Monday, May 28, 2012

DHEA Blocks T3 Absorption

During the past few weeks I experienced more constipation, which is my most obvious symptom of hypothyroidism. Since I had been taking 50mcg of T3, I hesitated to raise my dose again. Instead I scanned "Recovering with T3". Miraculously I read about the author's experience with drugs which can block T3 absorption. Those drugs include hydrocortisone, DHEA, alcohol, and some antibiotics. I began taking DHEA sublingually last December (almost 6 months ago). When I refilled my prescription in late March, I told the pharmacist that I still had immunity problems (cold symptoms). So the pharmacist suggested that I raise my DHEA dose to improve immunity. After I raised my dose to 4.0mg in early April, I experience greatly improved immunity (no cold symptoms no matter what else I did). Perhaps I got more vitamin D on sunnier days. However, I also began to have more hypothyroid symptoms during April. So I raised my dose of T3 over a 6 week period from 42.5mcg to 50mcg. I experienced temporary relief (from constipation, low body temperature and fatigue) with each increase. However relief was short lived. After 2 weeks on 50mcg I began having more severe constipation, which was not relieved even by extra magnesium. (I already followed all the usual 'regularity' rules of fluids, fiber, exercise, etc. for years but nothing consistently resolved irregularity until I began T3 thyroid supplement therapy.) After reading about drugs which block T3 absorption, I decided to abstain from DHEA to see what happens. The very first day without DHEA, I had relief from irregularity. If the DHEA increase blocked my T3 absorption, while I slowly increased the T3 dose, I wonder whether my current T3 dose (50mcg) may prove to be too high. I need to watch for hyperthyroid symptoms, while I'll abstain from DHEA until I notice immunity problems.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Good Results with 50mcg T3

I've finally adjusted to 50mcg of T3 (liothyronine) only each day. After back and forthing between 47.5 and 50 total mcg of T3, I finally experienced hypothyroid symptom relief without incurring hyperthyroid symptoms. I tried 3 divided doses of 50mcg for a week. However, I still had low energy between my 2nd and 3rd doses each day. So I began experimenting with 4 daily doses again. That works well as long as I can space my doses either 1/2 hour before or 1 hour after meals. Even when I take the last dose after 8pm, I still sleep soundly. Best of all that total (50mcg) dose completely resolved my irregularity problem. So I can finally stick with one prescription (25mcg tablets), rather than needing a 25mcg and a 5mcg prescription to get the appropriate sized doses. I'm splitting 25mcg pills in half and taking 4 halves daily 3-1/2 to 4 hours apart. That keeps me evenly warm and energetic, but doesn't cause heart palpitations. I hope I can stick with this dose for awhile. I've taken T3 only for 19 weeks now (almost 5 months). So I suspect my natural T4 very suppressed (as well as my TSH) and all the synthetic T4 cleared from my body 2 months ago. I plan to see my doctor in late June or early July after a month or so on the 50mcg dose. By that time I should know whether I've stabilized (complete symptom relief, but especially normal regularity) on the 50mcg dose. Then I'll request a new prescription of 25mcg tablets (2 daily). I just hope I don't need to increase again (and need those litte 5mcg tablets to get the necessary amount). Maybe I should 'manifest' (ala Wayne Dyer's approach) 50mcg in 4 divided doses is my longterm stable T3 dose. Of course I'll give my doc a copy of "Recovering with T3' to convince her that I don't need T4 (as well as my history since early January of taking T3 only).