my doctor added cytomel / synthriod

[blondee028]

I have been taking 112mcg synthroid for 3 yrs now, I have pretty much crossed over to hyper, my tsh is 0.037,  T4 13.1
my t3 free  is  low 2.7,   free t 4  1.83 . Seems like my body isn't converting my t4 into t3,  So today my doctor added cytomel 25mcg, should he have lowered my dose of synthroid? Is it ok to take the same dose with cytomel? I have hypothyroidsim and hashimotos.

[artistatrest]

AS to whether to take the Cytomel and the Syn, here is my story. I had T surgery for a growth 3 yrs ago and did Syn only for 2 yrs, my TSH bounced around like a balloon.

A year ago my doc added cytomel 5mcg take with my synthroid and then 5 mcg at 3 pm if needed.
The cytomel made a diff. I feel more energetic and alert, but the 3 pm dose actually slowed me down. I think it was  was making my heart race.

Unfortunately I also gained 10 lbs! So a month ago I decided to stop the cytomel (which my doc said I could try doing). I have been off a month and am so irritable, can't think straight, and OMG, I can hardly move my right arm for the pain in my elbow and  odd pain in my left foot.

I feel like screaming. I am going back on the cytomel and see what happens. 1/2 is left but there is a cyst on other side. MY brother  had T cancer from a cyst and has no T gland left so he is on 225 of Synthroid only.

Without Syn and Cytomel,  I would be a lump of clay sitting on the couch.
I only feel ok if my TSH is under 1.0. Anything higher than that and I cannot walk or put two words together.

It is POSSIBLE that I would get this same positive result from more SYN without the Cytomel. Who the heck knows what to do? I go to my endo every 3 months but inOctober said I can wait 6 months this time. Yay.

My advice about CYtomel is see what the labs are, how do you feel, if you can't tell, then get off like I did and see what happens.

[Kodakgirl]

Hi, I'm new on this site.....great info and shared experiences!!

I've convinced my doc to put me on 5 mcg Cytomel twice daily in addition to my 75 mcg of Synthroid.    It's only been two days and I already feel so much better!!    Less brain fog, joint pains and fatigue.    I will retest my levels in a month to see if my FT3 levels have risen.

Good luck to everyone!

[magpieannie]

You might be on too high of a dose of Cytomel. 50 mcg is alot! Most people are on no more than 25 mcg. per day added to a slightly lowered dose of synthetic t4.  t3 is a very potent and active hormone, but short lived compaired to synthroid (t4). It is a good idea to split the t3 up two to three times per day. Are these labs before or after this medicine dose? Do you have any thyroid function?

[Suga50]

PLS HELP ME. So glad I found this community!!! You seem exceptionally knowledgeable and completely willing to share with one another. PLS HELP ME.
My T4 is 4.3 (range is 4.4 -12.4). My TSH is 2.4 (the range is 0.3-5.1).  
I have gained 40 lbs. in such a short period of time while dieting and exercising. I seem to have NO METABOLISM or SHORT TERM MEMORY. I have stopped gaining weight, retaining water, and I can finally sleep some at night, but I can't seem to lose what I've gained. I am on 50mcg of Synthroid and 50mcg of Cytomel.  Doc just increased Synthroid to 75mcg.  What should I really be doing here? Any advise? Some one have any suggestions about my hair; it seem to be thinner?  Suga50

[carla559]

If your FT3 level was 2.7 and considered low, I can't imagine why the last 2 MD's
did not think mine last 2 were low 200   range 230-420,,,,,,2.1  range 2.3-4.2  

Was told that I should not be feeling the symptons I am having which are the fatigue,
concentration problem, fibro pain........all of which I did not have before those lower
stats of FT3,
thanks,
Carla

[laura1967]

blondie- that is awesome!!! I am so happy for you!! I am on 100mcg synthroid with 15 mcg cytomel and doing good.

Mandi- i don't experience hair loss from cytomel, but use to when on synthroid alone, and or when hypo.