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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by zana on April 9, 2007, at 8:41:40
Before I went on MAOIs, my pdoc put me on Cytomel to see if it gave me a boost. After about 6 weeks and 50mcg BOY did it. I have never felt better.
However, slight problem: it made me so hyperthroid that my own thyroid shut down and now I have to go off it.
Anybody have any experience with Cytomel (T3?)
I have always been low normal and I am hoping I will be able to go back on some supplimentation after my own thyroid goes back to "normal."
Posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2007, at 12:32:52
In reply to Cytomel, posted by zana on April 9, 2007, at 8:41:40
Since I have autoimmune thryoid already endo advised against cause of this reason like speed the first hour or so hits T3. Which affects the muscles I was told.Love Phillipa. ps did he say it would go back to normal?
Posted by zana on April 9, 2007, at 12:38:01
In reply to Re: Cytomel » zana, posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2007, at 12:32:52
Hi Phillipa,
Sorry to hear about the autoimmune stuff. Are you OK? How do you handle it?
I have had nothing but a great feeling of energy from the T3. Will it go back to normal? Probably, yeah. I have always been low/normal on thyroid. After this experience I am going to see if I can get supplimentation to bring it up some.
Posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2007, at 19:53:52
In reply to Re: Cytomel, posted by zana on April 9, 2007, at 12:38:01
Actually not dealing well at all. But if you're anxious bad like me you just shouldn't take it and the funny thing is I did better with a very low TSH. They say you should go by how you feel. My neice who has what I do says her endos always said this to her. good luck Love Phillipa ps just glad I didn't push to be on it for me it would have been bad can't even drink real tea.
Posted by zana on April 9, 2007, at 21:26:48
In reply to Re: Cytomel » zana, posted by Phillipa on April 9, 2007, at 19:53:52
I'm glad they didnt push it on you either. It sounds like you really have to look out for yourself. I'm sure being sick has a lot to do with being anxious too. It sounds like you have something real to worry about.
Good luck. I hope you are getting better. Better and better.
Zana
Posted by Larry Hoover on April 10, 2007, at 10:13:33
In reply to Cytomel, posted by zana on April 9, 2007, at 8:41:40
> Before I went on MAOIs, my pdoc put me on Cytomel to see if it gave me a boost. After about 6 weeks and 50mcg BOY did it. I have never felt better.
> However, slight problem: it made me so hyperthroid that my own thyroid shut down and now I have to go off it.I have a fundamental issue with the standard interpretation of your blood work. Of course, increasing T3 is going to lead to a decrease in TSH. What else could one expect to happen?
What if your body's "thyroid thermostat" is what is out of whack? What if your body is insensitive to T4, but your hypothalamus isn't? Your thyroid would be being told (via TSH) that there's enough hormone floating around, whereas your body might be starving for it. I can't remember the doctor's name, but he named this syndrome. I've posted about it here, before this.
> Anybody have any experience with Cytomel (T3?)
> I have always been low normal and I am hoping I will be able to go back on some supplimentation after my own thyroid goes back to "normal."Cytomel isn't the only option. Armour thyroid hormone contains T4 and T3, as well as associated thyroid proteins. Some people do really well on it, as it provides both bioactive thyroid hormones.
The problem is in finding a doctor who will prescribe the supplemental hormone, and monitor you while you titrate the dose. It can take quite a while to figure out just what dose you need, as thyroid hormone is highly protein-bound in blood plasma. Kind of like little sponges, sopping up free hormone, but leaking a little bit at the same time. It buffers the blood concentration, to keep it relatively stable. Changes in total hormone availability (as by oral supps) take some time to both show their complete effect, and to wear off again if you stop taking them (or decrease the dose). That's where you need a patient doctor.
The other thing is, if your thyroid thermostat is wonky, the only way to overcome it *is* to shut down your thyroid gland, and to become dependent on oral supps. That is, unless selenium supps do the trick. The enzymes that convert T4 to T3 require selenium. You can have what is known as a functional deficiency in thyroid hormone, which is kind of like what people get when they become insulin resistant; i.e. there's lots of insulin floating around, but it just doesn't do its job. The analogy here would be thyroid resistance. It can be related to selenium deficiency, but there are other explanations, as well. When you're dealing with the thyroid, there is no easy answer.
Lar
Posted by zana on April 10, 2007, at 10:56:08
In reply to Re: Cytomel » zana, posted by Larry Hoover on April 10, 2007, at 10:13:33
Dear Lar,
Unfortunately my TSH became unmeasurable. The interpretation: my own thyroid shut down because of the T3.
Have you tried the Cytomel again or any other thyroid hormone. I am horrified to think I won't be able to use any supplimentation because, like you, I have never felt better on any antidepressant combo including Provigil!
Zana
Posted by Maxime on April 10, 2007, at 12:40:34
In reply to Re: Cytomel » zana, posted by Larry Hoover on April 10, 2007, at 10:13:33
Larry, you are spot on. Luckily I have an endocrinologist who believes the same thing. She said that just because a test shows your levels, it doesn't show how much of it is getting to the right organs.
Also, I feel better when I am on the hyper side, so she overtreats my hypothyroidism to where I feel the best. As long as I am not having any symptoms of hyperthyroidism, she believe it is safe to have levels lean towards "hyper".
Maxime
> I have a fundamental issue with the standard interpretation of your blood work. Of course, increasing T3 is going to lead to a decrease in TSH. What else could one expect to happen?
>
> What if your body's "thyroid thermostat" is what is out of whack? What if your body is insensitive to T4, but your hypothalamus isn't? Your thyroid would be being told (via TSH) that there's enough hormone floating around, whereas your body might be starving for it. I can't remember the doctor's name, but he named this syndrome. I've posted about it here, before this.
>
> > Anybody have any experience with Cytomel (T3?)
> > I have always been low normal and I am hoping I will be able to go back on some supplimentation after my own thyroid goes back to "normal."
>
> Cytomel isn't the only option. Armour thyroid hormone contains T4 and T3, as well as associated thyroid proteins. Some people do really well on it, as it provides both bioactive thyroid hormones.
>
> The problem is in finding a doctor who will prescribe the supplemental hormone, and monitor you while you titrate the dose. It can take quite a while to figure out just what dose you need, as thyroid hormone is highly protein-bound in blood plasma. Kind of like little sponges, sopping up free hormone, but leaking a little bit at the same time. It buffers the blood concentration, to keep it relatively stable. Changes in total hormone availability (as by oral supps) take some time to both show their complete effect, and to wear off again if you stop taking them (or decrease the dose). That's where you need a patient doctor.
>
> The other thing is, if your thyroid thermostat is wonky, the only way to overcome it *is* to shut down your thyroid gland, and to become dependent on oral supps. That is, unless selenium supps do the trick. The enzymes that convert T4 to T3 require selenium. You can have what is known as a functional deficiency in thyroid hormone, which is kind of like what people get when they become insulin resistant; i.e. there's lots of insulin floating around, but it just doesn't do its job. The analogy here would be thyroid resistance. It can be related to selenium deficiency, but there are other explanations, as well. When you're dealing with the thyroid, there is no easy answer.
>
> Lar
Posted by Maxime on April 10, 2007, at 12:43:37
In reply to Re: Cytomel » Larry Hoover, posted by zana on April 10, 2007, at 10:56:08
Um, your TSH can't be unmeasurable. Why do think your thyroid has shut down? What symptom do you have?
Sorry for the questions.
Maxime
> Dear Lar,
> Unfortunately my TSH became unmeasurable. The interpretation: my own thyroid shut down because of the T3.
> Have you tried the Cytomel again or any other thyroid hormone. I am horrified to think I won't be able to use any supplimentation because, like you, I have never felt better on any antidepressant combo including Provigil!
> Zana
Posted by Larry Hoover on April 10, 2007, at 15:54:43
In reply to Re: Cytomel » Larry Hoover, posted by zana on April 10, 2007, at 10:56:08
> Dear Lar,
> Unfortunately my TSH became unmeasurable. The interpretation: my own thyroid shut down because of the T3.That's what happens when you take T3. But that's actually a good thing.
I found the earlier post I made on the subject, and the name of the syndrome: Wilson's (Temperature) Syndrome. Here's the old post:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060530/msgs/650953.html It might help to read that whole thread.Here's a website manual that explains it all:
http://www.wilsonstemperaturesyndrome.com/eManual/And here's a directory of doctors who will treat it: http://www.wilsonsthyroidsyndrome.com/DoctorsListing/Doctor.cfm
> Have you tried the Cytomel again or any other thyroid hormone. I am horrified to think I won't be able to use any supplimentation because, like you, I have never felt better on any antidepressant combo including Provigil!
> ZanaI've never been lucky enough to find a doctor who will treat me with T3. I've had T4, but that just makes the problem worse. This time, when I checked the doctor's directory, there are two local NDs who consult on this. I'm going to make the appointment soon.
By the way, getting 50 mcg T3 was a massive starter dose. The Wilson's protocol starts at 7.5 mcg b.i.d. (twice a day), and titrates to your own bodily response (not some arbitrary blood test number).
Lar
Posted by zana on April 10, 2007, at 16:34:55
In reply to Re: Cytomel » zana, posted by Larry Hoover on April 10, 2007, at 15:54:43
My TSH shut down too which my PCP didn't think was good and she stopped my Cytomel. I am freaked out because nothing has been this helpful and if I gave you the list it would be a very long one the stretched out over years.
I am seeing my pdoc thursday and I am hoping, praying, that she will let me continue at least some Cytomel. It has made me feel great, no side effects and I have been able to decrease my Emsam to the 6mg which means I have no dietary restrictions and, most important, no sleep problems.
If my pdoc is cool to the idea I have one fall back, my gyn doc, who has been testing my thyroid for yrs and noting that while it is normal it is low normal. I am hoping that if no one else listens, she will.
My father just read that T3 also helps with IBS, which I have and have not had since T3 and with fibromyalgia which I also have and have not been bothered by at all.
Keep your fingers crossed! The thought of winding down to the low which I had been stuck at is very dismaying to me, to say the least!
Zana
Posted by zana on April 10, 2007, at 16:36:45
In reply to Re: Cytomel » Larry Hoover, posted by Maxime on April 10, 2007, at 12:40:34
Maxine,
Is your endocronologist in the Boston area by any chance?
Zana
Posted by Phillipa on April 10, 2007, at 19:51:47
In reply to Re: Cytomel » Maxime, posted by zana on April 10, 2007, at 16:36:45
I see none in NC except two and I've never even heard of the cities? Love Phillipa Charlotte was a huge mistake
Posted by Maxime on April 10, 2007, at 19:53:26
In reply to Re: Cytomel » Maxime, posted by zana on April 10, 2007, at 16:36:45
> Maxine,
> Is your endocronologist in the Boston area by any chance?
> ZanaSorry, but I am in Canada. :)
Maxime
Posted by Maxime on April 10, 2007, at 19:56:56
In reply to Re: Cytomel » zana, posted by Larry Hoover on April 10, 2007, at 15:54:43
> I've never been lucky enough to find a doctor who will treat me with T3. I've had T4, but that just makes the problem worse. This time, when I checked the doctor's directory, there are two local NDs who consult on this. I'm going to make the appointment soon.
>
> By the way, getting 50 mcg T3 was a massive starter dose. The Wilson's protocol starts at 7.5 mcg b.i.d. (twice a day), and titrates to your own bodily response (not some arbitrary blood test number).
>
> LarI know it's hard to find a doctor who will prescribe Cytomel. My endocrinologist gave in to my pleas! But I am only on 10 mcg along with 100 mcg of Synthroid. I would like her to shift the ratio a bit.
Maxime
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