Written by
i went undiagnosed/misdiagnosed for 5 yrs until one doctor suggested i get my thyroid checked. i went to an endo and found out i had hashimoto's. i started w T4 and though i would initially feel good at one level, i always had to have it increased. one problem, even at 137mcg i was still requiring 3+ hour naps to get through the day. i had read up and heard about T3. when my ins co. FINALLY let me see an endo, she tried to talk me out of surgery which i felt was weird considering i was not there to ask to have my thyroid removed. i told her that i heard about T3, but she tried to talk me out of this, too, saying that it was only in the system for 3 hours. but i persisted, and she said that she would put me on it, but had to let the ins co know that I had asked for it. Cytomel turned out to be my lifesaver. sure there are days or maybe even a wk here and there where i'm tired, but i no longer require the long naps to get through the day. i haven't seen significant weight loss since (only lost 15 lbs), but i try to exercise and eat well. sometimes i think if i had a diagnosis and gotten to the right meds sooner, i would not have 70lbs to lose.
Your story sounds like mine. I was diagnosed in 1997 when I was trying to get pregnant. Long story short, it was not until 1 month ago I found a doc that would add T3 to my levothyroxine dosage. I have lost 7 lbs., have energy, and the best thing of all, my kids notice my improved mood. My son told me last night that he thought I had taken a "love vaccine" because I am so much more loving to him! I just wish that I had found someone that recognized this so many years ago when I could have been "loving" to them then.
I know exactly how you feel. I loved my family so much but my mood swings made it look the opposite. I used to tell my husband that I wanted to be on a dessert island away from all of them. I was so depressed. T3 improved my mood dramatically, my memory is back to normal and I now feel more motivated. Within 3 days I was on top of the world!
I took Synthroid alone for 3 years, and still felt lousy even tho my TSH was 1.7. A couple of months ago, I finally found a doctor who agreed to let me try adding a little Cytomel, and the difference has been amazing. After a few days of Cytomel, my sense of smell returned after being gone for years due to nasal passage edema. My puffy eyelids are gone too. My sense of humor and joy in living has returned. My hair has quit falling out. I work out almost every day now, either lifting weights, walking, or climbing stadium steps. I might even start running again.
My cholesterol has been high on Synthroid, even tho I stick to a low-fat diet. It will be interesting to see if the Cytomel helps my cholestrol drop. PS: I'm a 59-year-old female who had a TSH of 95 (not 9.5!) when diagnosed. It was the highest that my doctor had ever seen.
I finally had t3 added to my t4 a month ago--all my bloodwork including chlo.ldl,hdl, everything fell back inline but my T4 total is 14.8 and TSH is .029 but I am starting to feel better than I have in 20years! I take .137 t4 with 25 t3. If I lowered the t4 in half should the total t4 come down? My doctor did not lower the t4 before adding the t3.
I won't go into the details of all that I have gone thru in the years of misdiagnosis....I regulary read similar stories on Mary's site. BUT..... for the last year I have taken T3 and my life has turned around. A real miracle. All achieved thru my own perserverance. So my heading is, "If all else fails and you are told , despite how you are feeling, that you are normal, start on T3!
Hi there,
I was fit and healthy and at the age of 33 following the birth of my second child, I was diagnosed as having an underactive thyroid. Three years on and I have not reached 100% normality, but I reckon I'm as close as I'll ever be after taking the T3/T4 combination.
I had a long list of symptoms, but my main concerns were lethargy, depression, foul temper and memory problems. These symptoms were causing me difficulty in everyday life.
I have a good knowledge of the human body, being a registered nurse and decided that I would have to research this subject further if I wanted the best possible outcome....and that's what I did.
Following a discussion with my GP she put me on T3. We have finally came to an agreement that I will take 87.5mcg thyroxine and 15mcg of levothroxine. She also referred me on to 2 different Endo consultants who we thought would offer more advice and support. Boy were we wrong! They seemed to be in the dark ages when it came to T3 supplements. They were not keen on this and kept banging on about current research. Maybe they should open their minds and look at patients holistically intead of taking a 'conveyor belt' approach to medicine. The patients are the people experiencing the problems. They should listen to our concerns and maybe research would be more valid.
I noticed the difference of taking the combined therapy after 3 days. I would recommend this to anyone who is struggling to cope with hypothyroidism. It may not be right for everyone, but it scares me to think how many people could benefit from it and are not being given the opportunity.
I agree with your item the forgotten hormone of T3.
I have cardiomyopathy-left side and do not possess a thyroid gland but because I show no TSH recordable my cardiologist has taken me off my Armour and wants me to stay off it for two months which I have refused and reluctantly agreed to one month.She says it is causing hyperthyroidism but I have no symptoms-the TSH issue is old hat for me as even when I had a gland and had numerous hypothyroid symptoms I still did not have a recordable TSH.I am worried that lack of thyroxine is going to cause more heart damage.The original heart damage was caused by a severe pnuemonia.I also have a problem converting T4 to T3 that is the reason I take Armour
In 1980, at the age of 26, I was diagnosed with MS. Thirteen years later, doctors decide it was really Hashimotos and started me on T4. Every symptom of "MS" I had went away in just a few days. But eventually I realized that I still wasn't feeling completely normal.
Finally in 2001, after years of trying to convince different doctors that I just still didn't feel right, cytomel was added. Oh my the difference!!! I felt so much better. Even my cholesterol dropped - wasn't high to start with but went from 186 down to 136. Only difference was the t3. So it makes sense to me that low levels of t3 might relate to heart disease.
And a side note, my husband and I could not have children. But when the t3 was added, I began having periods every month like clockwork for the first time in my life. Not exactly what one wants to have happen at 47, but could speak to the relationship between t3 and fertility.
I have had Hashimoto's for almost 20 years. My latest thyroid levels have been
TSH .56
T4 10.8
T3 uptake 35
Free T4 (index 17) 3.8
Total T3 108
I haven't felt normal for awhile. I have cardiac stents and high cholesterol. How do I present the need for T3 to my doctor? I have attempted to do this in both CT and SC and it has fallen on deaf ears. I need concrete facts to present to the physician.
After many years of gradual problems with tiring easily, being cold, all the usual symptoms. I was diagnosed with Hashimotos hypothyroidism and started on T-4. No matter what dose or brand, I slowly or quickly became hyperthyroid. I tried Armour, but the same thing happened. I actually broke out in hives from some of them. (I have never been allergic to anything) I have always had high normal levels of T-4 in my blood regardless of the TSH. After 5 years, I tried time release T-3 only. Wow. Its is great. Discovered my sister is on a similar program. Only drawback is you can never miss a dose as you start to fade right away and have to take without food twice a day. The T-3 lasts 8-12 hours.
I have never heard of anyone besides my sister who does this. Is is that uncommon?
I have had this very same problem. I am so frustrated. I can't take T4 only because I feel like a zombie and still have raging hypothyroid symptoms. I can't take Armour or compounded T4/T3 because it causes me to wake up around 3-4 AM every morning and can't go back to sleep. Even though I better on the T3/T4 combo than on T4 alone, it's still not optimal for me.
I've been to so many doctors and spent so much money just trying to feel normal. My current doctor doesn't know what else to do for me. I'd like to discuss T3 only with her, but I don't know what dosage to recommend and I don't think she is familiar with T3 only dosing.
How do I know what dosage of T3 only to take?
Does anyone know of a doctor in MI - Detroit area - that is knowledgeable in this subject?
Hi ~ I just found out about a 2 months ago that I am Hypo. my doctor put me on Sythroid 50mg. it has helped a little but I am still having the same problems,so I would also like to try the Cytomel with the Sythroid. Does anyone know a Endo doctor in Charlotte NC area that believes in Cytomel added to the T4??? If so, please please post their name. thanks so much in advance.
One doctor I know in the Charlotte area:
Lisa Derosimo, MD
180 Wingo Way
Suite 306
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29464
Phone: (843) 377-6733
Fax: (843) 884-0710
E-mail: infosouthcarolina@weightandwellnesscenter.com
I had cysts and nodules on my thyroid for years. Then it was hypo and then hyper, so I had it removed. Other than that though, I was in great shape.
I began taking levothyroxine, but never felt "right." That first year without a gland, I gained 65 pounds, my cholesterol soared to 211, I developed an irregular heart beat, and my blood pressure went from low to 198/96. So, along with levothyroxine, I began taking Lipitor and Metoprolol.
My voice is deep and raspy, so I had another ultrasound of my throat. Results were shocking. The diseased thyroid has grown back with a vengence. The "new" gland has even more nodules and cysts than what was removed. My doctor says my only choices are to have another thyroidectomy or "live with it."
My TSH is .75, Free T3 is 299, and T4 is 1.4. I am tired all the time. Sure wish I knew a doctor like you in my area! Any suggestions?
I have been taking Armour Thyroid for several months. It recently became impossible to purchase due to manufacturing problems according to the pharmacy. I found a pharmacy that compounds it for me. Otherwise I would have had to take a synthetic like Syntroid. I did not want to do that. My question is, Why do Drs. resist listening to alternatives about some treatments? And why has Armour Thyroid become impossible to purchase?
I have been on Synthroid, but still having not only original symptoms but others that are causing some real life problems. I had thyroid Ca, surgery last June and RAI treatment in August. When I was on Cytomel the 2 weeks before RAI, it was the first time in my life I felt what I think "normal" feels like - happy, comfortable in my skin...just good. My MD has adjusted my Synthroid twice, but I really believe I need to at least add T3. I will keep trying with her, but ready to find another MD. If anyone knows an MD in Gainesville, FL who would be open to helping with T3 treatment, I (and my family and my staff) would be very grateful!
My HMO endocrinologists prescribed Levothyroxine only. I felt only marginally better. After years of continuing infertility, I finally sought a highly-respected endocrinologist outside of my HMO. She prescribed a brand name levothyroxine, Synthroid (her reasoning was that most generics vary in efficacy, which is ok for most meds, but not for levothyroxine) and Cytomel, a T3/liothyronine supplement. I felt better immediately. I also got pregnant finally - triplets with in vitro fertilization, then a singleton on my own. (All my doctors told me that it would likely never happen on my own - I had a "1% chance of conceiving naturally"!)
As an experiment, after my kids were born, I stopped taking the T3 for awhile (because at the time it wasn't covered by my insurance and was expensive) to see what would happen. I felt miserable again within 24 hours. Now, my HMO carries liothyronine, so I take the generic of both meds & my TSH is a perfect 0.25. If you are on the fence about whether to take liothyronine, you should strongly consider it. It makes a world of difference.
I forgot to mention - I managed to get my HMO to prescribe T3 by telling them simply that my endo outside of Kaiser had prescribed me T3, and after they tested my TSH and free T4 levels (which were excellent) they simply kept me on the same prescription, only the generic versions. They didn't even check with my other doctor - I know because they never asked for her name or contact info. Just saying. It helps that Kaiser now carries liothyronine, whereas they didn't used to.
Just went to #5 endo, and told him how I had been feeling the past 6 years, the weight gain, tired all that. I had my thyroid out 4 years ago, and have never felt right, gained weight the whole bit. He lowered the dose of T-4 added the T-3 and I swear my energy level has spiked and the weight is coming off! don't suffer ask your Dr. or go to another one. I go to Dr. Hollander in Princeton.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
I'm an expert on the diabetes site and with diabetes often low thyroid occurs. 6 years ago I developed low thyroid, but take an extremely low dose of Synthroid, which has helped some. My thyroid levels have gone up, but the energy return has been spotty. I'm very active and extremely sensitive to my body. I have had this very discussion with my endo, who initially blew off the low thyroid reading as low enough to warrant medication, but when I showed up with stress in my eyes and my body a wreck, she agreed while in the low end of normal maybe some meds would improve the situation, and they did.
What is most interesting is the person pushing me to get the meds was my acupuncturist who said, "You may need T3, not T4, so ask for Armour." However, my endo did not agree.
I'm suspicious and would like to look at the T3 issue, because diabetes is also burdened by the prevalence of heart disease. What if the problem is T3 and we have missed the link? Thank you for a great post!
BTW, my husband was in the marching band 76-79 and dotted the I! Go bucks!