Hypothyroidism Support Group

Hello,

I haven't posted much here before and I have a complicated history with this disease I won't go into in this thread. I am asking for assistance in finding studies/reports on the effectiveness of adding T3 medication (preferably Cytomel, as I am hesitant about Armour as there have been many horror stories since the reformulation of the medication to meet FDA shelf-life standards, and doctors seem to be more comfortable with prescribing synthetics) to show a new doctor I will see soon. I also would like some studies confirming the "new" guidelines for TSH levels (from 2003). I want to make sure these are from reputable sources, as I don't want to seem like a nutjob going in

I didn't have any luck searching on Google for studies of Cytomel, but as for the TSH range change, I found this:

http://thyroid.about.com/cs/testsforthyroid/a/labs2003.htm

I tried to follow the links, but apparently they are outdated. I've been wondering around both websites for a while and could not find the articles mentioned...

If anyone could help that would be amazing. I'm just so nervous that this doctor will try to put me on a SSRI again or some anxiety medication when I've never tried T3 and still have all the symptoms of hypothyroidism even though I'm on levothyroxine. I really want to do things correctly this time.

Post edited by: koara, at: 09/18/2010 05:49 AM

Sorry, I am commenting without being able to provide any studies. My new endocrinologist, who is amazing I will add, told me some interesting things. She told me that she was going to start me out on synthroid and see how that goes for me and that if I needed the T3 as well, she would give me Cytomel too. She told me that some people have a "lazy" enzyme that makes it very difficult for their bodies to convert the T4 into T3 and some simply need to be given T3. Another thing she told me regarding Armour (in Canada it is just called Thyroid). She said that she does not like giving it because it is unstable. She described it this way. We can take a human whatever(we'll just use a hormone for example) and give it to a mouse or whatever kind of animal and it would work. However when you take a hormone or whatever from an animal and give it to a human it doesn't work as well because you are taking from a lower level speicies and giving to a higher level speicies. It made a lot of sense to me. Also, I read on a site (sorry, I cannot remember which) that Armour is unstable too because you can never know exaxtly how much of the hormone is in it. You can get a major blast of it in one dose and then next to nothing the next. Another point in this artilce was that one level of hormone is normal for a human but a pig's normal level is conciderably higher for the thyroid. It makes sense why some people feel really good right away on Armour, but what is that high level of hormone going to do to them in the future? I too don't really want to chance it. Anyway, I am sorry for being so long winded, but I thought you might be interested too in what I have recently found out. Hope you find what you need. I will try and research it too and if I find anything I will let you know.

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, that is precisely what I'm worried about. Instability... I've had quite enough of that already. I just found out about Cytomel a few weeks ago. I was really excited, because before that I thought the only treatment was dessicated pig thyroid hormones like in Armour, which I had read many bad things about recently. However, I'm not sure I will be as lucky as you are, because I have no insurance and I am only going to be seeing a GP and I probably can't afford to see an endocrinologist. Still, I'm holding out hope that this doctor has prescribed Cytomel for someone before, but in case he or she hasn't, I want to show them I'm not crazy for suggesting it.

I can understand that. I am from Canada and we don't have the same health care system as you do(I assume you are from the US). I am thankful that my GP has got me a good endo. I really hope that you have some luck in getting him/her to prescribe Cytomel if you need it. Hopefully you have a GP that listens and doesn't get huffy and arrogant. Let us know how it goes for you.

I take Armour Thyroid... was originally prescribed levo, took it for about 6 weeks. My hair was falling out, my skin became dry and itchy....I had none of these symptoms before this just extreme fatigue. Talked to my doctor and he agreed to let me switch to Armour. After 2 dose changes over the next 5 months all of my symptoms disappeared. I have energy, sleep well and am exercising and losing weight!

Yes it is made from dessicated pig thyroid (many body functions of pigs and humans are very similar!)and the amounts of T3 and T4 are carefully measured to insure that EVERY dose provides the same amount of medication.

It saddens me that so many doctors are in the pockets of the big pharmaceuticals who want to push their big money making synthetics.

As for me, I'll keep taking the natural and keep feeling terrific!

denise

I have Lyme Disease and also have hypothyroid. I just got a call back from my lyme doctor about my thyroid. She said something about reverse T3 and wants me to take Armour thyroid.

I have been taking 225 mg of Synthroid and my levels finally became stable, but I was still having symptoms from the thyroid, though sometimes it's hard to tell what is Lyme or the thyroid or is it a combo of both?

My lyme doctor (who deals in intergrated meds) tested my T4 and T3. My regular doctor seems to only be testing my TSH and t4....is there a reason for this? Is T3 one of those things that are questioned by doctors?

I've heard good reports about Armor and some bad reports. I am just so confused.....

The thyroid makes T4, and then it gets converted to T3 which is what your body uses. T4 has a longer half life than T3, but sometimes with hypothyroidism you aren't converting the T3. So you either have to add T3 to your Synthroid in the form of Cytomel. Or you can take Armour which contains the normal mix of T3 and T4. Most drs only test TSH but T3 and T4 should be tested periodically, especially if you are feeling symptomatic.

Hope this helps

denise

P.S. And yes I take Armour and love it!

Post edited by: faeremoon, at: 12/24/2010 10:07 PM

I tried in vain to get my MD to write me a RX for Cytomel and he hit the ceiling!!!

Just makes me what to go see an endo even more!!!

I've heard such wonderful reports from those taking cytomel but sadly my MD is not going to let that happen for me.

So after the New Year and all this stuff is over I will be seeking out an endo to end all this frustration and find out the truth from someone who knows what they are doing.

Thank you. I always wondered why even while my TSH and T4 were fine, I still had the tiredness, the hair loss, dry skin, etc.....It's beginning to make sense!