hypothyroid need help

[thewarrior8845]

i had some blood work done recently.
tsh 2.54 (.45-4.5)
t4 6.7 (4.5-12)
free t4 1.26 (.82-1.77)
free t3 2.9 (2.0-4.4)

feeling like crap. low sex drive. very tired, especially after eating. i am on 50 mcg generic t4 and 140 mg testosterone cyp. how much t4/t3 should i take?

[jasondd1]

i had some blood work done recently.
tsh 2.54 (.45-4.5)
t4 6.7 (4.5-12)
free t4 1.26 (.82-1.77)
free t3 2.9 (2.0-4.4)

feeling like crap. low sex drive. very tired, especially after eating. i am on 50 mcg generic t4 and 140 mg testosterone cyp. how much t4/t3 should i take?

I am no expert but I take 160 mcg of t4 and 40 mcg of t3 and my numbers aren't even as bad as yours. Again others will be more helpful

[Vettester]

i had some blood work done recently.
tsh 2.54 (.45-4.5)
t4 6.7 (4.5-12)
free t4 1.26 (.82-1.77)
free t3 2.9 (2.0-4.4)

feeling like crap. low sex drive. very tired, especially after eating. i am on 50 mcg generic t4 and 140 mg testosterone cyp. how much t4/t3 should i take?

Talk to your physician about possibly getting on a natural desiccated thyroid medication, e.g., Armour, Thyroid-S ..., which covers T4, direct T3, T2, T1 and Calcitonin (without just relying on T4 to convert to T3 only). It's important to note that you need to review your cortisol and iron/ferritin levels, even magnesium to some extent, which all plays a key role in the transport of T3 in the cells. An imbalance can lead to an increased production of Reverse T3, which competes directly with free T3 at the receptor site. So in essence, an increase in T3 could just increase your symptoms even more due to a term called "pooling" from the RT3, directly resulted from iron and cortisol, and even indirectly somewhat with magnesium, D3, calcium, and probably a few others I'm overlooking.

[kelkel]

I love it when you talk thyroid Vette!

[Vettester]

I love it when you talk thyroid Vette!

I can whisper softly too if you prefer?

[David LoPan]

Thyroid meds can be very tricky, IMHO. I would go with what your doctor RX you. See an specialist if possible. I have seen a lot of people of all ages come in to the hospital when they don't take thyroid meds are directed. Members here know a lot of information but specialists deal with this everyday. One goes up slowly on Thyroid meds do avoid Thyroid Storm. The thing I have seen is that thyroid meds is that you can take them and the more you take the better you feel . . . then wham, you in the hospital. I would rather suggest to take small steps under doctors supervision and blood work due to so many variables. BTW, my last pt I had with over using thyroid meds was a primary care doctor if that tells you anything. Again, just my HO.

[thewarrior8845]

i had this blood work done 3 months before the lab results i posted.
cortisol 20.6 (2.3-19.4)
testosterone 1431 (348-1197)
free testosterone 38.7 (9.3-26.5)
free t4 1.21 (.82-1.77)
free t3 3.0 (2.0 -4.4)

this test was done two days after i injected 140mg test cyp. thats why the numbers are really high. i still take 140mg test cyp but now i split it up into 70mg doses two times per week. after i had this blood work done i started t3. i did 5mcg then upped to 10mcg. each time i upped the dose i felt great for one or two days then all of a sudden i felt like shit again. so i upped the dose more. even on 20 mcg t3 and 50 mcg t4 no relief in symptoms. i dont feel warm at all. i used to use hcg but i stopped because of the price. while on hcg i had no hypothyroid symptoms. i felt fine. no low body temp, no fatigue. i dont know what to do. increasing my thyroid dose doesnt help. im thinking i should start hcg again or i should keep increasing the thyroid dose, maybe im just not taking enough? before i started trt i didn't have hypothyroid symptoms. pre trt labs
tsh 1.79 (.45-4.5)
free t4 1.55 (.82-1.77)
free t3 3.3 (2.0-4.4)
i was not taking any thyroid medication at this time.

[thewarrior8845]

i forgot to mention that with my hypothyroid symptoms i also have to urinate much more often. does hypothyroidism have anything to do with urinating frequently? i have a dr appointment in 3 weeks.

[phaedo]

I'm confused. You said in your original post you're taking T4. Later in the thread, you mention T3. Are you still supplementing T3? What and how much are you taking for medications?

Regardless, your T4 levels look great for Synthroid supplementation. In the past, have you checked thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO)?

Vette posits some great advice, though I'll tactfully disagree about dessicated thyroid. Usually, the T4:T3 ratio is lower in animals than humans (<-- less T3). Pig thyroid extracts usually contain a 1:4 ratio where typical concentrations in humans are 1:14. Using a combination of each Synthroid and Cytomel helps the physician and patient adjust both hormones accordingly to optimal levels. It's individual dependant of course, and if enzymatic activity allows for the "preset" T4:T3 ratio in dessicated thyroid, than by all means.

Your labs indicate you're taking too much testosterone , which will cause problems in the long run. Where are your levels at 70 mg injected twice per week?

I'd suggest you check your RT3, perhaps several times over the course of 6-8 weeks. RT3 fluctuates based on a myriad of factors, so don't draw any rash conclusions from one draw (really, this advice goes with all blood tests).

Have you had a diurnal cortisol test or cosyntrophin stimulation test for adrenal insufficiency? Ceasing hCG can likely inflict poor P450SCC and lower levels of pregnenolone. In other words, you may have a deficiency in glucocorticoids, which largely makes T3 supplementation a moot point -- even excess T3 can exacerbate this condition, which may be your case.