Adding on Levothyroxine?

[desinr-gal]

Just to clarify, this isn’t for me but for a close friend, we’re in Italy, she had a thyroidectomy and is on levothyroxine, but her endocrinologist never checks FT3, so I’m trying to understand a bit better.

From what I understood, you didn’t really notice any symptoms and only picked it up from your labs, is that right?

How long had you been on Tirz when you saw those results?

And do you usually include FT3 when you run your labs?

Would really appreciate any insight!

I had been on Tirz for 6 mos. I did have 1-2 days of fatigue a week and very dry skin and cold hands and feet (even in 70-75 degree temp). I have been taking the T3 since then and still have those symptoms except for the fatigue, which is less and kess often. I didnt do the follow up testing yet. I also stack Reta, known for causimg cold hands and feet.

Always ask for the free T3 test. Because TSH is only 1 part of a complex picture.

* the T3 may not be as effective because I take it not long enough before my coffee.

Ideally you take the Th meds two hours before ingesting anything else.. but How?

 

[5byfive]

Hi everyone, first time posting here. I’m currently taking CagriSema and I’m down 40lbs so far.

I have access to a basically unlimited supply of 150mcg levothyroxine pills and know it can drastically increase your base metabolic rate.

I’m curious if there is anything seriously wrong with this? I know it can be a bit unhealthy but raising my calories necessary that much would be extremely helpful.

Seems like you are losing just fine. Faster is not better, its just faster, and the faster you lose the more muscle you are going to lose.

 

[desinr-gal]

Seems like you are losing just fine. Faster is not better, its just faster, and the faster you lose the more muscle you are going to lose.

DON"T DO THAT. Yes there are serious health issues with taking too much Thyroxine!

Google it.

 

[Mara_aa]

I didn't really have any symptoms previously, but my TSH has always been elevated. Although I have had times where my blood pressure dropped off a cliff for a short period of time. I assume it was similar to what's happening now.

I did have one really good walk-in doctor a long time ago and he tested everything, including antibodies, but I gather it didn't show anything, as i never got treated. I also had a thyroid ultrasound another time, so it's been on my doctor's radar, but never treated.

I also suffer from Atonic bladder, which i only recently read is tied to hypothyroidism. Unfortunately my urologist never connected the dots. Part of the reason for the worsened urinary symptoms.

I understand the obsession with the numbers, but if I'm experiencing the symptoms of hypothyroidism and synthroid alleviates the symptoms, I really don't care about the numbers? Is it possible that something else is causing the issue, yes, but I have no faith in their ability to diagnose it.

I suffer from a rare form of arthritis, but it took them 30 years to diagnose it, so all the drugs that could have stopped the progression are now useless.

I understand what you’re saying, It’s a long and frustrating journey, especially feeling like things weren’t properly connected or addressed along the way. It honestly makes a lot of sense that, after everything, you’d focus more on how you actually feel rather than just the numbers.

 

[Mara_aa]

I had been on Tirz for 6 mos. I did have 1-2 days of fatigue a week and very dry skin and cold hands and feet (even in 70-75 degree temp). I have been taking the T3 since then and still have those symptoms except for the fatigue, which is less and kess often. I didnt do the follow up testing yet. I also stack Reta, known for causimg cold hands and feet.

Always ask for the free T3 test. Because TSH is only 1 part of a complex picture.

* the T3 may not be as effective because I take it not long enough before my coffee.

Ideally you take the Th meds two hours before ingesting anything else.. but How?

Thank so much, this is really helpful.

It makes a lot of sense what you’re saying about FT3 being part of a much bigger picture and not just relying on TSH alone.

Also interesting about the overlap with Reta and the cold symptoms, that’s a really useful point.

And yes… the whole “take it 2 hours before anything” is easy in theory but much harder in real life.

 

[WillyWonka]

I had been on Tirz for 6 mos. I did have 1-2 days of fatigue a week and very dry skin and cold hands and feet (even in 70-75 degree temp). I have been taking the T3 since then and still have those symptoms except for the fatigue, which is less and kess often. I didnt do the follow up testing yet. I also stack Reta, known for causimg cold hands and feet.

Always ask for the free T3 test. Because TSH is only 1 part of a complex picture.

* the T3 may not be as effective because I take it not long enough before my coffee.

Ideally you take the Th meds two hours before ingesting anything else.. but How?

Yes, you should always ask for the complete panel including antibodies. Although some doctors will refuse because 'I'm the doctor'. You would think they were paying for the testing.

 

[GLP1Pharmacist]

Foolish idea

 

[FlowerFairy]

Hi everyone, first time posting here. I’m currently taking CagriSema and I’m down 40lbs so far.

I have access to a basically unlimited supply of 150mcg levothyroxine pills and know it can drastically increase your base metabolic rate.

I’m curious if there is anything seriously wrong with this? I know it can be a bit unhealthy but raising my calories necessary that much would be extremely helpful.

You are asking for heart problems and acquired hypothyroidism. It’s a very, VERY bad idea.

I’ve been hypothyroid my entire adult life (40+ years) and my sensitivities/need for supplementation has actually dropped. At the worst point I was taking 300 mcg daily; now I’m down to 110 mcg 3x/wk. I’m hoping I can drop it entirely soon.

 

[FlowerFairy]

t3 is what’s used, not T4. Go to the meso forums for proper info, unlikely to get any here

Wrong.

 

[FlowerFairy]

Thank you for the resources! I waited eight months to get in with an endocrinologist only for him to tell me to lose weight and that thyroid issues don't cause hair loss.

Thyroid absolutely can cause hair loss. My original diagnosis was by an endocrinologist who looked at more than labs- he flat out told me, TSH is normal but t3 is low.. plus you’ve got very dry skin, your hair is falling out, you’re bradycardia with very low blood pressure and your hands and feet are always like ice. We are treating the symptoms.

After being titrated up twice- he said that yeah, my labs were slightly better but not what was old be seen if I was over medicated, the signs were better but still not great, so I’m increasing you again.

I miss him.

 

[chmuse]

Thyroid absolutely can cause hair loss. My original diagnosis was by an endocrinologist who looked at more than labs- he flat out told me, TSH is normal but t3 is low.. plus you’ve got very dry skin, your hair is falling out, you’re bradycardia with very low blood pressure and your hands and feet are always like ice. We are treating the symptoms.

After being titrated up twice- he said that yeah, my labs were slightly better but not what was old be seen if I was over medicated, the signs were better but still not great, so I’m increasing you again.

I miss him.

I ended up being lucky- the hyperthyroid was a weird side effect of a med I was on. Once I was off I went back to normal. Doing better now?

 

[FlowerFairy]

I ended up being lucky- the hyperthyroid was a weird side effect of a med I was on. Once I was off I went back to normal. Doing better now?

Oh, that was my very first endo. Like… 40 years ago. I’ve been decreased to 110 mcg 3x/wk because my numbers have improved and having no symptoms!

 

[Superchicken1]

Wrong.

The person specifically asked about raising their metabolic rate to burn excess calories by using thyroid meds. They didn’t ask for thyroid replacement, they asked for thyroid hormone abuse. Please explain to me the protocol used where people use t4 to do this. Or were you suggesting that this forum of people not familiar with such topics is a better place to discuss abusing medications for this purpose over the dedicated harm reduction forum I mentioned? This is an old post and the admin originally wanted to keep these topics away from this site.

 

[FlowerFairy]

The person specifically asked about raising their metabolic rate to burn excess calories by using thyroid meds. They didn’t ask for thyroid replacement, they asked for thyroid hormone abuse. Please explain to me the protocol used where people use t4 to do this. Or were you suggesting that this forum of people not familiar with such topics is a better place to discuss abusing medications for this purpose over the dedicated harm reduction forum I mentioned? This is an old post and the admin originally wanted to keep these topics away from this site.

I have no idea what you are talking about. I in no way was advocating medication abuse. I was responding to a certain comment that yes, was WRONG. Going to the Meso forums will not give them anymore accurate info than received here. In fact, I’m sure they’d get encouragement to do this incredibly foolish thing.

 

[Superchicken1]

I have no idea what you are talking about. I in no way was advocating medication abuse. I was responding to a certain comment that yes, was WRONG. Going to the Meso forums will not give them anymore accurate info than received here. In fact, I’m sure they’d get encouragement to do this incredibly foolish thing.

I see. I think you misunderstand that my statement wasn’t about whether I agreed or not. Again, when this post was originally made, admin was very clear this sort of talk was to be left off this forum. I left my opinion out of it and directed them to a more appropriate place to discuss abusing medication for cutting weight.

You would be surprised though, Meso isn’t all full of idiots and there’s a significant amount of information shared on not doing what the OP planned.

 

[domin8brix]

Whoa this thread is wild.

I was born without a thyroid and have been on levo since birth (so 48 years). While I can confirm that if you're too under-supplemented, you can have issues with gain/trouble losing, but this stuff is NOT a weight loss med and being on it if you don't need it will cause a whole host of other crap.

But now I have to know how on earth OP has an unlimited access to Levo, especially that dose? I take 200 and it's a nightmare to get my hands on, branded or generic in the US with a prescription!