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T3 gave me bad side effects need some insight from others on their thyroid journey

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Meggo1187
Meggo1187

Hello All!

I recently came across this forum to get some insight from others with their thyroid journeys and get some advice. At the moment I'm feeling a little lost. Please bare with me as I explain everything.

Here is my story for some background: About 10 years ago (in my early 20's) I was losing a lot of hair. It was determined my thyroid levels were slightly off but I didn't need medication yet per my Endocrinologist. Flash forward to my late 20's and I was having a slew of issues (hair loss, weight gain, fatigue, irregular periods, skin and nail issues and crazy mood swings etc the list goes on). I was tested multiple times but the results always came back normal. Things kept getting worse (the scale kept increasing and the fatigue was awful), last spring at age 31 I was so fatigued I could barely get off the couch without being so exhausted. One day my sister sent me a note from her doctors office saying that you should not take Biotin when getting thyroid tests but my doctor never told me this. I had been taking Biotin since my early 20's for my hair. I stopped the Biotin and went back for bloodwork and sure enough I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. My doctor prescribed 50MCG of Levothyroxine and months later I was starting to feel better. However, a few months after that I started feeling poorly again. She raised the dosage to 75MCG but I still felt bad. I saw a few other doctors and they determined I would be better suited working with a Functional Medicine doctor. The functional medicine doctor has been great and for the last 6 months we've been working on a few other issues I have (nutrient deficiencies, bacteria in my stomach etc). Back in May we switched me to Nature Throid 48.75mg as others have done really well on this. I started having heart palpitations a few days in so we stopped it for awhile but I likely had a stomach ulcer as well during that time. Two months ago I started it again, and no palpitations right away but after a few weeks I began to notice hair loss, excessive sweating, I was always hot and I became nervous/ anxious/ overly stressed more so than before my original diagnosis and I began to get a cramping tightness around my upper abdomen/ chest (we didn't stop me on it right away as a family member was diagnosed with cancer around the same time so it was a stressful time and thought that could also be the case). However, after a month of this we switched me back to 50mcg of Levothyroxine and 5MCG with Synthetic Liothyronine as it was eventually determined I didn't tolerate the T3 in the Nature-Throid. I was on the Liothyronine for about a week and the symptoms were still present so two days ago we both agreed I would switch back to the 75MCG of Levothyroxine to see if the symptoms go away.

I've read the a lot of people can't tolerate T3 well (synthetic or with NDT). I would love to hear from those of you who have had this issue. What happened after that point? Where did you go from there? Did you also experience the same side effects? How long did it take to leave your body, when did you start feeling better after stopping it? The chest/abdomen tightness and nervousness is the worst. I especially feel it on my sides, near my ribs like a cramping. It's not sharp just like I've done too many side crunches or something. Has anyone else experienced that? Are there any other side effects you experienced on it?

At this point I'm feeling a little lost, it's been 10+ years of progressively feeling worse and now it's just a little frustrating/ hopeless at this point. Any words of encouragement or stories you have would be greatly appreciated! Thank you everyone!

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • MichelleS15
    MichelleS15 Meggo1187

    Edited

    hi there! I see this post is from awhile ago but I wanted to respond because I recently was prescribed Armour Thyroid which has T3 in it. I did not tolerate it well at all. I took it for 3, maybe 4 weeks and then discontinued. i was informed I have subclinical hypo and would feel better. that was not the case! i had/am

    currently dealing with a list of symptoms such as palpitations, insomnia, heat intolerance, etc. i also had GI issues, foot cramps, dry eyes and mouth. my body definitely did not want the medicine and I would rather deal with the fatigue and tiredness then the hyper symptoms i experienced. the side effects have gotten better but it has been very gradual. i am wondering if you are feeling better? if so how long did it take?

  • joshuapryce1987
    joshuapryce1987 Meggo1187

    Posted

    Cancer is a issue, that can come at any moment. Its good to have a do the best i can to look after health, and do not care attitude to what could come to you down the road. Just take care of your health, and work on it as much as you can.

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