Anyone backwards

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2004
Anyone backwards
4
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 2:40pm
I have had a thyroid problem for about 15 years. I was hyper, had RAI, now hypo. About 1 1/2 years ago started Cytomel in addition to Synthroid b/c of uncontrollable weight gain. Well, I have been gaining weight, tired, etc., etc., but when my TSH was tested Monday it came back at .01 indicating too much hormone!?! Anyone else have backward symptoms like that. What did you do?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 4:03pm
DId you check your T4s? WHen I was on Cytomel only I felt great at first and then progressively worse and worse. My T4 level was too low. I'm on Levoxyl only now 88mcgs and my T3 level is as high as it was on Cytomel BUT my T4s are up which makes me feel much better overall. T3 (Cytomel) is the more active of the 2 hormones but you need both. Also, it's hard to regulate yourself on the T3 meds. My TSH was 1.0 then it went up to 5.5 all on teh same dosage of the T3...a little bit more or less and I was way off since it was so active.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2001
Wed, 07-21-2004 - 9:06pm
Hi and welcome! It sounds as if you are taking too much thyroid medication. Did your doctor lower your dose? Cathy :)
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2004
Thu, 07-22-2004 - 9:52am
I know what it sounds like, and the different hormones, etc. But I dont have a thyroid, at all. The RAI destroyed the whole thing, so I dont have an organ that would manufacture TSH as far as I can tell. And even with the seemingly high level of TSH in my blood the symptoms I am having indicate HYPO not HYPER.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Thu, 07-22-2004 - 12:35pm
TSH is actually manufactured in the pituitary gland, not the thyroid. The pituitary sends TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) to the thyroid to signal it to produce thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) If the thyroid doesn't work correctly (which yours wouldn't, since it's not there) the TSH level stays high because the pituitary keeps sending more and more to try to stimulate the thyroid. This is the classic way to diagnose hypothyroidism.