Adding Cytomel to Erfa-?

midwest1

If your TSH is at 1, your Erfa dose is almost certainly too low. When the optimal dose of natural thyroid is reached, TSH is almost always suppressed to near zero. I've been taking natural thyroid for 13 years, and my TSH hasn't been above .02 in most of that time. TSH cannot be used to guide dosage. The dose should be increased using free T4, free T3, and symptoms as guides.

Taking more T3 in the form of Cytomel isn't likely to help you. Your FT4 and FT3 need to be raised. More T3 will lower your TSH, might raise your FT3 a bit, and will do nothing for FT4. Erfa probably can affect your FT4/3; you simply need more of it.

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"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses." Abraham Lincoln
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totheright

Hey Midwest1 you're right! Erfa is awesome. No heart palps, a gentle lift.

But yes again--I start feeling lethargic with a TSH anywhere near 2 (now 1) and with my FT4 = at 10 and the lowest numer = 12 and FT3 = 4.2 and lowest number = 4--the dose isn't fully correcting.

So because I can't take T4--I thought adding 2.5 of Cytomel will stop the need to up the Erfa by about 30mg every 6-12 months---and wanted to know if other Erfa folks had done similar and wanted to know their experience.

Thyroids--can't live with them...:-)

(P.S. I only have the left thy lobe and 1 para left--rest surgically removed)

Carla1201

I'm having a similar issue on natural meds my t3 and t4 don't really change only tsh . My dr doesn't seemed concerned and wants to put me on synthetic to see if that helps I'm nervous to go that route

totheright

Hey Carla--
Well everyone else in my family *loves* Synthroid--dad/mom/grandma--loved it.

They said it was easy to take, didn't give them heart-in-neck pounding, no weird dreams (like I get with it)--so maybe you'll be like that and it'll be great and up your FT4 & 3, too.

Or cytomel the T3 only med. If you're in America, I hear folks who are allergic to synthroid's/levoxy's fillers like the newish tirosint--but it's stronger than synthroid.

The cool part is you have options and--you can always come back to desiccated--you know it works to a point and doesn't make you feel weird. :-)

I wish we knew of a list of foods that could help give us a healthy boost when the meds aren't correcting fully--I've tried cacao nibs, matcha tea, seaweed, ashwaganda (no), omega 3s...anything work for you?

Carla1201

Yes very true I can always go back and like my dr said it's worth a try everyone is different.
Does your dr know why your t3 and t4 stay at the bottom of the range yet tsh drops? Mine is same and no one can give me a reason why

Diet wise my dr did suggest Brazil nuts for seluimun and a paleo type diet I try to eat paleo 80 percent of the time