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Question
Is it always necessary to decrease your Synthroid dosage when you start Cytomel? I'm on week 2 of the Cytomel but my doc did not have me decrease the Synthroid and feel kinda funky. My heart is pounding a little hard at times, my tongue is burning, and I feel very alert. Like a very heightened sense of "alert." Should I call the doc or have I not given it enough time yet?
Thanks for the info. Can you just be my doctor? LOL! I'm gonna put in my call this morning and request to have the DOCTOR call me back. Wonder how long I'll have to wait for that one? Do doctors even do callbacks? I get so sick of the translation issue at that office. They make it so you put in a call to speak with the nurse, she calls you back 12 hours later and takes down your problem and sends it to the doctor. Then he reviews the problem and gets back to the nurse 12 hours later. Then 12 hours after that the nurse gets around to calling you back. Then half the time she didn't even tell him the problem correctly because she's a ding ****. I just want to scream that the whole process could have taken 15 minutes if the freakin doctor had just called me directly. Instead it takes 3 days. Ridiculous. My can of whoop-a$$ is opening today.......
One more thought...
As long as you're requesting FT3 and FT4, and assuming you want to get on with this ASAP, you might also think about requesting RT3 (reverse T3). T4 is converted by the liver into both T3 and RT3. Sometimes, especially in patients on T4 only meds, the liver starts to convert more RT3 than T3 (it's the ratio of one to the other that's important). This is called RT3 dominance. It's treated differently than simple low FT3. It might be a bit premature to test this, but it might also save you some time to have all the information available now.
As long as you're requesting FT3 and FT4, and assuming you want to get on with this ASAP, you might also think about requesting RT3 (reverse T3). T4 is converted by the liver into both T3 and RT3. Sometimes, especially in patients on T4 only meds, the liver starts to convert more RT3 than T3 (it's the ratio of one to the other that's important). This is called RT3 dominance. It's treated differently than simple low FT3. It might be a bit premature to test this, but it might also save you some time to have all the information available now.
I don't know a lot about free thyroxine index since we don't see that one very often. A quick google said that FTI is T3 Uptake X TT4. Since both T3 Uptake and TT4 are considered obsolete, I guess I'd have to consider this in the same category since it's based on the same information. But, no, it is definitely NOT FT4.
It most likely means you are not converting. If the numbers were frees, rather than totals, I'd take the "most likely" out of that sentence.
I agree on the sprints. If the T3 is not there for cell repair, you might want to take it just a bit easy on your muscles until you get your levels straightened out. No sense in causing more damage than is necessary until you know for sure what's going on. But, I'm so glad to hear that you are feeling better without the Cytomel. I'm sure you can add it back in, but you just have to decrease your levo at the same time. I think you do need the Cytomel, but you have to balance it with the levo.
It is frustrating, especially when you asked your doctor the direct question about reducing levo at the same time.
It most likely means you are not converting. If the numbers were frees, rather than totals, I'd take the "most likely" out of that sentence.
I agree on the sprints. If the T3 is not there for cell repair, you might want to take it just a bit easy on your muscles until you get your levels straightened out. No sense in causing more damage than is necessary until you know for sure what's going on. But, I'm so glad to hear that you are feeling better without the Cytomel. I'm sure you can add it back in, but you just have to decrease your levo at the same time. I think you do need the Cytomel, but you have to balance it with the levo.
It is frustrating, especially when you asked your doctor the direct question about reducing levo at the same time.
Isn't Free Thyroxine Index my free T4 level? That was tested on the lab and it's pretty much on the high side. If the total T4 AND the Free T4 are both high what does that mean? I know that my free T3 wasn't tested but my total T3 is low. (I'm calling in the morning on that free T3 issue.) But, in the mean time I'm just curious. Does that mean I'm not converting pretty much anything???
BTW, 2 days off the Cytomel and I feel so much better. But, I'm concerned. I don't want to be pushing my body doing sprint intervals if my muscles don't have what they need. This is all so frustrating.
BTW, 2 days off the Cytomel and I feel so much better. But, I'm concerned. I don't want to be pushing my body doing sprint intervals if my muscles don't have what they need. This is all so frustrating.
Oooooh, WATCH out...I wouldn't want to be in the path of your rampage at the moment! LOL
However, I do think some righteous indignation is in order. Don't forget to get the FT4 along with the FT3. The problem with the "totals" is that they measure the total T3 or T4 in your body (thus the creative name). Much of that is chemically bound to protein and useless to your cells. The "frees" give you the levels actually available to your cells.
I don't know about TV personalities. I never trust drugs that are advertised on the evening news, and I don't know how I'd feel about a celebrity doctor. Dr. Oz? Ugh! Actually, Dr. Oz (I can't stand him), Oprah and my husband diagnosed me...but that's a story for another day...
It will be interesting to see what he has to say about the frees. If he balks, I'd run (you're good at this, right?!), not walk.
However, I do think some righteous indignation is in order. Don't forget to get the FT4 along with the FT3. The problem with the "totals" is that they measure the total T3 or T4 in your body (thus the creative name). Much of that is chemically bound to protein and useless to your cells. The "frees" give you the levels actually available to your cells.
I don't know about TV personalities. I never trust drugs that are advertised on the evening news, and I don't know how I'd feel about a celebrity doctor. Dr. Oz? Ugh! Actually, Dr. Oz (I can't stand him), Oprah and my husband diagnosed me...but that's a story for another day...
It will be interesting to see what he has to say about the frees. If he balks, I'd run (you're good at this, right?!), not walk.
Well that's just dandy! I really like my doc, he's considered one of the best in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He's even been on television on Mystery Diagnosis where he actually solved a medical mystery for a young woman with thyroid issues. I will call on Monday and try and speak with him about these issues. He's extremely knowledgeable for the most part but maybe he's one of those docs who can study it all day long but doesn't know how to deal with it when the patient actually has issues. I've been a challenge for him from the start as I don't sit lightly when I don't feel well. When he told me my teeth hurting had nothing to do with my RAI I was all up in his kool-aid till I got him to do some research on it. I finally had my dentist call him. I will not settle for this. If my free t3 needs to be tested then he's gonna test it. I'm gonna go pull up all my old labs right now and see what the heck he's been testing all along. Time to open up a can of whoop-a$$!
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