Medication overload?

[scoutsays]

I was diagnosed hypothyroid in 2012. I was put on 75 mcg of levithyroxine and later put on 50 mcg of cytomel. I told my doctor at the time that I thought that dose was too high, but he wouldn't listen to me. Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I finally found a new doctor and had labs done. (I went in because I found a lump in my breast, which after a mammogram and ultrasound, they said its "probably" benign, but I have to follow up in 6 months). Anyway, had labs done, here were my thyroid results:

TSH: 0.091 uIU/mL (Low)
Reference Range:0.354 uIU/mL - 5.720 uIU/mL

T3, Total: 396 ng/dL (High)
Reference Range:60-181

Free T4: 0.81 ng/dL (Normal)
Reference Range:0.58 ng/dL - 1.64 ng/dL

I still have hypo symptoms, exhausted all the time but not sleeping, can't lose weight and still gaining. I ate healthy all summer and worked out at least an hour every day and I managed to maintain my weight, but I'm about 70 pounds overweight. My new doctor wants to keep me on these dosages and draw labs again in a few months. I'm just at a loss as to what to do. I'm gluten intolerant and insulin resistant, so I'm thinking of going back to low carb or paleo eating, but I'm just to the point where I can barely function.

Did I destroy my thyroid with overmedication? Is there any hope for me to live a somewhat normal, functioning life?

[Barb135]

I'm not a doctor and I can't tell you what to do, but personally, I'd stop the cytomel for a while until the FT3 levels come down...

Are you taking just one 50 mcg pill/day or are there multiple pills that you take to get the 50 mcg?  Do you take it all at once or in multiple doses throughout the day?

Just because hemoglobin is "good", doesn't mean iron is optimal... She really needs to check vitamin B-12 (not just "B"; it must be B-12) as deficiency in vitamin B-12 can cause the most debilitating fatigue/exhaustion I've ever known.

[scoutsays]

My calcium and vitamin D are low. My dr put me on 6000 units of D for the next 8 weeks and 1000 calcium. I asked why my iron wasn't checked and she said my hemoglobin was fine so she didn't check iron. She didn't test B either. I'm tempted to cut my Cytomel in half myself.

[Barb135]

Too high a dose can cause fatigue, just as too low a dose can... There are also other causes for exhaustion/fatigue, as well... have you had vitamin B-12 or iron levels tested?  What about folate?  

You need to get off that high dose of T3... A doctor that knows how to test thyroid function and dose thyroid medication is definitely in order...

[gimel]

Just because you are taking what is considered a large dose of T4 med doesn't mean that it is adequate.  What are your Free T4, Free T3, Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin levels, along with reference ranges shown on the lab report?

Also what symptoms do you have?  

[deadlynightshsde1]

i have the same cond, but i am on 250 mg of levo, still having those symptoms. my cousin had surgery for hers, they literally kill off your thyroid with iodine, and can then in thoery regulate it for life rather than up down with meds.

[scoutsays]

The cause in 2012 wasn't determined and the antibody tests were negative. The dr said the dose was so high because of my age (39 at the time) and anything lower would just act as a placebo, which I knew was BS but he wouldn't listen.

My new dr said she wants to keep the doses because I'm exhausted and she's afraid if she lowers it I will be even more tired. Ugh. I'm hoping she will refer me to an endo.

[Barb135]

Was there a cause determined for your hypothyroidism in 2012?  Were you ever tested for Hashimoto's Thyroiditis?  

Your thyroid wasn't working properly to begin with, so you couldn't have destroyed it with over medication, though I can't imagine what your doctor was thinking to prescribe 50 mcg cytomel... did he ever give an explanation for such a dosage?

It's unfortunate that your new doctor tested Total T3, instead of Free T3, which is the usable hormone...Total T3 shows the total amount of T3 in the blood and includes both the bound and unbound; we can only use the unbound (Free) portions... Of the Total T3, approximately 90-95% is bound by protein and can't be used.

What explanation does your new doctor give for wanting to keep you on these dosages?  First off, there's no reason to test for Total T3 and second, there's no reason to have a level that's twice as high as the reference range...

There is definitely hope for living a normal life, but only if you find a doctor who knows how to prescribe thyroid medication.