Need advice -

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2004
Need advice -
2
Tue, 06-06-2006 - 7:00am
To try to make a long story short, I had a total thyroidectomy about a year ago due to a large cyst and many other nodules/cysts all throughout my thyroid. They were all benign. I was started on Synthroid and within 6 months or so I seemed to be doing very well on the 150mcg a day. Again, I am allergic to Armour, so that is not an option for me. While getting up to my optimum dose, I suffered from alot of wicked fatigue, I gained about 8 lbs, had severe depression like I have NEVER in my life had and alot of palpitations. The best thing that has happened is that my chronic constipation that I have had for years is gone!!! My hair and nails are growing like weeds, along with my body fat (that end part is not making me happy)... Strangely enough, I knew everytime I needed an up in my dosage because I got palpitations. I know its usually the opposite, but my endo and surgeon agreed with ME it was a call for more - each time the dose was raised, within 2 weeks the palps were gone. The surgeon did have an explanation of that - I am at a loss right now to explain it....My endo does test my TSH, T4, Free and T3 Total. Anyway, for the most part I feel great. Its very odd though because every couple of weeks I will have several days when all those symptoms come back - not anywhere as bad as when I first had my thyroid out, but enough that it can be very bothersome. I get this fatigue where (and I am only 47) that if I sit down at anytime of the day, I am sleeping in like 2 minutes. I fall asleep at 8pm in the evening and I get a bit of that depression like feeling. Hard to explain. I could very well be starting menopausal symptoms but not sure??? I had a hysterectomy 8 years ago so I cannot go by missed periods, etc. I just had complete blood work done and everything was fine - B12 and Folic Acid levels were checked and all were fine. My endo just sent me for more blood work - TSH was 0.85 (Range 0.40 - 5.50) T4, Free 1.4 (Range 0.8 - 1.8) and T3, Total 82 (Range 60-181). I had him look back at all my tests and my T3, although in the ok range, is always on the low side which makes me think I may need more - he agrees it may be a possibility. He even offered Armour, but I cannot take it. I spoke with him in great detail last night and he explained that T3 (Cytomel) is fast-acting; must be taken 2 times a day and if I forget it, I will feel it and while adjusting to it, my Synthroid would be lowered and we would slowly work up to a good T3 dose, but during those months I could feel horrible again. He and I both agree that with such consistent blood test results over the last 6 months or so, its hard to believe that these incidents of fatigue, etc. that I explained above could be definitely blamed on my thyroid levels?????I did read up on Cytomel - did see that its relatively safe, but rashes were listed as possible side effects and I was concerned about that because I have alot of allergies to meds. And, I just wondered if any of you thought that maybe these incidents I am having (sometimes I go 6-7 weeks feeling fine and then have a week or so where I feel lousy)???? could be my thyroid or something else?? Anyone that is on Cytomel or has taken it before, I would greatly appreciate any input you may have for me. I love my endo - he goes not only by the blood tests but also alot on how I feel and my symptoms - he is open to letting me try the Cytomel - feels I have room to go up, but for some reason I am leary because my symptoms come and go which is odd considering all my blood tests are almost identical everytime I go?????? Thanks to all - MaryAnn (feel free to email me also - just put something in subject line so I know what its about) KIWI3841@aol.com


Edited 6/6/2006 7:02 am ET by maryann43
Avatar for cl_calley7
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 06-06-2006 - 9:07pm

Hi MaryAnn,


That's quite a history with your thyroid.

 

Calley7

Avatar for daggs170
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 06-16-2006 - 6:57am
I have never been put on Cytomel, and I have had my thyroid (TT-2nd surgery as first was a partial) almost 10 years ago, and I was so tired that I begged the endo to "up" my dosage of levoxyl, and they very hesitantly put me up to 1.12. I finally got some energy back, and just when I thought I was feeling good, he lowered it to 1, and then as a great surprise to me he lowered it to 0.088 and I was practically pleading with him that I didn't think I would be able to function. Well, he succeeded in what he wanted, got me down to a TSH of 0.01, and said that if the dosage is too high it could affect all other parts of the body--he has to think about the heart and the whole endocrine system also, and the TSH at this level is acting as a suppression therapy because my nodule turned out to be ca. It took me about 4 years to feel good again and not have the side effects--I haven't really gained any weight, and I can be as active as I want. As a matter of fact, I sometimes consider myself as being too hyper, and had to go to my GP so that he could calm me down with other meds, and I told my endo this and he said it wouldn't affect my thyroid meds and that was alright. So here I am, understanding what you're going through, but I think they will eventually get the right levels for you--it's just a matter of time and try to be patient. Good luck, hugs, Bea
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