding through my chest and I can't tell whether it is faster or just pounding harder and sometimes it would also skip a beat or two. I'm not anxious during it or having a panic attack but the worry of my heart beating so hard will drive me close to one. I notice it more when I am tired. What can this mean?? I can't be experiencing hyper symptoms cause I'm still cold most of the time.
There should be no problem talking with your doctor and doing research yourself is totally OK.
That's how I fixed my issues and then when I found my super-dooper doctor - she confirmed more.
She was impressed with my presistant research too ;) and told me I probably saved my own life :)
That's how I fixed my issues and then when I found my super-dooper doctor - she confirmed more.
She was impressed with my presistant research too ;) and told me I probably saved my own life :)
LOL volcano...Thats exactly how I feel when I am hot too. Sorry forgot to add I have taken a saliva test for cortisol hence the treatment I was put on for the adrenals. It showed my cortisol is low in the day and high at night. I'm just not sure whether the treatment is right for me and whether I should press the doctor to try something else.
I agree also, introducing too many supplements when on hormone medication could not be good. Stay with thyroid hormone for now and introduce other things slowly as time goes by.
I did horrible on anything iodine based in the beginning but as I began to feel healthier - returning to it definately was better for me at that time. Now I am very happy with adding this supplement into my daily routine along with some others
I did horrible on anything iodine based in the beginning but as I began to feel healthier - returning to it definately was better for me at that time. Now I am very happy with adding this supplement into my daily routine along with some others
I was on an adrenal supplement DHEA-5 with VitC and sea salt. I found that did helpme balance basal temp.
I would be freezing in 90 degree weather literally and also could be a volcano standing outside in the winter nearly naked... lol
Temp palys a huge role in tracking.
Do I feel you should up your thyroid meds? - That's hard to say. What I do feel is following the strict protacol with NDT and do the 2 weeks increase of 1/4 grain and testing no longer than 4 weeks each time with your doctor monitoring you.
Also getting a test for really see adrenal function. I feel saliva tells a whole lot more in time frames than a one time draw guess-work test like the ACTH.
I would be freezing in 90 degree weather literally and also could be a volcano standing outside in the winter nearly naked... lol
Temp palys a huge role in tracking.
Do I feel you should up your thyroid meds? - That's hard to say. What I do feel is following the strict protacol with NDT and do the 2 weeks increase of 1/4 grain and testing no longer than 4 weeks each time with your doctor monitoring you.
Also getting a test for really see adrenal function. I feel saliva tells a whole lot more in time frames than a one time draw guess-work test like the ACTH.
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