too much cytomel?

[vixie007]

Hello, I  was diagnosed three years ago with Hoshimotos. I was put on a very low dose of cytomel 5mcg which I take half in the am and half in the pm. My levels have been stable, Ill post below with ranges.  My issue is that I am unable to keep weight on. I have to eat five or six times a day to not feel faint and I look like a stick. People comment on my hollow eyes all the time. I've always wondered why I was put on t3 if my symptoms seem like hyperthyroid symptoms . Im wondering since my levels are "ok" am I possibly no longer in need of the cytomel as a stabilizer and is it now speeding me up too much? I was thinking of tapering off and seeing how I feel however I do have heighted antibodies. I do not have a doctor at this time to answer this as I have moved away.

REVERSE T3 10 - 24 ng/dL 13
ANTI-THYROGLOBULIN AB 0 - 40 IU/mL 95
ANTI-TPO AB 0 - 34 IU/mL 14
TSH 0.55 - 4.78 uIU/mL 1.08
FREE T4 0.9 - 1.8 ng/dL 1.1

[vixie007]

Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2015 23:50:06 -0400



The results are in (below). TSH is still in the gutter. The t3 and t4 seem a little less elevated without the cytomel. In my research I'm finding that if I am to have any future in hormone replacement (estordial and test) I'm going to be dealing with a hyperstate. As I've explained I do not want to loose the estrogen. I'm wondering if
it is ever a possibility that they will put me on something to stabilize me from going into hyper such as a very low dose of methimazole.

I am now working with an MD who knows nothing about Thyroid, a NP whose prescribing me hormones (whom I've explained to that i need to be on the most minimal dose possible). I'm getting on a wait list to see a specialist. I don't know how long that will take. In the meantime I'm going to talk to my MD about options but I"m pretty sure he's clueless.


What do you think about the methimazole?

Tisa



TSH

0.55 - 4.78 uIU/mL

0.01



FREE T4

0.9 - 1.8 ng/dL

1.5




T3

60 - 181 ng/dL

120

[goolarra]

It is frustrating.  Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.  Unfortunately, messing with any part of the endocrine system causes ripples throughout it.  

With T3 pretty high in the range and tachycardia, I tend to agree with you that you don't need to be taking T3 right now.

I'll look forward to seeing the results of today's testing.

Hang in there; you'll get it all figured out...

[vixie007]

I'm back. My HR has been out of control even after I cut the estrogen patches in half. I told my dr. I'm 98-100 resting HR and even when trying to sleep and up to 193 running on the treadmill and he was very shocked. I"m very fit and athletic so these numbers don't make sense. I did read that if you have low bp (which I do) and a high heart rate, it's a sign of Thyroid disease. I also read that estrogen can throw off your thyroid  hormones which I swear I felt very soon after I placed the patch on as you recall that same day I got my blood checked at things were wacky for the first time in a long time. I'm getting retested for my levels tmrw. At this point I have cut my patches into four pieces. I am determined to find a level that I can handle. I want to feel like a female again b/4 I actually hit the proper age for menopause.  I found this little bit online:

"While healthy women experienced no significant changes in their thyroid function while on the estrogen therapy, about 40% of women taking the thyroid hormone had decreases in their blood levels of thyroxine, levels low enough to trigger hypothyroid symptoms, such as low energy and feeling tired, sluggish, and cold, or to put them at risk for regrowth of thyroid cancer. Their thyroxine dose was increased to compensate for the effects of the estrogen. This dose adjustment in thyroxine allowed them to continue taking estrogen to combat menopausal symptoms while keeping their thyroid disease in check."

I"m not sure what this means for me since I went off my T3. Maybe I should have stayed on?mI'm feeling ok aside from the fact that my heart races. I"ll see what the numbers say tmrw now that I"m on a low dose of Estrogen and no T3. It just made sense to me that T3 would speed me up.


Its frustrating trying to fix a problem but it only causes another. Hope you're well.

[goolarra]

You're very welcome.  A lot of people helped me when I was first here.  I'm returning that favor, so you don't owe me anything.

Glad to hear you're feeling better.  It's often better to start out low and increase as needed and tolerated.  Do try to figure out why your T3 and T4 are both on the high side, though.

My husband was born and raised in Eugene, so we still have ties there.    

[vixie007]

i lived in portland for a year and then moved to fall creek outside of Eugene for three years.
I find that Drs are much more willing to listen to me on the west coast. There are also many more NDs out there which I also prefer.

I've been off the t3 since wednesday and i have cut my patches in half (dr approved). I feel much better. It was just too much for me. Maybe I can work my way up to one patch. It will be interesting to see if I gain weight now that I'm off t3. That would be wonderful!

I may move back to oregon. It depends on work factors. Thank you for being a life line. I wish I could do something to return the favor.

[goolarra]

TSI is a simple blood test, just like your TPOab and TGab tests.  

I don't think we know if the estrogen had anything to do with your level.  I doubt it did, first because you were already having the weight symptom (which is a hyper symptom) before you started estrogen, second because you'd only been on the estrogen for a very short time before the blood was drawn.  T4 is very long lasting and takes time to build in your blood, so I suspect your FT4 was already high before the patch.  However, the patch might help to lower your levels now, but that won't happen immediately; it'll take time.    

I'm in Sisters.  Where did you live in OR?