my journey with thyroid part 2

[Victoria10]

I was still feeling bad and struggling to make it to summer classes from May- August. Found two doctors in Birmingham, AL – one was a chiropractor, Dr. Murphree, who treat CFS/fibro and thyroid issues and one is a M.D., Dr. McMinn, who practices “wellness medicine.” They believe in the other theories that thyroid cannot always be cured by synthroid. Praise the Lord I found someone who believes that I really do feel bad.
Went to Dr. Murphree in July 2009. RT3 test was high 37ng/dL (range 11-32).
FT3 was ni range 3.5 pg/mL (range 2.3-4.2)
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody was in range 38 (range <=60)
Vitamin d, 25-Hydroxy was sufficient at 63.0 (range 30-100)

Also completed a 24 hr saliva cortisol test. Results are as follows:
6:00- 8:00 a.m. depressed level of 6 (range 13-24 nM)
11:00 to noon  normal level of 10 (range 5-10 nM)
4:00 to 5:00 p.m. lower end of normal 3 ( range 3-8nM)
10:00 to midnight elevated level of 7 (range 1-4 nM)
DHEA depressed at 1 (range 3-19 ng.mL)

Also was tested for fungal overgrowth and bacteria in stool.
No yeast was isolated. Moderate Bacterial overgrowth detected.


Graduated college in August after a strenuous summer semester along with a stressful relationship with a now ex-boyfriend. I started graduate school the day after graduation. I was really worn out and by October could hardly walk to class. I decided I had to take a medical withdrawal. Primary care doctor would only say I had “mono” again and to take vitamins.

Thyroid test in Oct 15, 2009 by Dr. Blackmon
TSH was high 9.370 uIU/mL.

In October 2009, had a ultrasound of thyroid and liver done. Thyroid scan showed the tiny cysts on left lobe, still measuring 2-3 mm. So they haven’t grown any. Still showed that I had no right lobe.

Thyroid test in Oct 22, 2009 by McMinn Clinic.
TSH 4.340 uIU.mL (range 0.45- 4.50)
FT4 1.55 ng.dL (range 0.93- 1.71)
Vit D, 25 Hydroxy 54.3 (range 32.0-100.0)
RT3 352 pg.mL (range 90-350)
FT3 2.8 (range 2.0- 4.4)

TSH was on the high side. Reverse T3 was super high and Dr. McMinn said this indicated I have a conversion problem. My body doesn’t convert the T4 medication to T3 correctly, instead it makes RT3 which reduces that amount of beneficial T3 in my body.

MDL done in October confirmed I am positive for EBV, Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and negative for Lyme disease.
Spectracell lab test indicated I am low in antioxidants.
Its repletion suggestions were:
600 mg N-Acetylcystein daily to replete Glutathione and Cysteine levels.
200 IU Vit E. daily
50 mcg Selenium daily
30 mcg CoQ10 daily with a meal
50 mg Lipoic Acid daily
250 mg Vit C daily

Dr. McMinn started me on 15 mg Hydrocortisone daily- 10 mg in a.m. and 5 mg at noon. I tried Sustained release T3 from a compounding pharmacy from Oct 22- Dec 23, 2009 with no good results. He then switched me to cytomel on Dec 24, 2009.



At the present time, I am a 23 yr old female who has been being treated for hypothyroidism/adrenal insufficiency, fibro/CFS, with cytomel, HC, and synthroid.

My main symptoms are daily fatigue and extremely achey neck and shoulders as well as what I call "lead legs" when I just get totally drained very suddenly.

TSH (range 0.450-4.500)
Oct'09-      4.340uIU/mL
April '10-    0.07
July'10       0.082

FT4(range 0.82 - 1.77)
Oct;09       1.55 ng/dL
April '10      0.17
July'10        0.60

RT3 (range 90-350)
Oct '09      352 pg/mL
April'10      44
July'10       166

FT3 (range 2.0- 4.4)
Oct'09        2.8 pg/mL
April'10       15.4
July '10       6.7

Ferritin (range 13-150)
Oct '09       32 ng/mL
April'10       18
July'10        36

I felt good from late Feb to the end of April 2010. At that time I was on 50 mcg cytomel taken all in one dose about 7a.m. along with 10 mg of HC at 7 a.m. and 5 mg at noon. I did have some "hyper" symptoms of heart pounding and feeling hot so I was concerned I was taking a little too much cytomel.

I had blood tests done at the end of April that my doctor said indicated I was taking too much cytomel because my FT3 was 15.4.(see above chart). He decreased my cytomel from 50 to 25 mcg daily and added 25 mcg synthroid. We also decreased my HC from 15 mg to 10 mg bc I had gained some weight from a really overwhelming increase in appetite and I thought the HC may have been causing that.

After this decrease I started feeling super tired and achey again. Doctor said I could increase cytomel from 25 to 35 mcg and stay on 25 mcg synthroid. This increase may have given me slightly more energy but the aches and pains were still very prevalent along with the post work "crashes" where all I did was lay on the couch in exhaustion and pain.

Got my blood test results back from July 2010 and doc was kinda unsure how to proceed. Said he was going to treat me for my symptoms instead of results since TSH was really low and FT3 was still high even though I'm still feeling hypo.

On August 23, 2010, He let me increase my cytomel from 35 to 40 mcg but I felt "hyper" so I have since lowered it back to 35 mcg. I also tried 37.5 mcg but it still made me feel hyper. But at 35 mcg I feel hypo.

I’m at a point now where I don’t know what to do next. Based on my levels, some people say to increase my synthroid and decrease cytomel. I just want some long standing relief. I pray to God that I will find it. If you have any suggestions or comments please feel free to personal message me or write on profile. I welcome and suggestions and support. Thanks again.

[Victoria10]

Thanks for your advice. I meant to post this to "who are you with thyroid" forum but I accidentally did it here. I'm just in a bind trying to figure out what meds are best for me. I'm not sure if my doctor knows or not so I'm trying to gather all the information I can.

So you've heard of people that only take cytomel, and no synthroid? I hope I can get in touch with some of these people. Thanks for your help!

[LazyMoose]

Unfortunately, the longer the post, the less help people get.

You might want to repost and re-title (that reflects your questions) the separate issues: -RT3 treatment
- adrenal, - I'd post this in the adrenal forum also if you have not

I know RT3 is usually treated with only T3 med, supposedly continuing T4 med will only make RT3 worse. There are people here that have done this if you can catch their attention with RT3 in the new post title.