New Blood Results & present symptoms

[Rosebud1955]

Hi all,

I’m kindly asking anyone for advice as to where to go from here. I can’t seem to get ahead, feeling o.k for a couple of days, then down in the dumps for weeks. I presently take Synthroid 112.5 mcg, & 5 mcg cytomel, taken between 7am - 8am. No food nor drinks for at least 3 hours, taken with a full glass of water. I’m very frustrated because I can’t seem to remain stable for more than 2 weeks at a time. I suffer from severe post nasal drip, fatigue, headaches, VERY low moods. Here are my results from November 3, fasting, taken 24 hrs after my last Synthroid & 10 hours after the lat cytomel. No vitamins taken for a week before the test. Tsh: 0.01. (0.32-4.00). FT4: 15 (9-19). Ft3: 4.5 (2.6-5.8). B12, Folate, Ferritin, vitamin D, all are in the upper range done 3 months prior. What do I need to be doing to feel a little better. I’m also not able to loose a pound from the massive weight gain over the past 3 years since my thyroidectomy. My diet is good, I’m only able to walk for 45 minutes due to fatigue. Am I loosing the battle? Some guidance/advice would be much appreciated. Thanks to all who take the time to reply.

[JAmanda]

Both your T3 and t4 are 60% through the range so perhaps you could take a little more to see if you could raise that that a little.

[Rosebud1955 in reply to JAmanda]

Thanks for your response! I was thinking of adding 2.5 of cytomel but I’m afraid of going over the edge, or should I add another 12.5 of Synthroid.? What would you recommend? Thanks!!

[vocalEK in reply to Rosebud1955]

If you are looking to get past stalled weight loss, I would increase the Cytomel.

[Batty1]

Hi Rosebud1955, Im in the same boat since my thyroidectomy 4 yrs ago Ive gained so much weight and developed psoriatic arthritis as a bonus.

I take 100mcg t4 and 10mcg T3 and Im waiting for my new lab results to come in.

[Rosebud1955 in reply to Batty1]

Thanks for reply! Sorry you’re suffering as well. I do suffer from psoriatic arthritis as well. I never thought that such a small gland could be so important, I have never been the same since surgery. The doctors are quick to remove the thyroid, then they abandon us. What a shame!! We’re fortunate to have the support from all the kind and knowledgeable folks on this site.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

I suffer from severe post nasal drip, fatigue, headaches, VERY low moods.

Post nasal drip suggests lactose intolerance

Are you on dairy free or lactose free diet

If lactose intolerant you will likely need lactose free synthroid and T3

Lactose intolerance is very common

[Rosebud1955 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I have been dairy free for the past 5-6 years, the post nasal drip started at the same time when my thyroid started to fail, before I started any thyroid hormone. It has gotten worse since my thyroidectomy. My Endo is in agreement to starting NDT but I’m scared to make the change. Although I have these symptoms, I’m still able to function. I’m scared to return to being a couch potato. I’m just afraid that NDT might not agree with me and that I might return to the dark days. What is your opinion on starting NDT? Many thanks!!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Rosebud1955]

Are you gluten free?

Every person is different as to what suits

There’s lots of different NDT, some suit, some don’t

Personally I use levothyroxine plus T3- T3 as small divided dose 3 x day.

[Rosebud1955 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks! I agree 100%. Will think about it some more.

[pennyannie]

Hello Rosebud :

I apologise if I've said this before but since you have had a thyroidectomy you have lost your own natural production of T1,T2,T3.T4 and calcitonin of which there is a measurable level of T3 and T4 - said to be about 100 T4 + 10 T3 daily, from a fully functioning working thyroid.

Since you seem to be having difficulties finding a comfortable measure of both T3 and T4 and have an endocrinologist prepared o support you through a trial of Natural Desiccated Thyroid why not give it go ?

NDT contains all the same known thyroid hormones that the human gland secretes and is dried and ground down pigs thyroid referred to as grains. NDT was successfully used to treat hypothyroidism for over 100 years prior to the blood tests, guidelines, and synthetic T3 and T4 options currently available.

You dose to the relied of symptoms and not a blood test or numbers on the computer :

You go low and slow gently increasing in 1/4 grain increments :

No thyroid hormone works well however if your vitamins and minerals are not optimal and these need to be sorted out first, and if this has been going on for a considerable time you might find your adrenals need a bit of support as well.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to pennyannie]

you have lost your own natural production of T1,T2,

I don't agree with you.

Most T2 in the body is formed by deiodination of T3. The amount of T2 produced is related to the amounts of both T3 and rT3.

The amount available from the thyroid is just about infinitessimal. Yes, a highly sensitive assay of thyroid tissue will find a few molecules of T2 (and T1). But that is far from indicating that the thyroid gland is a source of T2 (and T1).

To be significant, it would have to be at least a reasonable percentage of the amounts formed by deiodination and I do not believe that is the case.

We would also need to see a mechanism by which T2 (and T1) can be transported.

[pennyannie in reply to helvella]

Thank you - I don't believe I wrote that T1 or T2 or in fact calcitonin had a measure on them - sorry if I'm confused :

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to pennyannie]

No - you made no statement of measure.

Just that our "natural" production is, I believe, more or less unaffected.

[pennyannie in reply to helvella]

Is that providing you still have a fully function thyroid ?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to pennyannie]

No.

The deiodination of T3 and rT3 occurs within our tissues. All three deiodinase enzymes (D1, D2 and D3) convert to T2. Here's a little diagram (somewhat old and might not include everything that have been found more recently - but accessible):

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2...