Ok Nonstick Pam and other Thyroid Guru's...

[loveslife]

Originally Posted by nonstickpam107

Yeah, too much T3 too fast, that's what's not right. You need to realize that T3 only has a half life of 4 hours (so you're taking it in the am..the half...and that amount of T3 is carrying you for four hours...then...um..you're waiting ALL that time to take the 2nd half and it's prolly interfering with sleep...it would be like sucking down a few cups of coffee before bed KWIM?).

This way, the second split taken around 2pm or so...will be giving you energy (but not TOO much) up till bedtime. Try it, might work better for you. 25mg of Cytomel would about rattle me out of my skin!! WAYYYYY too much.

Do you know that MOST folks on Cytomel take 10mg. am, 5 early afternoon, and 5 again late afternoon..now SEE how much you were trying to add?? Oh my! And some doctors, who aren't used to giving Cytomel go to the PDR to get dose..and they see that there is only 25mg. dosage..but that's not true...doc's who Rx. it routinely KNOW you can get it in 5mg. dosage.

Just think, your one grain Naturethroid contains 37mcg. T4 and 9 mg. T3...and you're SPLITTING it...so putting 25mg. of T3 synthetic added to it? Wonder you're not so hyper you have to start ALL OVER AGAIN from scratch. Terrible!!

And then..the fact you thought that one grain of Naturethroid was going to work in less than a few MONTHS?? Not. Took me a whole year to go from 1/2 grain up to 1.25 grains. Don't think it will 'make you' lose weight either...until you are completely healed (depending on how long you had hypothyroidism, that might be a year or longer). It's not a weight loss aid.

We hypothyroid folks lose weight if we eat clean and get regular exercise. The thyroid hormone just 'evens the playing field' and brings us up to normal.

Pam

Thank you Pam. That was a wonderful explanation. I see my doctor tomorrow and I have plenty of questions for him. I just hope he has the answers, cause I feel much worse since taking these meds. I only had very few symptoms before all this and I could live with those.

[loveslife]

Pam, I have another question. I had to stop the Cytomel two weeks ago because I started having skipped heart beats. About 14 years ago I suffered for a year with skipped beats due to anxiety, but they have been gone ever since then. But even though I stopped the Cytomel, I still have the skipped beats. I told my doctor yesterday and he wasn't concerned. He just ignored it and wanted to add some Cortef because my body temp is still 97, but I said I wanted my adrenal levels checked first. He said okay, but never gave me a script for a saliva test. I am still on one grain of Naturthroid (half AM, half afternoon). Can the Naturthroid be causing the PVCs? I wanted more thyroid tests (last ones were 6 weeks ago), but again he said they weren't needed. These skips are so annoying. I'm thinking maybe I don't really need the thyroid medication or that I am taking too much. I felt much better before starting the Naturthroid. Thanks so much for all your help.

[nonstickpam107]

What do your salivary cortisol tests look like? Perhaps the Cytomel over ran your adrenals. Um, do ya like that doctor? Cuz mine would NEVER insist on me taking something that gave me palpitations/etc. and would have tested. The doctor is being OVER zealous with treatment..and I know a few of them who do this...and I avoid them.

Pam

[loveslife]

Originally Posted by nonstickpam107

What do your salivary cortisol tests look like? Perhaps the Cytomel over ran your adrenals. Um, do ya like that doctor? Cuz mine would NEVER insist on me taking something that gave me palpitations/etc. and would have tested. The doctor is being OVER zealous with treatment..and I know a few of them who do this...and I avoid them.

Pam

He NEVER gave me the salivary cortisol test. He said he had the test at his office, but he never gave it to me. I think I will find a lab online and just purchase the test myself and send it in. This doctor was highly recommended by quite a few people. He specializes in internal medicine, but learns toward a holistic approach. Since Cytomel is fast acting, with only a 4 hour shelf life, and I quit taking it about 2 weeks ago, can't figure out why I still have the PVCs. I keep thinking that maybe I am taking too much of the Naturthroid (one grain - split).

I think I would like to find another doctor, but don't know how to find one in my area (eastern PA). The two endos I saw last year were no help at all. One suggested removing my thyroid! The other said nothing was wrong and I didn't need meds. I'm just at a lost right now and not sure what to do. Some days I feel great and others I feel horrible. Maybe I should ask my doctor to try a different thyroid medication. It's weird, I know that something is just not right, but I can't put my finger on what it is. Does that make any sense? Thanks again for your help. I truly appreciate it.

[nonstickpam107]

You might be better off just taking T4. You are taking FIVE TIMES the T3 that most of us take..just cuz it has a half life of four hours doesn't change that fact. I'd want to just stay on the Naturethroid...myself.

Pam

[loveslife]

Originally Posted by nonstickpam107

You might be better off just taking T4. You are taking FIVE TIMES the T3 that most of us take..just cuz it has a half life of four hours doesn't change that fact. I'd want to just stay on the Naturethroid...myself.

Pam

I have been on one grain of Naturethroid (split) for over two weeks now. That's the only medication I am taking, but still have the skipped beats - not as strong or as frequent, but still daily. Next week I will ask for the results of all the blood work to see what is going on. Plus, this morning I noticed a small lump on the right side of my throat. Six months ago after an ultrasound I was told I had an enlarged thyroid, but never saw a lump before. Very strange. I really felt so much better before starting thyroid meds. Maybe it just takes more time. Thanks again.

[Butterflyk]

Hello Pam, well getting no where fast....still waiting for the second biopsy and was told by the so-called specialist that he doesn't get concerned about any single nodules that are under 3 cm. When last checked three weeks ago now, mine was 2.2 and had doubled in size within two weeks. Not been checked again - now 3 wks later. Called the Sp office this morning told next biopsy can't be done until FEB!!! On waiting list for Dr. D (in case of cancelled appointment before scheduled one). Health not great, but still better than it was, very concerned about going through another episode of thyroid attacks before I can get treatment. Sp, won't prescribe any medication, but to appease me, (or shut me up) - had me do a 24 hr urine test??? Nothing conclusive about Thyroid and feeling so lost again - seems like all avenues turn up empty results. Any comfort you could offer would be so very much appreciated. Bk.

[Butterflyk]

Hi forgot to mention that I didn't get 24 u test results yet... still waiting. Know what I believe I need - T4/T3, but can't seem to get anyone to take note and actually prescribe it. Will keep trying. Bk.

[AllieCat0817]

I do not think Pam will be posting here any longer. But an excellent resource are the Thyroid groups on yahoo.com... there is one for each state, and a USA one too.. you can join both. You'll have lots of people in the same boat!!

[Butterflyk]

Hi Alliecat, thanks so much, will try the other groups. Bk.

[MaddieJ]

Originally Posted by AllieCat0817

I do not think Pam will be posting here any longer. But an excellent resource are the Thyroid groups on yahoo.com... there is one for each state, and a USA one too.. you can join both. You'll have lots of people in the same boat!!

Why not?

[theothertwin41]

f

[theothertwin41]

fOR Nonstickpam107
this is Joan just wanted your to let you know i have some blood work for you.
Free testosterone 0.8 (0.0-2.2)
Estradiol 46 (19-528) <54 triiodothyronine,free 3.0 (2.3-4.2)

Thyroxine T4 free 0.92 (0.61-1.76)
dEHA 217 (32-240)
tSH 0.998 (0.350-5.500)
Progesterone 0.8 follicular 0.2-1.4
luteal 3.3-25.6
mid-luteal 4.4- 28.0
postmenopausal 0.0-0.7
I do have Menapouse Lh 57.2 (0.0-76.3)
fsh 99.4 do you need my tpo? i am still waiting for those to come back. I am on Amore 60mg was on bhrt but had to stop becouse of the price . but. would like to go on herbs, for my menapouse mybe from women to women. what do you think pam. Thanks Joan

[MaddieJ]

Joan it seems Pam doesn't post here anymore.

[theothertwin41]

Hi, I'm going to get my labwork done but i have read differant things. should i take my thyroid med before doing the labwork or after the labwork? need to know before this Friday. Thank you.

[nonstickpam107]

My doctor wants his Armour patients to take HALF their daily dosage, then test four to five hours later (doing FREE's, not totals, T4 and T3).

It's whatever your doctor wants, but taking Armour right before testing would show the 'peak' of the T3.

Pam