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Am I overmedicated, undermedicated or high RT3 or?
10 months ago I became over medicated and my doc has been lowering my dose of Tirosint by 12 mcgs ever since. A week or so ago my eyes had a flare up of swelling, running and aching [have had this when under medicated too] apparently it isn't too common because I posted about this with not much response. Now I have fluid retention else where too [maybe I had too much sodium] and my digestion is slow with reflux again. I have had the jitters off and on, trembling, racing heart at times, but now feeling tired/slow,, palps have stopped. My doc lowered my dose again, 4 days ago to 88mcgs Tirosint, I was told to stay at 12.5mcgs Cytomel. Every lab done before this had had a FT4 at the very top of the range, FT3 has been at the upper 2/3 or higher, no TSH and high RT3. Here are my labs from last week, before dose lowered:
100mcgs Tirosint 12Cytomel
TSH less than 0.006
FT4 Direct 1.48 0.8-177
FT3 3.3 2.0-4.4pg/ml
RT3 24.1 9.2-24.1ng/dl
Do you think the RT3 could improve as I lower the T4? Am I over medicted or do I need additional Cytomel for the fluid, vision thing? Any opinion would be helpful! I have Hashi's and my last labs where good on iron, D etc... But I do have some low cortisol in the AM, based on saliva testing. My last labs on Cholesterol and Trigs where very high, also my A1C was high...which is unbelievable because I eat so well, so I think my thyroid meds are not working at the cellular level, hence the high RT3 [which my doc is not concerned about] She's about ready to put me on Statins and Metformin. Had none of this until my thyroid got wacked out..gained 30lbs in 3 months, the vision issue and totally debilitated from pain and my body not functioning properly. Have not been right since. I wonder if I may have Graves as well, will ask for that test! Very concerned that this is causing permanent damage to my organs and bones...put my doctor has no sense of urgency.
Thank you so much for your help!
100mcgs Tirosint 12Cytomel
TSH less than 0.006
FT4 Direct 1.48 0.8-177
FT3 3.3 2.0-4.4pg/ml
RT3 24.1 9.2-24.1ng/dl
Do you think the RT3 could improve as I lower the T4? Am I over medicted or do I need additional Cytomel for the fluid, vision thing? Any opinion would be helpful! I have Hashi's and my last labs where good on iron, D etc... But I do have some low cortisol in the AM, based on saliva testing. My last labs on Cholesterol and Trigs where very high, also my A1C was high...which is unbelievable because I eat so well, so I think my thyroid meds are not working at the cellular level, hence the high RT3 [which my doc is not concerned about] She's about ready to put me on Statins and Metformin. Had none of this until my thyroid got wacked out..gained 30lbs in 3 months, the vision issue and totally debilitated from pain and my body not functioning properly. Have not been right since. I wonder if I may have Graves as well, will ask for that test! Very concerned that this is causing permanent damage to my organs and bones...put my doctor has no sense of urgency.
Thank you so much for your help!
I started having highish blood sugar at the same time my digestion slowed down..which I believe is due to thyroid, which I think is causing the high sugar. Have you had this happen? I feel full after eating very little.
No, my doc gave no reason for the refusal of the diuretic. I have had my heart checked, stress tests, ultra sounds,EKG's etc..because when this all started I had hyper symptoms, trembling, diarrhea and racing heart with weight loss for about 8mos, then came the hypo with the weight gain and fluid retention, palps. Last check was 1.5 years ago. They just think I'm nuts and have emotional problems..which I do now from all I've been through and dealing with doctor's. Maybe it was the Hashi's..i will never know, I guess. The heart doc only checked my TSH! It was .45 and .63 which then it was pronounced normal. So even the Cardiologists aren't testing correctly..can you imagine how many thyroid sufferers are left to suffer? How many psyc. patients have thyroid issues that are over looked and on all kinds of drugs! It really is concerning! My friend has never had a FT3 test and is on Morphene and Lyrica and doesn't even try to find out why she's like this. My pain is gone when I'm treated correctly and she still won't listen. Her Cholesterol can't be lowered with Statins either. I truly suspect thyroid issues. Her willingness to be drugged just blows me away!
Yah, she's willing to leave me sick, but so were the last 4, so I don't know what to do. No point in talking to her about any natural remedies, she won't be helpful there either. My boyfriend got me the tea, thank goodness. Will start it today. It says to steep for 12min! Wow! The tea will be good as pills are just a bit much..so sick of them.
I have taken many supplements and have had no luck with them. I have had Licorice in some and have never had an issue yet. I love Licorice but realize it can raise cortisol levels and Bp etc.. I swelled before taking the last supplement containing Licorice, so that isn't it, but thanks for alerting me! Am down to just whole food vitamins, fish oil if i can remember and Selenium, Cinnamon for high blood sugar..have you investigated that yet? I hear other countries have good success with it. My doc never called it insulin resistance but says my A1C is too high. Do you know how the 2 are different? I had none of this until my Hyper like episode in 2009..i feel it's related to the thyroid issue,I really do.
Why are you swelling so much, if you don't mind my asking? Is it the thyroid crapolla? And, how did you find such an open-minded doctor?
Epsom salts didn't help much, but the real bad swelling is around my eyes..can't hold my breath long enough to try it ..HAHa. When my eyes swell my vision gets worse. No doc believes me that it's thyroid related, even the eye doc! When the hypo hit in 2010 it was one of my first symptoms, with the 30lbs in 3 month gain, distended stomach and acne. Took another year of searching for help to get it. In 2011, I had to ask my to run thyroid tests and had to tell him which ones..he didn't even know! Unbelievable! My GP said I needed a dietitian and a dermatologist and refused me testing. It's been just awful, Barb.
Yah, she's willing to leave me sick, but so were the last 4, so I don't know what to do. No point in talking to her about any natural remedies, she won't be helpful there either. My boyfriend got me the tea, thank goodness. Will start it today. It says to steep for 12min! Wow! The tea will be good as pills are just a bit much..so sick of them.
I have taken many supplements and have had no luck with them. I have had Licorice in some and have never had an issue yet. I love Licorice but realize it can raise cortisol levels and Bp etc.. I swelled before taking the last supplement containing Licorice, so that isn't it, but thanks for alerting me! Am down to just whole food vitamins, fish oil if i can remember and Selenium, Cinnamon for high blood sugar..have you investigated that yet? I hear other countries have good success with it. My doc never called it insulin resistance but says my A1C is too high. Do you know how the 2 are different? I had none of this until my Hyper like episode in 2009..i feel it's related to the thyroid issue,I really do.
Why are you swelling so much, if you don't mind my asking? Is it the thyroid crapolla? And, how did you find such an open-minded doctor?
Epsom salts didn't help much, but the real bad swelling is around my eyes..can't hold my breath long enough to try it ..HAHa. When my eyes swell my vision gets worse. No doc believes me that it's thyroid related, even the eye doc! When the hypo hit in 2010 it was one of my first symptoms, with the 30lbs in 3 month gain, distended stomach and acne. Took another year of searching for help to get it. In 2011, I had to ask my to run thyroid tests and had to tell him which ones..he didn't even know! Unbelievable! My GP said I needed a dietitian and a dermatologist and refused me testing. It's been just awful, Barb.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Have you ever tried soaking in a warm tub, with about a cupful of epsom salt? Epsom salt tends to pull excess moisture from your tissues. Again, best to check with your doctor, but I find, sometimes that soaking my feet or hands in epsom salt, reduces swelling; we replaced my bathtub with a shower stall, so I no longer have the option of soaking my whole body.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Wow - I don't blame you, I'd be angry, too. I can't believe your doctor wouldn't even give you a diuretic. Did she give any reason for not being comfortable with that? There are OTC diuretics you can get, but I've never used them and would be afraid to suggest any.
I'm afraid you're going to have to find a different doctor, because while this seems to be trying to work with you, she's still stuck on TSH and the fact that she's willing to leave you with severe edema (which can be a sign of hypo or a sign of heart issues) scares me. Have you had a heart work up to make sure you don't have issues there? Congestive heart failure, as well as other conditions can also cause edema.
Just for your info, my health food store (I go to several of them, but mostly Vitamin Shoppe, because it's closer to me) also carries a Dandelion Root capsule that might work a bit faster for you than the tea. The brand I use is Nature's Way, but I'm sure there are others. I keep both on hand. If any of this information gets "bleeped", I'll send you a PM.... lol
Did you happen to talk to your doctor about the dandelion tea? As I said, my doctor gave me his blessing for both the tea and the capsules, but of course, it's best to get your own doctor's blessing.
Oh -- one more thing...... do you happen to eat licorice or take any supplements that contain licorice extract? I ask you this because I was taking a supplement recommended/sold by my doctor that contained licorice extract and I swelled up like a balloon and we had to double my Lasix dosage and it still didn't do anything. Took a while to figure out what was doing it, but as soon as I started researching the ingredients in that supplement, I knew what the problem was, so I stopped it. The swelling went down and has been "almost" normal, so I just tried that supplement again last week and, again, I immediately started swelling. It won't affect everyone that way, but it will some of us. It can also lower potassium levels enough to cause muscle cramps; it does that to me; at the same time I started swelling, last week, I got muscle cramps that were coming so fast and furious it was unreal. I popped an OTC potassium pill, which quelled the cramps and since I haven't taken that supplement again, I haven't had any more.
We don't think about some of the things we buy OTC that can cause adverse reactions. It took a very good friend to remember that when I eat licorice I get cramps.
I'm afraid you're going to have to find a different doctor, because while this seems to be trying to work with you, she's still stuck on TSH and the fact that she's willing to leave you with severe edema (which can be a sign of hypo or a sign of heart issues) scares me. Have you had a heart work up to make sure you don't have issues there? Congestive heart failure, as well as other conditions can also cause edema.
Just for your info, my health food store (I go to several of them, but mostly Vitamin Shoppe, because it's closer to me) also carries a Dandelion Root capsule that might work a bit faster for you than the tea. The brand I use is Nature's Way, but I'm sure there are others. I keep both on hand. If any of this information gets "bleeped", I'll send you a PM.... lol
Did you happen to talk to your doctor about the dandelion tea? As I said, my doctor gave me his blessing for both the tea and the capsules, but of course, it's best to get your own doctor's blessing.
Oh -- one more thing...... do you happen to eat licorice or take any supplements that contain licorice extract? I ask you this because I was taking a supplement recommended/sold by my doctor that contained licorice extract and I swelled up like a balloon and we had to double my Lasix dosage and it still didn't do anything. Took a while to figure out what was doing it, but as soon as I started researching the ingredients in that supplement, I knew what the problem was, so I stopped it. The swelling went down and has been "almost" normal, so I just tried that supplement again last week and, again, I immediately started swelling. It won't affect everyone that way, but it will some of us. It can also lower potassium levels enough to cause muscle cramps; it does that to me; at the same time I started swelling, last week, I got muscle cramps that were coming so fast and furious it was unreal. I popped an OTC potassium pill, which quelled the cramps and since I haven't taken that supplement again, I haven't had any more.
We don't think about some of the things we buy OTC that can cause adverse reactions. It took a very good friend to remember that when I eat licorice I get cramps.
Left a message for my doc telling her about the severe swelling, pain etc..and that my FT3 is too low for me at 3.2, did well when at 3.7 and can i raise the cytomel a bit. and that i had 3 good weeks at that level for the first time in years. Requested a diuretic also. The message i received back was: "that your level is fine at 3.2, am not comfortable giving you a water pill, will discuss this at our appointment on Sept.5" I'm very angry!
My dose was lowered to 88mchs Tirosint about 2.5 weeks ago, because of her fear of the TSH being too low. Just incredible! But this will help me RT3 inadvertently, just hope she stops lowering it.
So encouraged about the tea! I have got to get to the health food store ASAP!
My dose was lowered to 88mchs Tirosint about 2.5 weeks ago, because of her fear of the TSH being too low. Just incredible! But this will help me RT3 inadvertently, just hope she stops lowering it.
So encouraged about the tea! I have got to get to the health food store ASAP!
COMMUNITY LEADER
Your FT4 is high enough that you could probably drop to 88 mcg and still be okay, if you need to increase your T3 med.
Yes, the dandelion teas will help with severe edema. My feet/legs were swollen to the point that you couldn't even tell I had ankles and I was desperate to do something, so I tried the dandelion tea. I get it from my health food store. You buy the tea bags and simply steep them in hot water for a few minutes. I add a bit of stevia for sweetening, because the tea is a bit bitter. Then just sip a couple of cups/day.
Since my swelling was pretty severe, it took a couple days before I noticed a lot of difference, but once the swelling started coming down, it went pretty fast.
Yes, the dandelion teas will help with severe edema. My feet/legs were swollen to the point that you couldn't even tell I had ankles and I was desperate to do something, so I tried the dandelion tea. I get it from my health food store. You buy the tea bags and simply steep them in hot water for a few minutes. I add a bit of stevia for sweetening, because the tea is a bit bitter. Then just sip a couple of cups/day.
Since my swelling was pretty severe, it took a couple days before I noticed a lot of difference, but once the swelling started coming down, it went pretty fast.
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