Here's ur numbers Dawnrose:

Free T4
Range: 0.820 -1.770
Result: 1.630
Percent of range: 85.26%

Free T3
Range: 2.000 -4.400
Result: 3.800
Percent of range: 75.00%

If you don't mind me asking - what symptoms are you having?

There's really no wrong move here. If you increase armour by 15 mg it's likely your Free T3 will increase, but your Free T4 may or may not at this point - even though your T4 WILL get an increase.

If you increase synthroid from 88 mcg to 100 mcg, your Free T4 will increase.

It all depends on your symptoms and which number you'd like to optimize first.

If it were ME, I'd choose the synthroid increase if energy is a problem. If thinking/focusing is a problem, I'd choose the armour. But, that's ME and what my symptom journal tells me. What are your symptoms telling you?

As to testosterone, I don't know much about that, but I do know that a zinc deficiency can zap testosterone stores - especially in men. You might wanna have that tested and supplement if needed.

My classic symptom is always tingling in my arms/fingers. My energy level isn't still what it used to be. I'm just wondering why my T3 didn't go up after my last increase. Maybe the sponge theory? Cells need to soak it up?

As the the testosterone, I can ask to be tested for zinc deficiency. Thanks!

Hey Dawnrose:

You have a couple things that would inhibit an increase in Free T3:

1. Your Armour is currently providing a level in the upper range for T3, so your body is saying, "Hey, we got enough T3, we don't need to convert any T4".
2. You increased synthroid last time, right? Not armour. So your Free T4 would increase a tad, but your Free T3 would not for the above reason, or indeed the sponge theory.

As to the tingling in your extremeties - this could be caused by a variety of reasons not just thyroid (but trust your gut, ya know?). I tell ya what made a huge difference for me and that's a proper amount of B vitamins. I was hugely deficient in b vitamins, so my doc rx'd a compound that increased my cognitive function and helped with the numbness in certain areas. I have permanent damage to some nerves, so that's never gonna get any better, but the tingling in other areas improved.

Bottom line: I'd get a good nutrient panel done, and/or simply ask for B vitamin complex. I'm a bit proponent for not supplementing unless you know you're deficient, so it might be worth checking out.

If your energy is low - be vitamins can cause this as well. But you're not at the top of the range yet on your Free T4, so that's another reason I might go with synthroid.

Keep me posted!

I'm due for a full blood panel so I can definitely ask for a more comprehensive panel for minerals and vitamins.

I am still struggling to lose any weight too. I started something called The Bulletproof Diet and I feel pretty good as far as my diet goes. I workout every day, some days for as little as 1/2 hour and some as much as 2 hours. The scale is not budging. I'm very frustrated.

Then I'd absolutely go with the synthroid increase.

I really don't know what I was thinking about raising my meds. I felt hyper on 100mcg of Levo. Duh. Mind is shot. I'm going to stop the testosterone b/c I'm getting nowhere with it.

I read about some adrenal supplements and people were saying it helps them sleep(which is a major problem for me) and I ordered some from Amazon. I also stopped my afternoon hydrocortisone and might add that back in. I know I'm all over the place but I don know where to turn next.

Dawnrose: do you have adrenal insufficiency? If so, then think twice about upping your dosage. If not, I'd get tested for cortisol and ACTH BEFORE adjusting/starting adrenal supplements or meds.

Did you FEEL hyper or were you actually hyper?

I do have adrenal insufficiency. Mad yes, when I felt hyper, my labs showed that I was hyper.

*And*

Then by all means do NOT increase your thyroid meds until you take care of the adrenal issues. Ugh. That's got to be hell...

My adrenals are getting better. I've been on hydrocortisone for at a year and a half already and I feel so much better. I do wish I had know that you should treat the adrenals first. I just can't understand why I can't lose weight or sleep at night! I fall asleep right away but wake almost every hour.

If you're sleep cycle is disturbed that can make it hard to lose weight.

Hey dawnrose....

Why don't you try alternating 88/100mcg T4?

That's what my doctor has me do when I am thisclose to optimal levels.

And, I'm not sure what you're doing in regards to your weight loss efforts but it's important to take in adequate amounts of calories.

I you're taking in too few, the body goes into starvation mode and holds onto weight.

I was able to lose the hypo weight by consuming the proper number of calories for my ideal weight.

I could try alternating 88/100mcg, but I'm afraid to go hyper again.

I think my body is just so messed up that it doesn't know what to do.