I take liothyronine 20mcgx3 pd after a total thyroidectomy. I get bad joint pain and swelling. I read this could be related. What can I do?

[TobyS]

[Hennerton]

Where did you read this, as I am interested myself? I take T3 and developed a stiff painful knee joint last July. I hoped it would improve as my dose increased but it hasn't and I am now back on the T3/4 combo, to see if it will help. Generally I have always been achey and stiff since TT but this is now affecting other joints to too. Getting worried about my painful future!

[TobyS]

I googled it and several support groups came up with similar experiences. I came off T3 for three days last week and felt much better which prompted my research.

[shaws Administrator]

I wonder if you are on enough medication. I, too, had aches/pains/joints but all disappeared when on optimum medication.

This is an excerpt from Dr Lowe:-

Lab studies have shown that mutant, low affinity T3-receptors properly regulate gene transcription only after they're exposed to saturation amounts of T3. Under normal conditions, T3-receptors aren’t saturated, and the use of sustained-release T3 isn’t likely to provide saturation. Saturation isn’t likely to occur with sustained-release T3 because the T3 enters cells only in small amounts over an extended time. As a result, it’s not likely that large enough amounts of T3 will reach the receptors at one time to saturate them. But plain T3 in single doses enters cells in larger amounts. These larger amounts may provide the saturation needed to provoke transcription regulation by mutant T3-receptors. If so, these saturation amounts of T3 may induce waves of transcription that on the clinical level relieve symptoms of hypometabolism.

web.archive.org/web/2010103...

[TobyS in reply to shaws]

Thank you shaws. That's very helpful of you. That makes sense. I will post if I have any success. BW. TS

[Hidden]

T3 only is really tough on the body for TT patients as you have no T4 in storage to help you out during the ups and downs of life.... T3 only isn't really recommended for people like us. Most of us do better on T4/T3 combo or NDT.

Rebecca