Weight gain on T3 only therapy for high RT3?

[Guest guest]

I just started the T3 only therapy about two weeks ago to treat an RT3 of 434

with a ratio of about 9.5.

Do patients typically see a weight gain while on T3 only treatment for RT3? If

so, does this turn around at some point and the weight start to come off?

I've gained five pounds in the last two weeks without changing my diet!

I already can tell a big improvement in how I feel, in my energy and my brain

function, plus much less pain. If this keeps up, though, I'm going to have to

buy new clothes, which I'd rather do from losing weight than gaining it.

Any advice or recommendations for combatting this issue are appreciated.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

, I am sure Val or Nick will respond but I thought I would tell you my experience. I had some weight gain but I attributed it from not being optimal on the T3 yet. You are only into 2 weeks. I actually have lost 21# from being on T3 (cytomel) I was on it for 13 weeks before I could say I was noticing much. Most of the improvement for me can AFTER that 13 weeks. I do take potassium 40meq 2 times a day which many hypo's do need. Your weight gain may be water retention for which potassium will help.See what Val or Nick have to say but this is what I experienced. Hope it helps.VeniziaFrom: sunnyblond62

Subject: Weight gain on T3 only therapy for high RT3?To: RT3_T3 Date: Monday, January 18, 2010, 1:11 PM

I just started the T3 only therapy about two weeks ago to treat an RT3 of 434 with a ratio of about 9.5.

Do patients typically see a weight gain while on T3 only treatment for RT3? If so, does this turn around at some point and the weight start to come off?

I've gained five pounds in the last two weeks without changing my diet!

I already can tell a big improvement in how I feel, in my energy and my brain function, plus much less pain. If this keeps up, though, I'm going to have to buy new clothes, which I'd rather do from losing weight than gaining it.

Any advice or recommendations for combatting this issue are appreciated.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

I gained 10 lbs when I started T3 without changing my eating. I am at the 11

1/2 week mark right now. I have been dieting now for 2 weeks, eating around

1500 calories a day and I am losing very nicely. I think that happens to some

of us.

>

> I just started the T3 only therapy about two weeks ago to treat an RT3 of 434

with a ratio of about 9.5.

>

> Do patients typically see a weight gain while on T3 only treatment for RT3? If

so, does this turn around at some point and the weight start to come off?

>

> I've gained five pounds in the last two weeks without changing my diet!

>

> I already can tell a big improvement in how I feel, in my energy and my brain

function, plus much less pain. If this keeps up, though, I'm going to have to

buy new clothes, which I'd rather do from losing weight than gaining it.

>

> Any advice or recommendations for combatting this issue are appreciated.

>

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

This is very helpful! I was so hopeful in the early days when I finally switched from Synthroid to Armour. I was only on the old Armour for about a month or two, but lost almost 20 pounds and felt great. Then they Armour reformulation happened and my doc put me back on Synthroid. My weight started creeping up again, and since discovering the RT3 issue and beginning treatment I've nearly outgrown all of my work clothes.

My doc doesn't understand anything about the RT3, but was willing to let me treat with Cytomel for about 3 months, giving me a steady prescription for 20 mcg daily. Yes, I know I'll have to bump up, and plan to order the Cynomel from Mexico.

From your experience, do you think I'll actually keep gaining until I'm through the Rt3 clearing? (omg, I hope not...)

Thanks again,

From: sunnyblond62 <sunnyblond62@ yahoo.com>Subject: Weight gain on T3 only therapy for high RT3?To: RT3_T3yahoogroups (DOT) comDate: Monday, January 18, 2010, 1:11 PM

I just started the T3 only therapy about two weeks ago to treat an RT3 of 434 with a ratio of about 9.5.Do patients typically see a weight gain while on T3 only treatment for RT3? If so, does this turn around at some point and the weight start to come off?I've gained five pounds in the last two weeks without changing my diet! I already can tell a big improvement in how I feel, in my energy and my brain function, plus much less pain. If this keeps up, though, I'm going to have to buy new clothes, which I'd rather do from losing weight than gaining it.Any advice or recommendations for combatting this issue are appreciated.Thanks,

[Guest guest]

As for weight gain we are all different as to how our bodies will respond. From MY experience, I would say as you are on it longer you may see some improvement but I do think Val will say you are going to have to raise the dose of t3 periodically. Have you ever had your potassium levels checked. The dose of potassium I am on is prescription. I would get you potassium levels if you haven't.Venizia

From: sunnyblond62 <sunnyblond62@ yahoo.com>Subject: Weight gain on T3 only therapy for high RT3?To: RT3_T3yahoogroups (DOT) comDate: Monday, January 18, 2010, 1:11 PM

I just started the T3 only therapy about two weeks ago to treat an RT3 of 434 with a ratio of about 9.5.Do patients typically see a weight gain while on T3 only treatment for RT3? If so, does this turn around at some point and the weight start to come off?I've gained five pounds in the last two weeks without changing my diet! I already can tell a big improvement in how I feel, in my energy and my brain function, plus much less pain. If this keeps up, though, I'm going to have to buy new clothes, which I'd rather do from losing weight than gaining it.Any advice or recommendations for combatting this issue are appreciated.Thanks,

[Guest guest]

I'll chime in with my experience as well. My weight jumped up beginning with

the 2nd week of T3 only (generic Cytomel--Paddock), and kept increasing to 12-15

pounds higher then plateaued. No diet change, in fact, I've cut back even

further. I've also had a lot of other hypo symptoms, and bloating with a lot of

foods I was tolerating before. Being very careful with diet helped keep the

weight gain capped at the 12-15 pounds but I couldn't lose.

I just returned from overseas last Wednesday and was able to switch to Cynomel

that was waiting for me. Since then I have lost 5 pounds. I'm waiting to see

if the trend will continue.

Currently I'm at 10 weeks, so I'm also hoping there will be a change after the

12 week mark.

Sherry

[Guest guest]

Sherry, do you think the Cynomel vs the Cytomel made a difference? I'm going to have to order some Cynomel anyway because the doctor's prescription won't give me enough pills to increase my T3 as needed.

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Subject: Re: Weight gain on T3 only therapy for high RT3?To: RT3_T3 Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 8:40 AM

I'll chime in with my experience as well. My weight jumped up beginning with the 2nd week of T3 only (generic Cytomel--Paddock) , and kept increasing to 12-15 pounds higher then plateaued. No diet change, in fact, I've cut back even further. I've also had a lot of other hypo symptoms, and bloating with a lot of foods I was tolerating before. Being very careful with diet helped keep the weight gain capped at the 12-15 pounds but I couldn't lose.I just returned from overseas last Wednesday and was able to switch to Cynomel that was waiting for me. Since then I have lost 5 pounds. I'm waiting to see if the trend will continue.Currently I'm at 10 weeks, so I'm also hoping there will be a change after the 12 week mark.Sherry

[Guest guest]

,

So far I'd have to say yes, definitely. Keep in mind I have only been on

Cynomel for 5 days, but I've lost 6-7 pounds when nothing would budge it since

mid November (after going on the Paddock T3 and gaining suddenly). That's about

half of what I gained, and no diet change to speak of. Hopefully this will

continue and the problem resolve.

I also gained about the same amount on the reformulated Armour, lost most of it

on NT. I printed out the 4 products and compared all the inactive ingredients

and there is nothing that stands clear as in the 2 that caused problems and not

in the 2 that didn't. The Paddock tablets are thick and very starchy (leaves a

lot of chalky residue if you take it sublingually) and the Cynomel is a tiny

tablet that all dissolves.

I also hit the 10 week mark yesterday, so that could be a factor. I felt good

today after weeks of feeling crummy and I had good temps all day--a first for

me. So I could be clearing RT3 or it could just be the Cynomel is much better

for me.

Another member here, Bonnie, seems to have experienced a similar weight gain,

and I think she is on Cynomel. So this all may be very individual.

Sherry

>

> Sherry, do you think the Cynomel vs the Cytomel made a difference?

>

>

[Guest guest]

I started gaining when I went on compounded thyroid after NT went AWOL. I am on 75 mcg of cynomel and at 11 weeks. I raised as high as 175mcg but realized my pulse was too high. I am - I think - not gaining more- but definitely not losing despite consistent strength training and cardio. I eat low carb, and very clean- 99% of the time. I am hopeful that eventually my metabolism will recover - though extremely frustrated. The weight gain is depressing and I think when you are in a negative frame of mind - nothing improves quickly. Sent from my iPhone

,

So far I'd have to say yes, definitely. Keep in mind I have only been on Cynomel for 5 days, but I've lost 6-7 pounds when nothing would budge it since mid November (after going on the Paddock T3 and gaining suddenly). That's about half of what I gained, and no diet change to speak of. Hopefully this will continue and the problem resolve.

I also gained about the same amount on the reformulated Armour, lost most of it on NT. I printed out the 4 products and compared all the inactive ingredients and there is nothing that stands clear as in the 2 that caused problems and not in the 2 that didn't. The Paddock tablets are thick and very starchy (leaves a lot of chalky residue if you take it sublingually) and the Cynomel is a tiny tablet that all dissolves.

I also hit the 10 week mark yesterday, so that could be a factor. I felt good today after weeks of feeling crummy and I had good temps all day--a first for me. So I could be clearing RT3 or it could just be the Cynomel is much better for me.

Another member here, Bonnie, seems to have experienced a similar weight gain, and I think she is on Cynomel. So this all may be very individual.

Sherry

>

> Sherry, do you think the Cynomel vs the Cytomel made a difference?

>

>

[Guest guest]

This conversation is so timely for me....I'm headed to the Dr. in an hour, and

am going to be discussing this very topic....

I'm trying to clear high RT3. It's come down from 647 to 284 (range 90-350)

since 9/4/09, but the ratio to FT3 is still 9.2, and my ferritin is low - 24 in

September. (anxious to see my blood results today).

I was on T4 only for 13 years when my problems started about 18 months ago - my

last dose was 150mcg/day. I'm still on levoxyl, 67 mcg as well as compounded T3

(35mcg) and increasing dose of T3 (20 mcg, split into 2 doses, mornign and

afternoon) Taking liothyronine substituted for cytomel -- any thoughts here?

For the past 3 weeks I've gained 5 lbs! It's all around my hips and waist. If

anything, I've been working out more lately and hadn't changed my eating habits,

though for the past week, I've been really watching, trying to cut the carbs and

increase protein etc. I run 5miles or do 90 minutes of bikram yoga 4-5 times a

week -- pretty active. This is really upsetting, especially as it seems to be a

daily increase.

Is it this cytomel substitute?

I know that I'm still a long way from getting optimized - my biggest and most

distressing symptom is hair loss, and it calmed down for a few months in the

fall but has kicked up again. Tons of other hypo symptoms including reynaud's

syndrome, tremendously achy muscles and joints, exhaustion, etc.

Glad to find this forum.

Laurie

> >

> > I just started the T3 only therapy about two weeks ago to treat an RT3 of

434 with a ratio of about 9.5.

> >

> > Do patients typically see a weight gain while on T3 only treatment for RT3?

If so, does this turn around at some point and the weight start to come off?

> >

> > I've gained five pounds in the last two weeks without changing my diet!

> >

> > I already can tell a big improvement in how I feel, in my energy and my

brain function, plus much less pain. If this keeps up, though, I'm going to have

to buy new clothes, which I'd rather do from losing weight than gaining it.

> >

> > Any advice or recommendations for combatting this issue are appreciated.

> >

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

This sounds liek just pain old hypoo fluid retention. As you raise both

ferritin and T3 it will improve

--

Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

[Guest guest]

I hope so. Encouraging appt today with my good doc. Labs are going the right

direction -- RT3 slightly lower, ferritin up to 47 from 24, FT3/RT3 at 11.3

(from 9.2) -- so headed the right way. Iron sat is very low 15 (range 15-55%)So

slow, so slow, so slow! Doc says stay on 50mg iron.

If the hair would just settle down, I would too. If the weight continues to

creep that will make me crazier too ....so keeping an eye on both things.

Thyroid meds staying same overall (slight change in intake to SRT3 55 mcg,

levoxyl 75mcg), but she added progesterone 100 mg day 14-25 and upped D3 to

4000.

Thanks all.

>

> This sounds liek just pain old hypoo fluid retention. As you raise both

> ferritin and T3 it will improve

>

> --

> Artistic Grooming- Hurricane WV

>

> http://www.stopthethyroidmadness.com/

>

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalThyroidHormonesADRENALS/

> http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/RT3_T3/

> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HypoPets/

>