cytomel for long term thyroid replacement

[Janeen0149]

I am a 38 year old female athlete who has had my thyroid removed due to papillary cancer.  I run upwards of anywhere from 10-18 miles a day and I am curious if this will be possible for me to do again as I have been told from other thyroid patients that being on synthroid has heart palpatations as a side effect.   I have been placed on cytomel as an interim replacement until the RAI treatment and I am wondering if it would be possible to stay on this instead of going on the Synthroid, as I am feeling great right now and would like to continue with the cytomel as I have not gained any weight and my energy level is perfect.  Any thoughts?

[goolarra]

T3 meds, like Cytomel, are more likely to cause heart palpitations than T4 meds, like Synthroid.  T3 is many times more powerful that T4.  Anyone with a heart arrythmia is warned to stay away from T3 meds.  If you are tolerating the Cytomel without palpitations, I would imagine you would have an even easier time tolerating the Synthroid without side effects.  

T3-only meds are seldom prescribed on a long-term basis.  This is because T3 is very fast-acting in your body and is neutralized by your body if not used promptly.  For that reason, you have to split your dose into several parts throughout the day to avoid the peaks and valleys that come with T3-only meds (and you still will not avoid them completely).  T4 is the "storage" form of the thyroid hormones, and basically circulates in your body until it is needed.  At that point, it is converted to T3 so that your cells can metabolize it.  T3 meds are much more often prescribed as an addition to T4 meds.

[JenB12]

HI i have not had thyroid surgery but i've had many many operations both major and minor and the scar itself is usually numb (which is not noticeable if the scar is very thin) and often the area around the scar is numb after surgery and then you gain feeling back over time as the nerves and tissues heal.

I'm not sure with thyroid surgery but that has been the case for all of my surgeries.

[Barb135]

I can't answer your questions about numbness because I have not had my thyroid removed.  Sorry,

[Janeen0149]

THank you both for responding.  I will definetly discuss this with my doctor.  I am also wondering if either of you had numbness at your incision cite, as my last steri-strip came off yesterday and I touched the incision for the first time and it is completely numb.

[Barb135]

I am on both levothyroxin (generic synthroid) and cytomel as well.  I agree with Laura that it depends on your free t4 and free t3 levels.  

Good luck and glad to hear you feel so good.  

[laura1967]

I am on Synthroid and Cytomel both. It really depends upon your free t3 and free t4 levels. Just work closely with your doctor and let him/her know how you feel.
Glad to hear you are feeling great!