Can I take cytomel with a TSH 3.987 to lose weight?

[brazil123]

20% of my thyroid was taken (left side) nodule not cancerous in 2006- since then I became hypo and doctor gave me Synthroid 50 mg (1xday)  but I gained 21 lbs - i am 5-3 and 162lbs - i was 168 until October 2008 when it was done a tummy tuck and liposuction (Oct/2008) then i lost 8 lbs and i am really scared now- first because the doctor in December said I do not take anymore Synthroid and told me to go back only in July/2009 -2nd- I am working out (fitness classes and walking) 5 times a week and dieting and i gained from 160 lbs to 162.2 lbs- i am desperate - i don't want to continue getting weight even exercising or dieting- my test on cholesterol was high in November (260) and LDL-C (165-high) my triglycerides (114-normal); metabolic syndrome markers LDL particle Size (21.0)-my TSH :3.987 ; normal testoterones(38)- i have lots of energy - but have insomnia- also post-menopausal( rarely hot flashes) - not diabetic- my blood pressure is sometimes high (149x90) or sometimes low (123x70)- my weight can change 2-3 times at the same day...i read about cytomel to lose weight- could i take it with low dosage? please help me - I do not want to go back to gaining weight after so much sacrifice with all exercises and diets and surgery and money????!!! Thank you for your help. (mood-brazil123)

[val1198]

FT3 and FT4 are not the same as T3 and T4.  Be sure to ask for the "free" ones.

[val1198]

I understand your frustration with hypothyroidism and weight.  I was trim all my life, even after five babies, until my thyroid quit working.  My doctor didn't notice that my thyroid quit until I'd gained an ugly 55 pounds on my 4'10" frame.  I do not lose on Synthroid even while keeping calories at 1,200 or so.  I do tend to slowly lose a bit on Armour.  Your TSH of 3.987 is way too high.  I am quite sick when my TSH gets to 4.00.  You might do better at about TSH = 1.00.  Where are your FT3 and FT4 levels?

[val1198]

You cannot expect an endo who has been educated by the Synthroid salesman to give you anything except Synthroid.  You cannot expect him to test your FT3 and FT4 because the Synthroid people say that test is all that is required.  You have to ASK for what you want.  Only you can take care of yourself.  Read, read, read.

Synthroid is T4.  In most people, it will convert as necessary to T3.  In some people, however, conversion is not adequate and they need supplemental T3.  Cytomel is T3 and Armour is T4 and T3.  It would not be advised to take supplemental T3 without knowing where your FT3 is.  In fact, I wouldn't take T4 without knowing where my T4 is.  

Again, I am very sick when my TSH gets as high as yours.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Cytomel is not a weight loss medication.  From a thyroid standpoint, it is important to optimize replacement to keep TSH in target range (0.5-2.0) -- other than that weight loss still boils down to the simple math of taking in less than you burn off.

[brazil123]

Hi!

Thank you - you are right! I am calling my gp right away.
Thanks again and Have a Great Day!
brazil123

[mtkst13]

hello.  

since your appointment isn't until march 4th, you should ask you general practitioner to order the ft3 and ft4 tests.  that way you won't have to keep waiting and going to more doctor appointments.  i find that process to be completely frustrating.  you get referred to an endocrinologist by a gp.  then you have to wait for a month or more to be seen.  then you're told nothing by the endo because they don't have any test results!  then you just have to make another appointment to get lab results...ugh!

save yourself some time and ask your gp to order the necessary tests so that you can have the results in your hands when seeing the endo.

good luck!

[brazil123]

Thanks again for the input- i will ask the doctor for the tests on FT3-FT4- every time i go to the endocrinologists doctors it seems that their office is a "market" of people - there are so many people with metabolism problems that "seems" they can't solve it! And the same people comes back for their blood tests within 2-3 weeks again and again- sometimes i just think few doctors just want to make a "quick cash"-why they do not at least be honest with a patient and tell them what they really need to do- you see metabolism it is "a fact" in the country- and I think the Health Department should be looking for these kind of system used in certain doctors offices and evaluate them - it is impossible that up to "today" no one of the doctors could "change" my expectations!!!  or yours!!!! It is unbelievable !!! and look at so many patients in the same conditions- maybe worse... Thanks again! brazil123

[brazil123]

Thank you for your comment - the question you have made about "where is my FT3 and FT4 levels...oh well - i don't know...this doctor never did any test on my T3 or T4- I am always thinking why he never order the test---i am going to another Endo next March 4th, and I will ask him to please do these tests on my thyroide - this will be the 3rd doctor i go in this town (small town in Georgia) - and they never tested my T3-T4  - only for TSH - i don't know how it is the process but i am getting really frustrated- like yesterday i went to the gym and exercise my muscles off -then run in a treadmill for 45 minutes at a 4.3 pace) and then later at home worked out again on my treadmill walking for about 30 minutes on a pace of 3.5-4.0 - diet the entire day- no sugar- only veggies and fruits- fish- and soup - well... this morning when i went to the scale i lost not even 1 pound!!! and if i do not continue doing what i am doing every day i can gain everything that i lost the day before- even if it's only 1 pound - actually my weight levels can be changed 2-3 times during the same day!!!!  It is unbelievable! That's why i am desperate- let's see now how it goes with this new endocrinologist- every time i go to one i am excited thinking they would be helping me- but...unfortunately none of them has helped me...that's why i asked about the Cytomel pill (i read on the Internet-(it is very rare what you should believe on the Internet)- they say this pill it is a hormone that makes you lose a lot of weight- but i will also be asking the doc about it...
Anyways i will let you know when i have the right answers. Thanks again and Have a Great Day!

[brazil123]

Thank you for your answer- as I understood it will better that the TSH goes down from 0.5-2.0 - mine it is a little higher (3.987) - what do you suggest besides eat less and burn off more (exercizing) - also maybe take something extra? Could that be Cytomel? or Synthroid?  
Synthroid was not working for me besides before the doctor tells me to stop it i felt like a pression on my throat all the time and I felt I was swollen all the time.
Maybe Armour? or maybe Thryrolar? Maybe an alternative medication would help me to burn off better and faster?

Thank you again.
brazil123