Anxiety on Testing and Endo Meeting

[Andyb1205]

You can get a good idea of my recent experiences in my thread titled, Update on Cytomel Titration.

Pretty much it’s been almost a good 6 weeks on 75 T4 / 25 T3, taken together in the morning. As I was feeling over-medicated I took 18.75 T3 (three quarters of 25mcg Cytomel tablet). I was feeling better, tremors gone, jitteriness and anxiety decreased or gone. Should have done this before. But still I can tell I am slightly under-medicated. I needed some advise.

I was planning to do a blood test for thyroid function this Friday as my Endo appointment is on Monday, October 29th. I am wondering if I should reschedule for a later date in November.

Firstly I am considering taking 75 T4/18.75 T3 for a another few days to a week. I also need to, and have planned to, quit cigarettes. For a long time I’ve been using nicotine to self medicate not just anxiety but the thyroid. As I quit smoking and my thyroid dips, I can then increase back to the full 25 T3. And then draw blood a week or two after, or until I see the Endo. Will call them tomorrow and see what dates they have in November.

What are your thoughts? There’s never been a better time to quit smoking for good. And wouldn’t want to have to prematurely see the Endo only to worry about self medicating again. In the past I noticed the sharp drop in thyroid hormones when I had quit smoking, even for a few days. I want to get this right.

Any thoughts or advise would be most helpful.

Thanks

- Andy

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Sorry no-one replied before

This is extremely busy forum, almost 90,000 members

Smoking and Hashimoto's are linked

verywellhealth.com/cigarett...

You may need to increase dose after quitting

Certainly need more frequent testing

There's little point doing blood tests until 6 weeks after being on a constant unchanging dose of Levothyroxine and T3

How are your vitamin levels?

Presumably you have Hashimoto's......are you on strictly gluten free diet?

[Andyb1205 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi thanks for the reply,

As I’ve tested negative for both antibodies and had a normal ultrasound, it appears I have an idiopathic cause. My vitamins were fine last time I checked, will retest Ferritin and B12 this weekend.

The Synthroid/Cytomel have been working inconsistently I noticed. It’s as if sometimes the Cytomel gets absorbed hours later, that I feel hypo at base with periods in the late afternoon and evening the Cytomel is working. My system is out of whack! I do think I need a higher dose of the T4.

As I’m doing thyroid labs in bit over two weeks, I’m wondering. Right now I take T4/T3 when I wake up, with Adderall/Cipralex 30 mins later, then eating 30 mins after. Would taking T4 at night before bed (at least 2hours after food) and taking T3/Adderall/Cipralex when I wake up mess up my labs?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Andyb1205]

I would wait to change to evening until AFTER blood test

It can be more effective taken at night

verywell.com/should-i-take-...

Other medication at least 2 hours away, some like HRT, iron, calcium, vitamin D or magnesium at least four hours away from Levothyroxine

You might find taking T3 at night or may be better in split dose (either 3 doses per day, 8 hours apart, or twice daily 12 hours apart)

Only change one thing at a time

Some people seem able to take T3 once a day. I am not one of them, I have to take small dose every 8 hours.

[ondrej41 in reply to Andyb1205]

Have you tried to take T3 at night or at sleeping time?