Updage for Pam

Greentree · 11-02-2009, 03:59 PM

Hi Pam, you probably don't remember me but I am from the Memphis area. I have been taking synthroid for over a year.

My labs from each time in the last year showed t-4 in the low normal range and t 3 ALWAYS low out of range so I asked for a referral to an endo. I couldnt get in with Dr. Merigan so I saw DR. Tetzelli. Not too bad. He was very thourough, explained T4 to T3 conversion, etc .

I kind of had to coax him into writing a script and letting me try Cytomel in addition to my Synthroid but he did. He saw my low T3 readings for the past year. He says there is only a 50/50 chance it would help

I was expecting the worst but he wasn't too bad if you have someone in the area who needs someone, except after he was done he sent me to have my blood work repeated and only circled the TSH and t-4......sigh

inatic · 11-02-2009, 04:24 PM

LOW out of range T3 and he thinks it's a 50/50 chance??

Not sure i'd trust that/him!

Greentree · 11-02-2009, 04:58 PM

I don't really trust him persay, I was just happy he agreed to let me try the Cytomel at all. I haven't been able to get any other dr to do that. Notice after my appt and he gave me the rx, he only checked my TSH and T4? How in the heck is going to tell if the Cytomel is working? I will have to go in to my next appt and tell them what they need to do lol.

Leo41 · 11-02-2009, 05:02 PM

I'm curious about why he said the Cytomel might not help--if your T3 is low and you add T3, it seems logical that there should be some help.

Aren't you having any symptoms? When my T3 was low (below the lab range), I had incredible fatigue and gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks. I knew the Cytomel was working because my fatigue vanished within 48 hours of my first dose.

But I'd worry about a doctor who prescribes Cytomel and then doesn't schedule a T3 test for your next visit. Within a year, I needed two increases in my Cytomel dosage based on my blood tests. How will he know what you need if he doesn't test?

nonstickpam107 · 11-02-2009, 06:42 PM

Hey, that's better than most the docs in that area....they like to say there's zero chance it will work OR, better yet, that Cytomel is the 'same as taking cocaine'. LOL

So..I'm curious..how much Cytomel did he script?

Pam

Greentree · 11-02-2009, 06:56 PM

Started me out at 5 mcg, which I believe is the minimum. Before they draw blood in 6 weeks I will insist that they test the T3. Then I will tell him if I need to increase it lol! I seriously don't understand why no one looks at if you are converting or not. He explained how T4 is converted to T3. I asked him well then don't you think I need some help in that area? Thats when he gave me the 50/50(that is his experience) He said that the "statistics" show that there is only one out of 9 studies that says Cytomel helps. If he only knew what I think about statistics........

Greentree · 11-02-2009, 07:05 PM

Oh and Leo it is the continual weight gain over the last 2 years no matter what I have tried to get rid of it. Most of my other symptoms like hair loss etc are getting better

nonstickpam107 · 11-02-2009, 09:19 PM

I sincerely hope that you can get the increase. Perhaps it would help to bring this doctor all the literature available that shows that T4 to T3 conversion only occurs in the liver, and that EVERYONE converts (cuz that seems to be what he is trying to explain). Let us know what happens. I'll keep my fingers crossed and good vibes coming your way.

Pam

Greentree · 11-03-2009, 08:12 AM

Thanks Pam, you have been a great help. Will keep you posted when I go back

Leo41 · 11-03-2009, 12:46 PM

I'm beginning to think that these guys don't believe in supplementing with T3 because it's a protocol that developed after they graduated from medical school. And they are ignorant of anything they didn't study in their little textbooks.

My younger sister has been hypothyroid for about 20 years, and she found a "well respected" endo (referred by other doctors). He only tested TSH and T4. Didn't even bother testing T3 at all.

I'd guess your problem with weight is that low T3. When mine suddenly dropped so low, I had been low carbing and losing about a lb a week--slow but steady. Then eating exactly the same way, I gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks! It was fortunate that my regular blood tests were scheduled that month because I didn't suspect the thyroid since I was medicated. and naively assumed that was 'taken care of.'

I began with 5mcg. of Cytomel, too, and it made an immediate and dramatic difference. About 8 months later, I added 5 mcg., and about a year later, an additional 5.

Greentree · 11-03-2009, 02:33 PM

Leo, I believe you are right. He knew about Cytomel, explained the half life etc but when I asked him how successful it was in his practice he stumbled before he said about 50/50. I think he made up that percentage on the spot.

nonstickpam107 · 11-03-2009, 08:35 PM

Maybe he's not a good enough doctor to have 100% rate, heh heh.

Pam

Greentree · 11-03-2009, 09:10 PM

LOL Pam, but hey like I said, I have asked at least 4 other doctors about it and none of them even pretended to know anything about it. Hell I wouldn't have known anything about it if I hadn't read this board!

watcher513 · 11-04-2009, 04:08 AM

No kidding Greentree, thank goodness for this board!

Greentree · 11-12-2009, 08:24 AM

Ok I need some advice again. I have been taking 5mcg Cytomel in addition to .88 Synthroid for a week and a half. I am up 2 pounds, and have been really angry/weepy for 3 days. I don't know if its the new med or just a coincidence. Should I just keep taking it and wait it out? I don't really trust the endo to answer this question.

Leo41 · 11-12-2009, 09:04 AM

If it were me, I'd stay with the meds until I could be tested again. I had a dramatic improvement on 5 mcg of Cytomel, but I had to add another 5 the next time I was tested. It's possible that 5 isn't enough for you to get relief.

Also, keep in mind that getting your T3 to optimum levels won't cause weight loss on its own. It simply will allow you to lose weight if you work at it. Given my hypo and the fact that I'm post-menopausal, every pound is a struggle.

nonstickpam107 · 11-12-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo41

If it were me, I'd stay with the meds until I could be tested again. I had a dramatic improvement on 5 mcg of Cytomel, but I had to add another 5 the next time I was tested. It's possible that 5 isn't enough for you to get relief.

Also, keep in mind that getting your T3 to optimum levels won't cause weight loss on its own. It simply will allow you to lose weight if you work at it. Given my hypo and the fact that I'm post-menopausal, every pound is a struggle.

I couldn't agree more.

Pam

Greentree · 11-12-2009, 01:06 PM

Thanks to you both. I feel like I am PMSing but I haven't had periods for 2 years. Just wondering if it could be the cytomel.

watcher513 · 11-12-2009, 03:00 PM

Hmm, I felt better within hours after I started generic Cytomel. I was told to take 12.5 mcg. (1/2 of a 25 mcg.) once a day. After a week or so it seemed like a little too much, a little too revved up (for a newbie to it I guess). So I emailed and requested to split it (in 1/4's...ugh, lol) and that worked better. Also like Leo said, you may need more, but just another one in the afternoon since you were started on the smallest dose. Heck, I'd try it for a few days anyway. You'll Know if it helps or not by how you feel.

My NP says to "Watch for "surges" of anxiety, tremor, insomnia, palpitations, etc." If you get those, it's too much T3.

theothertwin41 · 11-12-2009, 03:44 PM

Hi Everyone,

I have read a lot on this board about Dr's. tell me something how come that there are so many Dr's out there and only a hand full ( if that) UNDERSTANDS the serious of how the thyroid works in helping the rest of the body parts to work better. this upsets me to no end. now this is my point of veiw here. first some Dr's dont understand and or will not learn.
the second thing is they would rather have you keep coming back so they can get there money if you get better then it will mean they will hardly see there patient meaning less money for them, they should not be scarried becouse there are a lot of patients out there that does not have a thyroid problem and they will still get there oh mighty doller, but it's ok for us to fork up a lot of money that a lots of us don't have and mybe get a good dr out of it, also if Dr's get everyone helalthy the that means the popaltion on earth will increese.there should be only one lab sheet for every Dr. i can't beleave there is not one talk show or famous person that can get the word out to let everyone know how inportant the thyroid is to your health,when you hear every talk show talk about how inportant it's to be healthy. and i don't undrestand way it's the price to see the Dr about your thyroid be so high along with the price to be so high to see the Dr about bhrt, when bhrt is sapose to be better for you. why ! sorry this is long. it should not be this defucult to get the thyroid working. you don't get this much of hassle if comes to someones heart.

Greentree · 11-13-2009, 01:39 PM

I am feeling much better today, it probably wasn't the meds. Wasn't pms either, whew!

11-02-2009, 03:59 PM	#1
Greentree Junior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 19 Gallery: Greentree	Updage for Pam Hi Pam, you probably don't remember me but I am from the Memphis area. I have been taking synthroid for over a year. My labs from each time in the last year showed t-4 in the low normal range and t 3 ALWAYS low out of range so I asked for a referral to an endo. I couldnt get in with Dr. Merigan so I saw DR. Tetzelli. Not too bad. He was very thourough, explained T4 to T3 conversion, etc . I kind of had to coax him into writing a script and letting me try Cytomel in addition to my Synthroid but he did. He saw my low T3 readings for the past year. He says there is only a 50/50 chance it would help I was expecting the worst but he wasn't too bad if you have someone in the area who needs someone, except after he was done he sent me to have my blood work repeated and only circled the TSH and t-4......sigh

11-12-2009, 03:00 PM	#19
watcher513 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 259 Gallery: watcher513	Hmm, I felt better within hours after I started generic Cytomel. I was told to take 12.5 mcg. (1/2 of a 25 mcg.) once a day. After a week or so it seemed like a little too much, a little too revved up (for a newbie to it I guess). So I emailed and requested to split it (in 1/4's...ugh, lol) and that worked better. Also like Leo said, you may need more, but just another one in the afternoon since you were started on the smallest dose. Heck, I'd try it for a few days anyway. You'll Know if it helps or not by how you feel. My NP says to "Watch for "surges" of anxiety, tremor, insomnia, palpitations, etc." If you get those, it's too much T3. Last edited by watcher513; 11-12-2009 at 03:05 PM..

11-12-2009, 03:44 PM	#20
theothertwin41 Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 39 Blog Entries: 1 Gallery: theothertwin41	Dr's and Thyroid Hi Everyone, I have read a lot on this board about Dr's. tell me something how come that there are so many Dr's out there and only a hand full ( if that) UNDERSTANDS the serious of how the thyroid works in helping the rest of the body parts to work better. this upsets me to no end. now this is my point of veiw here. first some Dr's dont understand and or will not learn. the second thing is they would rather have you keep coming back so they can get there money if you get better then it will mean they will hardly see there patient meaning less money for them, they should not be scarried becouse there are a lot of patients out there that does not have a thyroid problem and they will still get there oh mighty doller, but it's ok for us to fork up a lot of money that a lots of us don't have and mybe get a good dr out of it, also if Dr's get everyone helalthy the that means the popaltion on earth will increese.there should be only one lab sheet for every Dr. i can't beleave there is not one talk show or famous person that can get the word out to let everyone know how inportant the thyroid is to your health,when you hear every talk show talk about how inportant it's to be healthy. and i don't undrestand way it's the price to see the Dr about your thyroid be so high along with the price to be so high to see the Dr about bhrt, when bhrt is sapose to be better for you. why ! sorry this is long. it should not be this defucult to get the thyroid working. you don't get this much of hassle if comes to someones heart.

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11-02-2009, 04:24 PM	#2
inatic Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Alpharetta,Ga. Posts: 13,802 Gallery: inatic Stats: 182/135 5'4 47!yo 16/4 5 kidlets later! WOE: Coach Supervised Start Date: LowER C since 2/02 wt training 10/15/02	LOW out of range T3 and he thinks it's a 50/50 chance?? Not sure i'd trust that/him!

11-02-2009, 04:58 PM	#3
Greentree Junior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 19 Gallery: Greentree	I don't really trust him persay, I was just happy he agreed to let me try the Cytomel at all. I haven't been able to get any other dr to do that. Notice after my appt and he gave me the rx, he only checked my TSH and T4? How in the heck is going to tell if the Cytomel is working? I will have to go in to my next appt and tell them what they need to do lol.

11-02-2009, 05:02 PM	#4
Leo41 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,444 Gallery: Leo41	I'm curious about why he said the Cytomel might not help--if your T3 is low and you add T3, it seems logical that there should be some help. Aren't you having any symptoms? When my T3 was low (below the lab range), I had incredible fatigue and gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks. I knew the Cytomel was working because my fatigue vanished within 48 hours of my first dose. But I'd worry about a doctor who prescribes Cytomel and then doesn't schedule a T3 test for your next visit. Within a year, I needed two increases in my Cytomel dosage based on my blood tests. How will he know what you need if he doesn't test?

11-02-2009, 06:42 PM	#5
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 13,934 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	Hey, that's better than most the docs in that area....they like to say there's zero chance it will work OR, better yet, that Cytomel is the 'same as taking cocaine'. LOL So..I'm curious..how much Cytomel did he script? Pam

11-02-2009, 06:56 PM	#6
Greentree Junior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 19 Gallery: Greentree	Started me out at 5 mcg, which I believe is the minimum. Before they draw blood in 6 weeks I will insist that they test the T3. Then I will tell him if I need to increase it lol! I seriously don't understand why no one looks at if you are converting or not. He explained how T4 is converted to T3. I asked him well then don't you think I need some help in that area? Thats when he gave me the 50/50(that is his experience) He said that the "statistics" show that there is only one out of 9 studies that says Cytomel helps. If he only knew what I think about statistics........

11-02-2009, 07:05 PM	#7
Greentree Junior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 19 Gallery: Greentree	Oh and Leo it is the continual weight gain over the last 2 years no matter what I have tried to get rid of it. Most of my other symptoms like hair loss etc are getting better

11-02-2009, 09:19 PM	#8
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 13,934 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	I sincerely hope that you can get the increase. Perhaps it would help to bring this doctor all the literature available that shows that T4 to T3 conversion only occurs in the liver, and that EVERYONE converts (cuz that seems to be what he is trying to explain). Let us know what happens. I'll keep my fingers crossed and good vibes coming your way. Pam

11-03-2009, 08:12 AM	#9
Greentree Junior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 19 Gallery: Greentree	Thanks Pam, you have been a great help. Will keep you posted when I go back

11-03-2009, 12:46 PM	#10
Leo41 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,444 Gallery: Leo41	I'm beginning to think that these guys don't believe in supplementing with T3 because it's a protocol that developed after they graduated from medical school. And they are ignorant of anything they didn't study in their little textbooks. My younger sister has been hypothyroid for about 20 years, and she found a "well respected" endo (referred by other doctors). He only tested TSH and T4. Didn't even bother testing T3 at all. I'd guess your problem with weight is that low T3. When mine suddenly dropped so low, I had been low carbing and losing about a lb a week--slow but steady. Then eating exactly the same way, I gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks! It was fortunate that my regular blood tests were scheduled that month because I didn't suspect the thyroid since I was medicated. and naively assumed that was 'taken care of.' I began with 5mcg. of Cytomel, too, and it made an immediate and dramatic difference. About 8 months later, I added 5 mcg., and about a year later, an additional 5.

11-03-2009, 02:33 PM	#11
Greentree Junior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 19 Gallery: Greentree	Leo, I believe you are right. He knew about Cytomel, explained the half life etc but when I asked him how successful it was in his practice he stumbled before he said about 50/50. I think he made up that percentage on the spot.

11-03-2009, 08:35 PM	#12
nonstickpam107 Thyroid Patient Advocate Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 13,934 Gallery: nonstickpam107 Stats: 230/116/120 (BF<26%) WOE: Started w/Atkins/Now BFFM Start Date: Nov. 23 2000	Maybe he's not a good enough doctor to have 100% rate, heh heh. Pam

11-03-2009, 09:10 PM	#13
Greentree Junior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 19 Gallery: Greentree	LOL Pam, but hey like I said, I have asked at least 4 other doctors about it and none of them even pretended to know anything about it. Hell I wouldn't have known anything about it if I hadn't read this board!

11-04-2009, 04:08 AM	#14
watcher513 Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sonoma County, CA Posts: 259 Gallery: watcher513	No kidding Greentree, thank goodness for this board!

11-12-2009, 08:24 AM	#15
Greentree Junior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 19 Gallery: Greentree	Ok I need some advice again. I have been taking 5mcg Cytomel in addition to .88 Synthroid for a week and a half. I am up 2 pounds, and have been really angry/weepy for 3 days. I don't know if its the new med or just a coincidence. Should I just keep taking it and wait it out? I don't really trust the endo to answer this question.

11-12-2009, 09:04 AM	#16
Leo41 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,444 Gallery: Leo41	If it were me, I'd stay with the meds until I could be tested again. I had a dramatic improvement on 5 mcg of Cytomel, but I had to add another 5 the next time I was tested. It's possible that 5 isn't enough for you to get relief. Also, keep in mind that getting your T3 to optimum levels won't cause weight loss on its own. It simply will allow you to lose weight if you work at it. Given my hypo and the fact that I'm post-menopausal, every pound is a struggle.

11-12-2009, 01:06 PM	#18
Greentree Junior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 19 Gallery: Greentree	Thanks to you both. I feel like I am PMSing but I haven't had periods for 2 years. Just wondering if it could be the cytomel.

11-13-2009, 01:39 PM	#21
Greentree Junior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 19 Gallery: Greentree	I am feeling much better today, it probably wasn't the meds. Wasn't pms either, whew!