I would call your doctor immediately. He can properly adjust your dose.

Hi, and I'm sorry to hear that you have diverticulitis. I hear that can be quite painful.

First, let me ask you if you took your medication prior to the lab-draw on 2-19. If so, it can mess with your test results (making them higher than they normally would be - especially Free T3).

Second, if you -didn't- take your meds that day prior to having your labs drawn, then here's your breakdown:

Free T4
Range: 0.780 -2.190
Result: 1.720
Percent of range: 66.67%

Hi, and I'm sorry to hear that you have diverticulitis. I hear that can be quite painful.

First, let me ask you if you took your medication prior to the lab-draw on 2-19. If so, it can mess with your test results (making them higher than they normally would be - especially Free T3).

Second, if you -didn't- take your meds that day prior to having your labs drawn, then here's your breakdown:

Free T4
Range: 0.780 -2.190
Result: 1.720
Percent of range: 66.67% -- as you can tell, still kinda low

Free T3
Range: 2.770 05.270
Result: 6.940
Percent of range: 166.80% -- as you can tell, a tad high

Now, remember, if you took your meds prior to the blood draw, depending on what time that was, it can over-inflate your Free T3 level. But, if that didn't happen - read on:

I understand. I've been where you are. You want to make sure you're "in the healthy range for -you- without over-shooting the mark and becoming hyper", and at the same time, you don't want to become HYPO, right?

Well, consider a few things before making your decision:
1. If your blood draw was taken with no meds the day of the draw, and you FEEL hyper - remember that hypo and hyper symptoms overlap. I have a slightly over range Free T3 as well, and I feel like crap if it's less than 110% or grater than 175% of range. Anywhere in there,and I'm good. But, that's -my- range. I know I'm not -really- hyper because I don't feel hyper. The same is true (except a lower range for me) for Free T4. However, with Free T4 if it's LOW (below say 95% of range or slightly over the top of the range) I feel like crap - but I also have some typically -hyper- symptoms that are actually hypo: Jittery, shaky, irritable, heart palpitations, and I generally have a lower body temp. But, that's me. So figure out where you -are-. Are you hyper?

And, keep in mind, sometimes the only way to figure that out is to do what you're proposing, to lower one med and maybe increase another later on.

Which brings me to item 2:
If I were you: I'd lower the armour - which you did, right? From 90-75?
Then, I'd add a bit of levoxyl depending on your next labs. Maybe .88 since you have a bit of wiggle room. The extra levoxyl will increase your Free T4 back up to where you were...or slightly above which would be ok because you've got some room there. And, since you lowered armour, you will have even more room on Free T4. And, your free T3 should come down.

And, one thing to keep in mind is this: Severe illness can impact thyroid levels. All the drugs I'm sure they had to give you can also impact thyroid levels. So, keep that in mind, K?

Let us know what happens.

Thank you for getting back to me m butter fly with all the advice. I already did lower the armour and I figured I couldn't raise the levoxyl without the FT3 going up more. Now on another note I went and repeated labs at my regular lab so I could see the numbers on the scale I am used to. One other question how do you calculate the percentages if you don't mind explaining. I would like to know for future reference.
Thanks, Fran

I forgot I did take armour about 5 hours before the blood draw in the hospital but the new set of labs no meds. I think in general I wouldn't be able to raise levoxyl without going down with the armour. I feel mostly hypo symptoms but I think the FT3 may be too high for my body's needs. Just don't know the answer. so I continue with trial and error.
Thanks again

Glad to help:

Calculation for percent of range by the awesome CD:
Formulas to evaluate our FT4/FT3 results
Posted on 02/12/14, 10:13 am
Hypothyroid people whose MDs watch only their TSH level during treatment are usually doomed to remain symptomatic. Those who are receiving optimal treatment, to the point where all signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism have been relieved, have MDs who understand that TSH matters least and that the free levels of T4 and T3 matter most. The tests for those two levels should be done at each thyroid checkup.

Generally speaking, those whose FTs stay within the upper third of their ranges feel best. That's just a general "rule" however, and individual needs should be respected. Some people need slightly lower levels and others need slightly higher levels. This is what makes keeping a symptoms journal quite valuable.

To determine the percentage of your lab's range where your test result for FT4 or FT3 sits, use the following formula. The example I've used is a common lab range of .8 - 1.8 ng/dL and a blood level of .9. Substitute whatever range your particular lab uses and your blood level:

1. Subtract the bottom no. of the range from the top (1.8 - .8 = 1)
2. Subtract the bottom no. of the range from your result (.9 - .8 = .1)
3. Divide the result of calculation #2 by calculation #1 (.1 1 = .1) and turn the result ( .1) into a percentage = 10%

~~~~~~

To determine the optimal target area of any given range, use the following formula. I've used a target of 70% on a typical FT3 lab range of 2.3 - 4.2 ng/dL in the example:

1. Subtract the bottom of the range from the top (4.2 - 2.3 = 1.9)
2. Multiply that answer by the percentage (expressed as a decimal no.) you want to determine, say 70%: (1.9 x .70 = 1.33)
3. Add the bottom number of the range to #2's answer: (2.3 + 1.33 = 3.63)
70% of the range is approximately 3.6 ng/dL

~~~~~

To easily determine the exact middle level (50%) of any range, simply add the two lab limits together and divide by 2. For example, the mid level of the free T3 range 2.3 - 4.2 ng/dL can be found by calculating 2.3 + 4.2 = 6.5 2 = 3.25.

Always remember that the math never matters as much as how you feel while your levels are at any particular level. It may be helpful to keep a journal of how your symptoms are trending during the time between dose adjustments, so you can more easily know how to adjust at the next checkup. But...never judge what you need by either symptoms or labs alone. Both have to be taken into account as a pair in order to know.

Also remember, that even once you find your optimal dose, it still can take up to two months to feel completely well. The body's cells need time to heal from the damage that the hypothyroidism has done, and that doesn't happen immediately as soon as you start taking that final, optimal dose.

Finally, please remember that thyroid function isn't static. We can find the need for small dose adjustments to maintain optimal levels. If those dose adjustments happen in a timely manner (when labs first show the need), there's a good chance symptoms won't develop.

I'm a big proponent of doing ONE THING AT A TIME. Meaning, if you lowered your armour, in 4 weeks have tests done (without taking your meds prior to the draw, K?). THEN decide if you want to add more levoxyl.

Levoxyl will most likely increase your Free T4, but not your Free T3. Why? Because you're getting enough Free T3 and your body knows when to convert Free T4 to Free T3 and when not to convert Free T4 to Free T3. If you have enough, your liver won't convert it. Most of our Free T3 IS converted in the liver.

While you may have some trial and error, at least you have a plan.

Remember: Slow and steady in this process. Meaning, do one thing at at time, get your labs, then decide.

Herky jerky just doesn't work. If you change up too much too quickly it's really hard to know what's really going on. You've been through alot so take it easy on yourself, and remember: Slow and steady.