I believe it takes 6 weeks for the levothyroxin to completely be out of your system. I don't know about the cytomel. It's really shocking that the endo took you off of all your meds just to find your base levels. It seems to me he/she could of started where you were and adjusted accordingly.

Generally, it takes 5-7 half-lives of a drug for it to be considered cleared from the body.

1 week after stopping there will be about 50% of the last dose remaining
2 weeks after stopping there will be about 25% of the last dose remaining.
3 weeks after stopping there will be about 12.5% of the last dose remaining.
4 weeks after stopping there will be about 6.25% of the last dose remaining.
5 week after stopping there will be about 3.125% of the last dose remaining.
6 week after stopping there will be about 1.562% of the last dose remaining.

mcslo,

No good reason for you to be made ill by all of this. How about calling the doctor and explaining how you are feeling ?

If that doesn't work, and you decide your fed up with this doctors way of doing things, you could get a hold of your GP. Ask for an emergency appointment, be seen, have labs and let him/her recommend a starting dose. Replacement drugs take a long time to become effective, so starting sooner rather than later might be a good idea..depending on what the GP or endo sees on your visit.

It's really up to you to make a judgment call here. I'm just adding ideas.

Pam

I was on a chemo treatment for hep c which caused what they believe is hypothyroid. It is known that the treatment causes hypothyroidism in many patients but for some it is temporary.The levothyroxin and cytomel were helping the numbers but not the symptoms. I get my labs done again on Monday. i just want relief, I don't care where it comes from.
Thanks for the info

Hi again mcslo,

Hope you got your blood work taken and have results coming today or tomorrow. If you need any assistance reading the results, let me know.

I see your an active helper on the hep c group, so I'm thinking maybe a little extra assistance with all stuff thyroid might be of assistance, since that's my thing.

I noticed your a vegetarian, and have looked into soy as a potential question. I agree with you.. there's no way we as mere consumers will ever know the full truth. Between the big money behind The American Dairy Counsel and the soy crush producers opposing sides to the story it seems like so much propaganda. I do know looking at the stock market there's a lot of money talking from both sides, and both are a large part of our national economy.
Our doctors don't even agree. Lots of studies out there, but depending on where the funding for the study originated, the conclusion can often times be less than helpful in the real world.

Best example I always think of is the study showing Japanese women with low breast cancer rates, supposedly due to their soy consumption. Seems a bit silly to compare since I'm not an Asian woman, and I have completely different genetics. Even more off putting in that case is the fact that traditional use of soy is NOT eating soy crush, it is eating temphe, shoyu, miso and natto. Small amounts of tofu are also used like a condiment but not as a main dish.

The important thing to know for thyroid patients is that soy has the benefits of blocking iodine absorption and acting much like an anti-thyroid drug. A good thing for those of us hyperthyroid patients working to control over production of thyroid hormone. Not so good for someone in your current position. Since it takes awhile for labs, adding meds, and waiting the 6 to 8 weeks for results , then more labs, adjustments .. I'm wondering if you might find some faster relief by eliminating soy for the time being ?
Soy blocks production of thyroid hormones that the gland makes, blocks absorption of thyroid meds and also blocks thyroid hormones at the cellular level, where they do their work

I've grabbed a couple links to help you see why the soy works as it does for those with thyroid problems.

Inactivation of thyroid peroxidase by soy isoflavones
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12270219

Full article available, plus other related searches easy to find from that page.

What is thyroid peroxidase (TPO) you ask?
See under Synthesis of thyroid hormones
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK28/#A249

Oh.. noticed right above that subject area the iodine subject..another often misunderstood problem among many. Short story.. adding iodine only complicates things best left uncomplicated.

While you may choose to add some soy back later, and then increase the dose of hormone replacement to make up for it, keeping the amounts steady.. for right now it's quite possible this idea could help some.
Best wishes on a short as possible recovery.

Pam
who didn't' even start on the GMO part of all that. ;)

Got labs back today. T4 was 1.04 which i think is in the normal range. TSH is right in the middle of normal range.
First endo dr called and told me I need to up my meds. I told her other dr took me off all meds. She said " why would they do that"?
I am now going back on meds.
Thanks for the info!