T3 (Cytomel): How would you fit it in these results? Or would you? And all the mistakes I have made on this journey

[Litatamon]

Latest results (overjoyed to be finally here) -

TSH .74 (.32 to 4)

T4 14 (9 to 19)

T3 4.2 (2.6 to 5.8)

I am on 262.5 mcg levothyroxine (Note: In 50s so 50×5 & 1/4 of a 50)

I feel what I would deem pleasantly okay.

Always have felt the best on NDT, but I needed so much I could no longer afford it. And my labs were always crazy off even at high levels of NDT. TSH in the 20s and 30s. With t3 often low despite the combination in NDT.

I have access to 25 mcg of Cytomel. Hard to carry the cost but have access. And a pill cutter that does its job. ***How would you add t3 back in or would you?*** (I also have access to 300 mcg of levothyroxine)

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Mistakes I have made:

*I would have sworn levothyroxine was not for me & have!

*And I mean sworn. A la clear as day to me.

*had multiple atrocious symptoms - including narcolepsy-like symptoms a la dropping phone in a text conversation and going right to sleep. And the conversation was not even boring.

*I could hardly get through a day

*yet here I am, due to finances, back on levothyroxine only and now doing fine

*A lot of my previous levothyroxine issues probably had to do with my endocrinologist at the time going from 112 mcg to 200 mcg in one swoop after a thyroidectomy

*But it is also apparent to me that additives played a bigger part than I realized. Synthroid 50s are the least additives a la dyes. This is the most important change for me. Hands down and back around

*And probably not quite high enough re: amount (and just by a tiny bit - I have discovered that even a tiny bit can make a difference) I had had only one previous lab in range @250 mcg levo only, just one this entire time over years, but felt the absolute worst of all compared to the other out of range labs. So don't assume good labs = fine. Nor poor labs = bad choice. I had a TSH of 33 on NDT with other numbers out of range and felt good! Don't know what to make of that but happened

*I also assumed I was a poor converter because my t3 was always so low compared to my t4, even with Cytomel added. Obviously this test shows I am not..I have no idea why my t3 is so much better but I will take it!

*I have always been very good at pushing through, and saw that importance even when the results were awful. But that was around 8 weeks on average. I did approximately five months with this level & I am happy I did. I know it is hard to push through for 6-8 weeks when you are feeling so awful.

*But do not make that mistake. Sometimes things just balance in the last weeks when you are so sure they will not. And if they do not that is pertinent information that will carry you through your journey. I can not emphasize how important this is as part of the grand puzzle

(*If I had judged too early I would have been one of those people saying NDT is not for them. I felt like a drug addict in the first few weeks of taking it & when I was financially able to re-introduce again. So maybe NDT is not for you but please push through horrendous symptoms to get that clarity.)

*I assumed that everything was thyroid (and b12 deficiency). It was not, so please keep your minds open

*I had to jump all over the place with hormone choices. But can't call that a mistake when it was an unfortunate necessity. It was due to border issues, finances and some doctors acting like I was looking for cocaine instead of thyroid hormone options.

Obviously still bitter, laughing

All the best to everyone. So grateful for HealthUnlocked & especially all the wonderful brains @ Thyroid UK.

[Litatamon]

As an aside, any insight why my T4 is still only 14 on such a high dose? Seems strange to me.

Does it have anything to do with converting better, or no?

So curious.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Litatamon]

Was last dose 24 hours before test

How long have you been on this dose

If you feel well…..stick on this and retest in another 2-3 months?

What vitamin supplements are you taking

Have you tested vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 recently

[Litatamon in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi SlowDragon,

Yes 24 hours.

For five months, same dose. This is the first testing at this dose.

Not sure if all my vitamins etc. are good. B12 is for sure as I need shots.

Thank you so much.

[rosael56]

I feel like your post directly speaks to me 🤣 what with my last post being incredibly impatient waiting for NDT to work.

Thank you, it's encouraging to hear that pushing through and giving it time can give good results in the end!

[Litatamon in reply to rosael56]

Best of luck with it rosae.🌺 Most of my symptoms came from not enough NDT, when I was taking it.

[J972]

Wonderful post, extremely helpful/food for thought!

HEA72 , post might be of interest to you?

[Litatamon]

Thank you, I have found my missteps just as informative as successful outcomes.

[pennyannie]

Ditto - and I think inevitable and makes you stronger coming back from :

[Litatamon in reply to pennyannie]

So appreciative of you pennyannie & all the informative posts you provide us all.

[Litatamon in reply to pennyannie]

Does anyone have any further viewpoints on fitting in Cytomel with the latest labs? Ie. How to go about it with levothyroxine re: lowering? Or viewpoints looking at my labs on maybe not doing it.

I suffer from leg issues and the addition of Cytomel always helps that aspect. That is why I am asking.🌺

(Sorry pennyannie, attached this to you - but if anyone has any thoughts.)

[buddy99]

Love your post! I'm sure I'm not the only one who can relate. What a journey our thyroids can send us on! A never-ending-story that taught me (and you) so much and continues to do so. Should we be grateful? Should we be upset? Maybe a bit of both. Just keep trucking on!

[Litatamon in reply to buddy99]

Yes keep the faith! 💞 Hope is highly underrated.

So is getting my labs early and determining what to not pass my lips in the appointment. Ie. Looking after myself and my coveted prescriptions going forward. Highly underrated.

[Nomad12]

Can also so relate! Continually experimenting to try and figure this out and feel "normal" again - blame the levo/ need more levo/ try T3/ try thyroid glandular/ rattling from supplements/listening to endless thyroid podcasts/ reading every thyroid book. Thyroid issues are quite the roller-coaster - thank goodness for this group to keep us partly sane 🤣😀🙃

[Litatamon in reply to Nomad12]

Exactly! Can you imagine without this group?!? Uh oh my brain is going to explode. 😁 All the best.

[Soloslim]

Great to hear you are doing so fine. Keep it up!

I am a bit concerned though: I was on T3 only (have been for years) and my endo really twisted my arm so that I's try levo again. I felt increasingly awful since adding the mini dose of levo. i was told here that it would not get better so I made the decision to stop the levo after about 8 weeks. Now I wonder if I've done the right thing, if I shouldn't have pushed through... Very frustrating!

[Litatamon in reply to Soloslim]

I don't think you did a thing wrong. I don't understand doctor's needs to get involved when one feels well. What was his or her issue? Heart? Their TSH is too low spiel? My endocrinologist gives me the heart spiel once in a while - I say Got it and thankfully he moves on. 😁

Eight weeks is a good amount of time to push through, although I now consider three months to be a better gauge.

But anyone would want to go back to where they had felt better. Heck if I had the funds I would be back on NDT in an instant, although I am feeling half-decent. Which now that I think of it would be quite the fight when he sees labs finally in a decent spot after years.

Don't harass your brain. 🤩 Totally understandable why you went back. That is way different then never getting to a good place because we get impatient.

All the best to you.

(And thank you - I feel very fortunate to be doing pretty good).

[Soloslim in reply to Litatamon]

The issue is my generally deteriorating health and feeling increasingly lousy. (I do have other issues as well.) He said my body needs the T4, didn't elaborate.

Anyway, after thinking about it most of last night I guess I couldn't go on any longer while staying at home. I wasn't feeling like a human being anymore and it scared me. Extremely depressed, losing time, apathetic...

I'm not doing well without the levo but I feel a lot worse on it!

[Litatamon in reply to Soloslim]

Oh, I am so sorry to hear Soloslim. Hoping someone gets to the bottom of it soon. Frustrating. Your b12 is okay?

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I have just been diagnosed with sleep apnea, and that has caused a lot of issues - some that are the same as thyroid.

I was truly surprised. Besides the period when my b12 deficiency was not found, I would have deemed myself as someone who slept just fine.

Well I guess I did not as my oxygen saturation went as low as 78% during sleep. I also suddenly remembered that I was sent very early in life, like possibly in my 20s for a study (don't even remember why) & never received the results somehow.

I really fought against CPAP mainly due to ego and vanity & that it is often for life, but I can truly feel the difference. I have realized that I have never felt refreshed my entire life after a full night's sleep.

Writing all this out because we often assume everything is thyroid based, I just want people to know that is not always the case. I mean who knows what causes what - health science is really in its infancy in many ways.

Here's to you getting your puzzle piece answered soon soloslim. 🌺

[Soloslim in reply to Litatamon]

Thanks!

B12 is OK, I get shots twice a week. You are right, a B12 deficiency can cause terrible symptoms and is often overlooked.

It is a real puzzle, you are so right.

[Litatamon in reply to Soloslim]

All the best Soloslim. It is the middle of the night here, just took my multiple 50s of levothyroxine & back on with my full horror-looking mask. Laughing, Lord once upon a time health seemed exquisite and then all hell broke loose!

[Litatamon]

greygoose Can you please just look at my latest labs above & give me your thoughts on how much room I have to add a bit of t3. I almost want to add a small bit & not touch my levothyroxine at all. And wait it out for the next lab. With those numbers, doable in your eyes?

I have access to 25 mcg, so lowest would probably be 6.25 before crumbling.

Thank you!

[greygoose in reply to Litatamon]

T3 4.2 (2.6 to 5.8) 50.00%

Your FT3 is only 50% through the range so I would say yes, room for a 1/4 tablet increase.

[Litatamon in reply to greygoose]

Thank you, without lowering the Synthroid, greygoose?

[greygoose in reply to Litatamon]

Your FT4 is only 50% through the range, so there's no need to reduce your Synthroid unless you feel you need less T4. It really shouldn't be reduced automatically the way doctors do it. It depends on the individual.

[Litatamon in reply to greygoose]

Thank you my dearest goose! 😁🌺

[greygoose in reply to Litatamon]

You're welcome.

[sparkly]

Such a good, honest, very informative and encouraging post. Glad you've finally found a level you can live your life at. I agree with not thinking everything is totally down to thyroid especially ladies of a certain age when sex hormones decide to play havoc, I was one of them.

May you continue to feel OK.. but just perhaps a tiny bit of t3 would make a difference

[Litatamon in reply to sparkly]

Thank you sparkly. I appreciate it. All the best to you. 🌺