Good source for cytomel?

[Bm22]

Hello! Diagnosed hypo about 10 years ago. Currently on 5mcg cytomel and 1.5 np thyroid. Dr is afraid I’m over medicated. 😬. My reverse T3 is high so I’m trying to reduce this since I seem to not be converting. It seems I may actually be pooling. I was hoping someone could message me regarding reputable sources for cytomel?

[greygoose]

Could you give us the actual numbers, please - results and ranges? Just telling us something is 'high' tells us nothing. But, I rather doubt you are over medicated on 1.5 (grains?) NP Thyroid and 5 mcg Cytomel. It not a high dose.

You can only tell how well you convert by looking at your results on T4 only. Once you add in the T3, it becomes impossible to tell. An rT3 in isolation tells you nothing much because there are so many things that can cause it to be high. And, there's no such thing as 'pooling', I'm afraid. So, we need to see all the numbers to know what's going on.

[shaws Administrator]

All blood tests for thyroid hormones has to be at be at the earliest, fasting and allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose of hormones and the test and take afterwards. This gives a more accurate result. Many doctors are unaware that the TSH is highest early a.m. and drops throughout the day and are apt to reduce dose when an increase may be needed.

The aim is a TSH of 1 or lower with FT4 and FT3 in the upper part of the ranges.

The following is from one of our deceased researchers/scientist/doctor:-

"Some readers will not be familiar with reverse-T3, and I know from experience that many others harbor misconceptions about the molecule. Because of this, I have summarized in the box below what we know about reverse-T3. I've answered your question below the summary.

Conversion of T4 to T3 and Reverse-T3: A Summary

The thyroid gland secretes mostly T4 and very little T3. Most of the T3 that drives cell metabolism is produced by action of the enzyme named 5'-deiodinase, which converts T4 to T3. (We pronounce the "5'-" as "five-prime.")

Without this conversion of T4 to T3, cells have too little T3 to maintain normal metabolism; metabolism then slows down. T3, therefore, is the metabolically active thyroid hormone. For the most part, T4 is metabolically inactive. T4 "drives" metabolism only after the deiodinase enzyme converts it to T3.

Another enzyme called 5-deiodinase continually converts some T4 to reverse-T3. Reverse-T3 does not stimulate metabolism. It is produced as a way to help clear some T4 from the body.

Under normal conditions, cells continually convert about 40% of T4 to T3. They convert about 60% of T4 to reverse-T3. Hour-by-hour, conversion of T4 continues with slight shifts in the percentage of T4 converted to T3 and reverse-T3. Under normal conditions, the body eliminates reverse-T3 rapidly. Other enzymes quickly convert reverse-T3 to T2 and T2 to T1, and the body eliminates these molecules within roughly 24-hours. (The process of deiodination in the body is a bit more complicated than I can explain in this short summary.) The point is that the process of deiodination is dynamic and constantly changing, depending on the body's needs."

Doctors are only afraid we are over-medicated when TSH is low or very low. Many think somewhere in the range is fine. We need a low or very low TSH and doctors seem not to be aware that a Free T4 and Free T3 test informs us (the patients) on whether we need an increase or not as both have to be within the upper part of the ranges.

You need a blood test, following the advice above:-

TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3 and thyroid antibodies.

B12, Vit D, iron, ferritin and folate,

following the advice above i.e. fasting and 24 hour gap between dose and test.

Get a print-out with the ranges and post for comments.