Hypothyroidism Support Group
Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...
Here's my history.
6/28/13
No meds
TSH 1.19 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 .9 (.8-1.8)
Free T3 2.7 (2.3-4.2)
10/2/13
30mg Armour Thyroid
TSH 1.24 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 1.0 (.8-1.8)
Free T3 2.7 (2.3-4.2)
Total T4 5.1 (4.5-12)
Total T3 80 (78-181)
11/6/13
60 mg Armour Thyroid
TSH .62 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 .9 (.8-1.8)
Free T3 2.7 (2.3-4.2)
Total T4 5.3 (4.5-12)
Total T3 77 (78-181)
12/18/13
90mg Armour
TSH .02 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 1.0 (.8-1.8)
Free T3 3.4 (2.3-4.2)
Total T4 5.5 (4.5-12)
Total T3 86 (78-181)
I still have symptoms. What do you think is next? T4 only or increase in Armour?
Thanks!
6/28/13
No meds
TSH 1.19 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 .9 (.8-1.8)
Free T3 2.7 (2.3-4.2)
10/2/13
30mg Armour Thyroid
TSH 1.24 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 1.0 (.8-1.8)
Free T3 2.7 (2.3-4.2)
Total T4 5.1 (4.5-12)
Total T3 80 (78-181)
11/6/13
60 mg Armour Thyroid
TSH .62 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 .9 (.8-1.8)
Free T3 2.7 (2.3-4.2)
Total T4 5.3 (4.5-12)
Total T3 77 (78-181)
12/18/13
90mg Armour
TSH .02 (.4-4.5)
Free T4 1.0 (.8-1.8)
Free T3 3.4 (2.3-4.2)
Total T4 5.5 (4.5-12)
Total T3 86 (78-181)
I still have symptoms. What do you think is next? T4 only or increase in Armour?
Thanks!
My TSH was as high as 2.1 and my free T3 was as low as 1.82. I felt awful. Depressed and anxious and just not like myself. I didn't know what was happening. Then I started looking up my symptoms and everything pointed to hypothyrodism. Tries self-medicating (don't recommend that), and thank god that I found this support group or I might have gone completely mad!! Unfortunatey, there is no quick fix and I just have to remind myself to be patient. It's a battle every day. I hope you can get the treatment you need.
Your labs from 6/28 would make anybody feel horrible! But, as you can plainly see from your results...you may slow but steady progress - which as we say here - Wins the Race! Go you! You're almost there.
Here's your labs from Dec 18:
Free T4
Lab Range: 0.800 -1.800
Result: 1.000
Percent of Range: 20.00%
Target Range: 1.55-1.80
Free T3
Lab Range: 2.300 -4.200
Result: 3.400
Percent of range: 57.89%
Target Range: 3.73-3.82
I'm sure you still have symptoms and if you look at the numbers above you'll see why: Your Free T4 is still sitting at 20% of range and your Free T3 is sitting at 57.89%.
If those labs were mine I would ask for an increase in Armour since your Free T3 is still at about 60% - you could stand an up-tic. Another 1/4 grain should do it for this increase, and that will put you at 120 mg of Armour or 2 grains.
What this *should* do (and everybody's different so time will tell - along with labs) is increase your Free T3 a bit more. Your Free T4 isn't going to increase all that much if at all. But, you'll be able to say that your Free T3 is "on target" once it gets to 75-100% of range. Then, depending on your next labs, I would add some synthroid (T4) at the increase AFTER this one to get that number up for you.
Good luck!
PS Is armour the ONLY thing you're on? You're not currently taking synthroid, right?
She suggested asking the doctor for a 1/4 grain increase.
Well, that's 15mg which would make for a total dose of 105mg.
1/4 grain (or 15mg) Armour contains 2.25mcg T3 and 9.5mcg T4......that is a very appropriate increase for someone with a FT3 level that's almost 60% of range.
A larger increase could very well drive that FT3 level too high for comfort and cause hyper symptoms.
At least you have a doc not worshipping the sacred TSH number..
Good for you for persuing your optimal level..
Merry Christmas to you all..
I'm not sure if I understand Reverse T3. I thought it meant that I am not able to convert T4 to T3. Doesn't it seem like I'm doing that?
Could be that it is not the thyroid but a adrenal issue. Anyway, here is a good article on reverse T3.
Good luck!
I don't think you need to worry about reverseT3.
You see, the body produces reverse T3 as a protective mechanism.
One instance when this would happen is during illness because the body doesn't need as much active hormone (T3) so, rather than converting T4 to T3, the T4 gets converted to reverseT3, the inactive form of T3.
Another time the body produces reverse T3 is when it has too much T4 as can happen with people taking T4 only (levothyroxine, Synthroid, etc.) when they need T3 also.
And, the reverseT3 level changes throughout the day so it's not useful for dosing purposes at all.....our doctors should only be watching our FreeT4 and FreeT3 levels.
You are taking Armour so, if you have a conversion problem, Armour would be addressing it since there is T3 in Armour.
Your labs (and symptoms) are following a predicable course....one all of us go through as our bodies adjust to new doses.
Thankfully, you *are* responding to dose increases (some people don't) and it's "just" a matter of optimizing your levels.
TSH is usually the first level to fall and your lab history confirms this. Now, your FreeT3 and FreeT4 levels are starting to increase and this is when the fine-tuning starts to happen.
Unfortunately, optimizing our levels is a slow process that cannot be rushed. For most people, it's easily close to a year or slightly longer before levels optimize.
Hang in - you are on your way!