[Ski]

#1065379

Hi Maria,

Cytomel is a T3 supplement, which helps some people, but only a really small group. Some people take it and feel better at first, but find hyperthyroid symptoms returning over time (after a few months). T4 is the inactive thyroid hormone in our bloodstream, and that’s what most thyroid hormone replacement consists of. When our body needs the active form of thyroid hormone, it makes T3 out of the T4. In a small group of people, their body has trouble converting T4 to T3, so they benefit from supplementation, but most of us successfully convert our replacement to T3 for use. If you’re going to suggest T3 replacement to your doctor, you should first have your blood tests done, including T3 values.

The most common reason we can continue to feel badly is that our thyroid hormone levels are not normal *for us*. The range of normal is HUGE, and what worked at one time in your life may not be the right level for you now. Age, activity level, hormonal changes (pregnancy, menopause), weight, and other elements can play a part in changing your "normal" thyroid hormone level for optimum health. Try keeping a symptom diary for about a month, then take it in to your doctor, and ask if they are willing to adjust your replacement hormone dose based on the symptom diary. It is possible to adjust replacement dose and stay within the normal "range," and you may find a great deal of improvement this way, if that’s what’s causing your issues. You need to wait at least six weeks after adjusting the dose in order to make sure you’re seeing accurate lab values about the way your body is reacting to the change, and in the meantime you may feel a little bit up/down, but after the six weeks are up, maybe you’ll have some improvement.

IF NOT, remember that not everything we feel is related to our thyroid. We can often ascribe all our body’s ills to thyroid hormone levels, when in fact it’s something else. Our doctors can also be fooled into thinking that if our lab values read in the "normal" range, we should just go home because we’re being a crybaby. We need to remember that our doctor is meant to solve our problems, and mention that if our doctor does not believe our complaints are caused by a thyroid imbalance, then the doctor should continue looking for a cause, because we are not feeling well, or normal, and we deserve to know what’s wrong.

[mcyars]

#1065380

Well thank you Ski! I will try the diary before I make an appointment with the dr. I am just so exhausted from being exhausted that I want a fix right now. My hair is such a mess I don’t know what to do with it, I am driving my kids crazy with my mood swings. It is really depressing me, and my weight is just ridiculous. I am eating all the right foods and getting a little exercise and no weight loss. I have been 30 pounds over weight since I had my son 7 years ago. Thanks for your advice!
Maria

[mamabear]

#1065381

Maria, Hello and welcome! When you were 31 and diagnosed with GD what did you do about it? Did you do RAI or Tapazole/PTU or have surgery (thyroid removed surgically)?
Did you go into remission and keep up with the dr’s?
You need to do one thing… Do NOT cut your hair right now. You will regret it later if you do. Do the diary of everything taht happens through out the day. and also mark in there what day you are in your cycle.
Note if your cycles have changed if they are less or more, do you still get breast tenderness, ovulation pain, PMS?
Do you have pains in your side you can’t understand why?
Do you have lower back pain that is worse than normal(i know most of us have it that’s why I say worse than normal lol)?
Have you been tested for other problems? (UTI, bladder issues, hormone levels,premenopausal,calcium or other vitamins (to much or to little)?

Personally I just cut my hair, I also went through loosing it many years ago and I have very very very long hair or did at the time. My hair at one point was at my belt ! I tend to let it grow then cut it off again. I just finished a course of antibiotics due to a kidney stone then a kidney infection after that and for the last 8-9 months have been dealing with pains and aches and fatigue as well and it was all due to this stupid kidney stone. I had no clue I had it and it was just there wreaking havoc on my insides. Oh what a pain in the side LOL it was. My hair also took a beating, a good one too. I finally said to my dh that it was time to cut it. I was clear in my head and new I needed it. Felt good to!
But I would never do it when I’m pms’ing or in pain or feeling not so good, because I know doing something that drastic during a time like that could mean we regret it after ward. So there is my warning and why. ” title=”Smile” />

Here are some tips CLICK HERE and it will take you to a thread about tips for hair/skin…
It might help you with your skin and hair.
Using petroleum jelly (like vaseline) right after you pat dry from the shower is a great emollient and keeps the water inside the skin. Remember when doing this do it before bed time and in clothes you dont’ mind getting "icky" with vaseline. Dont do it before you go out to work or somewhere else. It can be a bit messy but it is sooooooo helpful and cheap.
In between use a good lotion/cream. But do use something because we loose water throughout the day and keeping up with moisturizing the body helps keep the kids from cracking and looking old and when we look unhealthy we tend to feel it even more. I will have to go through the thread to make sure things are up to date on there with what I have written. lol

Have a great weekend!

[mcyars]

#1018511

I was diagnosed with GD fifteen years ago. Since I had my son, 7 years ago, I have been so tired. I thought it was because I am an older mother (46). so I have just been dealing with being extremely tired. Well now my hair is falling out, my skin is so dry and cracked , I am so irritated, my memory is terrible, my stomach is irritated after I eat, always have gas. I am miserable. I can barely function. My blood test are normal and I have been reading about Cytomel. Maybe that is what I need. I am going to see my dr. next week. Any advice!
Maria

[mcyars]

#1065382

Hi Mambear,
When I was diagnosed with GD, I was treated with RAI. Two months later I was on Synthroid-125. It did not take me long to get regulated and everything was pretty much fine until after my son. That is when things changed for me.

My hair is too short to cut right now, I am thinking of getting braids with extension, so that I can just leave it alone for a few months.
My lower back pain is terrible(seeing a chiropractor). I have been tested for kidney stones, upper and lower GI test, premenopausal, calcium, and other vitamins have been tested. I have also had a heart echo and stress test. everything is normal

I use shea butter on my skin and aveeno lotion, also use vaseline as a backup. I use all natural soaps and shampoo. It is exhausting.

I am going to start the diary tomorrow and I will pay attention to my cycle. I will check out your link. Thanks so much for your help!

Maria

[mamabear]

#1065383

Maria, just a suggestion… if you put in extensions it will cause your hair at the roots to pull and thus continue to damage your hair.
Note: our hair sheds at certain times and we can loose hair on a daily basis and it still be normal. Gently brushing helps, as you read the thread you’ll see about the hair.

You are your best advocate, tell your dr’s that you dont’ feel well and not to blow off your symptoms. I have found that by saying that to their face they change their tune.
My mother just switched Endo’s and found one that is listening to her symptoms and not the blood test results. She is also on thyroid supplement and it needed to be tweaked but her other dr. wouldn’t do it. She is feeling better now that she is changed. Hoping it stays that way for her, she is also in remission from Crohn’s disease so it’s a hard balance.

Good luck to you!

[mcyars]

#1065384

Thanks Mambear,
Not sure about the extension. I will ask my beautician. Braids have always been my way to grow out my hair, but that was prior to graves disease.

I am so grateful for this website, I have learned a great deal about GD and found out that I have not been really taking care of myself properly. I am going to take my medicine in the morning on an empty stomach with plenty of water (never really did that before), write down my symptoms, eat properly and see how I feel in a month or so.

Thanks again!
Maria

[snelsen]

#1065385

Hi, just a couple comments. Because of where and how it is metabolized, thyroid replacement really DOES need to be taken on an empty stomach with a glass of water. If it is taken at a different time of day, or when stomach is not empty, the levels will be affected.
Re Cytomel. Ski’s answer a good one. I asked for Cytomel, my endo was willing to prescribe it, but he pretty much said it probably would not make a difference in my energy level. I do take it, I do think it made a slight difference, but hard to tell if it REALLY did! Now, I cannot evaluate, cause we have been reducing my Synthroid every month, and I have been turning into a slug, despite my labs which tell me that I am hyper. There are sure no easy answers to this disease.
shirley

[mcyars]

#1065386

Thanks Shirley! I hope you feel better soon. I wish I had paid more attention to my disease sooner, I am sure I would not be feeling so tired every day of the week. Can’t wait to feel better!
Maria

[mcyars]

#1065387

Well I am happy to say that I am feeling so much better! I take my medicine every morning at the same time with lots of water. I try to get at least 6 cups of water a day and paying more attention to the foods I eat. I never made it to the Dr. yet, but will this week. I am curious to see how my blood work will come out to be. I am still a little tired, but not exhausted! What a relief! I am hopeful that I will see more improvements in the near future! Thanks everyone for your advice!

[Ski]

#1065388

Thanks so much for letting us know it’s getting better!! I’m SO glad to hear it. ” title=”Very Happy” /> Keep on keeping on, closer every minute, better all the time!

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