Guest guest Posted August 16, 2012 Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 hi again BJ and susan, as i've mentioned my doc raised my synthroid to 200 mcgs, while maintaining my cytomel at 2.5 mcgs daily. i had an episode of rapid heartbeat and hot and red faced flushing. my labs following this incident: Tsh 0.01 (0.36-3.74) Total T3 1.35 (0.7-1.9 Total T4 17.1 (4.8-13.9) my TPO is up to almost 400. the office gave me the wrong lab copy so i don't have the norms. it was just over 100 last time i tested. does anyone have any idea why the tpo went up so high, in just a few months? at my last office visit doc wanted to raise my synthroid more and also wanted to keep me on cytomel inspite of my allergic reaction to it. i insisted on changing over to natural thyroid, so he wrote my prescription for armour thyroid, 120 mg. he wanted me to continue the cytomel too but i refused. after 5 days on the armour i had an episode in the middle of the night with skipped and irregular heart beats. i took 0.5 xanax to calm down, and then another 0.5mgs 20 minutes later. i must have fallen asleep after that. when i awakened in the a.m, my pulse was normal. i skiped the armour completely the next day, and the second day i took only 30mgs because i was afraid to stop abruptly. when i went in to see doc today, he wanted to raise my armour. i said no that i wanted it reduced. he suggested giving me a heart med to regulate the pulse, but i insisted on reduction. he reduced the armour from 120mg to 90 mg. my question to anyone who can help me is does this sound like the right way to go? i think it should be lowered even further. i would like to hear all of your comments either positive or negative please. i know bj suggested that i get another doc, but i wanted to give him a chance to figure it all out. thank you. lois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 16, 2012 Report Share Posted August 16, 2012 Lois - that dose of Synthroid with Cytomel seems really high! 200 mcg is usually a max dosage for most adults depending on your weight and progression/ severity of disease. Cytomel is much more potent than levothyroxine as I'm sure you know. 120 mcg of Armour is supposed to be equivalent of 200 mcg Synthroid. So even if you're not on the Cytomel that is still very high for someone early in the disease. I've had Hashis for 8+ years and the highest dose of levothyroxine I've ever taken is 100 mcg (I'm on 88 now). You're supposed to start low and titrate up so I'm glad you told him to lower your dose and I agree it should be lower than that, maybe start at 30. If he doesn't lower it then I would halve your pills for now at least and find a new doc. Not sure what is going through his mind. Did he explain why he's giving you so much or did you tell him you had extreme fatigue? Your TSH and T4 do confirm your symptoms of getting too much thyroid. It does seem you might have trouble converting the T3 - Armour might help with that over the long run but I'm not sure why he's giving you so much right now. If Armour doesn't work for you and you are having bad reactions to Cytomel there are other alternatives with T3 like Thyrolar. In our Links section we have an Armour to levothyroxine conversion chart by the way. > > > > hi again BJ and susan, > > as i've mentioned my doc raised my synthroid to 200 mcgs, while maintaining my cytomel at 2.5 mcgs daily. i had an episode of rapid heartbeat and hot and red faced flushing. > > my labs following this incident: > > Tsh 0.01 (0.36-3.74) > > Total T3 1.35 (0.7-1.9 > > Total T4 17.1 (4.8-13.9) > > > my TPO is up to almost 400. the office gave me the wrong lab copy so i don't have the norms. it was just over 100 last time i tested. > > does anyone have any idea why the tpo went up so high, in just a few months? > > at my last office visit doc wanted to raise my synthroid more and also wanted to keep me on cytomel inspite of my allergic reaction to it. > > i insisted on changing over to natural thyroid, so he wrote my prescription for armour thyroid, 120 mg. > > he wanted me to continue the cytomel too but i refused. > > after 5 days on the armour i had an episode in the middle of the night with skipped and irregular heart beats. i took 0.5 xanax to calm down, and then another 0.5mgs 20 minutes later. i must have fallen asleep after that. when i awakened in the a.m, my pulse was normal. > > i skiped the armour completely the next day, and the second day i took only 30mgs because i was afraid to stop abruptly. > > when i went in to see doc today, he wanted to raise my armour. i said no that i wanted it reduced. he suggested giving me a heart med to regulate the pulse, but i insisted on reduction. > he reduced the armour from 120mg to 90 mg. > > my question to anyone who can help me is does this sound like the right way to go? i think it should be lowered even further. > > i would like to hear all of your comments either positive or negative please. > > i know bj suggested that i get another doc, but i wanted to give him a chance to figure it all out. thank you. lois > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 I agree that is a high dose with T3. I'm on 150 levo. When I or doc played around with cytomel, We cut the dose in half. I did not do well on cytomel, it was to strong. Sent from my iPhone Lois - that dose of Synthroid with Cytomel seems really high! 200 mcg is usually a max dosage for most adults depending on your weight and progression/ severity of disease. Cytomel is much more potent than levothyroxine as I'm sure you know. 120 mcg of Armour is supposed to be equivalent of 200 mcg Synthroid. So even if you're not on the Cytomel that is still very high for someone early in the disease. I've had Hashis for 8+ years and the highest dose of levothyroxine I've ever taken is 100 mcg (I'm on 88 now). You're supposed to start low and titrate up so I'm glad you told him to lower your dose and I agree it should be lower than that, maybe start at 30. If he doesn't lower it then I would halve your pills for now at least and find a new doc. Not sure what is going through his mind. Did he explain why he's giving you so much or did you tell him you had extreme fatigue? Your TSH and T4 do confirm your symptoms of getting too much thyroid. It does seem you might have trouble converting the T3 - Armour might help with that over the long run but I'm not sure why he's giving you so much right now. If Armour doesn't work for you and you are having bad reactions to Cytomel there are other alternatives with T3 like Thyrolar. In our Links section we have an Armour to levothyroxine conversion chart by the way. > > > > hi again BJ and susan, > > as i've mentioned my doc raised my synthroid to 200 mcgs, while maintaining my cytomel at 2.5 mcgs daily. i had an episode of rapid heartbeat and hot and red faced flushing. > > my labs following this incident: > > Tsh 0.01 (0.36-3.74) > > Total T3 1.35 (0.7-1.9 > > Total T4 17.1 (4.8-13.9) > > > my TPO is up to almost 400. the office gave me the wrong lab copy so i don't have the norms. it was just over 100 last time i tested. > > does anyone have any idea why the tpo went up so high, in just a few months? > > at my last office visit doc wanted to raise my synthroid more and also wanted to keep me on cytomel inspite of my allergic reaction to it. > > i insisted on changing over to natural thyroid, so he wrote my prescription for armour thyroid, 120 mg. > > he wanted me to continue the cytomel too but i refused. > > after 5 days on the armour i had an episode in the middle of the night with skipped and irregular heart beats. i took 0.5 xanax to calm down, and then another 0.5mgs 20 minutes later. i must have fallen asleep after that. when i awakened in the a.m, my pulse was normal. > > i skiped the armour completely the next day, and the second day i took only 30mgs because i was afraid to stop abruptly. > > when i went in to see doc today, he wanted to raise my armour. i said no that i wanted it reduced. he suggested giving me a heart med to regulate the pulse, but i insisted on reduction. > he reduced the armour from 120mg to 90 mg. > > my question to anyone who can help me is does this sound like the right way to go? i think it should be lowered even further. > > i would like to hear all of your comments either positive or negative please. > > i know bj suggested that i get another doc, but i wanted to give him a chance to figure it all out. thank you. lois > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 Hi, yes, lower the meds. Tell them to give you the .60 and 100 pills. for what it costs its cheap route to go. then you can adjust it as you feel up to it. the other stuff might have colors which can make you allergic. I had that with snythroid when they upped it. the color in the pill gave me hives. I switched to lower dose, and adjusted to equall what I needed and wow no allergic itching. Anytime changing meds you need to go slow, see how you react. then have blood work. etc. it takes time, not three days to adjust and have the body feel right either. I do best on Armour. joan > > > > hi again BJ and susan, > > as i've mentioned my doc raised my synthroid to 200 mcgs, while maintaining my cytomel at 2.5 mcgs daily. i had an episode of rapid heartbeat and hot and red faced flushing. > > my labs following this incident: > > Tsh 0.01 (0.36-3.74) > > Total T3 1.35 (0.7-1.9 > > Total T4 17.1 (4.8-13.9) > > > my TPO is up to almost 400. the office gave me the wrong lab copy so i don't have the norms. it was just over 100 last time i tested. > > does anyone have any idea why the tpo went up so high, in just a few months? > > at my last office visit doc wanted to raise my synthroid more and also wanted to keep me on cytomel inspite of my allergic reaction to it. > > i insisted on changing over to natural thyroid, so he wrote my prescription for armour thyroid, 120 mg. > > he wanted me to continue the cytomel too but i refused. > > after 5 days on the armour i had an episode in the middle of the night with skipped and irregular heart beats. i took 0.5 xanax to calm down, and then another 0.5mgs 20 minutes later. i must have fallen asleep after that. when i awakened in the a.m, my pulse was normal. > > i skiped the armour completely the next day, and the second day i took only 30mgs because i was afraid to stop abruptly. > > when i went in to see doc today, he wanted to raise my armour. i said no that i wanted it reduced. he suggested giving me a heart med to regulate the pulse, but i insisted on reduction. > he reduced the armour from 120mg to 90 mg. > > my question to anyone who can help me is does this sound like the right way to go? i think it should be lowered even further. > > i would like to hear all of your comments either positive or negative please. > > i know bj suggested that i get another doc, but i wanted to give him a chance to figure it all out. thank you. lois > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 thank you susan. over the summer i kept returning to his office multiple times, totally fatigued. whenever i went in, he raised the synthoid. it kept going up and up until it reached 200 after which my heart was racing and i felt like i was burning up with a hot red face. then even after that episode and the total T4 at 17.1, he still wanted to raise it higher. he's a cardiologist who offered to treat me after i had bad luck with all 3 endos in the area. i know i'm paranoid, but i've been a little suspicious. last visit he wanted to give me heart medication that regulates the pulse instead of reducing the synthroid. i said no. i'd prefer to lower the synthroid. that was yesterday. last nite i had rapid, pounding heartbeat and then again this morning. i decided to stop the armour until my heart calmed down. today, about 10 a.m, i started with that familiar fatigue and that feeling of being " a quart low " . my heart rate was back to normal, so i took 30 mgms of armour and began feeling better in a couple of hours. i'm going to continue with 30 mg a day and see what happens. if anyone knows why my TPO went up in just a few mos, i'd appreciate that info very much too. i'm at a disadvantage because i can't travel and must find a doc close to home. thank you so much for your help susan. it is very comforting to have someone with experience to help me. lois > > > > > > > > hi again BJ and susan, > > > > as i've mentioned my doc raised my synthroid to 200 mcgs, while maintaining my cytomel at 2.5 mcgs daily. i had an episode of rapid heartbeat and hot and red faced flushing. > > > > my labs following this incident: > > > > Tsh 0.01 (0.36-3.74) > > > > Total T3 1.35 (0.7-1.9 > > > > Total T4 17.1 (4.8-13.9) > > > > > > my TPO is up to almost 400. the office gave me the wrong lab copy so i don't have the norms. it was just over 100 last time i tested. > > > > does anyone have any idea why the tpo went up so high, in just a few months? > > > > at my last office visit doc wanted to raise my synthroid more and also wanted to keep me on cytomel inspite of my allergic reaction to it. > > > > i insisted on changing over to natural thyroid, so he wrote my prescription for armour thyroid, 120 mg. > > > > he wanted me to continue the cytomel too but i refused. > > > > after 5 days on the armour i had an episode in the middle of the night with skipped and irregular heart beats. i took 0.5 xanax to calm down, and then another 0.5mgs 20 minutes later. i must have fallen asleep after that. when i awakened in the a.m, my pulse was normal. > > > > i skiped the armour completely the next day, and the second day i took only 30mgs because i was afraid to stop abruptly. > > > > when i went in to see doc today, he wanted to raise my armour. i said no that i wanted it reduced. he suggested giving me a heart med to regulate the pulse, but i insisted on reduction. > > he reduced the armour from 120mg to 90 mg. > > > > my question to anyone who can help me is does this sound like the right way to go? i think it should be lowered even further. > > > > i would like to hear all of your comments either positive or negative please. > > > > i know bj suggested that i get another doc, but i wanted to give him a chance to figure it all out. thank you. lois > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 thank you natalie, i did not feel at all well on cytomel. in addition to feeling unwell, it gave me hives. lots of hives, on my neck, axillas, chest, and front and sides of abdomen. i had to take benadryl every night to sleep. the entire time that i was on synthroid and cytomel i felt so ill. kind of like i had flu (aches and pains), without the upper respiratory symptoms. i felt better physically when i swithed over to armour. as soon as my heart symptoms disappear i think i'm going to feel normal again. fingers crossed of course. thank you for sharing your journey too. much appreciated. lois > > > > > > > > > > > > hi again BJ and susan, > > > > > > as i've mentioned my doc raised my synthroid to 200 mcgs, while maintaining my cytomel at 2.5 mcgs daily. i had an episode of rapid heartbeat and hot and red faced flushing. > > > > > > my labs following this incident: > > > > > > Tsh 0.01 (0.36-3.74) > > > > > > Total T3 1.35 (0.7-1.9 > > > > > > Total T4 17.1 (4.8-13.9) > > > > > > > > > my TPO is up to almost 400. the office gave me the wrong lab copy so i don't have the norms. it was just over 100 last time i tested. > > > > > > does anyone have any idea why the tpo went up so high, in just a few months? > > > > > > at my last office visit doc wanted to raise my synthroid more and also wanted to keep me on cytomel inspite of my allergic reaction to it. > > > > > > i insisted on changing over to natural thyroid, so he wrote my prescription for armour thyroid, 120 mg. > > > > > > he wanted me to continue the cytomel too but i refused. > > > > > > after 5 days on the armour i had an episode in the middle of the night with skipped and irregular heart beats. i took 0.5 xanax to calm down, and then another 0.5mgs 20 minutes later. i must have fallen asleep after that. when i awakened in the a.m, my pulse was normal. > > > > > > i skiped the armour completely the next day, and the second day i took only 30mgs because i was afraid to stop abruptly. > > > > > > when i went in to see doc today, he wanted to raise my armour. i said no that i wanted it reduced. he suggested giving me a heart med to regulate the pulse, but i insisted on reduction. > > > he reduced the armour from 120mg to 90 mg. > > > > > > my question to anyone who can help me is does this sound like the right way to go? i think it should be lowered even further. > > > > > > i would like to hear all of your comments either positive or negative please. > > > > > > i know bj suggested that i get another doc, but i wanted to give him a chance to figure it all out. thank you. lois > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 17, 2012 Report Share Posted August 17, 2012 Hi Lois, Since you were on too high a dosage of T4 it is probably best to try NDT at a much lower dose. Please recheck the labs. At this point I can only guess. Thus, my best guess is the Total T3 test and range looks to be a Free T4 test. Possibly your Total and Free T4 were tested and that would mean you have NO idea if you are converting the high amount of T4 into the active thyroid hormone, T3. Please double check the tests, test results and each range. I would take a break from all T meds for a day or two and then slowly take a quarter grain of Amour to see how you do. As a reminder each grain of NDT contains 38 mcgs of T4 and 9 mcgs of T3. A quarter grain contains 9.5 mcgs T4 and 2.25 mcgs T3. You need to slowly and gradually increase it. I also suggest you keep getting the quarter grain pills so you can increase as needed as this will prevent you from having to cut pills and needing to go back and get new Rx's. The down side is you will probably need to take several pills at a time eventually. Also, it may be helpful to you to dose two or three times daily at the lower dose amount. The overdosing that you were doing is a huge stress on the body, so your body could use a break with more frequency at a small dosage. Plus T3 is only active in the body for a short time about 6-10 hours. I am only guessing as I do not know your situation or your other health issues, chemical use, environmental toxins or diet habits etc - on the climbing antiTPO antibody is from taking too much T4. You may need to do some things to modulate your immune system, too. IMHO, an antiTPOab count of 400 is NOT a high number. I wouldn't focus on the antibody count right now, but look at getting the correct NDT dosage and optimizing the way you feel. Good luck, ~Bj > > > > hi again BJ and susan, > > as i've mentioned my doc raised my synthroid to 200 mcgs, while maintaining my cytomel at 2.5 mcgs daily. i had an episode of rapid heartbeat and hot and red faced flushing. > > my labs following this incident: > > Tsh 0.01 (0.36-3.74) > > Total T3 1.35 (0.7-1.9 > > Total T4 17.1 (4.8-13.9) > > > my TPO is up to almost 400. the office gave me the wrong lab copy so i don't have the norms. it was just over 100 last time i tested. > > does anyone have any idea why the tpo went up so high, in just a few months? > > at my last office visit doc wanted to raise my synthroid more and also wanted to keep me on cytomel inspite of my allergic reaction to it. > > i insisted on changing over to natural thyroid, so he wrote my prescription for armour thyroid, 120 mg. > > he wanted me to continue the cytomel too but i refused. > > after 5 days on the armour i had an episode in the middle of the night with skipped and irregular heart beats. i took 0.5 xanax to calm down, and then another 0.5mgs 20 minutes later. i must have fallen asleep after that. when i awakened in the a.m, my pulse was normal. > > i skiped the armour completely the next day, and the second day i took only 30mgs because i was afraid to stop abruptly. > > when i went in to see doc today, he wanted to raise my armour. i said no that i wanted it reduced. he suggested giving me a heart med to regulate the pulse, but i insisted on reduction. > he reduced the armour from 120mg to 90 mg. > > my question to anyone who can help me is does this sound like the right way to go? i think it should be lowered even further. > > i would like to hear all of your comments either positive or negative please. > > i know bj suggested that i get another doc, but i wanted to give him a chance to figure it all out. thank you. lois > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 thank you so much bj. i'm comforted to know why the tpo climbed so quickly. it didn't make sense. because i have elimimated all grains and processed foods from my diet. i'm also eating less food and following the advice of dr. majid ali, and dr. alexander haskell, for supplements, etc., and concentrating on elimimating the mold from my body. i tried to google if it was from too much synthroid, but to no avail. unless the lab screwed up, doc only ordered the total t3 and total t4. i asked him last time to order the F, but i forgot to remind him this time. my guess is that i'm his only hashi pt, and he's out of his element, but so willing to listen and try. thank you too, for your suggestions on how i should proceed with the T med. i am trying a smaller dosage. yesterday i took 15 mgs in the a.m. about 3pm i became dizzy and felt like i would fall. ireturned home immediately. my blood pressure was normal, so i took another 15 mgs, and in a few hours i felt better. so much wonderful, valuable information. i cannot thank you enough for taking the the time to help me. lois > > > > > > > > hi again BJ and susan, > > > > as i've mentioned my doc raised my synthroid to 200 mcgs, while maintaining my cytomel at 2.5 mcgs daily. i had an episode of rapid heartbeat and hot and red faced flushing. > > > > my labs following this incident: > > > > Tsh 0.01 (0.36-3.74) > > > > Total T3 1.35 (0.7-1.9 > > > > Total T4 17.1 (4.8-13.9) > > > > > > my TPO is up to almost 400. the office gave me the wrong lab copy so i don't have the norms. it was just over 100 last time i tested. > > > > does anyone have any idea why the tpo went up so high, in just a few months? > > > > at my last office visit doc wanted to raise my synthroid more and also wanted to keep me on cytomel inspite of my allergic reaction to it. > > > > i insisted on changing over to natural thyroid, so he wrote my prescription for armour thyroid, 120 mg. > > > > he wanted me to continue the cytomel too but i refused. > > > > after 5 days on the armour i had an episode in the middle of the night with skipped and irregular heart beats. i took 0.5 xanax to calm down, and then another 0.5mgs 20 minutes later. i must have fallen asleep after that. when i awakened in the a.m, my pulse was normal. > > > > i skiped the armour completely the next day, and the second day i took only 30mgs because i was afraid to stop abruptly. > > > > when i went in to see doc today, he wanted to raise my armour. i said no that i wanted it reduced. he suggested giving me a heart med to regulate the pulse, but i insisted on reduction. > > he reduced the armour from 120mg to 90 mg. > > > > my question to anyone who can help me is does this sound like the right way to go? i think it should be lowered even further. > > > > i would like to hear all of your comments either positive or negative please. > > > > i know bj suggested that i get another doc, but i wanted to give him a chance to figure it all out. thank you. lois > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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