T3 weight gain

[Soof007]

I’m writing this because i feel lost. After 1,5 year after diagnosis I keep gaining weight with medication, I look so bloated in pictures I dont recognise myself. I looked healthier before starting thyroid medication. I take t4 (levo) + t3 (cytomel) , and I hoped adding t3 would help me lose weight. It lowered my anxiety and gave me more energy, but I gained more weight since and my face looks red. I hope there are people who have experienced the same and have found a solution? I have been through a few stressful months, don’t know if that is the cause.. ?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

How much levothyroxine and how much T3

Important to test thyroid levels correctly

Early morning, last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Day before test split T3 as 2 or 3 smaller doses spread through the day with last dose T3 Approx 8-12 hours before test

Also ESSENTIAL to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 at least once year and maintain at OPTIMAL levels

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Please add most recent thyroid and vitamin results and ranges

Do you have Hashimoto’s (autoimmune thyroid disease)

Assuming yes, are you on absolutely strictly gluten free diet or dairy free diet?

[Soof007 in reply to SlowDragon]

I am on 75mcg levo, 5mcg cytomel. Glutenfree, dairyfree. I weigh 85 kg. Testing has been a while, i have an appointment in 2 weeks. I have Hashimotos.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Soof007]

Not a high dose of T3 or Levo

Come back with new post once you get results

What vitamin supplements are you taking

[Soof007]

I am taking d3+k2 , selenium, zinc, magnesium and a Vit B mix . I will come back after results, thanks SlowDragon.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Soof007]

Remember to stop vitamin B complex 5-7 days before any tests as biotin in vitamin B complex can falsely affect test results

[Soof007 in reply to SlowDragon]

oh yes, thanks for the reminder 🙂

[Anthea55]

You just say 'levo'. There are different brands of levo. Do you always get the same brand? Sometimes we can get a reaction to the excipients (other things in the levo tablet). I put on weight fast when Metavive changed their formula - I gave that up pretty soon.

[Soof007 in reply to Anthea55]

Hi Anthea, i mean levothyroxine, i live in Belgium, brand is Christiaens by Orifarm Healthcare. I always have been on this one. I tried a different one but that caused more hair loss so I am afraid to try different brands.

[Anthea55 in reply to Soof007]

The best person to help with brands is helvella He keeps a document about UK brands but may also know about brands available in Belgium.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Anthea55]

I'm pretty sure my information for Belgium is incomplete. Unfortunately.

Just to be sure about what Soof007 is taking - is that Ace Cytomel from Netherlands? Or Pfizer Cytomel from the USA?

I think Tirosint is available in Belgium - which might seem worth trying.

helvella's medicines documents (UK and Rest of the World) can be found here:

helvella - Thyroid Hormone Medicines

helvella has created, and tries to maintain, documents containing details of all thyroid hormone medicines in the UK and, in less detail, many others around the world.

This link takes you to a page which has direct links to the documents from Dropbox and Google Drive, and QR codes to make it easy to access from phones.

The UK document contains up-to-date versions of the Summary Matrix for tablets, oral solutions and liothyronine available in the UK.

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[RedApple Administrator]

Soof007, Are you in the UK? Asking because we don't have the Cytomel brand of T3 here.

[Soof007 in reply to RedApple]

hi RedApple, no I live in Belgium.

[Anthea55]

Another thought - are you undermedicated? Your bloated face is known as 'moon face'. That and putting on weight are both symptoms of hypothyroidism. Look at this list of signs and symptoms from the Thyroid UK website. You can download a tick box list which you can print out, tick all that apply to you, and show to your doctor.

thyroiduk.org/if-you-are-un...

Doctors need to take notice of symptoms as well as blood tests.

Hope that helps.

[Soof007 in reply to Anthea55]

Hi Anthea, I don’t think I am undermedicated but it has been a while since I did a blood test. I am waiting for a new appointment. When i was on levothyroxine only my face was pale and dry. With added t3 it looks hydrated but also red and puffy.