First of all, Happier New Year! I like to say it that way because there are few of us
who couldn't stand to be happier, even if it's just a little, eh? :) Happy is nice,
happier just seems betterer! :)
OK - on to the news. Went to see the endo on January 4th, just 6 days ago. My levels
were:
TSH - 5.57 (Normal 0.5-4.7)
Free T4 - 1.2 (Normal 0.7-1.9)
T3 - 57 (Normal 45-137)
As you can see, this blood test showed an elevated TSH level, a fair to midland Free T4,
and a borderline low T3 level. No tremors, no lid lag, no thyroid! Yea, as in DUH!
I have been taking Synthroid .15 mg since October 1, 1998 - 15 months.
Prior to that I had been taking alternating doses of Synthroid (.15 mg and .175 mg) from
April 1998 through September 1998. Prior to that I had tried Synthroid .175 daily from
October 1997 through March of 1998. Before that, I took .15 mg from May of 1997 though
September 1997.
That means I have spent 20 months on .15 mg of Synthroid and it proved to be not enough.
I spent 6 months on .175 mg of Synthroid and that proved to be way too much. I spent
another 6 months on alternating doses of .15 mg and .175 mg and it was still too much -
thus the return to .15 mg in October 1998. What was the first thing "the boy" wanted to
do? You guessed it! I had to remind him that increasing my Synthroid would not be a good
thing - and why. I guess that kind of made him take another look back in the record
because he agreed. So, now what, Doc? Hmmmm....
I spoke to him about taking Armour Thyroid. He was dead set against it. "Well, that
Armour stuff is very inconsistent!" (Like Synthroid is consistent! - Hell, it isn't
even regulated yet!) and "It's made from cows!" And I said from pigs too. Anyway, we
sat there looking at each other for a bit, neither of us sure where this was going.
All I knew, and I told him so, was that I was totally against increasing my Synthroid
because an increase has proved that it would make me hyperthyroid, and being
hyperthyroid sucks! Too much makes my heart pound and I feel so agitated that I could
kill (a doctor! (unsaid) :).
So after a few moments, that seemed like an eternity to me, I asked if he was against
T3 supplements in general or just against Armour - the Cow-Mone! I mentioned that
there are synthetic T3 supplements and, considering that there weren't many options
open, that I'd at least like to try some synthetic T3. Well, after he was allowed to
tell me how T3 supplements can cause atrial fibrillation and osteoporosis (like being
hyperthyroid by taking too much Synthroid can't do the same thing!) he agreed, that if
I were willing "to take my chances" that he would allow me to "try" Cytomel, synthetic
T3 in addition to Synthroid.
I told him that, yes, I would be very interested in trying that (since I wasn't left
with any other option at that point - and at least the synthetics would give me an idea
if this was the right track to be on) I agreed to try the synthetic T3. My goodness!
Finally a compromise! Think about that! A doctor who is willing to at least try! WoW!
I listened to his lecture. I listened to his reservations about it. But I stood fast!
Even when he "felt he had to warn me" that taking this might shorten my life! My
Lord! All I had to say back was that I'd rather live a life that was better and
shorter than to live the life of a zombie! I told him that I'd tried the "zombie
thing" and much preferred to see if this was the answer - the zombie vs hypernut thing
that I've been living since this thing was "discovered" sure wasn't my idea of life!
Of course, the total hypernut I was for a long time before that was no picnic either!
So, I've been on 1/2 a pill of 25 mcg of Cytomel for the last 6 days. I have one more
1/2 tab to go then I'm suppose to start taking a full tab every day - that would be
morning after tomorrow. I will say this! It has been interesting and has proved the
point, as far as I'm concerned, about "where the hell is the medication located in these
pills?" As far as I can tell, from my reactions to taking it this way, that the
meds aren't evenly distributed. Adjusting to a T3 supplement is a trip in itself, but
yesterday - I took that "1/2 pill" and thought I was going to "fly away"! Took the
other half of the tab this morning and basically, nothing.... where the other days I
took the 1/2 tab and "kind of flew" about an hour and a half after taking it. When
they tell you T3 doesn't take long to "hit", they know what they're talking about! I
spent several hours those other days feeling agitation, well, mostly agitation. But
each day is seeming to get better (except for yesterday! :)
Mind you!!! It has only been 6 days!
I don't want to come across like this is the answer. I don't know yet! But this is the
first time in a very long time that I have felt a sense of well being - even if it's
only been "underlying". Even while I've been spazzing the last week, I have felt an
inner peace - that would be if I really remember what inner peace actually feels like
after all this time. :). All I really know at this time is that, in addition to feeling
"different" it feels somewhat better than being "Slug-Woman"!
It is now January 16th. Sorry about just stopping in the middle of the last update.
But at that point I didn't know where I was going with the information I was learning.
I did increase the dose to 25 mcg 5 days ago. Interesting changes have been occurring.
I've been working very hard to determine if the changes are real changes or just wishful
thinking after all this time of feeling like a flacking slug. :) Truthfully, I can say
that even if things are wishful thinking, perhaps it's all part of the changes in my
thought processes, which this medication honestly seems to be bringing about. Note, I
use the word "seems". I don't want to come across with too much optimism for fear that
- well - just for fear of giving bad advise. I don't like to do that, and since I can be
and am very vocal, and I feel a big responsibility, considering how many people come to
this site and "Read All About It". I just don't want to end up steering anyone wrong.
So, whatever you read here, take it with a grain of salt and apply it to you only as
it might really apply to you! And remember that no matter what I have to say now, it
may end up proving to be true or false later on after I've been on this new medication
awhile.
All right, with that understood, I'll tell you what I've been going through the last
few days.
First, and even though it's a bit graphical, I stopped having "middle-aged-woman pee
your pants" stuff. Told you it was graphic! :) For the last umpteen months, I've had a
leakage problem. Hey! That's life, folks! Stand up, sit down, walk, think and then
"leak". Not doing it now! It's even helped with the sneeze/cough syndrome I've had that
problem for tons of years - of course that seemed to get worse the older I got, but,
then why has it virtually stopped with the "near normal" T4 level and the addition of a
T3 supplement? Hey! Those of you who have been experiencing the same thing know exactly
what I mean with no explanations needed. Those of you who haven't, just bear with this.
I think that's a very good question? :) And that is one of the things going on that is
for sure not a wishful thinking thing. You can't fake continence! :)
Second, and this is also graphic but another non-fake and, I think, a very important
addition to "the truth factor", my bowels are trying to regulate after umpteen years of
constant diarrhea. NOT the sexiest thing in the world to report (;/) but one more thing
that can't be faked. And again, for those who know what I'm talking about, no
explanation needed! My insecurities are showing, but then, I'm also "reporting" on
some very personal issues! At this point, I will consider myself very brave and realize
that I am helping others - in ways that most people don't have the guts to do! (ANY
words of encouragement will be extremely welcome here!!!!)
Anyway! ... being regular is a great asset to healthy living!
Third, I've noticed a change in my skin, in it's texture and depth. I must add here that
it is New York in the winter and exposure to the elements can and will change the
"texture" of your skin, yet this winter has been very mild up until the last three days
and the "noticeable change" started about a week ago. I found that I wasn't using
hand lotion as often and that I wasn't feeling the need for "constant washing" of my
hands. I don't know if others have had this "syndrome", but ever since I went
"clinically hypothyroid" I've had a problem with a constant "sticky" feeling on my
hands. It has been a feeling where, when I would just close my hands and then open them,
I could actually hear as much as feel a sticky feeling, like I had honey or some other
sweet thing on my hands. Hey! May not be something you've been experiencing, but this
is me and another thing I can't fake. Anyway, they aren't "sticking" like they were
anymore. What can I say? If anyone else has had this problem I sure would appreciate
some feedback. I even had to learn to find something to cover my computer mouse to use
it. Been ridiculed about it too. Ultimately, I learned to tell people I "had an allergy
to plastic" so I didn't have to hear "Whazza matta? Your mouse cold?"! Anyway, it's
still feels a bit sticky, but feels dryer and doesn't give off that "schmuk" sound
that sticky things give off.
I've also noticed a change in the skin on my face, especially around my eyes - and
mostly the last couple of days. Feels a bit like rice paper? Kind of thin and fragile.
I've also noticed the need to use eyedrops more. Just the "fake tears" ones. Like my
eyes are sticking together and I feel the need to rub them a lot. Yet, I have also
noticed a bit of an improvement in my eye sight. Things don't seem to be as blurry as
they were. I still say - and I still and always will have a problem with this until
someone comes up with some good reasons why this happened just when it did - I went to
see an ophthalmologist about a month just prior to when I went Hypothyroid just a
couple months after I had RAI. I had 20/20 vision in one eye and better than 20/20 in
the other. I went Hypothyroid about a month later and all of a sudden my vision was so
blurry I couldn't see well enough to read. Been that way ever since then in February
1997. Now, my vision seems to be clearing enough (except when I'm having that dry eye"
feeling) so I don't have to use my "reading" glasses much the time.
Wishful thinking? Hard to tell. All I know at his point is that I can read sometimes
without having to use those awful "magnifying glasses"! First time in almost two years.
The only difference, proven fact, is taking the T3. You be the judge! :)
Is this fourth or fifth? Nevermind - I will just continue. :) Let me just start a
list:
I have not been sleeping 10 solid hours a night like I have been for several months
prior to taking the T3. My sleeping patterns are changing where I've been sleeping off
and on from about 8 PM til anywhere from 5:30 (which is my regular "get up" time for
work) to 6:30 AM - instead of sleeping all those hours all at once. That means I
may get sleepy and go to bed but wake up at, say, midnight and stay awake until
3:00AM and the sleep again until 5 or 6:30AM. Still staying in bed the same amount
of time - but not the same.
I've found I have a higher energy level at work and still have some energy left over
when I get home. I even FEEL like doing something - anything sometimes, just to DO
something! Not necessarily knowing what I feel like doing - but then - once you've
spent as long as I have not doing anything - I have no doubt that it will take some
learning and re-learning to figure out what it is I want to do - yet, at least I feel
like doing something! That is a plus! And, optimistically, once I figure out (again)
what it is I LIKE to do, than maybe I'll have some energy to do it!
I've also found that I have a higher concentration value - meaning I can actually think
some of the time. And remember things from one minute to the next! WoW! If I didn't
write things down on paper, I didn't trust them. No joke! I still don't trust entirely,
but at least now I can feel free to possibly trust what I think is so without having to
"look up" my notes! Any positive (or negative) feed back will be appreciated and
duly noted. I'm just in the same boat as most of you - trying to figure this out
all by my "uneducated" lonesome!
There are still a few other things I've noticed on the positive side but are, at this
point anyway, too vague to list out. On the negative side, see below:
Well, I guess I kind of explained them before - unexpected agitation, dry eyes,
thin-skin thing, and "feeling the new medication working" thing - but the negatives are
also "up for grabs" as far as the "take it with a grain of salt" thing applies. What I
have been experiencing with the T3 could or could not apply to you.
About an hour and a half to two hours after taking the full dose of T3, I spent about
two hours yesterday and today seemingly unable to "close" my eyes. Yes, they would
close, but they didn't feel closed. Almost like the muscles around my eyes weren't able
to relax and make my eyes feel shut. Don't know how else to explain it.
Also waking up in the middle of the night "for me" feeling an "urgency" to get up and
DO something - anything but lay in bed and watch reruns of Andy Griffith, Gomer Pyle,
Drag Net, or Adam 12! (YUCK-O!) Or Infomercials! Late night TV sucks a big one, yes?
All I know is that I am a layman when it comes to the "technicalities" of this disease
and what the addition of T3 does for or against you. (Not that there are many
professionals who have a working knowledge of the affects (good or bad) that this
has on you!) I just know that for the first time since I had RAI - I feel somewhat
whole - and for the first time since I was a teen - before I became pregnant with
my son - I am beginning to feel, at least a semblance, of normal. What is normal?
Depends on you - depends on what feels good -and I am finally beginning to feel
normal - very odd feeling for someone who doesn't know what that means since the last
time I recall this feeling is in the far recessive of my memories - somewhere around
the age of 16 - my best recollection! Kewl! :) I can feel the truth is at my finger
tips. I know. I just can - that's all.
So, without further ado, I must comment that I realize I have come across as "Pro-T3"
but then I have the advantage of feeling at least a bit better. Even though, at this
moment anyway, if someone told me I'd have to go back to not taking T3, I don't know
what I'd do. The first thing that crosses my mind is that I'd kill to keep it. Hey!
At least I feel like I'd DO something about it! Haven't felt like DOING anything
about anything much for a long time! :)
So, that's all I can comment on for now. If time proves me right or wrong, you will
know about it! All I want to do is help make things better for the rest of the
sufferers who have this damnable thing! I'm not trying to be Pro or Con either way -
just telling you the facts as I say/feel them! Til next time! Sue --{--{-@
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