Re: Switching to Naturethroid after 1.5 years on Cytomel

[Guest guest]

>

>

>I've been taking Cytomel 37.5-37.5-37.5 prior to starting the switch.

>Now: Cytomel 37.5-25-37.5 and NT 1 grain

>

Are you taking that 1 grain at the time you take the 25???

How are your adrenals??

What are temperatures doing?

Constipation is one of the first signs that I need more as well so I

know where you are coming from

>(I am fully committed to making the switch, as I've had some negatives with

Cytomel. I'm also planning to conceive later in the year and feel better about

being optimized with a natural thyroid than synthetic.)

I hate to say it but you might find if you can sort out why you are

having negative responses on Cytomel and resolve them then you may do

better on the natural.

Don't take this as saying Natural won't work, it's just that if there

is something not quite right on T3 it will possibly be worse on

Natural.

The typical reasons are :-

Adrenals

Ferritin, and if that is at least 70 but symptoms remain have a full

iron panel and post the results here, %saturation ought to be at least

35% for instance.

Vitamin D

Vitamin B12

Sex hormones.

Electrolytes

Nick

--

for more information on RT3 and Thyroid Resistance go to

www.thyroid-rt3.com

[Guest guest]

>

>

>I've been taking Cytomel 37.5-37.5-37.5 prior to starting the switch.

>Now: Cytomel 37.5-25-37.5 and NT 1 grain

>

Are you taking that 1 grain at the time you take the 25???

How are your adrenals??

What are temperatures doing?

Constipation is one of the first signs that I need more as well so I

know where you are coming from

>(I am fully committed to making the switch, as I've had some negatives with

Cytomel. I'm also planning to conceive later in the year and feel better about

being optimized with a natural thyroid than synthetic.)

I hate to say it but you might find if you can sort out why you are

having negative responses on Cytomel and resolve them then you may do

better on the natural.

Don't take this as saying Natural won't work, it's just that if there

is something not quite right on T3 it will possibly be worse on

Natural.

The typical reasons are :-

Adrenals

Ferritin, and if that is at least 70 but symptoms remain have a full

iron panel and post the results here, %saturation ought to be at least

35% for instance.

Vitamin D

Vitamin B12

Sex hormones.

Electrolytes

Nick

--

for more information on RT3 and Thyroid Resistance go to

www.thyroid-rt3.com

[Guest guest]

Thanks Nick!

Iron Panel 5/20/10:

TIBC 305 (250-450)

UIBC 169 (150-375)

Iron 136 (35-155)

Iron saturation 45 (15-55)

Ferritin 145 (as of 6/30/10 ferritin is down to 135 due to no longer taking iron

for 1.5 mos now)

Electrolytes 6/30/10:

Sodium 139 (135-145)

Potassium 3.9 (3.5-5.2)

Chloride 102 (97-108)

Carbon Dioxide 26 (20-32)

*My sodium has been low forever despite 3+t/day sea salt and florinef. My 24

hour urine sodium showed 388 (40-220) while serum sodium taken during that time

was 139. That was on 3t/day sea salt. Recent urine kidney testing had

completely normal result, so that is not the cause. It is very puzzling *

*My potassium is usually higher than this - usually 4.1 or 4.2.*

~~~ While my sodium it is low, it has ALWAYS been low - even when I was

undermedicated on T4 or armour and not having the problems I am with Cytomel.~~~

My Vit D3 was 66 (20-10) on 11/30/09. I've been taking 10,000 iu/day since

then, and it has made no difference in my issues.

My B12 was 1168 (200-1100) on 11/30/09. I've been supplementing 5000mg/day.

My folate was >24.0 (>5.4)on 11/30/09.

Estradiol 11/30/09 85 (11-212)

Total Testosterone 6 (2-45)

Free Testosterone 0.3 (0.1-6.4)

Free Testosterone % 0.48 (0.50-2.00)

Progesterone LC/MS/MS 6.3 (<=0.6)

Pregnenalone LC/MS/MS 89 (7-188)

DHEA Sulfate <15 (25-220)

FSH 10 (2.5-10.2)

LH 10.1 (1.9-12.5)

ZRT Labs Cortisol 6/17/2010:

Morning 7.7 (3.7-9.5)

Noon 2.1 (1.2-3.0)

Evening 0.8 (0.6-1.9)

Night 1.1 (0.4-1.0)

That was after stopping HC for about 7 weeks and Florinef for 3 weeks. I'm not

taking either currently.

Yes, I am taking the 1 grain NT with the 25 Cytomel.

Besides constipation/migraine, my other HUGE hypo symptom (as a breastfeeding

mom) is mastitis (breast infections). With my 1st 2 children, I had over 50

major breast infections during my time breastfeeding. By major, I mean high

fever and feeling extremely flu-like ill, along with the accompanying breast

issues. When very undermedicated on T4 with my #1, I had the most breast

infections. I was better medicated (tho still hypo) with #2 and had fewer

breast infections. With my #3 who just had his 2 year bday, I only had 2 major

breast infections in the beginning, when I was still undermedicated.

***On Wednesday (2 days ago), I got another one of these major breast infections

after not having one in forever. I was super ill with a high fever. Thus, I do

not have accurate Dr. Rind temps during this switching over time.***

My AM waking basal is usually 98.2. This AM (no more fever), I took it, and it

was 97.5. Very huge drop.

My Cytomel problems:

- my legs are much fatter/edema than they were when undermedicated on both T4

and Armour. This does not seem right, I am want to fix it.

- weight gain (I've gained 9 pounds during my Cytomel time on my 5-4/previously

110 body. I've lost 5 pounds of it recently when stopping sea salt but can't

seem to drop the rest.)

- when I try increasing over 37.5-37.5-37.5, I get a lot more hand/leg swelling

which goes to my lungs during night. Also I get a too high FT3 (recently at

37.5-50-37.5 FT3 was 7.3 (2.0-4.4).

I know that I could possibly benefit from testosterone cream, but I'm afraid to

do that since (1) I'm a breastfeeding mom and (2) I plan to conceive again

before too much longer.

I tried taking regular DHEA as an alternative recently, but even at a small

dose, I ended up with extreme lupus-like pain and huge swelling. When I took

regular DHEA 1.5 years ago, this did NOT happen. I had no effect at all...

I am able to tolerate 7-keto DHEA, but I think that may have caused swelling for

me over time (recently).

Sorry for such an abundance of info

Why is it that I am able to use the T3 in Cytomel but not in NT?

I even took an extra NT last night to see if that would help, but clearly I've

still not benefited with the low basal.

Thanks

>

> >

> >

> >I've been taking Cytomel 37.5-37.5-37.5 prior to starting the switch.

> >Now: Cytomel 37.5-25-37.5 and NT 1 grain

> >

> Are you taking that 1 grain at the time you take the 25???

>

> How are your adrenals??

>

> What are temperatures doing?

>

> Constipation is one of the first signs that I need more as well so I

> know where you are coming from

>

>

> >(I am fully committed to making the switch, as I've had some negatives with

Cytomel. I'm also planning to conceive later in the year and feel better about

being optimized with a natural thyroid than synthetic.)

>

> I hate to say it but you might find if you can sort out why you are

> having negative responses on Cytomel and resolve them then you may do

> better on the natural.

>

> Don't take this as saying Natural won't work, it's just that if there

> is something not quite right on T3 it will possibly be worse on

> Natural.

>

> The typical reasons are :-

>

> Adrenals

>

> Ferritin, and if that is at least 70 but symptoms remain have a full

> iron panel and post the results here, %saturation ought to be at least

> 35% for instance.

>

> Vitamin D

>

> Vitamin B12

>

> Sex hormones.

>

> Electrolytes

>

>

> Nick

>

> --

>

> for more information on RT3 and Thyroid Resistance go to

>

> www.thyroid-rt3.com

>

[Guest guest]

>

> - my legs are much fatter/edema than they were when undermedicated on both T4

and Armour. This does not seem right, I am want to fix it.

> - weight gain (I've gained 9 pounds during my Cytomel time on my

5-4/previously 110 body. I've lost 5 pounds of it recently when stopping sea

salt but can't seem to drop the rest.)

> - when I try increasing over 37.5-37.5-37.5, I get a lot more hand/leg

swelling which goes to my lungs during night. Also I get a too high FT3

(recently at 37.5-50-37.5 FT3 was 7.3 (2.0-4.4).

Lots there, you have gone a long way down this route.

The electrolytes are what leaps out at me, the edema is fluid

retention and electrolyte issues are big there.

As you are off Florinef there it may be worth retesting Aldosterone

and Renin, the Adrenal group will have more to say on this I am sure.

I don't think T4 will help you, if you are getting Hypo symptoms with

FT3 up there then you won't be able to achieve that with Natural.

Working out why the electrolytes are out of balance and fixing them is

the key in my opinion, hopefully Val can come in here as she is more

experienced than me

Nick

--

for more information on RT3 and Thyroid Resistance go to

www.thyroid-rt3.com

[Guest guest]

Thank you Nick!

My low sodium has been intriguing for a long time. I think that Val said before

that it *may* be my set point.

Prior to the edema, I DID have the low sodium for years -so that makes me think

it might not be the problem... I do completely see your point, tho. Given that

I had the low sodium prior to edema, do you think it could still be the cause of

my edema?

Just to see if it helped me at all, would there be any harm in *adding* either

T4 or NT to my current Cytomel?

I'd love to hear any ideas about getting my sodium up (As I noted, my

potassium is usually 4.1 or 4.2 and the recent test was oddly low).

Thank

>

> >

> > - my legs are much fatter/edema than they were when undermedicated on both

T4 and Armour. This does not seem right, I am want to fix it.

> > - weight gain (I've gained 9 pounds during my Cytomel time on my

5-4/previously 110 body. I've lost 5 pounds of it recently when stopping sea

salt but can't seem to drop the rest.)

> > - when I try increasing over 37.5-37.5-37.5, I get a lot more hand/leg

swelling which goes to my lungs during night. Also I get a too high FT3

(recently at 37.5-50-37.5 FT3 was 7.3 (2.0-4.4).

>

> Lots there, you have gone a long way down this route.

>

> The electrolytes are what leaps out at me, the edema is fluid

> retention and electrolyte issues are big there.

>

> As you are off Florinef there it may be worth retesting Aldosterone

> and Renin, the Adrenal group will have more to say on this I am sure.

>

> I don't think T4 will help you, if you are getting Hypo symptoms with

> FT3 up there then you won't be able to achieve that with Natural.

>

> Working out why the electrolytes are out of balance and fixing them is

> the key in my opinion, hopefully Val can come in here as she is more

> experienced than me

>

> Nick

>

> --

>

> for more information on RT3 and Thyroid Resistance go to

>

> www.thyroid-rt3.com

>