I’m hoping someone can offer some insight into my thyroid situation. I’m feeling very discouraged and not sure what to do.
I’m a 38 year old female. I was on 100mcg T3 (cytomel) daily for nearly 10 years as prescribed by endocrinologist. It was life changing to me, I finally felt human again!
Last year I saw a new endocrinologist and she felt my dose was too high based on TSH and FT4 results and wanted me get me to a ‘euthyroid state’ with my labs. Reluctantly I followed her advice and have not been well since.
To my understanding as per research and my previous endo, supplemental T3 causes FT4 and TSH suppression and what’s most important is that T3 is in range (upper third I have read is ideal). My blood tests always reflect that, but my FT3 has always been in range on Cytomel. I felt good, no hyper symptoms and my weight was stable.
Since the changes to meds in October I have felt like death - I have no energy, my hair is drastically falling out, I’m freezing cold all the time, puffy face, my mood is very low and anxiety high and I have rapidly GAINED 22 pounds within 3 months despite no changes to diet whatsoever. I follow a primarily pro-metabolic style diet and have been for the past 3 years. When I mentioned this to my endo she was unconcerned and wants to lower my dosage again. Again, she is going by FT4 and TSH only.
May 2022
100mcg T3 (Cytomel)/day
TSH: 0.01
FT4: 1.3
FT3: 5.7 pmol/L (3.9-6.7)
Weight stable, felt great!
New endo changed dosage to 75mcg T3 (Cytomel) + 50mcg T4 (Synthroid)
July 2022
TSH: 0.01
FT4: 5.0
Thyroid antibodies: negative
did not test FT3
Lowered dosage to 50mcg T3 + 50mcg T4
*this is where I started to feel extreme fatigue and lowered mood
October 2022
TSH: 0.02
FT4: 6.7
FT3: 2.6 (3.9-6.7)
Thyroid ultrasound: tissue health good, no nodules but ‘small size thyroid’.
This is where it showed my FT3 dropped very low. Despite that my endo lowered dosage to 50mcg T4 + 25mcg T3
Since October I have rapidly gained 22 pounds and feel absolutely awful. But my endo wants to increase Synthroid to 88mcg and drop Cytomel to 5mcg despite that. She thinks I am still hyper based on TSH and FT4. It makes no sense! I cannot keep gaining weight and feeling this way.
Any insight or advice is welcome. How can I convince my endo to put me back on 100mcg Cytomel?
I’m a 38 year old female. I was on 100mcg T3 (cytomel) daily for nearly 10 years as prescribed by endocrinologist. It was life changing to me, I finally felt human again!
Last year I saw a new endocrinologist and she felt my dose was too high based on TSH and FT4 results and wanted me get me to a ‘euthyroid state’ with my labs. Reluctantly I followed her advice and have not been well since.
To my understanding as per research and my previous endo, supplemental T3 causes FT4 and TSH suppression and what’s most important is that T3 is in range (upper third I have read is ideal). My blood tests always reflect that, but my FT3 has always been in range on Cytomel. I felt good, no hyper symptoms and my weight was stable.
Since the changes to meds in October I have felt like death - I have no energy, my hair is drastically falling out, I’m freezing cold all the time, puffy face, my mood is very low and anxiety high and I have rapidly GAINED 22 pounds within 3 months despite no changes to diet whatsoever. I follow a primarily pro-metabolic style diet and have been for the past 3 years. When I mentioned this to my endo she was unconcerned and wants to lower my dosage again. Again, she is going by FT4 and TSH only.
May 2022
100mcg T3 (Cytomel)/day
TSH: 0.01
FT4: 1.3
FT3: 5.7 pmol/L (3.9-6.7)
Weight stable, felt great!
New endo changed dosage to 75mcg T3 (Cytomel) + 50mcg T4 (Synthroid)
July 2022
TSH: 0.01
FT4: 5.0
Thyroid antibodies: negative
did not test FT3
Lowered dosage to 50mcg T3 + 50mcg T4
*this is where I started to feel extreme fatigue and lowered mood
October 2022
TSH: 0.02
FT4: 6.7
FT3: 2.6 (3.9-6.7)
Thyroid ultrasound: tissue health good, no nodules but ‘small size thyroid’.
This is where it showed my FT3 dropped very low. Despite that my endo lowered dosage to 50mcg T4 + 25mcg T3
Since October I have rapidly gained 22 pounds and feel absolutely awful. But my endo wants to increase Synthroid to 88mcg and drop Cytomel to 5mcg despite that. She thinks I am still hyper based on TSH and FT4. It makes no sense! I cannot keep gaining weight and feeling this way.
Any insight or advice is welcome. How can I convince my endo to put me back on 100mcg Cytomel?
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