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« Update | Main | The Human Race »Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Another update
So I just got back from the doctor. He's a crazy, kooky, funny, wired dude with an office with the most outstanding view of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan I've ever seen. And he's got me on something called "cytomel." Anyone heard of it? From the very basic Google search I did, people seem to have great results with it (It's a T3, for those who know what I'm talking about) in conjunction with their TSH-treating meds - in my case, synthroid. He's fairly confident it will address my symptoms, most notably the weight issue. Case in point? And also another argument for why pounds aren't the only important number? After he took my blood pressure (108/74), he asked, "Jeez! Are you an athlete?" I told him that, why, yes I am. I run about 20 miles a week and lift twice a week and ride my bike everywhere. It was probably one of the most awesome, most validating things I could have heard. I constantly feel by virtue of my weight that I have to overly explain that, honest to Pete, I work out really hard and try to take care of myself every single day. Having a doctor point that out for me, seriously, made me want to cry. It's really all felt that disheartening to work so hard only to feel so unhealthy. Isolating certain areas like my blood pressure, and having the results be so overwhelmingly positive, really cheered me up. Plus? It was so nice to talk to someone who knew what he was talking about, whose focus was on that of this condition. It was refreshing. Hopefully by taking the cytomel, I should at least stop gaining, if not lose weight. And the fatigue should subside, too. He's seems pretty confident, but we're of course following up in two weeks. He's also not sure if my stomach-related issues are all thyroid in nature, but we'll see at my follow-up, too. I'll let you all know how this goes. For now, I'm going to go to the grocery store and settle in for a night of working and listening to music. This is the first day my mouth hasn't killed me. Stupid root canal. Tomorrow I'll hit the road and start on the cytomel. Here's to hoping ... Posted by Erin at 06:12 PM | filed under: Thyroid, Schmyroid commentsGreat news from you, Erin! How awesome that you had a connection with this doctor, and he listened & understands. Now those meds need to do the trick. I felt the same way about my cholesterol numbers a couple weeks ago at my annual check up with my doctor. The #s had improved so much over those from a couple years ago. B/c I lost over 50 pounds and b/c I run. My BP was good--112/80 (and High BP runs in my family, so it's actually v. good). Didn't ask about my heart rate though. I'll just assume it rocks. =) Hope the meds kick in quick. Keep us posted. posted by: Laura N at August 27, 2008 01:00 PM Jeez, would it be weird if I commuted from Atlanta to Chicago to go to this doctor? Because the plane fare would be worth it just to have someone listen to me. I'll be interested in how this goes! My thyroid is also in the normal range (on synthroid), but I know something ain't right. posted by: ALH at August 27, 2008 05:22 PM Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your writing, your site, and your presence on the Web (we need more bloggers like you!). Very inspiring--and human. Hope your health gets better SOON so you can enjoy all the good things going on in your life. Hey, and thanks for inspiring me to participate in the Nike run! EJS: Oh thank you! How nice are YOU?! posted by: SAL at August 27, 2008 07:22 PM I hope Cytomel is the answer to your problems. I am having similar problems (for 3 years!!! - with grand total weight gain of 45 lbs!!), I have been on Armor and am now on Synthroid and I was starting to think I was out of options. I think this is the kick in the butt I needed to get a new doctor! (Mine keeps telling me to eat less and work out more - she doesn't seem to understand that isn't working) Thanks Erin - keep us updated on how it goes. EJS: YES! Get a new doctor. Mine is great, really, but she just doesn't have a lot of experience in this stuff b/c she's a GP. A lot of the thyroid research I've done recommends seeing a doc with a more holistic approach. And remember that not every application works for every person. My new doc said he didn't see the need to put me on Armour so he kept me on the Synthroid AND added the Cytomel. I'm on day two. So far, so good. No weird reactions. I'm on a VERY small dosage for now, though. posted by: valerie at August 28, 2008 12:57 PM EJS: Actually Tamar, Cytomel is T3 only. Armour is the combination of both T3 and T4. And you're right - it's assumed Synthroid will convert, which is why most GPs don't prescribe a separate T3, despite many patients saying it's made a difference for them. That, and I imagine, other nefarious issues I won't go into here. :) I think my resting heart rate was 55, and like you, made me feel better too. Go us! Aaaah yes - I remember that now. :) That makes sense - synthroid and cytomel combined. Gotcha. I hope it works for you. I ran out of armour this week and there's been manufacturer production problems and by the time I got my prescription filled (only two days without meds) I was already getting really sleepy and "out of it" feeling. Reminds me that I really *need* this medicine every day for the rest of my life. Sigh. EJS: Oy. I know. I've been there - well, not exactly there. I've never actually had to wait because of production problems. But I've been without and holy Moses. Total difference. So far I don't see a huge appreciable difference, but that's also because my period started this week, and that usually brings about a whole host of side effects on its own. Maybe in another week. posted by: Tamar at August 29, 2008 09:54 PM Good Luck! It is so good to hear a story of a doctor who actually listens! Quite a rare find it seems. I can see why someone would consider air travel to go to a doctor with that talent. I have been teaching cardiac rehab for over a decade. It has always made me so angry to see people suffering from fluid retention, yet their doctor seems to think they chowing down on junk food and lying about it. What a slap in the face! My most recent blog post is about "How to lose water off your ankles", because I found that many people search for that exact info. Just want to remind everyone that fluid accumulates long before it starts to collect at your ankles, and it is a big deal! Unfortunately, other than thyroid medications, our medical community seems unable to offer help. On a more positive note, did you know that those who carry a few extra pounds survive heart failure better than those who don't? Many blessings posted by: Carrie Tucker at September 8, 2008 10:57 AM
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Cytomel is similar in nature to Armour, in that it contains both T3 and T4 (or at least that's my understanding) whereas Synthroid only contains T4 and it's assumed your body will convert it to usable T3, but I don't think that happens for everyone.
I know what you mean about the blood pressure - even when I was swollen and huge with both pregnancies it was really low. But the best is my resting heartrate - it's 57 - which is considered an "athlete's" rate. Always makes me feel better about my weight. :)
Hope the new meds helps quickly!
EJS: Actually Tamar, Cytomel is T3 only. Armour is the combination of both T3 and T4. And you're right - it's assumed Synthroid will convert, which is why most GPs don't prescribe a separate T3, despite many patients saying it's made a difference for them. That, and I imagine, other nefarious issues I won't go into here. :) I think my resting heart rate was 55, and like you, made me feel better too. Go us!
posted by: Tamar at August 26, 2008 08:46 PM