Aa
why snythyroid and not cytomel?
I don't have a thyroid anymore.. my synthyroid script cost me about $220 a month w/o insurance.. y can't my Dr just prescribe me cytomel.. right after my surgery I was on 25mcg cytomel twice a day and have never felt so normal in my life with the clearity in my head, the energy I had, the motivation I had to do things, the ability to listen to my Bio rhythm and go to sleep at a decent hr and wake up at a decent hr but ever scence then I have never felt that and yearn for it.. every Dr I talk to say no take the synthroid.. I mean wtf.. I already take a low does of cytomel of 5 mcg of cytomel BC I have t4 resistance so y not just straight t3?
Well it looks like im not going to the Dr anytime soon BC im gonna have to move BC I can't get along with my room mate
COMMUNITY LEADER
No questions about benefits.....I can about imagine what that's about.
You are right, nearly every doctor you talk to has a different way of doing things, and in some things, that's fine; however, when dealing with thyroid issues, there needs to be a standard set of tests; without looking at the whole picture, there's no way of knowing what to do.
That's why MH is here -- you should never take our word as being the "end all, be all", because we aren't doctors and don't know all of your circustances, but so many of us have been down that road to hell and made it back; we know what tests you need to have done in order get where you want to go. Learning everything you can about the disease is the best thing you can do -- we all have to be our own advocate and the only way we can do that is to be informed.
In your case, I can't help but feel that you need more cytomel (not cytomel alone, just more than you take now). Rule of thumb is for every 5 mcg of cytomel added, synthroid/levo should be decreased by 25 mcg -- depending on how much extra T3 you MAY need, the amount of your levo could come down considerably.
Again, without tests, you can't know and there's not much more we can tell you.
You are right, nearly every doctor you talk to has a different way of doing things, and in some things, that's fine; however, when dealing with thyroid issues, there needs to be a standard set of tests; without looking at the whole picture, there's no way of knowing what to do.
That's why MH is here -- you should never take our word as being the "end all, be all", because we aren't doctors and don't know all of your circustances, but so many of us have been down that road to hell and made it back; we know what tests you need to have done in order get where you want to go. Learning everything you can about the disease is the best thing you can do -- we all have to be our own advocate and the only way we can do that is to be informed.
In your case, I can't help but feel that you need more cytomel (not cytomel alone, just more than you take now). Rule of thumb is for every 5 mcg of cytomel added, synthroid/levo should be decreased by 25 mcg -- depending on how much extra T3 you MAY need, the amount of your levo could come down considerably.
Again, without tests, you can't know and there's not much more we can tell you.
they dont have anything open on a daily basis.. the only prob i have with it is that every endo you go to has a diff opinion on how to treat our probs.. i met about 6 of them while i was in the military and they all did it diff.. dont ask about benefits b/c i dont want to go into it right now..
COMMUNITY LEADER
Poked and prodded is better than the alternative(s). Don't they have something that's open on a daily basis, with an "income based" charge, where you can make an appt? You know you gotta do what you gotta do.
The free conic around here is one every Thur within a 3 HR window and its first come first serve between 6-9pm but have to go between 6-7am just to get on the list
COMMUNITY LEADER
I think you need to contact your local county public health dept and see if you can get some blood work done. Only guessing, but it sounds like you might need more cytomel; however, you won't be able to get that without further testing.
I asked my Dr the same question when she told me dose and she just replied you're just one of those guys.. in a big Guy meaning im 6'1" and have a large build and frameframe
Im up to 900mcg after doing blood test every month for the first 2 yrs and every 3 months the past yr.. I get it at CVS and I take 3 300mcg tabs a day.. also this is all without insurance too
COMMUNITY LEADER
You need to have your labs done again, particularly Free T3 and Free T4. If you are on 900 mcg synthroid, I can't help wonder if your FT4 is really high and your FT3, really low. This would indicate that you aren't converting the T4 to T3, and would then indicate that you would need more T3 med (cytomel).
You really can't safely make changes without current blood work. Increasing your cytomel dosage would allow the synthroid dose to be decreased, but you have to know what your levels are, otherwise you're just guessing.
I agree that synthroid should not cost $220/month. I was on it for almost a year and mine cost about $9/month with insurance; $40/month without. Of course, we must keep in mind that 300 mcg is the highest dose of synthroid made; therefore, at 900 mcg/day, you would need 90 pills/month, rather than 30.
Bottom line, here, is that you really must get some blood work done to find out where you're at or you are going to stay sick. If you can't afford to see your regular doctor, maybe you should check out the local public health department in your county.
You really can't safely make changes without current blood work. Increasing your cytomel dosage would allow the synthroid dose to be decreased, but you have to know what your levels are, otherwise you're just guessing.
I agree that synthroid should not cost $220/month. I was on it for almost a year and mine cost about $9/month with insurance; $40/month without. Of course, we must keep in mind that 300 mcg is the highest dose of synthroid made; therefore, at 900 mcg/day, you would need 90 pills/month, rather than 30.
Bottom line, here, is that you really must get some blood work done to find out where you're at or you are going to stay sick. If you can't afford to see your regular doctor, maybe you should check out the local public health department in your county.
on your question as to take only T3? - No, that doesn't work well for patients and certainly as a cancer survivor taking T3 only is not a good idea.
Its too short lived in the body to stabilize you.
Its too short lived in the body to stabilize you.
There's gotta be something wrong with your post.
900mcg of Synthroid has to be an error. That's too high.
I see your a cancer patient so your TSH should be suppressed - however, the true way to suppress your thyroid is to lab test the Free T3 and Free T4 levels.
A high Free T3 will supress the TSH and make you feel symptom free from the condition.
Also - where are you buying this Synthroid? Even a specialized compound pharmacy doesn't charge 220 bucks for thyroid meds,
You need to make changes on your care if this truly is happening.
900mcg of Synthroid has to be an error. That's too high.
I see your a cancer patient so your TSH should be suppressed - however, the true way to suppress your thyroid is to lab test the Free T3 and Free T4 levels.
A high Free T3 will supress the TSH and make you feel symptom free from the condition.
Also - where are you buying this Synthroid? Even a specialized compound pharmacy doesn't charge 220 bucks for thyroid meds,
You need to make changes on your care if this truly is happening.
I really don't sleep OK idk what it is.. but when I'm asleep I'm knocked out for 10+ hrs and gl at waking me up.. that's y I want to get back on just straight cytomel. When I was on that I slept like 7 hrs Max and woke up on my own at the same time everyday and made me feel normal for the first time in my life.. the synthroid takes so freaking long to get in your system and for you to even see a change..
I've yet to get it to maintain at 0.00 yet been close but not yet.. that's y I'm taking such a high dose
Is there any possibility that a lower dose would also maintain your TSH @ 0.00? I ask because I take 60 mg Armour and my TSH is quite low, one time as low as .04. I have never heard of anyone taking 900mcg. Are you able to sleep okay? I'm curious to see what answers you receive as far as taking Cytomel only.
And the does is so high to get labs in range to a TSH to 0.00.. they have to be that way BC of the type of cancer I had..
My Dr only prescribes name brand BC generic is allowed to be +- 20% of the actual does.. I was dx with t4 resistance BC my cholesterol was to high with being so active and my does as high as it is.. I haven't been to the Dr in almost a yr and can't afford my $350 a pop Dr and $50 a pop blood test.. I've been unemployed for the past 10 months.. I can't find my last lab work either..
Y is it customary anyway? Who cares which I take as ling as I'm healthy a feeling right? Research in the us on this is 30-40 yrs old on this anyway
Y is it customary anyway? Who cares which I take as ling as I'm healthy a feeling right? Research in the us on this is 30-40 yrs old on this anyway
I pay for canadian ERFA out of my pocket, about $19 per month from a Canadian online pharmacy. But I take an average dose. My synthroid equivalent would be somewhere around 150 mcg per day and my thyroid is almost dead.
1)How were you Dx'ed with T4 resistance?
2)Was it Dx'd because it takes so much T4 med to get labs in range?
3) Synthroid at Walmart is in their minimum price category of $4 per month up here with insurance. Even double that saves you money.
1)How were you Dx'ed with T4 resistance?
2)Was it Dx'd because it takes so much T4 med to get labs in range?
3) Synthroid at Walmart is in their minimum price category of $4 per month up here with insurance. Even double that saves you money.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Normally, T4 is converted by the body to T3, which is the biologically active hormone. It's customary to start out on the T4 med (in your case, synthroid) and let the body do the conversion if it will. Then if one doesn't convert, as some of us don't, a T3 med (cytomel or generic) is added.
That's an awfully high dose of synthroid. What are your latest thyroid lab results? That would be TSH, FT3 and FT4. Please be sure to post both the test result and the reference range, since these vary from lab to lab and must come from your own report.
Have you checked into one of the natural thyroid hormone meds, such as Armour, NaturThroid, ERFA, etc? These have both T4 and T3 already in them.
That's an awfully high dose of synthroid. What are your latest thyroid lab results? That would be TSH, FT3 and FT4. Please be sure to post both the test result and the reference range, since these vary from lab to lab and must come from your own report.
Have you checked into one of the natural thyroid hormone meds, such as Armour, NaturThroid, ERFA, etc? These have both T4 and T3 already in them.
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