WOW=went on Cytomel 6 days ago and lost 4 pounds

I can't believe it.  I went on Cytomel last week because my T3 was borderline low and I was so exhausted I have been sleeping until 2 pm.  I also had only lost  1 pound in the past month, I was getting very frustrated.  My Endo felt it was worth a try to go on Cytomel since I was a the low end of the range of Total T3.  So, I started it 6 days ago and have already lost 4 pounds.  The stuff really does kick start the metabolism.  I love it.

OK what is T3 what is Cytomel for.  I would like to kick start my metabolism to the moon.  Losing sooooo slooooooow.  Let me know and congrats on the 4 pounds.  Debi

T3 is a hormone produced by the thyroid.  Cytomel is a drug used to treat hypothyroidism.

I take it periodically for Hashi's.

Cytomel is a drug used in addition to Synthroid to treat hypothroid.  Your thryoid consists of T3 and T4.  Synthroid is just T4 and the thyroid is supposed to convert T4 to T3 but in some people this doesn't happen and you have to supplement with extra T3 - cytomel.  I have been on Synthroid for 8 years and did fine until the past couple of months things changed.  I am not sure if it has anything to do with the surgery or the weight loss but now a year after surgery, I need more thyroid medication.

So I'm curious.  I'm feeling tired and worn down but my levels are actually low, so my doc pulled back my Synthroid from 200 to 150mcg.  I'm still tired and worn down, naturally, so how'd you know that your thyroid wasn't converting T4 to T3. What does that look like on the blood work?  I'm supposed to get myself retested in a week or so now that I've been on 150 for almost a month to see if I'm leveled off, and I'd like to have this information to share with my endo.  It sounds like I may have options here.   

Besides having your TSH being done, you need to have your Free T3 and Total T3 done.  My total T3 was 88 and the range was 83-195 and my Endo felt that was low enough to treat with all my symptom and it has been progressively been going down.  Last time it was 103 and the time before it was 157.  Also different Endo's read TSH ranges differently.  The range is from .4 - 4 or 5 depending on the lab but idealy it should be around 1 or at most 2.  If mine goes up to 3, my Endo treats but most won't do that.  Luckily I have a very proactive Endo and it has really helped me.

You said your levels were low and your Endo lowered your dose - how low were they?  How is your T3?  On my last TSH my TSH was low but I also have Pituitary insufficiency and that causes my pituitary to not be able to make TSH, so a low TSH on me is still considered hypothyroid.

And just a side note for those with thyroid issues.

many lab numbers are very outdated as well as some doctors. Some labs say a normal range can be upp to 5.95 for tsh range. Insane. The assoc of endocrinologist changed the normal range in 2001 to 0.3-3.1.....I feel best at 2.1-2.5.....but now that armour is off the market I need to talk my PCP into starting me on a bit of cytomel.