Conversion issues or adrenals.

[Soof007]

I just received my blood results and I would like opinions of others.

Since 1,5 year I am on 75mcg levo and about 3mcg of Cytomel.

When i first added Cytomel I felt great, but since a few months I am in a stressful situation at home and I started gaining a lot of weight, eventhough i eat very healthy.

I tried to lower my cytomel to 1 mcg and I lost a lot of weight in 1 week but when my period came I was so tired I couldn’t leave the couch.

These are my results, a few days before my period, I was feeling good, happy with the weight loss.

Levo 75mcg Cytomel 1mcg

TSH 1.7 (0.27-4.2)

Ft4 18.5 (12-22)

Ft3 4.11 (3.1-6.8)

There are no results for iron, vit D, etc.

I supplement daily with d3, selenium, zinc, vitc

When I am on levo only i feel a pulsating feeling where my adrenal glands are, and when I added T3 I slept a lot and that felt good. I just keep gaining weight.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I'm intrigued, Cytomel tablets are 20 or 25mcg so how do you get 3mcg or 1mg dose from them?

[Soof007 in reply to SeasideSusie]

The pharmacist makes them.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Soof007]

Ah, so you're not in the UK then, maybe add your country to your profile.

Presumably it's not branded Cytomel if pharmacist is making them.

[Soof007 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I live in Belgium. The cytomel is branded, the pharmacist only makes it into smaller pills with some kind of machine

[Hidden]

hearing how you felt better and then regressed, I think it sounds like you simply need more T3. If the pulsating feeling in your adrenals continues then a cortisol saliva panel is a good idea x

[Soof007 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I should do a saliva test. I also go through phases of not being able to leave the house without sunglasses because my eyes can’t handle the light. I think my adrenals are unhappy. I always joke I am a vampire but it’s not so funny actually.

[Hidden in reply to Soof007]

ooooooo… very very adrenal x

[Sneedle in reply to Hidden]

Jumping in here to ask do you mean the sunlight intolerance is a very adrenal feature?Thanks 😊

[Sofie007 in reply to Sneedle]

I always thought it was linked to poor adrenals, but not sure.

[Hidden in reply to Sneedle]

yes, light sensitivity is a sign of poor adrenal function 😊

[ainslie in reply to Hidden]

is that a sign of low cortisol?

[Sofie007 in reply to ainslie]

Not sure, high or low... My guess is low ...

[Litatamon]

Light sensitivity is also a symptom of b12 deficiency. Before diagnosis I would wear sunglasses on the streetcar at night and would still feel pain from it.

It pretty well disappeared with loading doses, after years of struggling with it.

[jade_s in reply to Litatamon]

Good point! I had completely forgotten about this but indeed in my case, treating adrenal insufficiency did not resolve light sensitivity. I have no problems now on B12 injections.

Soof007 sounds like you need an iron panel as well, plus b12 & folate.

[Sofie007 in reply to Litatamon]

hey Litatamom, I didnt know it was linked to B12, thanks for letting me know, I will test it next time.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Important to test vitamin D, folate, B12 and ferritin too

[Sofie007 in reply to SlowDragon]

ok, thank you, i will do it next time

[HiggsRoja]

this sounds like a negative feedback loop reaction. When the t3 dose is too small it kicks in this loop and adrenals get stressed. You may need a higher dose of t3. Google STTM negative feedback loop and go from there

[Sofie007 in reply to HiggsRoja]

thanks , you might be right. Maybe that is why my face and hair look dry + weight gain when I add T3. I should be more patient.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

FT3: 4.11 pmol/l (Range 3.1 - 6.8)

Ft3 only 27.30% through range

Suggest you increase your dose of T3

Initially to 5mcg

Retest after 6-8 weeks

Day before test split T3 as 2.5mcg waking and 2.5mcg Approx 8-12 hours before test

Likely to need further increase in T3 to 10mcg (probably as 2 x 5mcg doses )

Retest again 6-8 weeks later

[JAmanda]

think your t3 dose currently is too tiny to be doing anything. Be brave and take at least 5 and then possibly 10 a day and see if this makes a difference.

[Sofie007]

Ok, I will give it a try. Thank you

[Brightness14]

I have cynomel on prescription these are 25mcg when I first started on them I managed to cut them in 8th each piece being 3.12 You could do the same with a craft knife and take an extra piece. That would bring you up to 6.25.