The New "T3 Treatment" Thyroid Solution or Unethical Experiment?: Treatment of hypothyroidism

» BrennaSue - Treatment of hypothyroidism

There seems to be some debate concerning whether patients do better on just T4 replacement or T4 + T3 replacement. There are concerns regarding long-term treatment with T3 added.
I would like to address that problem strictly from a personal viewpoint. I am a 54yrr old female who was diagnosed with hypothyroidism at the age of 8 or 10. Although I do not know what tests were done, I do know that blood was taken and my hands and wrists were x-rayed. I was put on Armour thyroid dessicatedd thyroid which contains not only T4 and T3, but also T1 and T2).
I took this preparation for the next 20 years with excellent results. Then because my husband and I moved to a new city, I went to see a new doctor. He took me completely off of the preparation for 6 weeksretesteded and proclaimed that I was within normal ranges and no longer needed any thyroid replacement. Well, I felt that was good news!
My weight and energy levels had been pretty much stable during the time I took the Armour thyroid. I had two children who were normal and except for the normal ups and downs of life, things were pretty much ok.
I began to gain weight, slowly. I developed hypothyroid symptoms. My face swelled and became rounder. I didn't feel well and developed some depression.
We moved again. Over that past 20-25 years I have had occasion to see a few different doctors. Each doctor that I have seen has suspected that I have hypothyroidism. However, my tests have always been within "normal" limits. Due to the fact we have had to change health insurance carriers, I have had occasion to obtain my medical records and see, now, that my T3 levels were never tested.
Recently, fed up with my weight problems, I saw a doctor who specializes in weight control. He asked me specifically if I had ever been on thyroid replacement. (By then my face was beginning to resemble the poster chilmyxedemaxedema, but recent tests - T4 and TSH -- showed normal ranges)This new doctor put me backdessicatedicated thyroid. A low dose, then increased the dose last month. I, subjectively of course, feel better than I have in over 20 years!
Now, I come from a family of seven children. Our health heritage includeautoimmuneoimmune type diseases from Type I diabeAnkylosingySpondylitisdylitRhematoidematoid Arthritis.
Out of 7 children only my oldest sister and I have ever had weight problems and hypothyroid symptoms. We were all fed and raised the same way and so I suspect that the two of us may have some type of problem, but just am not sure what!
I dessicatedessicated thyroid for about 20 years. I don't think I have suffered any "long-term" problems. On the contrary, I think that I suffered by being taken off the Armour thyroid because I then began a syndrome of high cholesterol and fatigue that interfered with my quality of life. In addition, I developed B12 deficiency anemia even though I was taking extra B vitamins when this was discovered.
One doctor that I saw actually did a basal metabolism test which was quite a bit lower than normal for my age. He offered to put me on thyroid replacement therapy, but because my thyroid tests were within normal ranges, I declined.
I am not completely sure why I was put on replacement therapy 40 or so years ago, why I was taken off and why I have been put back on. I suspect that we don't know all that we should know regarding thyroid functioning. Perhaps there are some problems in the T4 to T3 conversion, resistance to thyroid hormone, differing needs within the population. There have been several theories propounded, but not proven. I just know that my symptoms have improved dramatically since being put bacdessicated dessicated thyroid replacement. Could it be the placebo effect? Certainly! I think the next few months with further testing may tell the truth.
There are quite a few people that havdessicatede dessicated thyroid for many years. I me one when I was having my car worked on. She was talking to someone else in the waiting room, but what she said caught my attention. She was 79 years old. When she was 10, her thyroid gland was destroyed surgically. For the next 50 or so years she was tdessicatedh dessicated thyroid. Her weight and energy levels remained constant. Thenendrocrinologistocrinologist who immediately took dessicatedhe dessicate thyroid and put her onto only T4. Her cholesterol level climbed to 520! She recently had to have by-pass surgery. As the conversation ended I suggested to her that thyroid hormone sometimes affects cholesterol levels. She did not know that. I personally think that her endocrinologist might just be killing her! She probably is one who needs the T3 in conjunction with the T4. But, today, T4 alone is the treatment.
I aim to have my levels tested along with my cholesterol in a few months just to see where I stand. It will be interesting to note whether the doctors who assumed my thyroid was normal were right. The current doctor who prescribed the dessicated thyroid said it was important to treat to relieve the symptoms without producing hyperthyroid symptoms. I think with my experience I am inclined to agree with him.

-- posted by BrennaSue