Does anyone know if the "starch" in the cytomel can be an issue for MCers? Not fond of the sucrose but thinking about asking for a little T3 today in addition to the levothyroxine.
"Each round, white to off-white Cytomel (liothyronine sodium) tablet contains liothyronine sodium equivalent to liothyronine as follows: 5 mcg debossed KPI and 115; 25 mcg scored and debossed KPI and 116; 50 mcg scored and debossed KPI and 117. Inactive ingredients consist of calcium sulfate, gelatin, starch, stearic acid, sucrose and talc."
Cytomel Ingredients
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Cytomel Ingredients
Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
Deb,
In the U. S., "starch", or "food starch", or "modified food starch", etc., refers to corn starch (unless specified otherwise), because of the labeling laws, and this applies to any food product. Since pharmaceuticals are exempt from the labeling laws though, and a heck of a lot of them are manufactured in India, there exists a remote possibility that the source of "starch" could be wheat. IMO, that possibility is probably rather remote these days, because most overseas manufacturers are much more attune to U. S. conventions, than they used to be.
IOW, I'm pretty sure that it would be safe — I just can't be absolutely positive.
Tex
In the U. S., "starch", or "food starch", or "modified food starch", etc., refers to corn starch (unless specified otherwise), because of the labeling laws, and this applies to any food product. Since pharmaceuticals are exempt from the labeling laws though, and a heck of a lot of them are manufactured in India, there exists a remote possibility that the source of "starch" could be wheat. IMO, that possibility is probably rather remote these days, because most overseas manufacturers are much more attune to U. S. conventions, than they used to be.
IOW, I'm pretty sure that it would be safe — I just can't be absolutely positive.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thanks Tex! I know nothing is guaranteed, sigh. With all my braig fog I thought I'd ask for a second opinion in case I missed something important. 
Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
So I am looking at the calendar and I'm due for labs in a week (on the 13th). Would I be smarter to wait until after I get my labs done and just wait til my appointment on th 16th to bring up the Cytomel? It already sounds like they aren't thrilled with that idea either and it may be easier to blow me off over the phone vs in person. However, another two weeks feeling crappy doesn't seem appealing either. Remember, my labs on October 15th were TSH 17.8, FT3 1.8, FT4. 1.1
He wasn't thrilled raising my dose from 100 to 125. I'd like to propose going back to the 100 mcg and adding Cytomel long term if it works. They have already told me Cytomel is not a long term use drug. Others on the thyroid cancer support group say otherwise.
I'm afraid if I start insisting now on something different, when I do get my labs done and something is off, it will be my fault for not following their plan. I'm nervous that things will come back good and I have no symptom improvement. But if they come back out of whack again, maybe they will try what I'm suggesting. It's a dilemma. I keep telling myself that two more weeks is nothing since this has been going on for years yet at the same time I'm scolding myself because I don't want to deal with the conflict again and might be whimping out.
I will also have had all the other labs completed at this time too so I will have a better understanding where I'm at.
The only thing that keeps me going now is this is the same desperation I felt when I joined this group not knowing anything. I'm now very confident in my GI care and I have made great improvements. Now I'm back knowing very little and trying to learn a lot. I will get there and thank you all for your help!
He wasn't thrilled raising my dose from 100 to 125. I'd like to propose going back to the 100 mcg and adding Cytomel long term if it works. They have already told me Cytomel is not a long term use drug. Others on the thyroid cancer support group say otherwise.
I'm afraid if I start insisting now on something different, when I do get my labs done and something is off, it will be my fault for not following their plan. I'm nervous that things will come back good and I have no symptom improvement. But if they come back out of whack again, maybe they will try what I'm suggesting. It's a dilemma. I keep telling myself that two more weeks is nothing since this has been going on for years yet at the same time I'm scolding myself because I don't want to deal with the conflict again and might be whimping out.
I will also have had all the other labs completed at this time too so I will have a better understanding where I'm at.
The only thing that keeps me going now is this is the same desperation I felt when I joined this group not knowing anything. I'm now very confident in my GI care and I have made great improvements. Now I'm back knowing very little and trying to learn a lot. I will get there and thank you all for your help!
Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
Deb,
It's hard to win, because if you change your treatment now, then I wonder if your overly-cautious doctor (who seems inclined to follow the book with his treatment style) might decide to reschedule the blood tests, to allow time for your body to adjust to the changes.
IMO, he's waiting too long between tests (which is why I consider him to be overly-cautious, and inclined to follow the book). But of course, I'm no doctor, let alone an endocrinologist, so what do I know? With a TSH of 17.8 (and both FT3 and FT4 lower than they should be for someone in your situation), and no remaining thyroid to adjust its output, a 25 mcg dosage increase strikes me as little more than a token increase — way inadequate. But I reckon that's why he's an endo, and I'm not.
The new test data should be illuminating. I wouldn't be surprised to see it come in worse than the previous results.
Tex
It's hard to win, because if you change your treatment now, then I wonder if your overly-cautious doctor (who seems inclined to follow the book with his treatment style) might decide to reschedule the blood tests, to allow time for your body to adjust to the changes.
IMO, he's waiting too long between tests (which is why I consider him to be overly-cautious, and inclined to follow the book). But of course, I'm no doctor, let alone an endocrinologist, so what do I know? With a TSH of 17.8 (and both FT3 and FT4 lower than they should be for someone in your situation), and no remaining thyroid to adjust its output, a 25 mcg dosage increase strikes me as little more than a token increase — way inadequate. But I reckon that's why he's an endo, and I'm not.
The new test data should be illuminating. I wouldn't be surprised to see it come in worse than the previous results.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Seems like no real good option on this timeline. I'm conditioned at this point to expect normal and fantastic labs but you're right, I can't see how there could possibly be any improvements. Maybe I could get them to agree to earlier labs- like tomorrow. Wouldn't hurt to ask.
Wouldn't hurt to ask.Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease