Who is currently taking Thyroid medication ?..

[evansjamesk]

I was diagnosed with moderate hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s through Defy and started meds 3 years ago. (And a big thanks to them because every other doctor I saw was basically telling me to do nothing until my thyroid was pretty much destroyed and only then will they put me on medication).
My TSH was around 4 with a FT3 in the mid range (2.6) and midrange FT4.
I started out on Armour Thyroid but it actually made me feel worse and the reason was I was not converting the T4 into the active thyroid hormone, T3. This can be determined by looking at reverse T3 - mine was of the charts when I started Armor with very little change to FT3
I switched to Liothyronine (which is generic cytomel - T3 mono therapy) starting at 10 mcgs / day and slowly titrating up to 20. (4 pills taken throughout the day).
It has made a world of difference for me and alleviating brain fog, and also helping with metabolism. I can pretty much eat anything and not gain weight. Not kidding. The only drawback is that occasionally T3 will build up in my system that every few months I start getting some anxiety and insomnia at night, in which case I just back off one dose for about a week and then resume

I find this very odd. Usually people switch to Armour because it includes T3, not just T4 like levothyroxine. My wife, for example, was titrating up to higher and higher dosages of levothyroxine and still felt terrible. That doctor (we left for good reason) refused to even check her T3 levels. When a new doctor ran labs and included T3, they discovered she wasn't converting T4 to T3, so they switched her to Armour and it made a world of difference. So hearing that you switched from Armour because you weren't converting to T3 goes against our experience. Personally, I've tried Armour and also Cytomel, but it had no impact on how I felt because I convert T4 to T3 just fine. I'm not questioning the accuracy of your statement, just noting that our experience with Armour was very different.

 

[Vtail]

I was diagnosed with moderate hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s through Defy and started meds 3 years ago.

My experience was similar to yours. I started with Defy for TRT management, and they checked my thyroid levels and added T3. I was 56 at the time and no doctor ever said anything about my thyroid. It turned out that everything was "within range" but my RT3 was 23 [upper limit was 24]. Starting on T3 was a game changer for me. Brain fog was getting bad (gone now), and my metabolism improved. I can now gain/lose weight as I see fit. Previously I would gain 5 pounds by just looking at a slice of pizza. My fingers and toes were always like ice-cubes in the winter - not anymore. I also had terrible dry skin, mainly on my hands. That too is gone.

My main concern these days is difficulty sleeping. I was always a light sleeper, and its gotten worse as I get older. I rotate the "stuff" I use to help me stay asleep so as not to develop too much of a tolerance to any one sleep-aid.

 

[ERO]

What's the highest doses you got up too?

Armour Thyroid 120mg daily.

 

[gerardo]

My experience was similar to yours. I started with Defy for TRT management, and they checked my thyroid levels and added T3. I was 56 at the time and no doctor ever said anything about my thyroid. It turned out that everything was "within range" but my RT3 was 23 [upper limit was 24]. Starting on T3 was a game changer for me. Brain fog was getting bad (gone now), and my metabolism improved. I can now gain/lose weight as I see fit. Previously I would gain 5 pounds by just looking at a slice of pizza. My fingers and toes were always like ice-cubes in the winter - not anymore. I also had terrible dry skin, mainly on my hands. That too is gone.

My main concern these days is difficulty sleeping. I was always a light sleeper, and its gotten worse as I get older. I rotate the "stuff" I use to help me stay asleep so as not to develop too much of a tolerance to any one sleep-aid.

Hi. I can't lose weight easily and my cholesterol and triglycerides are high. Eat any carbohydrate and triglycerides rise easily. The endocrinologist and other doctors say everything is normal. My temperature in the morning is 36.5 degrees Celsius. I am taking on my own 25 mcg of T4 + 1 Mcg of T3 but I don't feel that my metabolism has improved at all and any carelessness in my diet already increases. Can you help me. Follow my latest thyroid exams. Thanks for this topic.

January 13, 2021

T3- FREE TRIIODOTYRONIN ...........: 2.55 pg / mL
Sample: Serum Method: Chemiluminescence
Reference Values:
1.71 to 3.71 pg / mL

FREE THYROXIN - FREE T4 ...........: 0.70 ng / dL
Sample: Serum Method: Chemiluminescence
Reference Values:
0.70 to 1.48 ng / dL

THYROXIN - T4 TOTAL .................: 4.60 µg / dL
Sample: Serum Method: Chemiluminescence
Reference Values:
4.87 to 11.72 µg / dL

T3 REVERSE ..........................: 19.40 ng / dL
Sample: Ria Serum Method: Enzyme immunoassay
Adults: 6 to 76 ng / dL

 

[Charliebizz]

Armour Thyroid 120mg daily.

Very interesting. I know we share a similar journey on getting trt to work also. I could only get up to 90mg of armour and I had intense headaches. But didn't feel any different. My thyroid numbers natural are pretty good but my body temp is in the low 97 most of the time.

 

[ERO]

My temp averages 97 as well. Folks at Defy were always asking me if the thyroid meds were making my heart race or making me anxious...but it literally had no effects that I could feel. And my temps still averaged 97. My symptoms were (and still are) that TRT had no positive effects, plus overall low energy. They figured thyroid would be the key but...nothing. I have no co-morbidities and am otherwise healthy. Not obese or pre-diabetic, not a drinker, etc...

 

[Charliebizz]

My temp averages 97 as well. Folks at Defy were always asking me if the thyroid meds were making my heart race or making me anxious...but it literally had no effects that I could feel. And my temps still averaged 97. My symptoms were (and still are) that TRT had no positive effects, plus overall low energy. They figured thyroid would be the key but...nothing. I have no co-morbidities and am otherwise healthy. Not obese or pre-diabetic, not a drinker, etc...

Yeah pretty much same story for me. However I do have morning wood back on trt. Libido is better and I'm able to lift weights again. Off trt when I lifted I would feel horrible the next day. So I would say it does have some effect on me.

I'm also a low shbg guy. Mines around 14.

 

[ERO]

Yeah pretty much same story for me. However I do have morning wood back on trt. Libido is better and I'm able to lift weights again. Off trt when I lifted I would feel horrible the next day. So I would say it does have some effect on me.

I'm also a low shbg guy. Mines around 14.

If you have morning wood and can lift weights you are doing better than me. I still lift but to no end as I don't recover well at all and I haven't been able to make any progress in years. May I ask what protocol you are on?

 

[Charliebizz]

If you have morning wood and can lift weights you are doing better than me. I still lift but to no end as I don't recover well at all and I haven't been able to make any progress in years. May I ask what protocol you are on?

I'm just taking enathate 102mg a week. Split m-w-f. My progress is still super slow but without trt I would be dead for days after lifting.

 

[Justy]

Can I ask you if you are talking viagra or cialis? I'm asking because since I started to take dialy cialis 5 mg, I have had morning woods everyday around 5 AM... it wakes me up ...

 

[Charliebizz]

Can I ask you if you are talking viagra or cialis? I'm asking because since I started to take dialy cialis 5 mg, I have had morning woods everyday around 5 AM... it wakes me up ...

If your asking me I have started 2.5 tadalafil ed. But I was getting morning woods even before that. But now my erection quality is better on the tadalafil.

 

[ERO]

I take daily Cialis and it might help a bit...I say that because if I go without for 2 weeks between shipments I don't really notice much difference.

 

[ERO]

I'm just taking enathate 102mg a week. Split m-w-f. My progress is still super slow but without trt I would be dead for days after lifting.

Dead for days after lifting sounds like how I feel. I do each body part once a week because I cannot recover enough to do any more often and I am often still sore after 7 days. I know my macros as well and I meet them almost every day so its not like I am stuffing my face with junk or eating 1/2 the amount of protein I need, etc.. No dose of T has helped with this. I was at 200mg/week (dosed twice a week) at first and it was as useless as 100mg a week. Tried daily dosing also but it is no better for me that twice a week so I am back to that just because its simpler. The average woman walking down the street probably has better muscle building and recovery capacity than I do on TRT.

I keep thinking there has to be a way to make this work, but at this point I am probably just being stubborn and should throw in the towel.

 

[Charliebizz]

Dead for days after lifting sounds like how I feel. I do each body part once a week because I cannot recover enough to do any more often and I am often still sore after 7 days. I know my macros as well and I meet them almost every day so its not like I am stuffing my face with junk or eating 1/2 the amount of protein I need, etc.. No dose of T has helped with this. I was at 200mg/week (dosed twice a week) at first and it was as useless as 100mg a week. Tried daily dosing also but it is no better for me that twice a week so I am back to that just because its simpler. The average woman walking down the street probably has better muscle building and recovery capacity than I do on TRT.

I keep thinking there has to be a way to make this work, but at this point I am probably just being stubborn and should throw in the towel.

How are your calories. Although my muscle growth is pretty slow still when I eat a surplus of calories I start to build. I've had this tendency to cut calories the more I workout. Always lead to me feeling worse and not building any muscle.

 

[ERO]

How are your calories. Although my muscle growth is pretty slow still when I eat a surplus of calories I start to build. I've had this tendency to cut calories the more I workout. Always lead to me feeling worse and not building any muscle.

I gain fat super easily as well so I try to avoid simple carbs but I am not strictly cutting carbs and attempting top cut, although I probably should be. At this point I am not expecting to gain much lean mass or a ton of strength, but I can't even recover right from light workouts, much less gain any strength or any mass. Basically, I am exactly where I was with Low T, even when on TRT, getting decent sleep, eating decently, etc.

 

[Charliebizz]

I gain fat super easily as well so I try to avoid simple carbs but I am not strictly cutting carbs and attempting top cut, although I probably should be. At this point I am not expecting to gain much lean mass or a ton of strength, but I can't even recover right from light workouts, much less gain any strength or any mass. Basically, I am exactly where I was with Low T, even when on TRT, getting decent sleep, eating decently, etc.

I'm with ya on the fat gain. I'm going to do another trial with armour. I owe it to myself. I do get sides of I go to high so too me that means I probably can make it work. Imo thyroid is way more important then testosterone. I've talked to a few guys over the years that got thyroid working optimally and testosterone went up

 

[ERO]

I'm with ya on the fat gain. I'm going to do another trial with armour. I owe it to myself. I do get sides of I go to high so too me that means I probably can make it work. Imo thyroid is way more important then testosterone. I've talked to a few guys over the years that got thyroid working optimally and testosterone went up

That is the thing - I totally agree that getting thyroid dialed in is key - yet after 3 years working with Defy I had to bail on it as we were out of options that we had not already tried.

 

[Charliebizz]

That is the thing - I totally agree that getting thyroid dialed in is key - yet after 3 years working with Defy I had to bail on it as we were out of options that we had not already tried.

We've been on the forums together for a long time. I know how much you struggle to even feel something from most medications. Really sucks bro.

I have a little hope because I do tend to feel changes when I start medications. For me it's getting through the side effects that is the hardest part. My body doesn't agree with many medications. Even with trt I couldn't tolerate test cyp at all. Gave me so many strange sides. Now I'm on enathate and doing ok. Not anywhere near where I would like to be but making slow progress. My goal is to get thyroid dialed in and hopefully get off trt. I feel the shutdown has been detrimental to my mental well being.

 

[gerardo]

We've been on the forums together for a long time. I know how much you struggle to even feel something from most medications. Really sucks bro.

I have a little hope because I do tend to feel changes when I start medications. For me it's getting through the side effects that is the hardest part. My body doesn't agree with many medications. Even with trt I couldn't tolerate test cyp at all. Gave me so many strange sides. Now I'm on enathate and doing ok. Not anywhere near where I would like to be but making slow progress. My goal is to get thyroid dialed in and hopefully get off trt. I feel the shutdown has been detrimental to my mental well being.

Could you tell us what your Trt protocol was with the cypionate?

 

[Bennytrt]

Who is currently taking thyroid meds? If so, my questions are as follows:
1) did you notice an increase in energy level ?
2) Did you notice an increase in your mood? Are you in a much better mood?
3) do you notice you burn fat easier?
4) did it improve your cholesterol levels?
thank you in advance.

1. Yes, I stopped having 2pm to 3pm and 5pm to 7pm energy crashes. Currently, taking 38mcg T4 and10mcg T3 liothyronine in the morning. Early afternoon I take10mcg T3 liothyronine slow release between 130pm and 230pm.

2. No change

3. Most definitely

4. No change in lipids