latest labs-thinking I need more Cytomel

[bedheadblonde]

TSH 2.5 (0.55 - 4.78 )
FT4-1.7 (0.8-1.8)
TT3 90 (60-180) -I know I asked for free, but this is what they ran. Sigh.

So basically,  been on an alternating dose of 88 and 100mcg of levo with 10mcgs of Cytomel thrown in for over 8 weeks now, still feeling dizzy and having some hair loss and occasionally tremor-my FT4 rang up the same 8 weeks ago, back when I was on a straight 100mcg of lwvo. Obviously I'm still not converting my levo properly still and though I'm thankful this endo group does Cytomel,  they apparently don't like to give any more than 10mcgs to any patient.

I'm thinking of just going to the 88 and 10 routine, because the days I take the 100mcg of lwvo, I'm dizzy even laying down/wake up from my sleep dizzy. I think 100mcg is just too much. But I think I also meed way more than 10mcgs of Cytomel.  I have a lot, so I think I want to try to slowly add a little more in as I go along.

Any thoughts? Sound like a plan?

[bedheadblonde]

T4 meds alone has shown I get way too much T4 and don't convert well to T3, and I feel hyper-I shake like crazy and lose weight and hair. I got my own FT3 test before starting Cytomel (I had also been bumped from 88 to 100) and I was only at a 2.0 (the Free T3 range for labs in my area start at a 2.4-they no longer check it even if you ask, but I ordered my own) so I went to 88cg of levo and slowly started the T3, and adding the Cytomel at first actually helped me gain weight and stop losing hair for a bit-but then they bumped me up to 100 levo and 10mcg of Cytomel because my TSH became high due to also restarting birth control. However,my FT4 has stayed at the very tippy top of the range for months now, and they don't seem to find a problem with this. Even on 88 alone, my FT4 was high. The T3 has helped my thinking-I accidentally missed a dose and felt really terrible mentally-I was just in a fog, so I think it does help-I just need to figure out what dose I need exactly, I think.

flyingfool-I can look into the aspertame. I've never had a problem with it before and don't drink it often, but it might be worth looking into to see if that makes a difference. I just learned yesterday the NP at my practice up and left, so now I have to wait ages to see the endo who really isn't helpful. I asked about NDT in the past and they personally don't give out NDT, so I think it might be time to look elsewhere. I'm thankful they like Cytomel, but their dosing seems...off? They claim no patient of theirs ever needs more than 10mcgs added.  And they told me, quote, "we don't know why some patients feel better on it."  Again, with my diabetes? They know all the gadgets and gizmos and dosing and that's fine. When it comes to thyroid, I always feel like I have to pull teeth to get tests, and I shouldn't.

[jacrjacr]

I don t know if this will help but I also tried cytomel because my free t3 was low normal and thought it would be no problem since I had used a compounded version of armour in the past. I knew some people had problems but it was rare. Well I must be one of those people. I started out with 5mg and had felt weard in my head, then I cut it to 2.5 twice a day, same thing...then I gave it a good 3-4 weeks and I felt terrible so I twitched from 88mcg to 100mcg of t4 synthroid and already am feeling so much better....I am sure you are aware that cytomel is 4x the strength of t4 and goes into your system immediately so is your dosage too high? Some people had to start out slower with cytomel and others just cant seem to take it. I am one of those. I do know when I was given too higher dosage of Nature throid .....it was a nightmare of symptoms and the dr thought I was fine.....and it took 6 weeks for the lab test to show I was HYPER BUT  I knew in one week.

[flyingfool]

One of the side effecets of aspertame is dizziness.  I used to get dizzy or light headed as if I had I stood up too quickly.  I noticed I would have this starting about 1 to 2 PM every day.  When I stopped drinking diet coke with lunch every day my dizziness slowed and then stopped completely after a few weeks.

Personally if the lower dosage of 88 mcg of T4 every day didn't help. And the endo's refuse to add any more Cytomel.  I would strongly consider that you talk to your endo about switching to Natural Dessicated Thyroid (NDT) such as Armour.  This has a larger portion of T3 in it and it seems fairly clear that you may have an issue with conversion of T4 to T3. But as all said and you already know the best test is the Free T3 test to really evaluate that.  But since the TOTAL T3 is low in range you can almost assuradly bet that the Free portion of the total will be low as well but could only be confirmed through the actual Free T3 test.

[bedheadblonde]

Barb, I've ordered FT3 for myself before, so I know the drill/have the lab they work with mapped on my phone,ha ha. :) It's just frustrating because I asked for it specifically, you know? I do tell my endos when I switch up, so they know when I *do* make switches, and they're usually fine with me experimenting/playing around as long as I'm monitored.(ie; blood work more often). However, yeah, I think I'll be ordering one ASAP just to peek at FT3 before doing anything major. As for the dizzy feelings, they just seem way, way worse the days I do take 100mcg. I can't explain it. Maybe it's because of the T3 on those days? All I know, those days I take the 100, I feel so much worse. Its kind of odd, but I definitely notice it.

Applecore, I'm glad you found what was causing yours. I do not use Truvia-I tried it once, and hated it, so I steer clear. I have been dizzy on and off since going hypo from my 2nd RAI, and it seems I just can't get regulated when it comes to symptom relief. I also get pains in my thyroid area-not a sore throat, but actual aching in there.  I've tried Tirosint at too high a dose and it made me very ill, and they refused to try a lower dose of it, so they stuck me back to generic. I'm not sure if the dizziness is because of what's in the generic or not, but they don't want to change me to anything else. I do plan on going to an ENT just to check some stuff out/get more opinions, because it's just kind of ridiculous. My endos don't seem concerned about my aching throat and dizzy spells.  

[Applecore]

This may or may not help you.  I was dizzy and had vertigo for about 6 months.  Tried everything, went to ear doctor etc.  Finally I couldn't stand it any longer.  I felt the Lord encouraged me to google Truvia ( a combination of a chemical and Stevia).  I found the first symptoms were vertigo and dizzyness.  I stopped it immediately and have had NO vertigo and dizzyness since.  Check to see what sweetners you are using and the negative symptoms they cause.  This could be your problem.  I have never gotten dizzy from my thyroid meds.  I also take cytonel along with Tirosent (synthroid).  Hope you find out what is wrong as it is miserable to be so unstable in the head.  

[Barb135]

Levothyroxine doesn't get into your system quickly enough for you to get the dizzy feelings the same day you take it.

With your FT4 as high as it is, I agree that you could probably, safely drop back to 88 mcg levo.  

Of course, we never advocate self medication.  I strongly recommend that you get an FT3, even if you have to order it privately (we can give you a web site from which to order it), before you start juggling your dosage.  Even if you get your dosage where you want it, your doctor may not allow you to keep it there and you will run out of medication, eventually.

[bedheadblonde]

Also,  please excuse my wose than usual spelling errors.  I had cataract surgery about a week ago, and things up close are still a tad fuzzy, lol.