Timeline and help

[Goinglean]

Results of first 2 blood tests, 30 days apart. Most tests not repeated. Never tested for anything but tsh before, which was always in range.

TsH 1.26 (1.8-2.5)

Total T4 14.6 first test, 10.0 2nd test 30 days later (6.0-12)

Doc said first test had to be an error as I am clearly no hyper

T3 free 2.5 first test, 2.0 second test (3.0-4.0)

FSH 12.1 (1.5-9.1) only tested once

Progesterone 2.9 (2.6-21.5) tested once

estradiol 258 (56-214) tested once

Total testosterone 27 first test, 41 second test

After first blood test doc put me on compounded testosterone 3mg. Then retested as above. He has now upped my testosterone to 4 mg and has added Cytomel .5mcg twice a day.

I feel somewhat better - still tired and very Painful periods (all tests from gynecologist were good), less heavy bleeding, hair falling out, sleeping a bit better and still unable to lose weight. Had been dieting very low calories for months prior to testing, but stopped after 2nd blood test to help raise t3 naturally. My highest temp of each day is 97.5.

How long does Cytomel take to work? Is dose enough? I have now been on for 3 weeks. Doc said no more blood tests for 3 months. I do not like this doc as treatment seems off - or maybe partial -, but I live rurally and doctors are hard to find. No other would even test hormones or t3 but him, so I feel stuck with him. I have already sourced progesterone cream and 25mg cytomel (in addition to his prescribed testosterone cream and cytomel) but have not started either due to fear factor of having no clue what I am doing. Just having ammunition makes me feel better. I am 58 and pretty tired of my life long struggle of weight problems and feeling tired and depressed. The testosterone has definitely helped my attitude and energy.

All my vit levels were very good, however iron not tested so I have no idea. I take every supplement I can imagine might help - fish oil, d3, k2, vit c, niacin, thyroid supplement with the standard iodine, selenium, etc., vit a, vit e, tyrosine, iron, milk thistle, biotin, probiotic, and collagen.

These are all the tests I could get, and cannot really afford testing outside insurance.

I am open to any thoughts/suggestions you may have. Thanks in advance.

[greygoose]

I very much doubt the iodine will be helping. In excess, iodine is anti-thyroid. It really is not recommended for hypos. Did you get your iodine tested before starting to supplement?

[Goinglean in reply to greygoose]

I just take what’s in my thyroid support supplement, which is extremely low. My blood test showed middle of range for iodine. I have taken this supp for years before testing

[greygoose in reply to Goinglean]

Well, it's still not recommended. Thyroid support supplements in general are not recommended. Did you start taking them before you started having thyroid problems?

[Goinglean in reply to greygoose]

No, after which is why I started them. I have had symptoms all my life as far back as I remember, I can stop, but it ended up a much cheaper and easier way to get all the normally recommended support supplements for thyroid. This is the first I have heard that iodine can make things worse - I can stop if that might help. It is 150 mcg of iodine, vit b-12 10 mcg, zinc 8mg, selenium 200 mcg, copper 200 mcg, manganese 2 mg, molybdenum 50 mcg, and l-tyrosine 300mg. Thank you for your help

[greygoose in reply to Goinglean]

You probably don't need copper, either. Hypos are usually high in copper, low in zinc, so you shouldn't take more copper without testing first.

There are no normally recommended support supplements for thyroid. You should only take what you need. And, if your iodine was mid-range, you obviously don't need that. More is not better - especially where iodine is concerned. I know people think that iodine makes the thyroid work better, but that's like saying that adding extra flour to a cake makes the over work better. It doesn't. Iodine is just one of the ingredients, but if your oven has broken down, you can't make a cake whatever you put in it.

These 'support' supplements are just a huge great con for the Worried Well. They make a lot of money for the manufacturer but don't do anything for you.

[Goinglean in reply to greygoose]

Also, I have been keto or low carb for years and do not use iodized salt, rather non iodized sea salt, which is probably why my blood test had me mid range. I get far less iodine than most people from food.

[greygoose in reply to Goinglean]

That's what you think, but may not be the truth. I don't use iodized salt, either. I doubt if many people on here do, because it's not recommended. But, if you take thyroid hormone replacement, you get iodine from that as well as from your food. Plus, if your thyroid isn't functioning correctly, you need less iodine, not more.

[Goinglean in reply to greygoose]

Ok thank you, will stop that now. Do you have any other suggestions. I scare myself with how little I know.

[greygoose in reply to Goinglean]

Well, none of us are born knowing all this stuff. And, we're supposed to be able to rely on doctors to tell us! But, they know less than us. So, we have to keep reading, reading, reading to learn all we can.

So, one thing I don't understand: why are you taking T3 only? Have you ever taken levo?

I would suggest that you post your exact nutrient levels on here, with the ranges. Often doctors tell us they're good when they really aren't.

Then, you need your FT4 tested - not the TT4, that doesn't give us the right information. And, it's very important to get iron and ferritin tested. Have you had your antibodies tested?

[Goinglean in reply to greygoose]

No Levo my T4 was high end of range last test. Doc said didn’t need it, my body wasn’t converting T4 to t3. Because of my low calories diet, he said eat normal and take t3 to fix. I’m trying to find out where to get new/more tests since my doc said no more for 3 months - and he said ft4 wasn’t needed in my case. Ugh. I’m looking online at some mail order tests through Amazon, but they are quite expensive. I will do my best to get those done and will then post those results. Thanks. Do you know anywhere that offers help with the sex hormones too? I feel it must all be related.

[greygoose in reply to Goinglean]

I'm afraid I know nothing about private testing in the US. I would suggest you write a new question, asking just that in the title, so that members from the US that know can answer.

[Goinglean in reply to greygoose]

Thank you!

[greygoose in reply to Goinglean]

You're welcome.