I've researched in this site but not found any answers. I'm on 125 t3 only. Cytomel, brand. My free t3 is above range now and free t4 is below range and TSH suppressed. Until recently I was feeling really fine on this (so it seemed why not stay on course) but the past 10 days I've put on about 9lbs. It's really frightening. My doctor told me to increase my T3 but I'm scared to. I did take an extra dose today and consequently seem to be feeling worse. I'm wondering If anyone here has ever gained weight as a result of being over medicated. I'm scared to take less and have the hypo symptoms return. But I can't keep taking more. I have chest pain and dry eyes but that can be from either hypo or hyper so I'm confused. I feel like I am drinking tons of water and barely peeing. Help. I don't think it's just water because I suddenly have a roll of fat on my stomach.
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Nutripea1220
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Surely if you're drinking tons of water and not peeing you're retaining water? I find a good test is if your fingers are swollen and you can't easily get your rings off
I didn't reply to your last post - somehow it slipped under my radar - but, yes, I have taken as much as 225 mcg in one go, at night, with no ill effect.
There is no point in taking your T3 if you're going to take it with coffee and food. You won't absorb it. I know your FT3 is over-range - so was mine. I think you're possibly in the same position I was, back then, caught in a downward spiral - or was it upward? I don't know. I just know that I was increasing and increasing and never felt well and got panicky because I never felt well, and was lost and afraid...
In the end, fate took a 'helping' hand, making me very ill with something else, ended up in hospital, didn't dare tell anyone I was taking such a huge dose, so didn't take anything whilst in hospital, felt better, went into denial - I was misdiagnosed, didn't need it anyway! blah blah blah - didn't take any for six months.
When I can to my senses, I started at the bottom, again. Started low, and worked up to 75 mcg very slowly. Started losing weight, then. And, I've stuck with 75 mcg ever since.
Don't be afraid to lower your dose. Being over-medicated can make you put on weight. BUT do make sure that all your nutrients are optimal. It's not just about hormones.
Hello, I've just read you didn't take any t3 for 6 months. Why didn't you die, coma or something. Do you have alittle of your own gland working.
I was taken off it for 2 weeks 8 years ago and by day 10 I was seriously ill. Adrenaline gushing out like hot water being poured across my middle and massive jolts as I was going unconscious. and swelled like a balloon. 3 stone in amonth. I was rushed to hospital and given drip of t3. So how did you get away with this
I have no idea. I did think my gland was dead, but apparently it wasn't. My TSH only went up to about 45, if I remember correctly. And there was some T4 and T3 in my system. But, the only reason I decided to get tested at the end of that time was that I'd started to put some weight on.
You have a resistance to T3. This is from the National Academy of Hypothyroidism
Reverse T3
TSH and serum T4 levels fail to correlate with intracellular thyroid levels. Additionally, the free T3 will also tend to be less accurate with reduced cellular energy. This artificial elevation of T3 due to be reduced uptake into the cell is generally offset by a reduced T4 to T3 conversion due to reduced uptake and T4 and subsequent conversion to T3, making T3 a more accurate marker than the TSH or T4 with physiologic stress. Also, the transporter for reverse T3 (rT3) is similar to T4 in that it is energy dependent and has the same kinetics as the T4 transporter (6,41,45,62,66,67). This property (among others) makes it the most useful indicator of diminished transport of T4 into the cell (45).
Thus, a high reverse T3 demonstrates that there is either an inhibition of reverse T3 uptake into the cell and/or there is increased T4 to reverse T3 formation. These always occur together in a wide range of physiologic conditions and both cause reduced intracellular T4 and T3 levels and cellular hypothyroidism. Thus, reverse T3 is an excellent marker for reduced cellular T4 and T3 levels not detected by TSH or serum T4 and T3 levels. Because increased rT3 is a marker for reduced uptake of T4 and reduced T4 to T3 conversion, any increase (high or high normal) in rT3 is not only an indicator of tissue hypothyroidism but also that T4 only replacement would not be considered optimal in such cases and would be expected to have inadequate or sub-optimal results. A high reverse T3 can be associated with hyperthyroidism as the body tries to reduce cellular thyroid levels, but this can be differentiated by symptoms and by utilizing the free T3/reverse T3 ratio, which is proving to be the best physiologic marker of intracellular thyroid levels (see Diagnosis of low thyroid due to stress & illness Graph).
GreyGoose thank you so much for this reply. That's exactly it: I feel well for a bit and then weirdly unwell but not hyper, not shaky, just heavy and bad. My nutrients are all mid range, except for totally ZERO iodine. I'm doing the urine test for iodine in September. I'm do NOT have hashimotos. I do not have elevated reverse t3. Your situation sounds so similar. I'm terrified of reducing my dose because I'm in the fitness industry and if I gain more weight I'll essentially lose my job. Talk about stress. It's awful.
GreyGoose did you ever worry about having low t4 and add synthroid? I was on only synthroid for a while and felt horrible. But should I add some to make ft4 normal, or just not care if taking only t3?
I'm going to take 75 in 3 doses today (25 x 3) and do that for a week and see...
Did you gain weight when you stopped completely? Cytomel is the only medication that stops me from gaining. Before I was on it I gained 16lbs in a year on synthroid. I have never felt worse. I have managed to lose most of it on cytomel but now it's coming back. Any words of reassurance or wisdom are so appreciated. You seem vastly knowledgeable. I'm so glad to hear you were also on a massive dose, and cut back. I thought more would always be better but this association with insulin resistance is scary: I am definitely craving more sugar than usual (I try to avoid it completely).
It's to be expected to have very low FT4 when you are taking T3 only. T4 is a storage hormone which converts to T3. You don't need T4 because you are taking T3 direct and have high FT3.
Sometimes it's a case of getting the balance right.Also it takes a while when you change the dose for you body to get used to it.
I found that actually when I took more T4 it speeded me up and I lost weight.I've never felt that with the T3. Unfortunately though I also had palpitations,high pulse and high blood pressure, so had to reduce it again.
Checking back in. I went to see a specialist (another one) in Manhattan and he wanted me on 300T3 and to increase from there!! Wow! He explained some
Systems an become hyper (such as heart rate) whereas others may not, (metabolism, hair loss etc...) so we have to see what happens. I tried it, felt fine, nothing happened (no weight loss, no hair loss, no increased heart rate, except my estrogen climbed to 1200 and my sbgh was 800!!! as though I were pregnant. So I dropped back to 150. Interestingly, after I dropped (greygoose, this reminded me of your experience) all the weight came off fast! I’m feeling good today. Also using a progesterone oil to counter the estrogen. Hard to tell which is helping most but I’m happier on 150 for now. And yes, I can take it all in one dose or separate doses - I feel nothing either way. But I divide it into 3 anyway 🤗 —-as a reminder I’m 44 so some of this may be pre menopausal (😪) related.
Edited to add: my Free T3 was 27 on 300T3 (2.2-4.5) which is alarmingly high. But apparently not in cells because as the doctor explained I was ‘clinically dead’ at that level. - although I felt ok I decided to stick with my more moderate doctor who wants me on 150 (and I used to think he was the extreme one!!!)
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- surely that could be part of the problem 
TSH extremely low but low-ish free T3 and free T4
Weight gain when lowering dose
What is the relationship between Free T3 and Free T4 and TSH?
