Prevailing view here for post RAI meds?

May 19, 2003

Hi All. - I am a Graves' post-RAI, low-thyroid person (also type-1

diabetic). I am about to switch from Armour to a combo of synthroid

and cytomel. I don't know about cytomel and want opinions from folks

here about whether they like this combo, and what brand of each they

prefer. Maybe dosage ratios that work? I also heard there is a med

that combines T3 and T4 in one pill. Anyone familiar with this and if

so do you like it? Thank you SO much for any responses. It is SCARY

the way docs just say they're putting you on such and such drug, when

it is YOUR shaky vessel they effect...Knowing anyone here's actual

experience would help GREATLY!

Thanks again.

May 19, 2003

Hi -

I only have a minute but wanted to answer you. I'm on Cytomel and Synthroid

and do the best on it than I did on anything else. I was on Armour for a

while but didn't do as well on it. I was also on Thyrolar (the combo T3/T4

drug) but didn't care for it at all. It's very very unstable and you have

to be very careful about how you store it. Both Armour and Thyrolar are

only in a 1:4 ratio of T3/T4. The good thing about taking T3 and T4

separately is that you can adjust the ratio to what is appropriate for you.

For example, I'm on a 1:3.5 ratio of T3/T4. The doctor will probably adjust

your dose so that your FT3 is in the midnormal range and your FT4 is normal.

So your ratio of T3/T4 may be different than mine. You and the doctor will

have to find what works best for you.

Take care,

dx & RAI 1987 (at age 24)

> Hi All. - I am a Graves' post-RAI, low-thyroid person (also type-1

> diabetic). I am about to switch from Armour to a combo of synthroid

> and cytomel. I don't know about cytomel and want opinions from folks

> here about whether they like this combo, and what brand of each they

> prefer. Maybe dosage ratios that work? I also heard there is a med

> that combines T3 and T4 in one pill. Anyone familiar with this and if

> so do you like it? Thank you SO much for any responses. It is SCARY

> the way docs just say they're putting you on such and such drug, when

> it is YOUR shaky vessel they effect...Knowing anyone here's actual

> experience would help GREATLY!

> Thanks again.

May 19, 2003

Hi .

I take .075 mg of synthroid daily with 5 MCG Cytomel. Those two I take at

bedtime. At about 11AM I take another 5mcg of cytomel, and about 3pm

another 5mcg of cytomel. I feel great at this amount. The cytomel has

really made a difference for me. I have never tried Armour though. but

synthroid alone at higher doses did nothing for me. The endo wanted me to

take 10mcg of cytomel with my synthroid in the am, and then the other 5mcg

later in the day by itself. I feel better how I split it up though. My

last blood test is when he upped me to the third cytomel a day, and that is

when I really started feeling better. I have a song in my heart again. I

have energy, I can think about gardening (ok it's raining today, I'd be out

there if it wasn't raining) I have started excising to the " Firm " , a hard

workout that makes me feel great. And I know that it is the Cytomel,

however, I do watch what I eat, I stay away from processed foods, white

flour, and sugars. I eat flax daily, and also take flax/borage oil. My

supplements are CoQ10, vitamin C, E, Calcium. It takes more than just

hormone replacement to feel better, I had to make some life changes. My

only thing I have not given up is my 2 cups of coffee in the morning. I

may, if I feel that it is making me feel worse, but I don't drink anything

else except water and occasional milk.

Hope this helps. Oh, I had RAI 4-17-01. Even though I don't have TED's, I

did have pressure in my eyes, and the flax/borage oil has helped

tremendously.

Jen M