TF3 Drug.. To Take or Not to Take? Need Input Please

[juliva]

I've been doing some research on adding a TF3 drug since my last hypo he// episode and I'm thinking I might benefit from it. However in the midst of my hypo pain I called my Endo's office and asked if he would prescribe it for me and it was like I said a bad word or something? The nurse told me OH NO! He Won't Give You That!

I read a article one in particular from the New England Journal of Medicine that stated that many patients do benefit especially those who have muscle/joint pains by adding just a small amount of a TF3 drug in combination with their synthetic thyroid medication. I'm still having lingering pains and so I'm wondering what harm can it do to give the TF3 med a try??

I can't help wonder why would my Doctor's office be so against prescribing me this drug? Does it have harmful side effects? Can't I just give it a try and if it don't work then go off?
My TF3 levels have never been in the upper 2/3rds range even when I felt good and was stable.  My TF3 now is 301and the highest it ever has been was 327 with a ref range of 230-420.

I'm thinking about giving my Endo's office a call Monday morning and demanding this med or else! Would I be unreasonable to do that? I have suffered so badly these past 8 weeks that I could hardly walk at times.
Even went to a rheumatologist and all my blood work is fine. The only thing that went off was my thyroid levels but I wanted to be certain it wasn't anything else because I felt so bad.

I'm sure many of you have already gone down that bunny trail.  I REALLY would appreciate any of your expertise  before Monday. Thank you!

[Barb135]

I've been on cytomel, with my levo for over a year now.  I started out on 10 mcg cytomel/day and felt great, but then started having heart palps, rapid heart rate, etc so we cut back to 5 mcg -- that didn't help the heart "issues", but echocardiogram, and all other tests show, aside from leaky valves, that my heart is fine.  I was sent for pulmonary function tests, which came back showing emphysema from the many years of smoking I did -- I quit, just not soon enough!!  I now take med for that and doing much better.

I'm still on the 5 mcg/day cytomel (generic) and feeling pretty well.  

With your numbers, you might benefit from it, but do get the heart issues checked out first.  

[Liz94]

My doc added Cytomel to my regimen without decreasing my synthroid. 2 days later and I felt like the energizer bunny, feeling great, no more consitpation, muscles stopped hurting, etc. Then about 6 days later my heart started pounding and I felt like puking all the time. He lowered my synthroid a tad, and I split that cytomel into 1/4s.  I now take the lower dose of synthroid and just 1/4 of a cytomel and I feel good. Constipated again but good none the less! Just be careful what you wish for!

[juliva]

Yikes! I do have a Mitral Valve Prolapse. I guess that blew that?

[Smilerdeb]

Alaways remember that with thyroid issues, there MAY be valve prolapses so get a doppler heart ultrasound done first to make sure that there are no issues with prolapses in the heart valves.
Any history of heart issues and the Doc will automatically say NO to a T3 med and I totally agree with them.

Worth asking for but get the ultrasound done first and then that is YOUR backup for taking T3 med.

[Jeanne49]

I have only been on cytomel/levoxyl for about 5 days and I've noticed a change in how I feel already. My joints have stopped hurting,more energy, don't feel like crying all the time. I don't know about hair loss,brain fog yet but I'm hoping, its just to soon to tell. My family says that they can see a difference already. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I hope you can get your doctor to listen to you. I know it's not easy. I had to switch Endos. Good luck!

[juliva]

Thanks TamraW.. Good to know!!!

[TamraW]

Since adding my 5 mcg of my T3 drug, Cytomel to my Synthroid, NO more constipation, leg and foot pain and the joint pain has gone down considerably. In fact, it was gone until recently, so next visit I'm asking for more Cytomel.

:) Tamra

[juliva]

Goolarra,
you made me laugh haven't had a good laugh like that in weeks! That is way to funny.. (you mentioning the desiccated to your PCP). Well, maybe I did have another good laugh earlier this week is when the rheumatologist told me that my hypo thyroid levels had Absolutely nothing to do with my joint/muscle pains unless of coarse my TSH was at least 200. Did I mention he found nothing on his end! Lol! Oh God Help Us All!!!

Annamae26,
Thanks for the heads up on the doses. I do know my Endo has prescribe TF3 because he did for a friend I had sent to him who had FMS and was suffering for years. She is now symptom free :)

I still would like to hear others input.. I feel like I'm gathering AMMO for Monday

[goolarra]

I've been there!  I once mentioned dessicated to my PCP...just ASKED about it, didn't demand, insist, etc.  Her reaction was only what I can call "rabid".  She all but foamed at the mouth.  Okay, guess I won't go there again (with her).

I don't remember your labs at the moment, but seem to recall FT3 being low compared to FT4???

You can call and demand on Monday and hope your doctor's nurse has no clue what she's talking about.  However, if she does know the doctor doesn't prescribe it, you are probably not going to have a whole lot of luck.

It might be time to start doctor shopping.  But, it can't hurt to be assertive...you have nothing to lose except a doctor who isn't treating you properly, anyway...

[annamae26]

i agree with you it may help. it helped me. don t take too much and your t4 med will have to be reduced by 25 for every 5 of t3 med.  if your doc won t give it to you i would find another doctor on this site. your level is not too high at all. who knows why they re against it i have no clue but i would guess under educated.