Aa
I think I need T3 but doc says no way
I have been taking synthroid for about 2 months now after finally being diagnosed. I started on .5 and within a week started feeling better. However...after the third week started feeling run down again. Called the doc and he increased to .75. Started to feel better again and just had my blood retested. I think I need some t3 added to synthroid but doc says all is normal.
Here's the last labs...
TSH 0.89.....started out at 3.5
FT4 1.1....started our at .9 lab range is 0.8-1.8
FT3 319...started out at 319 lab range is 230-420
Although I'm much better I'm still having hypo symptoms; achiness, joint pain, etc.
My morning temp is still under 97 and my pulse still under 60.
However, My family physician, not the endo that is treating me, has wanted to put me on cholesterol meds for about three years. I wouldn't do it! After the synthroid my levels have dropped from 270 to 183 with LDL and HDL doing the same. On the right track but not quite there yet.
So what do you all think...agree with me or the doc about the t3?
Thanks
Here's the last labs...
TSH 0.89.....started out at 3.5
FT4 1.1....started our at .9 lab range is 0.8-1.8
FT3 319...started out at 319 lab range is 230-420
Although I'm much better I'm still having hypo symptoms; achiness, joint pain, etc.
My morning temp is still under 97 and my pulse still under 60.
However, My family physician, not the endo that is treating me, has wanted to put me on cholesterol meds for about three years. I wouldn't do it! After the synthroid my levels have dropped from 270 to 183 with LDL and HDL doing the same. On the right track but not quite there yet.
So what do you all think...agree with me or the doc about the t3?
Thanks
Thanks mom...actually, I'm listening to Richard Prior right now!!! just kidding
So you don't have to look...last labs after being on .50 for four weeks and then .75 for about eight.
FT4 1.1 (.8-1.8)
FT3 321 (230-420)
FT3 hasn't budged since the beginning except to go down slighty four weeks after starting Levo. Then back up to the original 321.
I guess I'm in need of some more T4?
It doesn't matter that my TSH is now 0.92 does it? It can actually be zero as long as no hyper symptoms correct? Hopefully the FT3 will go up sometime?
I'll let you know.
How do I know you're not ugly enough to be my mother...besides, I look like my dad.
What was his name anyway?
So you don't have to look...last labs after being on .50 for four weeks and then .75 for about eight.
FT4 1.1 (.8-1.8)
FT3 321 (230-420)
FT3 hasn't budged since the beginning except to go down slighty four weeks after starting Levo. Then back up to the original 321.
I guess I'm in need of some more T4?
It doesn't matter that my TSH is now 0.92 does it? It can actually be zero as long as no hyper symptoms correct? Hopefully the FT3 will go up sometime?
I'll let you know.
How do I know you're not ugly enough to be my mother...besides, I look like my dad.
What was his name anyway?
Hi, Problem Child.
Have you had any other labs since the ones posted in the very first post on this long thread?
I said way up there somewhere (it's my story, and I'm sticking to it!) that I thought you needed to get your FT4 up. Your FT3 is almost midrange. Your FT4 is low. When FT4 comes up, so will FT3. If my experience is worth anything, my FT3 increased significantly with a very small increase in FT4. It also continued to increase with no change in FT4 (perhaps FT3 takes a while to catch up?). I'd increase the levo. I won't be convinced you need T3 meds until your FT4 is well up in the range and your FT3 remains low.
In my (much) younger days, I worked with emotionally disturbed children in the inner city...no, I'm not comparing you to them! These kids had a Richard Prior tape that they played so much that I still can recite most of it from memory. Every time you call me "Mom", it brings to mind his line, "I ain't old enough or ugly enough to be yo' mama!" LOL
T3 is powerful stuff. But if you can't even tolerate 5 mcg split into two doses, I'd work on the T4. And remember, it's not going to happen over night. Be patient, my son.
Have you had any other labs since the ones posted in the very first post on this long thread?
I said way up there somewhere (it's my story, and I'm sticking to it!) that I thought you needed to get your FT4 up. Your FT3 is almost midrange. Your FT4 is low. When FT4 comes up, so will FT3. If my experience is worth anything, my FT3 increased significantly with a very small increase in FT4. It also continued to increase with no change in FT4 (perhaps FT3 takes a while to catch up?). I'd increase the levo. I won't be convinced you need T3 meds until your FT4 is well up in the range and your FT3 remains low.
In my (much) younger days, I worked with emotionally disturbed children in the inner city...no, I'm not comparing you to them! These kids had a Richard Prior tape that they played so much that I still can recite most of it from memory. Every time you call me "Mom", it brings to mind his line, "I ain't old enough or ugly enough to be yo' mama!" LOL
T3 is powerful stuff. But if you can't even tolerate 5 mcg split into two doses, I'd work on the T4. And remember, it's not going to happen over night. Be patient, my son.
Hey Mom...long time not talk!
Well...here's the update. Couldn't tolerate Armour (1grain) gave me a headache and messed up my stomach, couldn't take Naturethroid (1/2 grain)
gave me a headache and messed up my stomach, now, I've been on Cytomel (5mcg cut in half. one half in the morning the other around 3p.m.) guess what...gives me a headache and messes up my stomach. I haven't called the Dr. yet...just wanted to get your opinion before I do. I have stopped it and gone back on it...(gave it two days) all the symptoms disappeard and then came back when I started taking it again.
I'm still on the original 75 of Levo but...my hypo symptoms have started to get worse again. So what is one to do if he has low FT3 and can't tolerate T3 meds?
HELP!
Well...here's the update. Couldn't tolerate Armour (1grain) gave me a headache and messed up my stomach, couldn't take Naturethroid (1/2 grain)
gave me a headache and messed up my stomach, now, I've been on Cytomel (5mcg cut in half. one half in the morning the other around 3p.m.) guess what...gives me a headache and messes up my stomach. I haven't called the Dr. yet...just wanted to get your opinion before I do. I have stopped it and gone back on it...(gave it two days) all the symptoms disappeard and then came back when I started taking it again.
I'm still on the original 75 of Levo but...my hypo symptoms have started to get worse again. So what is one to do if he has low FT3 and can't tolerate T3 meds?
HELP!
Wow, sounds like quite a day! Maybe you should start Hypo Shuttle...you could fly around the country picking up thyroid patients and ferrying them to Pennsylvania!
Well, it sounds like it was worth the trip. I've read a number of scathing exposes of the health care industry lately. In one, one doctor was quoted as saying that if you listen to your patients, they will tell you exactly what's wrong with them, and if you listen really hard, they will also tell you how to treat them. What a great comment. It's amazing how much we've learned health-wise, and how little it has gained us in improved care. The art of healing has been replaced by the science of medicine. There is no replacement for listening to the patient. Whew! Just look at the tangent you sent mom off on!!!
It sounds like he will be really good. I'm anxious to see how you do on the combo therapy. An hour and a half is almost unheard of.
Somehow, I doubt it's the government that's trying to kill natural thyroid products...much more likely Big Pharma. They've been attempting that ever since they developed their symthetics. Nice to be able to ignore the fact that it worked perfectly well for the first half of the twentieth century when there was no alternative.
Keep us posted on how you go.
Well, it sounds like it was worth the trip. I've read a number of scathing exposes of the health care industry lately. In one, one doctor was quoted as saying that if you listen to your patients, they will tell you exactly what's wrong with them, and if you listen really hard, they will also tell you how to treat them. What a great comment. It's amazing how much we've learned health-wise, and how little it has gained us in improved care. The art of healing has been replaced by the science of medicine. There is no replacement for listening to the patient. Whew! Just look at the tangent you sent mom off on!!!
It sounds like he will be really good. I'm anxious to see how you do on the combo therapy. An hour and a half is almost unheard of.
Somehow, I doubt it's the government that's trying to kill natural thyroid products...much more likely Big Pharma. They've been attempting that ever since they developed their symthetics. Nice to be able to ignore the fact that it worked perfectly well for the first half of the twentieth century when there was no alternative.
Keep us posted on how you go.
Ok...I flew most of the day and drove the rest but I've been to the doctor!!!
I really liked him. He listened to what I had to say and told me what he thought...then he asked me what I thought of what he thought. He said that he likes patients that were involved in their treatment and that it usually makes his job easier because we live with our bodies 24/7 and usually have some good insight to what is right. Anyway...said I was way undertreated and added one grain of Armour to what I was already taking. Will do blood testing in 6 wks and go from there. Also said that the government was in the process of killing the natural thyroid products and we may have to go to plan "B" after a while. I was in his office talking with him for 1 and a half hours.
I really liked him. He listened to what I had to say and told me what he thought...then he asked me what I thought of what he thought. He said that he likes patients that were involved in their treatment and that it usually makes his job easier because we live with our bodies 24/7 and usually have some good insight to what is right. Anyway...said I was way undertreated and added one grain of Armour to what I was already taking. Will do blood testing in 6 wks and go from there. Also said that the government was in the process of killing the natural thyroid products and we may have to go to plan "B" after a while. I was in his office talking with him for 1 and a half hours.
Sorry, son, vitamins are not my thing. However, I do have an opinion (what a surprise!!!) on vitamins in general, and I share this opinion with my nutritionist sister-in-law. Supplements should only be used as a last resort, when you simply cannot get the vitamin or whatever from your food. Why? Because the foods naturally rich in a vitamin may contain trace amounts of some other substance that enhances that vitamin's effect on your body. You can google D foods...mushrooms are little vitamin D bombs...ostensibly because they're grown in the dark. Just a thought...
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